Charlie Palmer Says by Beverly Bowry (Young Fiction 9+) Sent for review.

Today's book review is Charlie Palmer Says, which has been sent to me by Matador Self-Publishing for review. Suitable for young readers aged around 9+, this is a book about 10 year old Nathan and his ghost... And it's a great little story that I really enjoyed!

There's a little peril, and one of the characters is a ghost who was murdered, but it's all sensitively done and not what you'd refer to as 'sad' particularly.

When young Nathan takes his metal detector out into the garden, he discovers it causes a ghost to become visible. The ghost is called Charlie and claims he was murdered by a neighbour a few years ago, and that Nathan is now in danger too.

Nathan's parents go away for a weekend and leave grown up big sister Thea in charge, along with her boyfriend Rob. They not only have to look after Nathan, but his step-sister Hattie too. I like all of these characters a lot. They aren't stereotyped, they're pretty normal, pretty cool, and all get along really well. It creates an atmosphere you kind of wish you could join in with.

Nathan is determined to show Charlie to Hattie, but lack of batteries for the metal detector, appointments and trips out keep interrupting his plan. He really wants to find out more about how Charlie died, and what the criminal neighbours are up to.

On a trip to a local nursing home, Nathan and Hattie meet a man who lived in their house before them. He is Monsieur Dupont, an elderly scientist who claims he is 128 years old, and that his most important and powerful invention could still be in Nathan's home, down in the cellar...

The story is great and I read this book in 2 sittings. I was keen to find out where it would go, and I felt a real connection to the characters. There is a lot going on, but it's really easy to follow and the writing is at an even tempo, rarely becoming over-excited or having many things happening on top of each other.

This is a book with a really unique and fascinating story mature enough for any 11 year old reader, but it will also suit a 9 year old who isn't overly-confident with chapter books. Everything that happens is bizarre, yet somehow believable, and although the books features a ghost throughout, he's one of the least scary characters you could ever encounter...

Charlie Palmer Says is written by Beverly Bowry and published by Matador Press. Available to buy now priced £6.99rrp from all good bookshops, including online at Amazon* (affiliate link below).

We were sent our copy of Charlie Palmer Says by Beverly Bowry for review. *Amazon links are affiliate, which means I earn a few pence as a thank you for my time if you order through my link, but you don't pay any extra.