There are many, MANY wonderful elements to this mystery/adventure for 9 – 13 year olds. Firstly, and this is possibly the most important bit, it’s exciting. It reminded me in many ways of all the Enid Blyton mystery books. A strong set of children characters, a gripping mystery – the Lady in Red has been missing for seventy years and the twins must try to find it – and lots of twists and turns to keep a young reader interested. It seems to me that this author – Tessa Buckley – knows her readers well. So much so, I handed the manuscript to my daughter to read; she’s 12 and enjoys a good mystery. This is what Felicity had to say. ‘This is a very good book. I enjoyed trying to work out where the Lady in Red was hidden. Also, I think the snake in the story was cleverly interwoven into the plot. The way Alex has to find a way of overcoming his fears was cleverly written and is a good message for children. The ending was also very good. I didn’t guess the ending which is always a good sign! Thanks for letting me read it. I’m now pestering my mum for the other two Eye Spy books.’

I really enjoyed ‘Lady in Red’. What I’m going to say next might not sound like praise but it is: this novel is old fashioned, in the best sense of the word, and has all the hallmarks of the vintage Secret Seven or Famous Five, but updated for the modern age. This is a world where adults are caring, but suitably hands off to let children go play and fall down coalholes. Where the children might be reckless, but they try to be respectful and really just want to help. Investigations grind to a halt for family barbecues and time together with friends. Yes, there are the trappings of modern life – mobile phones, their eccentric, inventor father is on a second marriage and they have a half sister – but none of these things so often used for melodrama in heavier novels slows the plot down – find the old man’s painting and save his house from a dark suit wearing, boo hiss villain. Love it! Buckley is clearly a talented writer. Her prose nips along like skipping children in a field of wheat and, as an author, she is clearly on the side of her adventurous protagonists.