Great start to a new series. Thrilling and fast paced, with lots of fun facts about Ancient Egyptians. Perfect for the age group.

This is a highly entertaining story for young readers about Sim and his mother Callidora, who live a somewhat odd life, (currently based in a small London flat, despite a series of earlier moves for which Sim does not know the real reason).

When a mysterious incident in the museum where his mother works leads to an incredible time travel adventure where Sim find himself in real danger but vibrantly alive amidst the surroundings of ancient Egypt, he begins to understand the secret his mother has been keeping.. Great fun and it gets 3.5 stars.

A brilliantly exciting book that is guaranteed to keep readers gripped. I can’t wait for the 2nd book in the series!

Absolute MGLeonard genius. She never fails to blow my socks off, cracking story, totally engrossing and extremely well written as always. Can’t wait for more.

A captivating time travel adventure - music, magic, martial arts and Ancient Egypt. Loved this cleverly crafted story and loved the history at the back (and woven throughout). The cover is wow too! Can't wait for the next instalment.

Goodness me I like MG Leonard's stories and this is so good. We do an Egyptians topic at school at this will be bought to add to the books for that. The illustrations by Manuel Sumberac suit the text and are dotted throughout the book.

Sim and his mum Callidora live in London, in a small flat. Callidora works as a cleaner at the Sir John Soane Museum, and is a martial arts teacher. Over the past couple of years Sim has gone to school but before that he was home schooled as they moved a lot. Sim's first and best friend is called Nelson. Nelson thinks Callidora is a spy!
While cleaning the museum one day (and practising their fighting technique, they hear Mrs Armitage talking to two men, who say they are from the British Museum, Callidora pulls Sim away but her shoes are on the floor - they run. They are in a corridor - Callidora plays a penny whistle from her pocket, Sim feels really sick, and all of a sudden they are in a room with Sir John Soane (who died 200 years before!). He asks why she is they and she just says they are in trouble. Sir John sends her into a room beyond the bookcase panelling. He says he'll stay, but they must go. Before the door closed Sim saw Sir John put a green book inside a fake book and onto the bookshelf.
The two men get into the room with Sir John, he introduces himself and says they are looking for Nefertiti's Golden Scarab. Sir John takes them off to another room and Sim and his Mum leave the panelled hiding place.. Back through the wall and then home.
Nelson and Sim discuss Callidora's odd behaviour the next day. Sim says she can't be a spy she's never left him anywhere. Later the boys return to the museum. Sim opens the picture room with his mother's museum keys. Nothing is as it was last night. But Sim found the diary Sir John was reading - and they take it. At home though, Callidora tells Sim to pack they need to move and he should change into dark clothes. Sim took the museum keys as they leave. Callidora tells him they are going to find Uncle Emmett - who is a "liar and a thief" and "cannot be trusted".
Turns out Sim has cousins too. One in particular is with Uncle Emmett, Jeopardy. Callidora tell Emmett the "Council" have caught up with her but they don't know about Sim. Emmett knows the Council are hunting for the scarab in several time zones, but no one knows where her tomb is. It sounds as if Emmett would like to find it too! But they need to find a Professor Wallis and he is in Egypt. Neither of the children understand all this interest in doors - Sim explains that they walked straight through some panelling at the museum.
The next thing they know for sure is they are going to Egypt...
What is happening? Who is Penhooligan, and why does he want Callidora? What is a Key?
Can they steer clear of Penhooligan when in Egypt? What are they going to do there?

This book is amazing. It's a mystery story, it's history based, it has myth and legend and martial arts. Oh yes and a lying, untrustworthy uncle! And his equally opposite daughter who is a fabulous character. Love the relationship between Sim and Jeopardy and between them and Callidora.

A gripping story. A mixture of facts and a mystery story which winds through history. Great characters.

MG Leonard has done it again - a romp of a time-travelling adventure as Sim and his cousin visit Ancient Egypt and meet Tutankhamun on their hunt for a golden scarab, hidden in Nefertiti's tomb, followed closely by the Council of Keys.
If you enjoyed 'The Strangeworlds Travel Agency' then this is the book for you.

What a fabulous book. May be described as a children’s book but I’m far from being a child and adored it. I’ve been to Egypt and Valley of the Kings many times and I felt as if I was back there.
Sun and his mum are looking for Nefertiti’s golden scarab and he finds out his mum has the power to open doors into various times. The council of keys are after the scarab and then. The little insights into meeting Howard Carter and king Tut are so so good. Of course there are baddies at every turn. I couldn’t fault it

Hunt for the golden scarab
By M. G. Leonard
Published by Pan Macmillan

This first adventure instalment in the Time Keys mystery series by M. G. Leonard opens with Sim and friends asking questions about his mum's time-travelling secret.
Who knew she could travel back in time?

When dangerous strangers appear close by, Sim discovers why his mum has been keeping secrets: she has the power to open doors in time. So to protect her son, they go on the run! But all is not what it seems as family members show their true colours and danger follows them on their travels.

This adventure chapter book includes thrills alongside historical facts as Sim aims to save his family and the most precious piece of Ancient Egyptian treasure - the golden scarab. Good guys sit alongside bad guys and the thrills add up along the way.
A must read for children 8+ who love anything mysterious with twists and turns.

Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.
#Netgalley

Fantastic brand new Middle Grade novel from M.G. Leonard,

This book is filled with action, drama, love (familial and friendship) and mystery. We're taken on a complete journey from the first page and the fun and intrigue never stops.

I really enjoyed this fast-paced time-travelling adventure. Things I loved in this book include (but not limited to):

The use of music and musical instruments as a means for travelling through time as well as the concept of the time doors. I suspect we will learn more about this as the series progresses
I loved Sim’s mother and the fact that she is there throughout the story, and doesn’t have to be captured or missing or sick when she is not on the page. She didn’t stop Sim being the hero, but facilitates it.
Sim’s mother warns him against trusting his uncle. She’s right, of course, but his uncle is a good character and adds a lot to the story and I look forward to him having some sort of redemption arc.
Sim, his best friend Nelson, and cousin, Jeopardy, are a great team, and while Sim is the hero, Jeopardy (and Nelson to a lesser extent) are pretty good support.
It was interesting visiting Ancient Egypt and learning a little about Tutankhamun (A Key’s Guide to Ancient Egypt at the end of the book gives some more information)
Highly recommend this story for all who love middle grade adventures!

Oooooooh there's pictures! I've never been quiet about my love for pictures in books and I just wished more adult books had them as they add so much more to a book.

M.G Leonard's books are a reliable thing, stories that entertain everyone from my 9-year-old nephew to the 31-year-old me.

This book is so rich in colour in settings, characters, dangers and magic.

It feels nostalgic in a way, like it reminded me of the good adventure books I read as a child. This has the makings of a classic that children will be loving for years. It will become the book that they are reminded of when they are adults.

It is really well paced. It's important for children's books to be fast paced in my opinion, because their attention span can often be much shorter. But it can't be too rushed, because they will get a bit lost and then bored and not want to finish it. And I felt this was a real edge-on-your-seat, fast, firecracker of a story.

I am fascinated by Ancient Egypt, and whilst I'm aware this is a fictional children's story, and not an encyclopaedia of Ancient Egypt, it has really reignited my interest in the topic and I found myself going down some Google black holes whilst reading this.

Whilst I think it will be enjoyable for anyone, I think it would be particularly enjoyable for those interested in Ancient Egypt, especially if it's being taught in school lessons. You're not sitting there reading regurgitated facts. It doesn't feel like a history lessons. It's learning but in a fun way.

All of the characters were great - if not all nice. We've got the modern day characters, including children, which helps the young readers to relate. But then you've got the historical figures which adds to the fun, magical element. It was very interesting seeing the modern characters interact with these figures we only know about in writing.

It is so much fun; it's got everything you could want - action, adventure, heists, secrets, danger, fun, time travel, exploration, history, magic, deceit, just everything.

I am very much looking forward to the next in the series, and I could see it being a very successful TV series. It has an almost young Indiana Jones quality about it which will appeal to readers.

Hunt for the Golden Scarab is the first in a new, intriguing time travel series by master of mystery, M.G. Leonard. Intense from the very first page, readers are pulled into a high-stakes world of music, magic and quests for artefacts that can change the world.

Sim and his mum have never lived anywhere for long. Guarded, strong and full of secrets, Sim is only just beginning to understand the power his mum holds. She can open the doors of time and step through into the past. This power comes with great danger. The sinister Council of Keys are after them, hoping to find Nefertiti’s golden heart scarab before they do. An Ancient Egyptian symbol of rebirth, creation and eternal youth, the council believes it will allow them to be powerful forever.

When they are joined by Sim’s uncle, Emmett, and cousin, Jeopardy, Sim realises that being a “key” runs in the family – well, for everyone except him. Through the magical resonance of music, mum, Emmett and Jeopardy have the power to open hidden doors. But what about Sim? Music runs through him – he just needs to find a way to harness it.

Full of fascinating historical facts, Hunt for the Golden Scarab would make a wonderful accompaniment to a Key Stage 2 Ancient Egypt topic. Details about modern Egypt, Howard Carter’s discoveries and the real people of the past give insight and will prompt so much discussion about beliefs and burial practices.

“Time Keys” promises to be a fantastic series of high-stakes adventures that will entertain and intrigue readers from Year 4 onwards.

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Books & Netgalley UK for an early read of this brilliant book!

The children are long time fans of this exciting author. To say that they were excited would be an understatement. The book did not disappoint and was well received by the full age range. They still have not stopped playing music and singing in quiet areas of the house. How do I stop that ?

This was granted to me through NetGalley so thank you to the publisher for granting me approval. This was my second book by this author and this was a fun time :) I had not read a middle grade in a whole and I forget how fun they are to get through. I loved the ancient Egypt vibe I love this period in history and we don’t get fantasy that are set in Egypt very often so it’s really refreshing to see something different. I liked the characters and I really liked the relationship between Sim and his mum.

I loved the idea of the portals in time I thought was really fun and gave me doctor who vibes which I could tell and also the Indiana jones backdrop as well which was fun. And I also loved the amount of historical details about Egypt that were mentioned in this which I think is great for kids to learn about.

I am excited to continue on with the rest of the series and I wonder if we will visit any other periods of history which I love had a really good time with this one 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'm a fan of the author, having loved both the Twitch and Adventures on Trains series
I love the premise of this new series: using music to open secret doors to the past.
This, the first book, introduces Sim and his Mum. Living in a flat above a museum, they live a fairly solitary life, having moved around lots.
One evening, Sim discovers some strange goings on as they are forced to flee the flat.
Cut to an uncle and cousin he didn't know existed, and an adventure in ancient Egypt. Great historical information told in a fun way. The kids will love this book alongside their history work.
Can't wait for the next adventure.

As someone who grew up incredibly musical, and often finding the music in things were there were none (Literally, I learned my conjugation tables by making songs about them), this adventure appeals to my inner child wholeheartedly. Whilst a lot of children’s books, and books in general, require the protagonist to have a natural proclivity towards adventure, it was nice to see an adventure catered to those more musically gifted than physically so. My 9–12-year-old self would’ve adored this, and my imagination would’ve sent me everywhere trying to find a secret door with any of my instruments.

Sim and his mum are a brilliant duo – the first duo I want to focus in on from the novel. Their relationship is wonderfully special with each of them having a mutual respect and the things that make them unique alongside the love of mother and son. Oftentimes in children’s literature, it can feel as though the parent accepts things because they must as they’re a parent, and a supporting character in the novel, so why they love those things about their child is never highlighted. However, Leonard manages to showcase why Sim’s Mum finds him as marvellous as he is, and that is truly magical to see.

Sim and Jeopardy are the next duo I want to discuss. I ADORED their dynamic. I once received writing feedback on a piece of mine that I should make the male protagonist stronger and more decisive and the female sidekick demurer and less the leader because ‘it works less the other way around’. Boy, I wish I could show that person this novel and show them how BEAUTIFULLY it works! As someone who was fortunate enough to grow up around strong, powerful women, there’s a power for young boys and men to learning that they can be secure in the strength of the women around them and this novel highlights it brilliantly. Additionally, without giving any spoilers, this also works incredibly vice versa too.

Finally, the setting of Ancient Egypt and the time travel elements are SO much fun! I have a feeling a lot of young readers will find Hunt for the Golden Scarab, the most fun history lesson they’ve had in a long time. That is thanks to Leonard’s sensational ability to weave facts and history into the adventure. At no point in the prose do you stop and think, ‘Oh this is a history lesson’, the facts are woven so seamlessly that you finish the novel innately knowing more about Ancient Egypt than you did going into it. This is the true magic of historical fiction for me, and I LOVE how this has been achieved in this novel.

I’m incredibly excited to see what times and locations the Time Keys series takes Sim and Jeopardy and must congratulation M.G. Leonard on what’s sure to be another hit because this book is TIMELESS! Now, while you head off and pre-order a copy, I’ve off to play my trombone around the house hoping to find a time door…

I was really excited to receive this as an ARC. I’ve read all of MG Leonard’s books and she just has a way with words and storytelling.
Sim lives with his mum who has a great power. She can open doors in time. Sim and his mum are being trailed by the Council who govern the doors. They are in a mission to solve the mystery of the missing scarab and end up transporting back to ancient Egypt and searching through tombs. Piecing together clues along the way, can they solve the mystery without being caught?
So much research must have been carried out when writing this story and so much imagination is on display. Perfect for fans of mystery and adventure. Can’t wait for the next in the series!

An absolute brilliant read. This has everything you'd expect from an MG Leonard book; mystery, adventure, suspense and facts. I loved the historical element of this story. Who wouldn't want to be whisked off to ancient Egypt? Vivid story telling makes this a pure immersive joy of a read and I cannot wait for the next exciting instalment.
A perfect addition to any reading shelf but also a great way to enrich the KS2 history curriculum.