The Rose Muddle Mysteries: The Amber Pendant

The year is 1901 and it is time to introduce Rose Muddle from Hove.  Rose is a workhouse girl new to the service of Miss Templeforth.  After a day when a procession of girls the same age as Rose entering and leaving the house the butler finally shows Rose into the library.  There she is introduced to her future.  She is to be the guardian of the amber pendant, one of two created generations before.  If anyone holds both pendants they have the power to unleash pure evil back into the world.  It is up to Rose and her new companions, Rui an Indian prince and the monkey Bahula, to prevent that from happening.

This is an intriguing mystical mystery that moves along with a great deal of pace and peril.  Rose is a great character who is both brave and clever yet occasionally thinks it would be safer in the workhouse.  Rui has resources and education and Bahula offers light relief and daring escapes.

This would appeal to fans of Harry Potter, although it more mystical than magical, and the body count is higher, three by the end of the book.  The cover art may prove a little off putting to some, it implies the story is more ‘feisty girl detective’ than a struggle between good and evil.

A story of dark magic, secret cabals and ancient rites, there is much to keep you reading and it ends with our heroes sailing for India followed by a girl with blonde ringlets.  I look forward to the sequel; never trust a girl with ringlets.