Posting my blog tour spot a few days late because my book got waylaid. Now I’m not saying the Cinderman got ahold of it, and I’m not saying that didn’t happen either!!

About the Book

Discover a brilliantly spooky new horror-mystery series for fans of Dread Wood, Goosebumps and Aveline Jones…

 

Indigo and Rusty might live in a funeral parlour, but they don’t believe in ghosts. That is, until Indigo knocks over an old urn, accidentally releasing the Cinderman: a terrifying ash monster, who will smother their town in ashes and turn everyone into zombies, unless they can stop him by sunset.

 

Using their newly awakened Spooksmith skills, Indigo and Rusty set out to enlist the help of other ghosts. But can the Blasted Banshee and Chuckles the Phantom Toddler really help them find the Cinderman’s true name and put him in his grave for good before Ashmageddon strikes?

About the Author 

Alex Atkinson loves scary books filled with oddball characters. She blames her idyllic North Yorkshire childhood spent playing murder-in-the-dark and listening to her dad’s blood-curdling bedtime stories. After studying English and Politics at Newcastle University, she worked as a website content editor. She now lives in a village in Hertfordshire with her husband, kids, dogs and tortoise, but dreams of abandoned buildings, ghosts and zombies. SPOOKSMITHS INVESTIGATE: THE CINDERMAN is her debut novel.

 

Instagram:  https://instagram.com/alexatkinsonstories

Twitter: https://x.com/alatkinson

What I Thought 

The story is told from Indigo’s point of view. Her twin Rusty spends all his time playing Battle Quest, her parents are working all the time and her best friend Dexter’s attention is split between Indigo and new girl Sadie. The only person who really “got”Indigo was her late grandad. 

She stumbles across a secret room and breaks a creepy Urn it holds and when she wakes up, the town is covered in an Ashy haze and her parents aren’t acting like themselves at all. 

A town legend about the Cinderman comes to life and Indigo and Rusty must work together – if they can stop bickering long enough – to stop him before Sunset. 

The only people that can help them are dead and so their new found powers to see ghosts comes in very handy. There’s also Phrank – Indigo’s pet pheasant – if he can stop eating first!! And if you’ve ever got overwhelmed by all the bathroom smellies in the house you might be surprised by their ghostbusting powers. 

This was creepy and atmospheric – a perfect read for this time of year. The Cinderman seems like an unstoppable foe, especially when a careless mistake by Rusty gives him more power. 

But there are other powers that are stronger than fear and sibling love is one that Indigo and Rusty need to harness in multiple ways. 

I really enjoyed the ghostly characters and their varying personalities – both helpful to and hindering our duo and I hope we get to see some of them back in again in future books. 

I think my favourite part of the book though was the discussion about the name Spooksmith. There will be lots of Smith’s who read this seeing their surname in a brand new light. 

Giveaway 

Over the weekend I saw a call out for book donations to a children’s mental health unit so I have decided to offer up my giveaway copy to this cause. 

Thanks to Bee at Kaleidoscopic Tours and the Publisher Usborne for the gifted copy for the purposes of an honest review. 

Do check out what everyone else on the tour thought too.