BRILLIANT. I’ve been a fan of Fiona’s writing for years so I was already very excited for this book. It didn’t disappoint!

It’s very fast-paced, very witty, and has a solid thread of friendship holding it all together. The mystery plot is exciting and never loses pace, and I actually found myself holding my breath at the tension at some points. I honestly couldn’t put it down and raced through it in an afternoon.

A charming middle grade story that I think is also funny and interesting enough for young adults and grown ups. HUGE thumbs up.

Plus: bonus points for chips and golden retrievers.

Thanks Netgalley and Nosy Crow publishing for the ARC. I’ve already ordered my very own paperback copy and can’t wait to read it all over again!

Meet Lily. She and her mother have just moved from a city to a tiny seaside town called Edge, and everyone from said mother to her teacher are making demands of Lily that she make new friends. It turns out that she doesn't have any say in the matter, for while pretending when phoning home that she was with someone called Emily, she is unaware her neighbour, Sam, is just about to make herself known, and in a big way. But where does Emily come from? Well, Lily used that name because of what she'd just stumbled into – a mysterious collection of the most mundane objects, in some converted houses behind a most unassuming door, in a place calling itself 'The Museum of Emily'. Sam is completely unaware of this 'museum', too, leaving the two girls to make sure they leave no stone unturned in finding what's behind the intrigue...

While this quite brilliant set-up has been established, we've most economically been told a bit about Emily – that her mother has drowned, despite being a bit of a mermaid and despite the family coming from the line of Edge lighthousekeepers. But nothing explains the Museum, with its bulbs still glowing from the ceiling yet nothing more than exhibits and dust besides. Now, that economy does make for a perfectly page-turning mystery, but there is a little bit about it that makes me reluctantly say some things are too concise, pat and easy. Just witness the way the three investigators (for they've been joined by Jay with his perfect dark eyes and perfect dark braids) stumble upon a gang's ''base'', as if this needed a bit more Blytonising. (I'd already seen the fact that Sam lives with two fathers as a bit of ''look Enid, look what you could have had if you'd been a bit more progressive''.)

Witness too the way undeveloped photographs are no hurdle in their research – things do line up with a sign at the head of the queue saying ''unrealistic contrivance'' just that bit too often. The author also, as I saw the book at least, seems to take us through a whole montage of days at the investigative coalface, only to have Lily going to bed back on day one. But please, whatever you come away from this with, let it be the fact that these are mere nitpicks, and indicative of a larger flaw of mine, that I can discuss the negative til the cows come home, yet struggle with the positives.

And there are definitely, ''definitely'', positives here. The very discovery of the Museum, the mysterious man – lots of this delivers a frisson of enticing excitement. This is a perfectly judged mystery for the under-twelves, and so what if the author went pell-mell through it all leaving tiny flaws here and there? I damned well went pell-mell through it too – well, until not one but two jaw-dropping beats stopped me dead in my tracks. Sure, one had crossed my mind, but not in anything but the vaguest of ways – mostly because of the momentum and the page-turning qualities.

It will be the adult readers who see the clunk as the book shifts from Blyton of old to Blyton of today, with some of the joins not quite ideal. But this is a book that still survives an adult reading it, and does so with aplomb – this is far too good to rest in the hands of the target age brackets. The intended audiences will find this an outstanding pick, with the eye-boggling scenario delivered with that ideal, dark edge, and only a pause in proceedings for lashings and lashings of seaside chippy chips.

Absolutely charming seaside setting that just bounds off the page with thrilling chapters packed full of action as well! This book is a true testament to the meaning of family and friendships, and there wasn't a dull moment in the book. Any reader will happily got lost in the mystery and riddles along with Lily, Sam, and Jay.

A fast paced,middle grade, mystery, adventure book. It has all the essentials needed for a story set by the ocean, mystery, treasure, pirates and the dangers of the rough seas. It would make a lovely summer holiday read!

What child couldn't relate to the group of friends in this book? They were querky, quick witted, curious and at times brave. I felt some of the parental characters and scenes didn't really need to feature in this story i.e., Jay's mum's interrogation of Lily. I'm also unsure about the number of times these children escaped their houses in the middle of the night via a shimmy down the drain pipe.

I felt the story had 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' vibe, with the antagonist always lurking around in the bad situations, determined to take back a family fortune they believe is rightfully their's.

The ending was a beautiful touch and highlighted the underlying message which is resonated throughout the story - the importance of family and friendship.

I will definitely be recommending this to my more able readers in my class.

I loved this book, I think it is so impressive as a children's mystery it is next level from other books I have read in this genre. Well written, fast paced, twisty and unpredictable. I loved it and I couldn't put it down. It was totally compelling.