Dead Man's Cove (Laura Marlin Mysteries 1): Book 1

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Laura’s adventures begin in this first captivating mystery from the bestselling author of the White Giraffe series.

Ring of Bright Water was later made into an outstanding film starring Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers.Inspired by our joint love of middle grade mystery books Amy of Golden Books Girl, Rachael of Bellis does Books and myself decided to indulge in a fun readalong of Lauren St John’s Laura Marlin Mysteries, and evoke the childhood joy of making a club! The suspense and fear builds throughout the book slowly, leaving you on tenterhooks as the closing chapters approach. My only qualm was its similarities to Kat Wolfe, and also (similarly to Kat Wolfe) the over-the-top ridiculous bad-guy dialogue that felt better suited to those dognappers in 101 Dalmatians or Scooby-Doo villains. Accompanied by her trusty companion, Skye, a three-legged husky, the dog she's always wanted, Laura's adventures begin in this first captivating mystery, winner of the 2011 Blue Peter Book of the Year Award. In the casebook much reflects around key plot elements retelling a compacted version of the story within the pages of the casebook.

Dead Man's Cove has in many ways the feel of a traditional adventure mystery, with clear-cut villains, clues and false trails and a dramatic climax. Join our community to get personalised book suggestions, extracts straight to your inbox, 10% off RRPs, and to change children’s lives. Tariq gets kidnapped and so does Laura and they have to try and get out of Dead Man’s Cove, a cove where if they stay there too long they will sink and die.Laura herself is thoroughly likeable: she is warm and caring, endlessly curious, and she does not hesitate if she sees someone in need.

He is horribly thin, he has bruises on his arms, and he is clearly afraid of his adopted parents the Mukhtars. I was drawn in by the review on the front recommending it to Enid Blyton fans, I loved the famous five books as a kid so I picked it up. Laura's experiences have taught her to question everything, to be independent and to stand on her own two feet, so having an uncle who trusts her to be sensible, rather than lay down a list of rules, seems ideal. Dead Man's Cove is a delightful, nostalgic mystery that'll make you remember the time you pretended to be Harriet the Spy, trying to figure out the puzzle in front of you, and in this modern children's detective story, you'll join Laura as she tries to find a place in her new home. When orphaned Laura Marlin moves from a children's home to live with her uncle in Cornwall, she longs for a life of excitement just like the characters in her favourite detective novels.Sipping hot chocolates by the sea with gulls wheeling through the air, Laura feels enchanted by her new life in Cornwall. It was lent to me by one of the kids in my class who thought I would like it since I enjoy The Famous Five. An absorbing novel that will hold the imagination of young reader and keep them guessing throughout. Dead Man’s Cave has this bucolic and coastal setting in one of the prettiest towns in Cornwall, perhaps in the UK, where a young girl has a Blyton–esque adventure. And when you’ve had time to enjoy the wildness and the little island, head up the trail and continue to the lighthouse.

Laura is a wonderful character to read, she is brightly written, vibrant with quiet intelligence but smudged round the edges by her experiences making her very real, we feel her pain at rejection of friendship by Tariq, we soar with her as she runs across the sands, and we take hope from her grit as she faces peril. Dead Mans Cove can be seen from the trail that leads from the parking lot to the Cape Disapointment lighthouse. I knew it very fast, and then it was fun reading to see how long it took Laura to figure it all out. A truly outstanding, totally enthralling mystery set in Cornwall, England, this is one of the very best children's mysteries I've ever read. There are lots of reviews comparing this series to some of Blyton's work but I don't see any similarities at all.There's plenty of adventure here, plus a twisty plot, quirky, believable characters, and a satisfying, surprising ending. Lauren St John grew up on a farm and game reserve in Africa, the inspiration for her acclaimed memoir, Rainbow's End, and her award-winning White Giraffe series for children. I took time to pick out the overarching themes and sections within the book and to particularly express some of the visual elements say Laura’s husky Skye’s eyes looking like x-ray blue to the variety of messages along the coast left for and by Laura, and the colours of St.