A ghost lurks in the tower above the first year dormitory at Sycamore Hill. Can Clare, Rose and Molly solve the mystery – before a killer strikes again?

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

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

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

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

#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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Natasha Mac a’Bháird is a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of the bestselling wedding planning guide, The Irish Bride’s Survival Guide, as well as The Irish Bridesmaid's Guide. Her first two children’s books, Missing Ellen and Olanna’s Big Day, were both chosen for the White Ravens Collection. Her other children's books include Reindeer Down, Hannah in the Spotlight and Starring Meg. Lauren O’Neill is an illustrator and graphic designer based in Dublin. Originally from Wexford, she moved to Dublin to study in NCAD and stayed. Her work has appeared across a wide variety of areas from advertising campaigns to storybooks and gallery exhibitions. She has illustrated Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, winning the Children’s Books Ireland Merit Award for Illustration, and Blazing a Trail which won the Children's Book of the Year (senior) Irish Book Award in 2018. www.laurenipsum.ie