January, by Gabrielle Lord

With superhuman strength, the sick man tore himself away from the medics’ hold. His eyes were wide with terror. ‘If you don’t disappear, you’re going to have to survive them for a whole year! Do you realise what that means? They’re going to be after you for 365 days! Week after week! Day after day!’

Callum Ormond’s life is thrown into chaos when, on New Year’s Eve, he is chased by a seemingly crazy man who warns Callum that he must disappear – or else be pursued by unnamed pursuers for the next year. Callum doesn’t know what the man is talking about, but in the days that follow he almost drowns, his house is robbed and he is framed for the attempted murder of his little sister. Suddenly the crazed man’s warning seems terrifyingly accurate.

January is the first title in a bold new series from Aussie crime writer Gabrielle Lord and Scholastic books. Conspiracy 365 will consist of 12 books released one a month for twelve months, with action packed instalments in Callum’s adventure. The story is pacy and is complemented by a website with games, blogs and competitions which will appeal to young readers aged ten to fourteen.

An intriguing concept which will be interesting to follow throughout 2010.

January (Conspiracy 365)

January (Conspiracy 365), by Gabrielle Lord
Scholastic, 2010

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Monkey Undercover, by Gabrielle Lord

Gusty and her younger sister, Paula, perched high up in the large mulberry tree at the end of the lane. Well-hidden amongst the dense leaves, Gusty watched through her father’s binoculars as Skull, leader of the Black Commando motorcycle gang, kick-started his powerful Harley Davidson.

When Gusty and her siblings find a mistreated dog chained in the yard of some bikies, they decide they have to do something about it. But when they liberate the dog in a night time raid, they have little idea of the magnitude of the events they are becoming involved in.

Soon Gusty, Paula, their brother Sebastian and their friends Todd and Elizabeth, find themselves investigating a smuggling ring, and putting their lives on the line to rescue a mistreated monkey. But have they bitten off more than they can chew?

Monkey Undercover is an exciting new novel for younger readers from one of Australia’s leading writers of crime fiction for adults, Gabrielle Lord. Lord uses a mix of action, danger and humour, in a blend children aged 10 and over are likely to love.

Parents and teachers may wish to screen this one before reading – some of the things the children get up to in order to solve a crime are a little worrying from a parental viewpoint – but, of course, good triumphs in the end and the baddies are brought to justice.

An exciting read.

Monkey Undercover, by Gabrielle Lord
Scholastic Australia, 2006