Crimson Poison

Nat is the heir to her dead parents’ games empire and lives with her guardian Jamuka on a barge in Hong Kong, but not the city as we know it; this city is set in a more tech based future.  Life would be good if not for her Aunt Vera (who wants to get her hands on the fortune that Nat has inherited) and pushy cousin Prissy.  When Jamuka is called home to Mongolia because of a crisis, Aunt Vera seizes her chance and tries to make herself the legal Guardian. Things become more complicated and Nat fears for Jamuka’s life, leading her to start an amazing series of adventures, as she attempts to get to Mongolia and find her guardian.  We also have a parallel story involving lethal poisons and a plot by Russia to bring the rest of the world to its knees.

The author has created a world that it very recognizable but set just into the future; with increased levels of technology (including robot pets) and hover vehicles, so that the reader is able to connect with the world and the characters.  It is a really fast paced and exciting adventure story, with a heroine that you really want to succeed as she is so different from most girls of her age.  As with all good thrillers we have the obligatory villain, but in this case we really have two, Aunt Vera and the shadowy character in Mongolia who is aiming to poison the population.  This is a story that will find an audience among both boys and girls due to the strong character of the main participants and I am glad that the ending implies a further story might be in the offing as I look forward to following Nat and her adventures. I definitely think that this will find a place in KS2 and KS3 libraries.