“They must have come from under beds, out of mirrors, up from caves, and down from attics; all out of the darkness and into the moonlight. They were the Night Folk, and this was their world.”

When out-spoken Emily’s parents both mysteriously disappear, it soon becomes clear that she is going to have to be the one who rescues them. The midnight arrivals of some very unusual letters and visits from some rather unsavoury characters galvanise Emily into action and set her off on a path of startling self-discovery.

She has to somehow gain entry into the secret Victorian world of the Midnight Hour, where time is frozen and monsters lurk. Only there will she find her parents and unravel the alarming secrets of her heritage.

From start-to-finish, the action doesn’t let up! I was on the edge of my seat as Emily dodged one terrifying creature after another.  And believe me, there are some terrifying creatures in this book! Although aimed at readers aged nine and up, it’s definitely not for the easily frightened or nightmare-prone. Luckily, the scares are nicely balanced by some real laughs – mostly due to Emily’s big mouth or her dodgy Irish uncle.

The world creates in this story songs from the pages.  I particularly love the vivid description of the sorting room at the Night Post. The sheer mechanical madness and wonder of the place is truly something to behold. I would also love to get my hands on one of the magical blood-red Bloody Mary stamps to transport me somewhere magical.

In a nutshell: family secrets, monsters, magic.

If you’re after more scares, I know there are more books set in the Midnight Hour coming soon…. This, first, instalment publishes in February.

Library Girl.

* Many thanks to Chicken House for sending me this title to review *