Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #309672 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Synopsis
Charlie's mother is about to be taken as a witch. She'll surely die - and Charlie too. With the aid of Balthazar, his mother's cat, Charlie escapes - but now he finds himself in another time, Northumbria four centuries earlier - and a different kind of danger! He's arrived for the prizegiving at the annual Feast of the Book. But just as the winner is about to be announced there's news of a different kind. One of the abbey monks has been found dead - horribly murdered. Charlie and his new-found friend Lady Marian are drawn into investigating the crime - but there's more to it than that. At the peril of their own lives can they solve a runic riddle and find the abbey's missing treasure? "The Riddle of the Poisoned Monk" is a fast-paced medieval mystery set in an ancient castle - with potfuls of potions, dark secrets and missing treasure. Sarah Matthias has written a thrilling adventure with lively characters that will appeal to 9-12's. This is a thrilling supernatural adventure story set in the Middle Ages. It is a lead fiction title from Catnip for Autumn 2006. It is paperback original. It is by highly promotable author. It has targeted marketing.

Customer Reviews

Writing at its best
If anyone told me I should read a book featuring either time travel or a cat my instant reaction would be to approach it with caution. But for those of us who love reading any topic is fair game if the writing is good enough. Sarah Matthias's writing surpasses "good" by a considerable margin.

It is hard to find a wasted word in this book. The plot is well structured and the characters leap from the page through superb, concise description. My attention was held at all times as the cleverly weaved plot developed page-by-page.

Most impressive of all is that this book is written with such sophistication that both youngsters and adults can feel entirely at home with its style. Very few authors achieve that. I look forward very much to Mrs Matthias's next work.

A Most Fantastic Read - Keeps You Gripped
This is a wonderful story where the characters are so well described that you can picture each one perfectly as you go on the adventure with them. Trust No-One!! This is exactly true as you are always trying to second guess who the culprit is as poor Charlie gets deeper into trouble. Very well written, flicking backwards and forwards through time. A great book for children and adults alike. 10/10

What a brilliant read!
This is a brilliant story which moves through time with realistic characters. You very quickly get a feel for the character Charlie and have to continue reading until he has resolved his next obstacle. Very well researched and stimulating. My son, who rarely reads, got through this book in three days and wants to know when the next one will be ready for reading. I recomend that the adults read it too!!