Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse: Book 1

Chris Riddell's Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse is the beautifully illustrated winner of the Costa Children's Book Award.

Ada Goth is the only child of Lord Goth. The two live together in the enormous Ghastly-Gorm Hall. Lord Goth believes that children should be heard and not seen, so Ada has to wear large clumpy boots so that he can always hear her coming. This makes it hard for her to make friends and, if she's honest, she's rather lonely.

Then one day William and Emily Cabbage come to stay at the house, and together with a ghostly mouse called Ishmael they and Ada begin to unravel a dastardly plot that Maltravers, the mysterious indoor gamekeeper, is hatching. Ada and her friends must work together to foil Maltravers before it's too late!

Review: A deliciously dark offering from the award winning author illustrator of Ottoline * The Bookseller's Buyers Guide *
...the most covetable book of the year. It is simply the most outstandingly beautiful piece of book design and production....This book is a triumph from an author and illustrator at the height of his powers... * ReadingZone *
I'm sure this will become a cherished book and will be opened more than once. * The Book Bag *
Both illuminated and illuminating this is a magnum opus from the singular talent of Chris Riddell and is certain to be the jewel in the crown of every book case it adorns. * Droplets of Ink *
What I discovered with this book is that [Chris Riddell]'s a pretty children's writer... This whole book is a delight - a worthy winner of the Costa children's book award. * awfullybigreviews.blogspot.co.uk *
Through its entertaining play of surface trappings, the book opens out into a varied network of gothic texts that lead the reader down several enticing garden paths - reminiscent of the overgrown gardens that surround Ghastly-Gorm Hall itself. I urge readers to give into the temptations offered by the sumptuous packaging, and enter the delightfully silly world of Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse. Have fun exploring! * gothic.stir.ac.uk *
This solo venture is a cracking combination of rollicking mystery adventure and ghost story, beautifully illustrated and written with an outright humour aimed at children and a sly, literary wit aimed at parents reading aloud. * Daily Mail *
Fans of Chris Riddell's Ottoline books will love this quirky story. With its purple-edged pages and silver-foiled endpapers, this beautifully-designed book is a real treasure. * Booktrust *
Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse is a warm, witty and beautifully illustrated and presented book which delivers an original, entertaining and heart-warm tale of courage, friendship and loyalty as well as a teeny, weeny surprise tucked into the back cover. * Lancashire Evening Post *
Beautifully produced book * The Independent *
Witty, clever, warm and unashamedly wacky * Library Mice *
This book is so well illustrated that nothing and no-one is left to the imagination[...] perfect for anyone who has read and enjoyed Marcus Sedgwick's The Raven Mysteries, or anyone who just likes a brilliant story. Well done, Chris Riddell! * Wondrous Reads *
Quirky, clever and (as ever) marvellously detailed to the eye, Goth Girl is a beautiful object, and full of good jokes - a combination that's hard to beat * The Independent *
Delicious. * Literary Review *
This is one fantastically packaged novel and it was the most entertaining and whimsical story I have read in a long time * beyondbooks.ca *
All you need to do is set your eyes upon Goth Girl to know that you will be in for a treat. With its purple gilt edges, and silver foil skulls lining the endpapers, Macmillan Children's Books have certainly done a fantastic job of capturing the magic of this story. Riddell's book stands out as a thing of beauty, which is something that this King of Illustration deserves for his work. * nightlightbooks.wordpress.com *
This is an extravagantly well produced book... Great detail in both pictures and words work in unison so that it is all sheer delight in the long tradition of entertaining codswallop. Codswallop of the highest order and a compulsive read for many youngsters. * The School Librarian *
This book will absolutely delight its intended readership - and certain adults as well! I am very pleasantly surprised that it is in the Costa shortlist- and I hope publishers take note. The future of the printed book lies in beauty and quality and individuality like this * serendipityreviews.co.uk *
It's more than strong enough to compete with the likes of Tom Gates, Wimpy Kid and Walliams that dominate the sales over Christmas. A first class read from a first class author and illustrator * georgelesterwrites.com *
It is a cracker of a book. Witty, charming and with the most stunning illustrations... It is an utter and absolute delight and made me wish I was 10 again and discovering it for the first time * Brighton and Hove Independent *
The author and illustrator Chris Riddell has a big skill of drawing and puts great detail into his books. Not only the appearance this story is as good as it looks - maybe even better. It's a lovely book with heaps of description; the illustrations certainly help it a lot. It's very clever as well because it plays on words a little and jokes around with them. The plot is clever and definitely a gripper * whatlexieloves.blogspot.co.uk *

Prizes: Winner of Costa Children's Book Award 2014 (UK). Short-listed for The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2015 (UK) and National Book Awards Children's Book of the Year Award 2013 (UK).