These are both Walker Books – thanks to the publisher for sending them for review

Mermedusa
Thomas Taylor

In this the fifth and final book in the Eerie-on-Sea mystery series, it’s midwinter once more and nigh on a year since Violet Parma appeared in Herbert Lemon’s Lost and Foundry at the Grand Nautilus Hotel. She had come searching for her parents but in so doing found Herbie, now a firm friend and herself, as Herbie tells her. The mystery of her parents’ disappearance remains unsolved however as the story begins.

I’ve not read any of the previous books in the series but that didn’t stop me quickly getting sucked into this wonderfully written, powerfully atmospheric, gripping tale with its truly memorable characters. Apart from Herbie and Violet, it would be impossible to forget the truly sinister Sebastian Eels, who keeps appearing in unexpected places as the two friends get ever closer to understanding the Deepest Secret of Eerie. New arrivals in town are three monster hunters cum hosts of the Anomalous Phenomena podcast, Professor Newts, Angela Song and sound-man, Fluffy Mike. Their aim is to discover the legend of the Malamander and share it with the whole world. There’s another monster too in the form of the titular Mermedusa.

What is the source of the “Eerie hum” that seems to be calling the Malamander from the deep and is making things to go wrong in town?

Action-packed, there are scary happenings aplenty, and some downright eerie ones in addition to that hum; a number of secrets are unravelled, some reunions take place and with Herbie being a ‘Lost and Founder’ there’s no doubt that whatever comes to light will be largely down to him – and Violet of course.

The Stars Did Wander Darkling
Colin Meloy

This decidedly eerie story is set in Oregon, in a small run-down coastal town called Seaham, where many streets and landmarks are named after the Langdons, a wealthy 19th-century fur-trading family. In this town live Archie, Oliver, Chris, and Athena. who are all looking forward to the summer break and going camping. Archie’s dad is in charge of a multimillion-dollar project to develop part of the headlands including the old Langdon house into a resort, upsetting many in the community, but it’s been paused since excavation revealed the promontory to be full of holes. Nobody will really tell the four friends anything so they take it upon themselves to do some investigating, especially after Archie sees: an elderly woman who mutters, “They shoulda left it hid,”.

But then strange happenings arise: Oliver gets some kind of ’episode’ that results in him being hospitalised. There he gets other more vivid visions as he calls them. As well as that there’s some strange behaviour from local adults with parents smelling decidedly odd and the arrival of three Shelley-quoting newcomers in old-fashioned clothes.

The friends decide to head to the local video shop, Movie Mayhem and there Randy, the proprietor, produces a box of photographs and old film from way back and also shares with them his local historic knowledge

Tension continues to build with the ever increasing weirdness and odd aroma of people, and events – why does Oliver keep seeing a zebra? Can some ancient evil be at the heart of all this? If so, can the four friends save their town?

Some of this gave me the feeling a horror movie was unfolding before my eyes, so creepy are the happenings. I’d say this is most appropriate for readers of eleven and over rather than 9+.