The Tower Ghost

A brilliant book that will have you totally engrossed until the end

-- Sarah Crossan

hugely atmospheric and very immersive - the setting seemed to come to life as I read … deftly plotted and skilfully written

-- Sinead O’Hart

Fans of Robin Stevens will love The Tower Ghost by Natasha Mac A Bháird, a cracking boarding school mystery ... a rollercoaster of a read! 

-- Sarah Webb

If you have a Murder Most Unladylike fan at home, this book is a must … Sometimes mystery novels for this age group can be a bit tame, but not this one. There is revenge, intrigue, affairs of the heart and genuine peril

-- Sarah Webb, Irish Independent

#BookOfTheWeek - A spooky murder mystery set in an Irish boarding school run by nuns – what’s not to set readers’ hearts racing in Natasha Mac a’Bháird’s new novel? … As a murder mystery, this is very satisfying indeed, well-plotted, full of genuine danger for our young detectives, and completely gripping. The appearances of the ghost become more poignant and urgent as the plot unfolds. The girls themselves feel very real, their friendship and the wider cast of characters as credible as the detective story. The 1960s setting gives it an increased sense of place

-- Books for Keeps

I adore boarding school stories, and I'm patiently waiting for Natasha to hurry up and write book 2! All the classic elements of boarding school tales are present in young Clare's life: there is much detail about all the meals and snack boxes, there is plenty of friendship but it is not all smooth sailing which makes it all the more interesting … I was positively delighted by the major twist at the end which I hadn't seen coming making the true culprit a wonderful surprise. I already want to re-read it to see if I can spot any clues of who it is

-- @NayusReadingCorner

The Tower Ghost, the first book in the Sycamore Hill Mystery series, is wonderfully nostalgic but with modern sensibilities … The detail of boarding school life is rich and immersive … immensely enjoyable and a real page-turner. Highly recommended

-- @GetKidsIntoBooks

an engaging historical mystery that keeps readers guessing until the final pages. With incredibly likeable characters, a sinister mystery and all the charm of boarding school, children will be begging for time to read “just one more chapter”. I hope this will become a series with more adventures with the Sycamore Hill girls

-- Scope for Imagination

a brilliantly spooky, gripping mystery set in a 1960s Irish Boarding School where danger lurks, friendships grow and truths unfold … perfect for readers of 9+ who are sure to be enthralled by this intriguing story … I absolutely loved this spine-tingling, atmospheric mystery which had me on the edge-of-my-seat as I followed its unravelling by three daring and determined young sleuths. I loved the twists and turns, the secrets and revelations, and was never sure of the culprit. I could really feel the growing sense of danger as the girls move ever closer to revealing the truth, delving into the past and revealing truths that others would prefer to remain hidden … An absorbing, atmospheric boarding school mystery, and the start of what promises to be a fantastic new series

-- @BookCraic

Fans of a good boarding school mystery story will be more than satisfied with this series opener that has all the hallmarks of a comforting Blyton story while simultaneously building to a tense and gripping thriller

-- Irish Examiner

certainly an exciting read … with each turn of the page, the reader is hooked … with its accessible writing style and themes of intrigue, adventure and friendship, as well as an enigmatic case to solve, this book is sure to be popular with readers who like an adventure with a dash of danger

-- Inis Magazine

a real homage to Enid Blyton’s school stories - Malory Towers, St Clare’s crossed with a little bit of Secret Seven mystery, amazing for fans of Robin Stevens

-- Elaina Ryan of Children's Books Ireland on Ireland AM

the twists and turns are expertly plotted … Mac A Bhaird is an assured writer and the child (and adult) reader is in good hands with this textured, gripping and sensitive read

-- InTouch Magazine

This is the first book in a new series, the Sycamore Hill Mysteries, and it is perfect for any fans of Robin Stevens’ Murder Most Unladylike books. It has twists and turns galore, a boarding school in a creepy castle, dark secrets and a mystery for our hero Clare and her new friends at Sycamore Hill to solve. With the boarding school setting, this feels very much reminiscent of Enid Blyton’s St Clare’s or Malory Towers series at a glance but is quite dark in theme so we recommend it for age 11 and upwards

-- Childrensbooksireland.ie

perfect for people … who love Robin Stevens or Enid Blyton

-- RTE Radio 1’s Oliver Callan show, recommendation from a listener

with an accessible writing style, themes of intrigue and friendship, as well as an enigmatic case to solve, this book is sure to be popular with readers who like an adventure with a dash of danger

-- Children's Books Ireland’s Annual Reading Guide