Valley of Secrets - Tapa dura

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)

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.