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The Fairy Detective Agency: The Matchbox Mysteries

Sally Gardner, Author

David Roberts, Illustrator

Series: The Fairy Detective Agency

Imprint: Orion Children's Books

Publication date: October 23, 2014

Category: Crime & Mystery Fiction

ISBN: 9781444010145

Series: The Fairy Detective Agency

Imprint: Orion Children's Books

Publication date: July 14, 2016

Category: Crime & Mystery Fiction

ISBN: 9781510101173

It’s Hallowe’en and Podgy Bottom is in trouble. All over town cars are being shrunk to the size of a matchbox in the blink of an eye; a giant purple bunny rabbit is running riot and a strange-looking broomstick is causing chaos and calamity… Sounds like a case for Wings & Co, the famous fairy detective agency! Can Emily, Budget and Fidget put a stop to this magical mischief before it’s too late?

Another fantastic story for younger readers from Sally Gardner, winner of the COSTA BOOK AWARD 2013, and acclaimed artist, David Roberts. If you loved David Walliams’s GANGSTA GRANNY, you’ll love these hilarious tales of mischief, mayhem, magic and mystery.

Reviews

I'd forgotten about the keys with feet, which are important in this clever detective story where there are some fairies missing their wings, fairies whose identities are surprising.

NAYU'S READING CORNER

This is a touching story that had me laughing out loud. I highly recommend this book, it is so much fun!

Bookbabblers blog

One of the most charming and quirky series for young readers around

The Bookseller

Sally Gardner successfully combines magic and a touch of fairy tale with a contemporary feel in this charming adventure story. The story moves at a fast pace but for me the delightful characters are the most enjoyable aspect of the book. The quirky illustrations by David Roberts are very much a part of the success of this book fitting the style of the story perfectly and bringing the characters to life. The short chapters and the many illustrations ensure that the book will appeal to newly independent readers but the use of language, wit, catchphrases and world play mean that this story would work well read aloud too. Emily and her gang are great fun and this series deserves to be a success.

thebookbag.co.uk

Wonderfully imaginative, full of quirky humour and delightfully illustrated.

www.parentsintouch.co.uk

this is just as good as the first book. There's so much fun and silliness here and once again David Roberts' illustrations are pitched perfectly. I think Sally Gardner has a real winner with this series. Younger readers will love it and parents won't mind reading it aloud either. Now, let's hope there's another one coming out soon.

www.jetowey.com

Absolutely charming

angelsandurchins.co.uk

Sally Gardner

Sally Gardner is an award-winning novelist from London. Her books have been translated into 22 languages and have sold more than one million copies in the UK. Her historical novel for older readers, I, Coriander, won the Smarties Children’s Book Prize in 2005. Two thrillers both set at the time of the French Revolution, The Red Necklace and The Silver Blade, which was shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize in 2009, followed. Actor Dominic West (The Wire) has bought the film rights to both titles. Her YA novel, The Double Shadow, was published in 2011 to critical acclaim. Sally Gardner’s stories for middle readers include Lucy Willow and the popular Magical Children series of six titles: The Strongest Girl in the World, The Invisible Boy, The Boy with Magic Numbers, The Smallest Girl in the World, The Boy with the Lightning Feet, and The Boy who could Fly, which are also available as audio books. She has also written and illustrated picture books including The Fairy Catalogue, The Glass Heart, The Book of Princesses and Playtime Rhymes. Sally Gardner continues to be an avid spokesperson for dyslexia, working to change the way it is perceived by society. She is dyslexic and argues that it is not a disability, but a gift.

Her website is www.sallygardner.net and you can follow her on Twitter @TheSallyGardner

David Roberts

David Roberts is a hugely successful illustrator who has illustrated books by Philip Ardagh, Julia Donaldson, Jacqueline Wilson and Chris Priestley. He’s also the creator of Dirty Bertie and the NEW YORK TIMES bestselling artist of picture books IGGY PECK, ARCHITECT and ROSIE REVERE, ENGINEER. David lives in London.