The Beanstalk Murder - by P G Bell

About the Book

A young witch in training is determined to solve a huge royal murder mystery in this middle grade fantasy novel by P. G. Bell, author of the Train to Impossible Places series!

Book Synopsis

AN EDGAR AWARD NOMINEE!

A young witch unintentionally finds herself in the kingdom of giants with her archnemesis and a huge murder mystery!

Anwen Sedge, a young Meadow Witch apprentice, lives in a rural village that hasn't seen giants since the Great Beanstalk War. So it's quite a surprise when one drops from the sky. It's an even bigger surprise when Anwen discovers that he was dead BEFORE he hit the ground. This is a murder! The only solution is for Anwen and her arch nemesis, Cerys to send a plea for help to the giants' kingdom, using a magic beanstalk.

But the beanstalk backfires, shooting the two rivals into the giants' kingdom before crumbling to dust! There, they make a terrible discovery - the murdered giant was none other than the king. And the giants have no magic of their own to get the girls home. Trapped in the royal palace and surrounded by intrigue, Anwen decides to use her Meadow Witch skills to unmask the killer.

With the help of a few new friends and her reluctant rival, can Anwen figure out who murdered the king before the killer strikes again?

Review Quotes

"Many characters are not what they seem, keeping the mystery an intriguing puzzle. . . A wholly new twist on a classic tale." --Kirkus

"It's a genuinely intriguing murder-mystery with a fantastic fairy-tale feel, and frequent fun twists will keep readers on their toes. . .A sparkling story with a perfect blend of magic and mystery." --Booklist

"A unique whodunnit with more twists than an old beanstalk. Truly genius! I LOVED it." --Sibéal Pounder, New York Times-bestselling author of Wonka

"Two giant thumbs up from me! Stacked with spells, suspects and side-splitting moments, Bell has written a brilliant mystery that will have you guessing right until the very end." ― Siobhan McDermott, author of Paper Dragons

Bell's newest novel is imaginative, funny and full of surprising twists ― The Bookseller, Editor's Choice

"Bell's newest novel is imaginative, funny and fully of surprising twists..." --Editor's Choice, The Bookseller

The Train to Impossible Places:

"All aboard for an adventure like no other--readers will be delighted to learn it's just the first." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A rollicking adventure . . . reminiscent of Terry Pratchett and Diana Wynne Jones. There is plenty of humor to season Bell's debut novel, and the characters and plot are refreshingly well developed and raise serious questions about honor and freedom. Fortunately, there will be more adventures in this first in a projected series. All aboard!" --Booklist

About the Author

P. G. Bell is a native of south Wales, where he was raised on a diet of Greek mythology, ghost stories, and Doctor Who. He's had all sorts of jobs over the years, from lifeguard to roller coaster operator, but has always wanted to write stories for a living. He currently works as a library assistant for Cardiff University and lives in Wales with his wife, Anna, and their two children.