I am delighted to share my review today for A Gathering of Gargoyles by Misha Herwin. This is the 5th book in The Adventures of Letty Parker series. It is aimed towards around 8 to12-year-olds, but I adore this series and would have loved to have been able to read when I was a lot younger than I am now! A brilliant way of introducing a younger audience to the mystery genre, full action and daring deeds.

I would like to send a big thank you to Misha for my advanced copy of the book, my review is my own and unbiased. I would also like to wish her a very wonderful Publication Day for 11th November2022 xx

The city’s air has turned foul; fights break out among the closest of friends; rats attack in broad daylight, and the very bricks and stones of the city are crumbling to dust. When the gargoyles and dragons – guardians of the rooftops – begin tumbling to the ground and shattering into pieces, the Night Creatures turn to Letty Parker and Associates to discover its cause. The only problem is that neither Letty, nor her friends, have the slightest idea where to start.

Is a cure to be found in magic or will science save the day? And do Newton and Copernica Clifford, newly arrived in Belvedere Terrace, hold the key to it all?

MY REVIEW

This is the 5th book in the series and yes you should read them in order as you get to understand who the characters are and also what they are. There are humans, but then there are slightly non-human, Bear, vicious rats, and hungry eels that haven’t been seen around the Bristol area for a while now. When the author then decides to write a story around dragons and gargoyles I am already loving it.

Letty is a young girl who with her friends, Jeb, Mango and Hepzibah solve mysteries in the port city of Bristol. This is their day job, and it is the gargoyles and dragons that need Letty’s help. There is a smell to the city, the air is not as clear and clear as it used to be and even the witches are fearful that the magic is starting to disappear. The one change is that there is a new business, their aim is to bring gas lights to the city. Progress may be one thing, but there is something more sinister here than people realise.

Every time I join up again with Letty and the gang I am thrilled to follow in this Victorian and Gothic-style mystery that the author conjures up. Yes, it is aimed at a younger reader than I am, but I really don’t care as I thoroughly enjoy reading about their escapades and adventures, and it would have been a perfect read for me when I was younger.

The author does such a brilliant job with the characters, they are cheeky, at times boisterous and stubborn and also loyal and strong-willed. As a group they are close and they all have their own specialities. This latest case is one that has them investigating the crumbling gargoyles and also the disappearance of a man.

This is full of mystery and red herrings that kept the story moving and evolving. This book is aimed at 8 to 12 year old and there is some cheekiness and terms that would appeal. The author does actually have a message behind it and this is how chemicals can pollute the atmosphere and alter the surrounding environment. It is done in such a way that it blends nicely into the story. Even though this is a story set in a Victorian-style era it also draws in a modern problem that many younger people will be aware of.

This is a brilliant book and I adored it. Yet again I think I have just read my favourite Letty Parker book and this is one that I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Misha Herwin is a writer of books for adults and children.
They vary from time-slip to contemporary women’s fiction, family saga and children’s fantasy adventures.
All her books are set in Bristol, whether real, imaginary or remembered from her childhood.

Follow Misha on – Twitter – Website – Amazon Author Page – Goodreads Author Page

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amaizng 🙂 xx