Produktdetaljer
Biographical note
Eva Frantz is a Finnish author and journalist. She was already an award-winning writer of crime novels for grown-ups when she wrote her first book for children, The Mystery of Raspberry Hill, which won the Runeberg Junior Prize. She currently lives in a lovely yellow house in Esbo with a lovely husband and three mostly lovely children. The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor is her second spooky book for children published by Pushkin Press. Elin Sandström is an illustrator, artist and writer living outside of Stockholm, Sweden. She has been working as an illustrator since 2012 and in 2023 made her debut as an author with Vilse (Lost).This is an intriguing mystery tale. The book is also an exquisite object, beautifully bound with gold lettering and a deliciously spooky front cover image - a hefty, impressive Christmas present... Will draw in curious over-12s, with a layered mystery to solve and a satisfying emotional resolution
Big Issue, Kids' Books of the Year
THE addictive advent book to buy for your young reader this Christmas period. Mystery, intrigue, ghosts and adventure combine with themes of loss and grief, as well as friendship and love. It's compellingly written and I didn't want to put it down! Each chapter has a beautiful black and white illustration which adds to the atmosphere of dark intrigue and suspense. A superb spine-tingling story to snuggle up with at this time of year. I adored it
Mini Travellers
Ideal to snuggle up with on a chilly evening, this evocative, gentle ghost story for 9+ has a hint of Tom's Midnight Garden
Guardian
An authentic classic ghost story that speaks to Victorian traditions, while also bringing an accessible modern sensibility... It would make an excellent advent gift
Irish Times
So compelling and absorbing that it is impossible to put down! A brilliant, gripping story - perfect for Christmas, but a great read at any time of year!
Through the Bookshelf
The story is told in 24 chapters, each just the right length to be read aloud before bedtime, beginning with a beautiful illustration by Elin Sandström, and ending in a suitable cliffhanger. The idea is to read one chapter a day, in 'real time' with the story, until the happy conclusion on Christmas Eve, a concept I find utterly charming. However, it is such an enjoyable read that it might be difficult to ration it
- Swedish Book Review,
Would make a wonderful, shared family read with children who are fine with mild tension (there are (benevolent) ghosts and spooky noises)... This suspenseful novel has lots to savour and would be a great addition to a Key Stage 2 and 3 library
Just Imagine
A real, honest ghost story, more eerie than scary, reminiscent of Maria Gripe and Edith Nesbit's classics. Eva Frantz tells it in 24 chapters, one for each day in December until Christmas Eve, but it's hard to limit reading to one chapter a day when it starts to get exciting
Dagens Nyheter
THE addictive advent book to buy for your young reader this Christmas period... Each chapter has a beautiful black and white illustration which adds to the atmosphere of dark intrigue and suspense. A superb spine-tingling story to snuggle up with at this time of year. I adored it
Books for Keeps
Suitably spooky without being too creepy, with touches of mystery and fantasy...The idea of an advent book like this is that you should read a chapter a day, but that can be difficult. Because The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor is so exciting that it sucks you in
Vasabladet
Like a sparkler at Christmas time, a little Yuletide gift that invites you to be absorbed together by the safe enchantment of reading in the December darkness
Hufvudstadsbladet
I love the darkness and mystery of Eva Frantz's writing - carefully placed clues, shiver inducing sightings and layers of questions that allow the reader to really be a part of the story... A spine-tingling Christmas mystery
Scope for Imagination
So cosily creepy that you just want to put everything else on pause and read, read, read
YLE
The winter manor setting provides many atmospheric scenes. It is a delight to immerse yourself in reading about the winter garden filled with the scent of hyacinths or the silver glow of the moon on the frozen pond... At the beginning of each chapter is a full-page picture made by Elin Sandström. They perfectly introduce the atmosphere of each chapter to the reader
Demokraatti