Solve Your Own Mystery: The Monster Maker; Gareth P. Jones, illustrated by Louise Forshaw

It’s the morning after the day before and Dr Franklefink is not happy as a fiendish crime has been committed. During his son Monty’s party, someone has stolen his precious family heirloom, The Monster Maker. You are the latest assistant to yeti detective and private investigator, Karl Solstaag, and it is your job to track down the culprit. In the Shady Side of town, everyone is up to no good; there are tricksy witches, goblins with criminal pasts and vampires with grudges. Make your notes, jot down the clues, draw connections and come to your own conclusions. There’s a thief out there and a Monster Maker in the wrong hands is a very dangerous thing…

I was born in the 80’s and choose your own adventure books made up a healthy part of my reading diet, the ‘Knightmare’ books - a spin-off from the TV series of the same name - were my absolute favourites and I would read them again and again making different choices and having new adventures.

This new series from Gareth P. Jones and illustrated by Louise Forshaw took me back to my childhood and I absolutely loved it. Those readers who are after something a bit different where they are in control of their reading destiny will love this series and will thoroughly enjoy immersing themselves in adventures where their decisions have consequences. Was a visit to Creepy Pete’s Pizzeria the right choice? Did a jolly to the school give you the answers you were after? Would things have turned out differently had you visited the goblins instead of the witches?

That’s the great thing - you can read it again and again, choose differently, see where you go, and learn new things along the way. What makes this series different from the books of my childhood is that no matter what choices you make, you solve the mystery every time and are not met with those fateful and frustrating words…GAME OVER.

Fabulously imaginative, deliciously dark, fiendishly clever and packed with all things weird and wonderful, this is creep-tastic fun. Readers will feel right at the heart of the adventure as they play  the part of a super sleuth examining the crime scene, interrogating suspects, chasing down monsters and visiting various shady locations. Fail to impress the boss and he is quick to berate you for your amateurish detective work.

The spook-a-licious illustrations from Forshaw are a real treat and bring alive characters and locations and are the perfect accompaniment to the quirky, humorous and at times grisly tone set by Jones. Glorious stuff!

With huge thanks to Walker for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended for 8+.