Valley of Secrets - Softcover

Hussey, Charmian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0340894911 ISBN 13: 9780340894910

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books, 2004

Abandoned as a baby, Stephen had nearly given up hope of ever finding his family. This epic adventure follows his change in fortunes as he receives an unexpected letter from a strange source and sets off on an unforgettable journey. From a drab room in London, where the rain confirms the greyness of his life, Stephen travels to a Cornish Valley; remote, exquisitely beautiful and heavy with secrets.

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Review:

Aimed at both children and adults, this book is a celebration of the English countryside, a suspenseful mystery and an ecological adventure all rolled into one. Never hurried, but rarely dull, the story unfolds in short, considered chapters and depicts the hidden world it s magical Cornish location with considerable skill.

In many ways, The Valley of Secrets is a life s work for author Charmian Hussey. Her debut novel began life as a modest, locally-published volume. Inspired by the childhood fantasies of her son, now in his thirties, Hussey s book was seized upon by book collectors and began to change hands for four-figure sums. This new, mainstream edition brings her story to a wider audience and, importantly, it deserves attention.

It is the story of a teenage boy called Stephen Lansbury who, after living his whole life in care homes in London, is informed by a crusty old solicitor (who could have been lifted from a Dickens novel) that he is the sole beneficiary of his uncle s estate. Stephen inherits a large country house in Cornwall, Lansbury Hall, and sets off at once to take up residence there. Apparently unoccupied, the dusty pile sits amidst a vast expanse of overgrown gardens and hidden valleys. Protected by high walls and shrouded in mystery, the house and its secretive owners are almost a legend amongst the locals and they are duly agog when this young man arrives to make his home there.

But not all is as it seems. Stephen s uncle was an Amazonian explorer, and when Stephen discovers and reads the journal of his relative s last voyage overseas, it becomes clear that he brought something back with him which may still survive.

This is a defiantly old-fashioned story, which revels in its environmental messages and glories in its sumptuous descriptions of the local flora and fauna. It s a fascinating book and is certain to be enjoyed by many. (Age 10 and over) --John McLay

Review:

A perfectly paced tale ... full of intrigue (Waterstone's Books Quarterly)

A book to educate as well as entertain (The Northern Echo)

An original and magical book, something special that will stay with you long after you have finished reading ... one of the most captivating novels that you are ever likely to read ... Unforgettable. Here we have a masterpiece that is a privilege to read (Sunday Morning Post)

The Valley of Secrets is an immaculate mystery story, but it is also a masterpiece of the imagination that tackles issues that we should all be thinking about (South China Morning Post)

A must for readers of all ages who wish to be swept along on a tide of imagination mingled with mystery (North Devon Journal)

One of those rare stories which can be enjoyed by both children and adults (Newbury Weekly News)

Beguiling ... This well-researched, beautifully illustrated book glistens with original and delightful details. (Time Out)

There's much to like about The Valley of Secrets ... Christopher Crump's truly stunning pen and ink illustrations add to the old-fashioned air ... I get a real sense that, buried deep in these pages, is a true children's classic ... this book has that indefinable something (The Guardian)

This magical book has been hailed as a masterpiece by the Daily Telegraph. It is a must for readers of all ages who wish to be swept along on a tide of imagination mingled with mystery, taken through the unique beauty of Cornwall to the magnificence of the South American rain forests.

...a gift for suspense, leaving the reader in a fever of anticipation with each chapter, and in some cases as the tale progresses, with the hairs at the nape of the neck standing up on end!

...This is an enchanting chronicle for all book-worms, so start burrowing, taking time to also enjoy the pen and ink drawings at the heading of each chapter, so beautifully executed by Christopher Crump

(The Daily Telegraph)

The writer's love and reverence for nature shines through in every word, and the rich, detailed illustrations gloriously reveal these wonders as the story progrsses... The passion and important message of The Valley of Secrets make it well worth sticking with. It is a book with wide appeal that can open up the splendour of the natural world to young minds. (This Is Books)

This is an original and magical book, something special that will stay with you long after finishing... The Valley of Secrets is an enthralling book that spellbinds from page one. Stephen's sudden inheritance opens up a beautiful and different world that Charmian Hussey's fertile imagination has created perfectly. The Valley of Secrets is a first-class mystery story that will keep you turning its pages, but it is also a journey into the true magic of a natural world that needs no artificial plot devices to make it unforgettable. Here we have a masterpiece that is a privilege to read. (SYP- China Sunday Morning Post)

Just looking at this book, you know you are about to experience something very special, and 400 pages later, you will not be disappointed.

The Valley of Secrets is an immaculate mystery story, but it is also a masterpiece of the imagination that tackles issues that we should all be thinking about.

(Young Post- South China Morning Post)

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