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.

A few weeks ago, I travelled down to London for a bookish event with a friend and fellow blogger. Our conversation on the train was, of course, dominated by talk of children’s books and it rapidly turned to what we were looking forward to in 2025, with this title very firmly on both of our lists. Very envious when a proof found its way to her, I was delighted when I saw it added to the virtual shelves of NetGalley and immediately requested it.

Usually a reasonably patient person, I think it’s fair to say that I *might* have checked my emails a little more regularly than I usually do while I was waiting for approval and when the message came it was heralded by much excitement, much to Mr S’s bemusement. A thrilling adventure, this is different in its premise from the author’s other reads but is – as you would expect if you have read her other books – gripping, entertaining and full of rich details that will have you hooked from the very beginning as we enter a world in which a secret group of individuals exists who have the ability to open doors in time.

Many of us might be displeased at having time spent enjoying our hobby interrupted by an attack from a parent but for budding pianist Sim, intercepting the wooden staff that his mother Callidora has thrown at him from the doorway is all part and parcel of the regular martial arts practice she plans for him. Telling him that it is time that they started to clean the London museum in which their accommodation is located, Sim wonders what has made his mother insist on his training when their lives are so mundane and safe but follows her downstairs nonetheless. When the pair of them hear the voices of visitors that should not be there after closing time, Sim’s mum looks concerned and tells him that they need to head to the Picture Room straight away.

Hiding themselves there until the visitors have gone Sim is at a loss to explain what is going on, but the following day Callidora tells her son that she has taken some time off and that they need to leave because they are no longer safe at the museum. When they are followed, Callidora manages to give their pursuers the slip on the underground and takes Sim to a place of safety where she explains to him that she has the ability to open doors that lead to another time and tells him about the mysterious Council of Keys – a secret organisation of people in possession of that power.

When it becomes clear that the Council are searching for the golden heart scarab buried with long-dead pharaoh Nefertiti, Sim and Callidora decide that they must put a stop to the organisation’s plans. But the two of them will need the help of others to travel back in time to discover the artefact first and not everyone that they meet will be on their side. Can the two of them locate a door that will allow them to travel back to Ancient Egypt to find the precious scarab and prevent the Council’s sinister operatives gaining hold of it? And even if they can, will they be able to find their way back again?

I love a time travel adventure and here the device is used to great effect because, unlike in most stories, it is individuals who have been born with the power to travel through the doors, rather than any Tom, Dick or Harry who has invented – or has access to – some sort of device such as the TARDIS in Doctor Who. Not only this, but there is no concurrent travel through space, as is often the way, making Sim and his companions’ story all the more exciting because for Callidora’s plans to work, they have first of all to find the correct door. By imposing strict limits on how the doors work, the author has made her story all the more credible and I am really excited to see how this will develop as we move through the series.

It’s so lovely to see that this will be illustrated – something that is very slowly becoming more common in middle grade reads. The advance copy I read didn’t have Manuel Šumberac’s final artwork in it, but having seen his sketches there and a select few finished pictures on Twitter/X that the author shared, I know that they will be stunning and only serve to add to readers’ pleasure, making this a fabulous treat for those picking it up.

Perfect for confident readers in Year 4 upwards as a solo read, this would make a great shared story too, at home or in class, and I know that there will be many who race through this, as I did, and will then be in desperate need for Book 2, The Legend of Viking Thunder, for which publication is scheduled for 11th September 2025.

Before then, my enormous thanks go to publisher Macmillan Children’s Books and to NetGalley for my advance, virtual read. Hunt for the Golden Scarab publishes 30th January.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillian for giving me an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.

This novel was sold as a fun time-hopping an adventure through Ancient Egypt and yeah- it is that but not at the same time.

The story follows Sim as after one fateful day, he realises his mum is not who she says she is but in fact, can travel through time thanks to a special ability where music can be used to open doors in time. So far; so standard. The plot isn't very original and fails to strike a balance between taking itself far too seriously and no seriously at all. The characters save the piece, being fun, distinct, and really the only reason to keep with this book.

A large issue I had, also, was that the pacing is completely off the mark. The author seems to interested in their own lore that it takes 100+ pages for us to even get into Ancient Egypt. And for a book about Ancient Egypt, that's not great. A lot could have been shaved off and would have greatly benefited from doing so.

Was I disappointed? Yes. This book had a great concept and a great writer behind it but overall, failed to hit the mark. I'd only pick this up if you're desperate for more books about Ancient Egypt.