This is a book about an orphaned girl with a gift to talk to spirits -- and that includes the spirits of her dead parents. The illustration at the beginning of the book gripped me before I even started reading it. Then the witty writing took over and I was blown away by it. It gives off some "Wednesday" vibe in an even more comical way. I am sure my students would love it.

I loved this book - it was funny, fast paced and spooky with atmospheric illustrations.
Mallory's parents have died tragically but, as she's got the ability to see and talk to ghosts, she isn't missing them yet. Great start to the book then it's full of silly jokes/insults from a talking skull, evil shadows and lots of bones. Great character and place names too. Will be loved by middle grade readers who like their books creepy.

Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull is wonderfully different. It is a brilliantly engaging read. I wasn't too sure what to expect but I am so pleased that I was granted an early read as this is a delightfully entertaining read with just the right amount of spookiness and bucketfuls of humour. I absolutely love Maggoty's comedic interjections. The characters and the storyline will certainly appeal to readers and I can see this becoming a favourite readaloud story. Definitely would highly recommend. 
Huge thanks to Nosy Crow and NetGalley for an early read.

Mallory Vayle's story was cute in its darkness. Mallory confidently loves books about ponies in juxtaposition of the necromancy she excels at. The book is full of silly jokes and Maggoty skull's fowl language in an attempt to make children giggle and get creative. It definitely will suit the likes of fans of Netlix's Wednesday. I found it depreciatory towards young readers' capacity, but it got better towards the end. I wouldn't say it was predictable, but it wasn't jaw-dropping the way the story went.
It was enjoyable and a little spooky read, that will be perfect for the upcoming Halloween.

Up until her parents dies in a mysterious accident, Mallory Vayle had been careful about hiding her psychic talents, more interested in books about ponies than dead people. But now her parents are ghosts and she has to move in with her Aunt Lilith, a charlatan psychic. As if that wasn't bad enough, the evil spirit of Hellysh Spatzl haunting her aunt's house snatches her parents away and theatens them with unending torture if Mallory doesn't use her talents to bring back the old hag to life.
Oh, and Mallory is actually more than a pscyhic, she's a necromancer, as revealed gleefully by Maggoty, a cheeky haunted skull with a taste for flamboyant wigs. Maggoty is also, to Mallory's despair, the only being who can teach her how to use her necromancer's skills.
It seems that Mallory has no other choice than making a pact with Hellysh while planning a Halloween spectacular with her aunt. Can she save her parents and defeat Hellysh? She will have to learn to embrace qho she really is...

Mallory Vale and the Curse of Maggoty Skull is a glorious MG horror, full of atmosphere, spookiness and humour. Mallory seems at first helpless, victim of her circumstances, but as the story progresses and she embraces who she is, she dazzles those around her, and the readers! A veru chilling and exciting ride indeed. I can't wait for more adventures featuring Mallory and Maggoty.

This is more gothic than the Addams family having tea in a graveyard.

The humour balances out the creepiness. I’m sure I’m alone in finding Maggoty’s modern- day vernacular slightly jarring, given the setting, but his levity was appreciated.

The foreboding and suspense will be loved by middle-grade readers and I’m glad that there are the right amount of goulish scares - this is a perfect read for Halloween.

Deliciously dark and absolutely perfect for UKS2. There is plenty of spookiness and humour cunningly scattered throughout the entire story. I warmed to Mallory immediately and thought Maggoty Skull the perfect lovable rogue. The gorgeous black and white illustrations are perfect for this story and bring the vivid description of Martin Howard to life perfectly.
I'll definitely be keep an eye open to see what Martin Howard writes next.