Tales from Schwartzgarten: Osbert the Avenger

Christopher William Hill was born in Truro, in Cornwall - a little jaundiced, but that was to be expected in the grim days of the 1970s. His mother was a former nurse, so Christopher grew up with a copy of Black's Medical Dictionary to hand, which was ideal reading matter for an enthusiastic hypochondriac. He liked acting and putting on silly voices, and collecting ancient relics which he gathered in a large walk-in wardrobe that called his 'museum'. Christopher loves walking, ocean liners, airships, Victoriana and cake shops.

Fans of Roald Dahl, Chris Priestly and Lemony Snicket will savour every gruesome drop of this stylish, grisly and original comedy. -- The Times 20130706 An idiosyncratic comic fantasy... it is likely that children will be most enthusiastic. -- Books For Keeps 20130706 Bloodthirsty and mysterious with a sharp spike in its tail, Osbert's story is a deliciously dark invitation to the strange world of Schwartzgarten, a city corrupt with shadows and secrets - and in need of a hero. -- We Love this Book 20130706 Highly original... gruesome but funny. -- parentsintouch.co.uk 20130706 A refreshingly unusual read. -- Peters Gazette 20130706 Looks set to be a hugely successful new series. Marvelously detailed. There are three more bloodthirsty and hilarious adventures to come. -- School Librarian 20130706 A macabre tale full of ghoulish and gruesome escapades. A frightening but appealing anti-hero. -- Booktrust 20130706 One of those rare books children will happily read aloud to each other, which is one of the highest accolades a story can have. * * * * * -- bookbag.co.uk 20130706 A riveting story - a clever mix of humour with some very dark and gruesome moments and a couple of real shocks towards the end. -- Primary Times 20130706 If you love your teachers and have never entertained the thought of murdering them in the most diabolically appropriate way, then this book should probably be avoided at all costs. -- Lion & Unicorn Books 20130706 Rules are broken in a carnival manner that is deliciously and genuinely thrilling -- Books for Keeps 20130706 A gruesomely funny story... a tale of dark delights and ghastly goings-on, of injustice and revenge. -- West Briton 20130706 A more deliciously gruesome tale of injury, revenge and murder it would be hard to find. * * * * * -- bookbag.co.uk 20130706 Macabre and gruesome and wickedly funny. -- Julia Eccleshare, lovereading.co.uk 20130706 Gruesomely funny. This brilliantly woven mock-gothic tale has huge child appeal. -- West