The Sackville Street Caper

what a terrific read … such fun

-- Sarah Webb

evokes Victorian Dublin for young readers with gothic glee. Starring a young Bram Stoker as he seeks adventure on the city streets, Nolan takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to influence that will delight the informed reader. More importantly, he has crafted a rollicking story that any young adventure-loving reader will warm to…From the clever chapter titles to the infinitely interesting characters (including the lovable Billy the Pan), Nolan has married attention to detail with a dollop of cinematic fun. The Sackville Street Caper is the perfect page-turner for the midterm break

-- Irish Times

The future author of Dracula has run away from boarding school and looking for adventure, as inspiration for the book he is yet to write. He finds adventure almost immediately when he falls victim to a gang of pickpockets straight out of Oliver Twist but Bram, smelling of fish guts and rotten cockles after falling into a fishmonger’s pit while chasing the robbers, is then given shelter by Molly in a shack on Mud Island. She was a fishmonger - and sure ‘twas no wonder - but Molly is also one of the Sackville Street Spooks, who “glide like ghosts” through the crowds of Dublin’s wealthy, picking a pocket or two in order to survive. Spookier than the Spooks, though, is the chillingly-titled Count Vladimir Grof-Constantin de Lugosi, who is also haunting the streets of Dublin’s fair city … Bram and Molly are on the case in a madcap escapade in which real-life people and places pop up among the fictional action from the fertile imagination of Wicklow-based author Alan Nolan

-- The Echo

With Halloween just around this corner, this satirically humoured novel is a lovely little amuse-bouche for the spooky season. Recommended for ages nine and up

-- Irish Examiner

Gothic Dublin and one of its literary heroes, Bram Stoker, are brought to life in Alan Nolan’s latest children’s novel The Sackville Street Caper. Here we meet the writer as a schoolboy on the mitch from his boarding school in Howth. Heading into Dublin city centre for adventure, he treads a path through historic Dublin sites … Nolan’s book is playfully plucky in the way it draws a line backwards from Stoker’s literary hits, which peaked with the publication of Dracula in 1897, to this speculative childhood adventure. What it does most successfully, however, is bring Stoker’s life and work to the attention of an audience unfamiliar with his oeuvre

-- Business Post

Brilliant characters, puns and wordplay galore, rotten fish, nappies, ghosts — this cracking book has it all

-- Irish Independent

highly recommend

-- Caroline Busher on Ireland AM, Virgin TV

a laugh-out-loud tale with a cast of characters you will love. A funny, fast-paced adventure

-- Kathleen Macadam, Halfway Up the Stairs in the Sunday Times Ireland

when Bram Stoker runs away from boarding school and meets streetwise Molly Malone, he finds all the excitement he’s ever wanted! Together they explore Dublin city, with its Sackville Street Spooks, hoodlums and heroes

-- Dublin City Libraries

I savoured this rolicking and original caper by @AlNolan. It's packed with quirky characters, great banter and high jinks. I miss Molly Malone, now it's over! Can't recommend this enough, for all ages

-- Ellen Ryan

teams an 11-year-old Bram Stoker with Molly Malone as they foil a wicked plan to steal Dublin Castle’s crown jewels

-- Westmeath Examiner

If you’re looking for an exciting Irish book for a child this Christmas, I can’t say enough good things about this by @AlNolan. A girl Molly Malone meets a boy Bram Stoker and they become amateur sleuths together in Victorian era Dublin. Original and hilarious 

-- Paul Howard

We follow the adventures of a young 11-year-old boy called Bram who meets an accomplished sneak thief called Molly Malone and her crew. The book is brimming with excitement, humour and adventure as we follow the journey of these children on an important mission. While accompanying Molly and Co through the majestic streets of Dublin, we get a real feel for a city steeped in tradition and history. As the story progresses, we are introduced to some interesting characters who add to the plot of the story. We eagerly await the ending which does not disappoint and keeps us on the edge of our seat. The story shows that friendship can withstand even the greatest obstacles. This book is suitable for children aged 9-12 and would be a great addition to any school library - Review by Terri O’Donovan, Co Donegal

-- InTouch Maga