The Deadly Daylight - by Ash Harrier (Hardcover)

About the Book

When twelve-year-old Alice, who receives messages from the dead, discovers a man with a deadly sunlight allergy was murdered, she and the victim's niece work together to uncover the truth.

Book Synopsis

12-year-old Alice has a hard time making friends. Maybe it's because she works in a funeral home and receives messages from the dead.

A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year
A Golden Kite Award Finalist

While the kids at school taunt her and call her "Alice in Zombieland," Alice England finds refuge at her father's funeral home, where the dead tell her stories. As she arranges the deceased's personal mementos, an item will hum with meaning-resonance-and Alice will see the story of their life.

When she "meets" George Devenish, a man who died of a rare sunlight allergy, Alice knows George was murdered. Her only leads are George's niece, "Violet the Vampire," who shares her uncle's allergy and a friendly, but secretive boy named Cal.

As a determined Alice investigates, she is surprised to find Violet and Cal become more than just suspects, but allies--maybe even friends. However, Alice soon finds navigating her first real friendships might be harder than solving a murder.

Clever humor and twisty clues abound in this cozy middle grade mystery about a group of misfits finding courage in the truth and friendship in each other. Delightful, dark, and quirky, The Deadly Daylight is perfect for fans of Nancy Drew and Winterhouse.

Review Quotes

"[A] solid middle-grade mystery."--The Horn Book

"Enjoyably quirky tween detectives."--Kirkus Reviews

"An intriguing mystery with a clever resolution, and a slight supernatural element to the plot adds to the engaging atmosphere."--Booklist

"Simultaneously wholesome and somewhat ghoulish, this murder mystery is fun for children seeking an eccentric ­detective novel."--School Library Journal

"Offbeat characters and lyrical writing sustain a thoroughly clever and engrossing riff on the murder mystery formula."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Ash Harrier lives in Perth, Western Australia. She is an Ambassador for the Books in Homes Australia charity, which helps children in disadvantaged circumstances build their home libraries. Ash has a great fondness for puzzles, scientific facts, birds and the smell of dried tea. Some of her favorite pastimes are reading, daydreaming and spending time in the garden with her small flock of hens.