The Hanged Man Rises

When their parents are killed in a fire, Titus and his little sister, Hannah, are all alone in the world. However, this is Victorian London, and their world is the grimey underworld  where crime and poverty reign.  Not only that, a serial killer is stalking these streets, his victims, young children. Titus finds hope when his friend, the policeman Inspector Pilbury apprehends and hangs the perpetrator of the crimes – or has he?

This is a tense thriller aimed at young readers KS2 . Sarah Naughton combines the conventions and themes of the period detective story with the fashion for the supernatural to create a rich mix of intrigue and the macabre. The Victorian background, especially the dirt and lawlessness of Titus’ world, are neatly conveyed without resort to Dickensian prose. Indeed, the narrative style is briskly contemporary ensuring young readers will be able to turn the pages effortlessly.   And there is plenty of action to excite them, from the drama of the opening chapter to the final climax. Titus and his little sister, Hannah, are attractive protagonists, their relationship  providing enough human interest to underpin the plot and add depth.  Nor do they operate alone. The presence of the adult, Inspector Pilbury, lends an element of realism – without detracting from the central role of the young people, Titus and his friend, Lilly.

Young readers today have sophisticated tastes, fed by film and television dramas; they look for similar themes and pace in their reading – but at an appropriate level . The Hanged Man Rises is an ideal recommendation for this audience.