The Swarm

Dystopia meets murder mystery in this thrillingly original series, perfect for after you’ve finished Sunrise on the Reaping. 

PRAISEFOR THE HIVE :

‘An intriguing, satisfying page-turner’ Irish Times

‘Quite easily could have finished in one sitting, it was that good’ @bookish_clara

‘I absolutely adored this book’ @paperbackbooth

‘I NEED a book 2’ @pagesofthemoon 

Royal maverick Niko and bodyguard Feldspar have been tasked by their queens to lead a Swarm – an exploration – to find a new world outside of their twisted monarchy.

What they find on the other side of the Hive is a paradise – but not all is as it appears to be.

When two brutal murders happen on the same night, the royal visitors are the obvious suspects. Niko and Feldspar must fight their feelings for each other as they race to clear their names …

 

  • The heart-stopping sequel to THEHIVE
  • A thrillingly original YA murder mystery, set in a dystopian colony with fantasy elements
  • Features a dangerous future monarchy, a richly imagined world based on the society of bees, and a hint of romance
  • For fans of Neal Shusterman, Holly Jackson and Suzanne Collins

A Million Tiny Missiles All At Once

Being a teen’s a tough gig, but what if one gig could save your family?

Elias’s brain is a swamp of fears and bad things. His once-loving brother Bo has become a stranger, and his parents are falling apart.

When Bo falls in with dangerous people, Elias decides to bring his family back together – but what begins as a simple pizza-night dream quickly spirals into chaos beyond belief.

Will Elias find a way to save them, or will they recognize what’s happening before it’s too late?

 

  • The stunning debut novel from Lucas Maxwell, winner of the Times/Chicken House Competition 2024
  • Set in wintry Nova Scotia, Canada, and inspired by the author’s childhood, this special novel explores themes of family addiction and growing up neurodivergent
  • Perfect for fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece and Orbiting Jupiter
  • For readers aged 12 and up

All the Cursed Creatures

The third book in the gripping ALL THE HIDDEN MONSTERS series – perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments, with a touch of Rivers of London. 

After an explosive argument with Oren, Sage finds herself alone in The Stone City. The supernatural capital, hidden behind the temples of Petra, is ancient, beautiful – and corrupt.

Sage must solve a string of murdered vampires, a werewolf’s natural enemy, to secure her place and keep her own deadly secret.

But will Oren, P and the rest of the team get there to help before it’s too late?

  • Sage and Oren’s slow-burn romance finally delivers the heat readers have been craving in the third installment of Amie Jordan’s supernatural crime series.

 

PRAISE FOR ALL THE HIDDEN MONSTERS :

‘This is the most wonderful debut novel. Any-one who’s enjoyed series like Ghosts or Being Human will absolutely love this . . .’ BBC RADIO 4 FRONT ROW

‘Amie Jordan is a master at storytelling.’ BILL WOOD, AUTHOR OF LET’S SPLIT UP

Death by Chocolate

Packed full of humour and chocolate, this mystery is the perfect gift for middle-grade readers this Easter!

Coco’s parents have invested everything in a struggling French hotel.

But the hotel is haunted by a bitter old ghost, Monsieur Framboise, a chocolatier who met a sticky end. He agrees to share his legendary skills with Coco and her new friend Louis if they can bring his murderer to justice.

Soon, the chocolates crafted by the children draw visitors far and wide, including a sinister Englishman . . .

Can Coco and Louis save the family hotel and solve the mystery by Easter?

  • The Great Chocoplot meets Chocolat, with a dash of Murder Most Unladylike.
  • Humour, mystery and chocolate – just in time for Easter!
  • An older middle-grade debut from the hilarious author Anna Brooke.

Introducing: KILL ME NOW by Helen Price 🔪
Posted by Jazz on Friday September 12th, 2025

We are delighted to reveal the STUNNING cover of Kill Me Now by Helen Price – your next YA murder mystery obsession!

This spine-chilling YA crime thriller is jam-packed with tense murder mystery, nasty school cliques and first crushes; think Riverdale meets One of Us is Lying.

Thanks so much to Michaela Alcaino for the BEAUT of a cover, Kill Me Now is out 12th February 2026!

Pre-Order your copy of Kill Me Now with CRIMINALLY GOOD BOOKSHOP for a signed bookplate with your copy!

 

Q&A

We asked Helen a few questions for some delicious *spoiler free* goodness to get us through to publication day!

What inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve written for most of my career but mostly boring stuff like corporate communications (aka, the kind of thing you’d only read if forced to). So, when my teen son ran out of action-packed books, I thought: “How hard can it be?” (Spoiler: very hard 😅). But then, I joined the Golden Egg Academy and learned how to actually write, and from that point on, I was hooked.

How long did it take you to write KILL ME NOW?
About a year, which is basically record time for me. Thrillers are tricky to write because you’ve got to layer in twists, red herrings, and keep the tension cranked high enough to stop readers from scrolling TikTok. But honestly, that’s my favourite part.

Did you face any major challenges during the process?
Since Guy’s family runs a funeral business, I couldn’t exactly rely on Google (let's face it, that would get really weird, really fast). So, for research, I went behind the scenes at a real funeral home. Some might call that creepy. I call it fascinating. And yes, I did take notes. Lots of notes. ⚰️

What’s your favourite YA crime/thriller novel (apart from KILL ME NOW, obviously)?
Ooooh, tough one. I’d go with One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus. She’s basically YA’s Queen of Crime 👑. That book kept me guessing until the very end, which is rare, because my family hates watching thrillers with me since I usually ruin them by guessing the ending halfway through. And if we’re talking ultimate plot twist? I'd say, We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. Best. Ending. Ever. 🤯

Give us a sneak peek - what’s one crime trope we’ll find in KILL ME NOW?
Take your pick: Small town with dark secrets, an overload of red herrings, or… multiple murders. Yup, spoiler alert: there’s a serial killer on the loose.

What’s one fun or unexpected fact about you?
I once set my hair on fire (accidentally!) in the next room to President Clinton and had to be rescued by his secret service agents. True story. 🔥👀 Also, I have a black belt in karate… but unfortunately it didn’t help much in that situation.

Kill Me Now

School golden boy Riley North had it all – talent, charm and a stellar future. Now he’s dead.

Guy ‘Reaper’ Mortimer, the funeral director’s son, stands accused of his murder.

Keen to clear his name, Reaper teams up with cute new girl, Samira; sweet but naïve Betty; and Riley’s two best mates, Bunsen and Snake. Together, they unravel the twisted layers of school, where secrets hide and deception is rife. But what starts as a search for answers soon becomes a fight for survival.

Because the killer knows the truth and is determined to expose it – one deadly sin at a time.

Sweet & Sour

Monique Turner, author of Island of Influencers, returns with another on-trend YA thriller.

With AI influencer robots taking the internet by storm, Mikah and his friends team up to make their own content. No robots, no AI, just human beings in all their fallible glory.

Mikah’s mukbang channel where he stuffs his face with food soars to great heights, but what will happen when his body can no longer fly?

  • Drawing on her experience of working with influencers, the story explores internet culture and the encroaching use of AI in creative spheres.
  • Funny, dramatic and with a deliciously dark ending, Sweet and Sour is perfect for those who love a Black Mirror twist.

The Galaxy World Cup

From wormholes to bouncy pitches, this side-splitting wacky story will appeal to ages 7-11 and any football fans!

When aliens mistake schoolboy Nick and his fellow misfits for the world’s greatest football players, they are whisked across the Milky Way to compete in an intergalactic football tournament against REAL ALIENS.

The only problem?

They are NOT the greatest football players on Earth – they’re the WORST! But if they want to go home, they’ll have to lace up their boots and try to actually score a goal . . .

  • The debut novel from the 2024 Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition shortlistee, Alan Joyce.
  • This intergalactic story, with themes of friendship and team spirit, is the perfect underdog story.
  • A fun and original football book just in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup! 

Silent Night by Emma Read

Inspired by the classic The Day of the Triffids, this atmospheric and creepy story is perfect for fans of Jennifer Killick.

When Masen, Connor and Joss wake up on Christmas morning, all is calm and oddly bright. Outside it’s snowing, and their presents are waiting . . . but where are their parents? Families don’t just vanish on Christmas Day. Something’s off, but what?

They set out into the village to find everyone. But with the town full of people acting strangely, who can they trust?

And what exactly are those weird mushroomy Christmas trees . . . ?

  • Acclaimed author Emma Read returns with another chilling and mysterious middle grade thriller – perfect for a spooky winter night.
  • Explores themes of family and friendship, as well as stress and anxiety, with Emma’s signature heart-warming writing.

The Notwitches: Prison Break

The second adventure in this sparkling comic series, full of adventure, friendship and family.

Melanda Notwitch is planning to break her parents out of the Dark and Horrible and Disgusting Prison for Witches.

But first, she and Mitch will have to find a way in. All they need is a spell that will get them arrested.

What could possibly go wrong?

  • The return of your favourite witchy sisters, accompanied by a fabulous crew of brand-new characters.
  • Featuring spectacular illustrations from rising star, Dotty Sutton.

PRAISE FOR THE NOTWITCHES:

‘This zippy fable is a triumph of nonsense.’ THE TIMES

The Last Bard by Maz Evans

None of us knows where we are in our story. Today might be the start of a new tale, the end of one already told, or simply a chapter along its way.

Will Davenant has known more tragedy than laughter. But in an unexpected twist, he inherits his grandfather's copy of The Complete Works of Shakespeare - and makes a surprising discovery.

As the last living relative of William Shakespeare himself, Will can summon the Bard's heroes from the pages . . . and now he has some extraordinary new friends to help turn things in his life around.

•Superstar author Maz Evans is back with a new standalone story, packed with her trademark humour and heart and told with empathy and poignancy.
•Introduces readers to some of Shakespeare’s best-loved characters in a comic, accessible way.
•Over half a million copies of Maz’s books sold in the UK alone!

The Horse Dreamer

The horse arrives in the storm, when Merryn needs him most, following the loss of her father. Sorrel is a dreamlike creature, seemingly made from the woods and the sea. Perhaps she wished him into existence.

He becomes her friend and confidant. Throughout the summer and autumn, they ride and play, but as Christmas approaches, it will require all of Merryn’s newfound strength to help her mum and her sisters heal too.

Mission: Monster Mind

Jurassic Park meets Wimpy Kid in the third installment of the lively and action-packed Mission: Microraptor series!

Junior agents Finn, Milo and Tasi are dispatched to Scotland, along with young hacker Ether and Arty the microraptor, to recover stolen technology that could plunge the world into chaos.

It’s their most nail-biting mission yet – even before they wake a monster from the deep . . .

  • Super-cool, accessible, fun – a fresh voice in middle-grade fiction.
  • Themes of environment, technology and villainous mind-control.

PRAISE FOR THE SERIES:

‘short, sharp, hilarious and ultra readable.’ PIERS TORDAY

‘Fast, funny and fabulous.’ MAZ EVANS

Naeli & the Secret Song

From the author of the 2019 Costa Award-winning Asha & the Spirit Bird comes a stunning new historical adventure ...

Naeli longs to know her English father, who abandoned her when she was little.

All she has is his name – and his precious violin. Her chance comes when a ticket to England arrives mysteriously.

Leaving behind her beloved India, Naeli embarks on an adventure that will take her from the streets of Victorian London to the wilds of Northumberland to discover the truth of her musical inheritance.

  • Themes of grief and identity, wrapped in a gothic musical mystery. 
  • Perfect for readers age 8+. 

PRAISE FOR JASBINDER BILAN:

‘A light-filled, huge-hearted delight’ KATHERINE RUNDELL

‘Atmospheric, dreamy, charged with wonder and menace, loss, sorrow and delight’ TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT

LOVE ON SIGHT

A modern dual narrative Romeo-and-Juliet story, perfect for fans of Danielle Jawando and Candice Carty-Williams. 

Sabrina knows what she wants – to get into university. But then she meets Jalaal at a party. A boy she should stay away from . . .

Jalaal is sick of trouble, but can't see a way out. Until he meets Sabs . . .

A story that captures the heat and hope of one London summer, and the magic of falling in love for the first time.

 

  • The outstanding debut novel from the Lime New Storyteller 2023 award winner, Asli Jensen.
  • An uplifting contemporary YA romance, which draws on the author’s experience of growing up in inner-city London.
  • Explores themes of family, culture, friendship, redemption, class, faith and different forms of love in a fresh and authentic style, which will resonate universally.

 

‘FEARLESS, TENDER AND REFRESHING.’
ANIKA HUSSAIN, AUTHOR OFTHIS IS HOW YOU FALL IN LOVE

LIVIA IN ROME

A sun-drenched clean teen romance in a vibrant destination setting.

Sixteen-year-old Scottish Italian Livia feels like an outsider, spending the summer in her grandmother’s bar in Rome.

Smug local boy Giulio works there too, and quickly becomes Livia’s nemesis.

She is not going to be the cliché foreign girl who has a summer romance. But as Livia navigates family drama, new-found friendships and . . . Giulio, she starts to see the city – and herself – in a new light.

  • Perfect for fans of Love and Gelato, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Anna and the French Kiss.
  • Scottish Italian author, Bruna De Luca, draws on her own experiences of growing up as a third culture ‘Scotalian’ kid.

The Binding Spell

A debut atmospheric fantasy, think dark academia meets Mexican Gothic.

Morgan hopes her nightmares are behind her. Meeting Joe Harper helps. His secrets seem as tangled as hers and their time together is magic.

But Morgan's bad dreams return when her archaeologist father begins work at a local burial site. With every relic he unearths, a creeping horror emerges – a spell that binds them all . . .

  • The debut novel from the Times/Chicken House 2023 award winner, historian and professor Marisa Linton.
  • A stand-alone YA contemporary fantasy novel with folk horror elements, set in a creepy rural village. 
  • Spells, legends, druids and all things supernatural. 

Scream of the Whistle

New middle-grade paranormal adventure from 2024 Branford Boase-longlisted author of The Witchstone Ghosts, Emily Randall-Jones.

Ruby is miserable. Her parents have split up, and now she’s stuck in a creepy village. At night, she decides to escape and follow the ancient train track home.

Her journey has barely begun when she hears the eerie scream of a whistle – and an old steam train appears out of the darkness . . .

Is Ruby ready for the ghost ride of her life?

  • Packed full of spooky ghosts, child-friendly horror, time-travelling steam trains and ancient English mythology.
  • The Witchstone Ghosts was the 2021 winner of the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition and The Times Children’s Book of the Week. 

 

PRAISE FOR THE WITCHSTONE GHOSTS:

‘It’s exciting and original, warm and funny and gothic’ KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE

‘A twisting, churning, tide-turning adventure!’ LUCY STRANGE

‘Pace and plot twists a-plenty … an ideal read for young, independent readers who may be bored of witches of the cackling, cauldron kind this Halloween and are ready for witches who can summon up storms instead.’ THE TIMES, CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK

The Shell Keepers

An enchanting and sunny seaside adventure, for ages 8+.

When Corrine picks up a shell on the beach, she doesn’t expect to see a tiny girl inside it.

Kauri lives below the sand and sea, travelling with her family on the tides. But now their miniature world is in danger, and they need a shell keeper to keep them safe . . .

  • A cosy middle-grade debut from Truly Johnston, winner of the Bath Children’s Novel Award 2022.
  • A heart-warming tale about a family of miniature people cast adrift in the human world.
  • Shades of The Borrowers in a coastal seaside setting.
  • Themes of belonging, identity, environment and activism, wrapped up in a sunny adventure and treasure hunt.

Aliya and the Shop of Second Chances

A sparkling and magical story, for fans of Nura and the Immortal Palace and The Kingdom Over the Sea!

Aliya is looking forward to the Infinite City’s time-travelling flying carpet race.

But when her fellow locksmiths vanish on the course and the power source for time travel is left unguarded, she must turn to the past to save her world from Dorian Darke and his shapeshifting shop of darkness.

  • The third and final instalment in this stunning middle-Eastern inspired series.
  • Aliya to the Infinite City was shortlisted for the Times/Chicken House Children’s Competition 2021.
  • Set in a parallel Egypt, Aliya and the Shop of Second Chances is packed full of adventure, with a focus on teamwork and friendship.

 

PRAISE FOR ALIYA TO THE INFINITE CITY:
‘An epic adventure packed with richness and history and a brilliant new magical school’ ZOHRA NABI, AUTHOR OF THE KINGDOM OVER THE SEA