Last month, I revisited my debut novel Uncle Flynn with a number of articles. This month, I’m putting the spotlight on Dr Gribbles and the Beast of Blackthorn Lodge, but with just one article this time.

Dr Gribbles and the Beast of Blackthorn Lodge is a page-turning adventure story aimed at all ages, although primarily of appeal to those who enjoy novels such as Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider series. Check out this rather cool cover (courtesy of the excellent Charles Bown).

A thrilling, fun, and sometimes scary ride (particularly in the first act), the opening chapter alone features a haunted house, a monster, and a mad scientist.

Set in 1987 towards the end of the Cold War, we’re introduced to our hero, eleven year old Tim; an intelligent, witty, but bullied child who gets trapped in the afore-mentioned haunted house. After a frightening encounter and narrow escape, he and his older brother Rob are drawn into a gripping adventure involving their neighbour; the mysterious, seemingly insane Dr Gribbles, a former government scientist.

Dr Gribbles was involved in a number of top secret experiments, one of which draws the attention of spies from Britain, America, and Russia – as well as Dr Gribbles’s estranged daughter Emily. Mayhem ensues amid a game of cat and mouse on the bleak wilderness of Dartmoor, hushed-up military research bases, mysterious archaeological digs, hidden tunnels, vehicular chases, twists, turns, betrayals, and much more. At one point, there are also wasps. Lots of horrible, angry wasps…

I should add that the wasp incident is actually based on a rather nasty real-life incident that my children and I had the misfortune to suffer (though we look back on it now with some amusement). The book is dedicated to my youngest son Thomas, on whose elaborate and imaginative nightmares the story is also partly based.

To get your copy of this madcap but marvellous adventure, simply click here.