At its heart, Malamander is a mystery story but it is nicely sprinkled with fantastical and horrific elements. This sets the mood for the story in a way that is both effective and highly memorable, creating a world which is humorous and eerie in equal measure. Yet, Taylor presents the town off-peak, which neatly captures how creepy these resorts can be after the crowds have left. The setting of Eerie-on-Sea will be familiar to anyone who has ever visited an English seaside resort, with its pier, chip shops and general bric-a-brac shops.

It really reminded me of the anachronistic feel of a Lemony Snicket novel as, while a brief reference to Pok émon placed it in present day, the novel could otherwise have been set in any time period.

Malamander was a fast-paced and fun light read which is sure to delight middle grade readers. Could the Malamander have something to do with their disappearance, and could its wish-granting egg be the key to getting them back? Unfortunately for Violet and Herbert, there are others who are keen to get their hands to the Malamander egg, and they are prepared to hurt anyone who gets in their way… Yet most mysterious of all is the tragic tale of the Malamander.Īs Violet learns more about the fish man, she discovers that both of her parents were also obsessed with the legend. A fortune telling mechanical mermonkey prescribes books to visitors at the Eerie Book Dispensary, cats can talk and the owner of the fish and chip shop can’t leave his workplace due to a siren’s curse. Violet was found in the hotel as a baby and now wants Herbert’s help to locate her missing parents.Īs they explore the quaint town of Eerie-on-Sea, Violet quickly learns that nothing is quite as it seems.

However, when Violet Palma appears in his office, he realises that his job has just gotten more complicated. It’s his job to take care of all lost luggage and do everything he can to reunite it with its owners. Herbert Lemon holds the prestigious post of Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel. The novel forms the first part of a planned series, though at the time of writing no further instalments have been announced. It is a middle grade fantasy story which focuses on a young girl’s hunt for her missing parents at a mysterious seaside resort. Malamander was written by Thomas Taylor and first published in 2019.

Herbert lemon malamander