The Secret Starling

Clara’s life is miserable. In a cold, crumbling ruin of a house she lives a solitary life dictated by her mean uncle’s strict, puritanical regime.

She has no other relatives, no friends and absolutely no fun. So when her uncle abandons her, she’s actually quite relieved and decides she can survive perfectly well without him.

The arrival of streetwise Peter makes the prospect of independent living a viable option but also opens the gates to confusing revelations that challenge everything Clara thought she knew about her origins. And when the house is sold, the pair are forced into daring and dangerous exploits in order to find the truth and save Clara’s future.

Set in the mid-1970s, this child-led mystery adventure has a nostalgic feel reminiscent of Enid Blyton and some truly despicable adults, much like those featured in Roald Dahl’s classics. Readers looking for a cracking read with superb storytelling will absolutely love this book.