New from Waterstones Prize-shortlisted author-illustrator team, Lucy Strange and Pam Smy: a spirited series of “cosy gothic” mysteries, starring supernatural sleuths, Lockett & Wilde.

“This book has more shadowy mysteries than twelve graveyards and more delicious twists than my favourite pretzel. All hail Lockett & Wilde!” Lemony Snicket

"Wildly funny." Ben Miller

Matilda Lockett is used to playing the role of Poor Dead Edna on stage with her spirit-medium aunt, Signora Valentina, and theatrical uncle Barnabus – but when they all decamp to Beauchamp Manor to deal with a most dreadful haunting, she discovers she really can see ghosts! There she meets ghost boy, Edgar Wilde, who shares her love of supernatural snooping, and together they set about unravelling the case of The Ghosts of the Manor.

Classic spooky mystery reimagined for fans of cosy crime by the Waterstones Prize and Carnegie-shortlisted creators, Lucy Strange and Pam Smy. You'd have to be DEAD not to love it...

Perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket and Robin Stevens

Stunning colour-illustrated storytelling

"A stunningly spooky mystery." Maz Evans, author of Who Let the Gods Out?
"Funny, spooky and cosy - I loved it!" Andy Stanton, author of Mr Gum

First in a series for 8+, this atmospherically illustrated story is comic, cosy and just eerie enough for a satisfying frisson. * The Guardian *
“[a] well-told new series... The ghost story has morphed into humour and mystery and is delightfully embellished by the illustrators’ illustrator, Pam Smy.” * The Sunday Times *
An enchanting new cosy gothic mystery series * Waterstones September’s Best Children’s Books 2024 *
“This book has more shadowy mysteries than twelve graveyards and more delicious twists than my favorite pretzel. All hail Lockett & Wilde * Lemony Snicket *
"A BRILLIANT new series of spooky mysteries! I loved the warmth and the wildly funny characters - especially Colin the rather naughty parakeet - and of course our dynamic sleuthing duo Matilda Lockett and Edgar Wilde!" * Ben Miller *
A deliciously spooky tale. * The Week Junior *
"A stunningly spooky mystery where every pen stroke is perfect and leaps off the page. A veritable showstopper." * Maz Evans *
"Funny, spooky and cosy - I loved it!" * Andy Stanton *
The tale is brilliantly brought to life with illustrations that’ll get your spine tingling just as much as the plot will. * First News *
Lockett and Wilde is a delicious romp through fake and real supernatural goings on... A sprightly mix of spooky midnight shivers rippled through a Wodehousian crime caper comedy. Sure to delight anyone with a curious bone in their body, living or dead. * AF Harrold *

Lucy Strange is the bestselling author of The Secret of Nightingale Wood, the award-winning Our Castle by the Sea and other historical middle grade. Her books capture elements of classic children’s literature in a style that is engaging and accessible for today’s readers. Often inspired by the gothic genre, folklore and fairy tales, Lucy combines British landscapes and historical settings with touches of the supernatural, creating convincing worlds in which anything might happen... Right now, Lucy is probably sitting in her writing shed at the bottom of her garden, gazing out over the misty meadows of the Kent countryside, dreaming up her next fantastical tale.
Pam Smy is the award-winning author-illustrator of Thornhill (shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal and the Waterstones Children's Book Prize) and The Hideaway. She has illustrated many other books for children and is Senior Lecturer on the MA in Children's Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art.