The Fire on Slate Fell is a great starting point, as it’s the first in the series. Thankfully, the stories are almost-100% standalone (with some references to previous adventures here and there but nothing that really treads into “spoiler” territory) so you can jump in at any point.
Personally, the book that REALLY captures the blend of magic, realism, mystery, and genre elements would be The Vanishing Young of Rydal Cave, in my opinion. Of the five, I would say that one is the strongest but you honestly cannot go wrong with any — take a punt on whatever title sounds the most appealing and you won’t be disappointed.
I enjoyed it very much as well – intriguing and unpredictable plot and vivid characterisation. I wish these books had been available before my niece became an adult (though adults can enjoy them as well)!
Thanks for asking! I wanted to write adventure mysteries for my nieces. Hence the girl detectives. Given their age group of 9 – 12 , their adventures had to be tied to their neighborhood and places that children could easily reach, either on their own or with the help of a parent. Because they are sisters and there is a trope about twins or siblings being able to know what the other is thinking, I added telepathy as their special power. Plot inspiration came from the titles of the books, in that I took the names of pubs and combined them with geographic features local to The Lake District and let the portmanteau take me wherever it went.
Thanks for explaining why you wrote the books. I really liked some of the characters you created.
My favourites were Uncle Bill (The Wolf of Ennerdale) and Aunt Mary (The Mystery of the Chemic Tavern) – she reminded me of one of my aunts!
The Jim and Nana Parton characters certainly are narrated with Cumbrian accents. There is a mix of accents for each of the other characters, as well as the narrator’s “standard” voice. A sound clip has been uploaded, if you would like to listen (go to the relevant book page and click on the audio button)
Yes – I really like the fact that the adventures are rooted in real geographical locations in Cumbria – Wray Castle etc. Like the link to Wordsworth’s The Prelude too! Is the lad in the lane based on Wordsworth’s owl-hooting boy?! Intriguing…
When I read the Fire on Slate Fell I was reminded of the magic that I felt as a child when reading all the Famous Five books. Mae & Isla are immediately likeable characters and I was transported up to the beautiful Lake District in a trance and involved n their adventures. I would highly recommend these books for children of this age group. Beautifully written and wonderfully descriptive with great story lines that keep you turning the page.
When I read the Fire on Slate Fell I was reminded of the magic that I felt as a child when reading all the Famous Five books. Mae & Isla are immediately likeable characters and I was transported up to the beautiful Lake District in a trance and involved in their adventures. I would highly recommend these books for children of this age group. Beautifully written and wonderfully descriptive with great story lines that keep you turning the page.
Amazing summary put together by Gemini AI only a day after launch: “The Lakeland Mysteries” by Warren Cabral is a charming and engaging series of adventure mysteries primarily aimed at young readers, specifically in the 9-12 age group, but enjoyable for parents as well.
Here’s a deeper dive into the series:
Main Characters:
* Mae and Isla: The heart of the series are these two young, quirky sisters.
* Mae is often depicted as the more rational and pragmatic of the two.
* Isla is described as spontaneous and artistic, with a talent for drawing exactly what she sees.
* Their “Electric Thoughts”: A unique and central element of the sisters’ dynamic is their ability to communicate silently through “electric thoughts,” a form of telepathy. This allows them to share observations and clues without speaking, adding an intriguing layer to their detective work.
Plot and Themes:
* Setting: The mysteries are evocatively set against the backdrop of the Cumbrian landscape in England’s picturesque Lake District. Cabral draws on real geographical locations in Cumbria, such as Wray Castle, adding an authentic feel to the adventures.
* Mystery-Solving: Mae and Isla are natural detectives. They use their curiosity, their special communication, and their individual strengths (Mae’s word memory for clues, Isla’s observational drawing) to unravel baffling plots.
* Relatable Challenges: While they are super-sleuths, the girls also navigate typical childhood experiences, including interactions with their loving but sometimes perplexed parents and puzzled police. The stories touch on the humor of children being both fascinated and frustrated by the adult world.
* “Hidden in Plain Sight”: A recurring element seems to be the idea that the crimes or mysteries are often “hidden in plain sight,” requiring the girls’ unique perspective to uncover them.
* Inspiration: Warren Cabral has mentioned that he wrote the series for his nieces, aiming to create adventure mysteries tied to their neighborhood and places children could easily reach. He also draws inspiration from the names of local pubs and geographic features, letting these “portmanteau” titles guide the plots. For example, “The Lad in the Lane” has a loose inspiration from Wordsworth’s “owl-hooting boy.”
* Comparisons: Readers often compare the series to classic children’s mystery books like Enid Blyton’s “Famous Five” due to their fast-paced, fun, and adventurous nature.
Overall Feel:
The Lakeland Mysteries are described as:
* Fast-paced and engaging: Keeping readers hooked from beginning to end.
* Beautifully written and wonderfully descriptive: Immersing the reader in the Lake District setting.
* Suitable for young readers: With age-appropriate themes and adventures.
* Charming and humorous: With a touchingly humorous portrayal of the children’s perspective.
In essence, “The Lakeland Mysteries” offers a fresh take on children’s detective stories, combining a delightful setting, unique characters with a special ability, and clever mysteries that are both entertaining and accessible for its target audience.
Many thanks for asking such an interesting question. I am glad you are looking at some of the details. As to the water boatmen, I needed some sort of way to get down the river and into the Sellafield nuclear site that would not attract attention. Something natural and innocuous like an insect. Having read about using very small drones to “swarm” as a means of modern warfare, and particularly about naval drones, I went into a sort of word association about water and naval drones (little boats) which put me in mind of water boatmen, which I was aware could skim the water. How to make them into attack weapons was a different question, and the main thing I thought of was magnetism as a means of short-circuiting an electric motor. Thus, exploding magnetic water boatmen were born, with the addition of a homing system based on soundwaves. For that, I was thinking of the ADF and VOR systems for navigating airplanes (I have a pilot’s licence), and, although those are technically radio frequencies, it was the idea of following a set kHz as a navigational aid that inspired me.
Glad you like Darren and his “piano” teeth. He is not based on any single person – none of the characters are, they are all fictional. But I do try to blend “archetypes” with the very pronounced personality traits of either people I know or public figures. I also draw on literary memes. So, with Darren, I needed a comic baddie. Recalling how minor mobsters can be very vain, with their slick clothes and pomaded hair, I started there and added in a dash of self-pity (we all know those types). As to literary memes, there’s Jack Favell, the dashing cad from Rebecca. And then for the “comic baddie” aspect, I kept in mind characters like Syndrome from The Incredibles.
Well, my favourite comic character in The Lad in the Lane is Miss Stemple, the over enthusiastic teacher.
And I also enjoyed the antics of the eccentric Aunt Mary in The Mystery of the Chemic Tavern.
So glad you liked Miss Stemple. I confess I took a bit of inspiration from the assistant teacher Hjordis, the assistant teacher in RITA, the Danish TV series set in a school.
I was looking for a recommendation for a mystery book for children set in the Lake District and a friend suggested the Lakeland Mysteries series. I got a copy of the Wolf of Ennerdale and thought it was great – lots of action and adventure for kids and all set in the Lake District where we regularly holiday. I now plan to get the audiobooks for our next drive up to Ambleside. If anyone else who loves the Lakes is looking for a suggestion of mystery books for kids, I know they will enjoy your Lakeland Mysteries – at least my 12 year-old did!
Have just stumbled across this site and would like to know more – can you recommend one of the books?
The Fire on Slate Fell is a great starting point, as it’s the first in the series. Thankfully, the stories are almost-100% standalone (with some references to previous adventures here and there but nothing that really treads into “spoiler” territory) so you can jump in at any point.
Personally, the book that REALLY captures the blend of magic, realism, mystery, and genre elements would be The Vanishing Young of Rydal Cave, in my opinion. Of the five, I would say that one is the strongest but you honestly cannot go wrong with any — take a punt on whatever title sounds the most appealing and you won’t be disappointed.
I think I would agree. While all the villains are exciting and suitably intimidating, Lucifer M Sugar really stands out.
I enjoyed The Wolf of Ennerdale) imensely – attractive characters and a plot that never stops twisting.
I enjoyed it very much as well – intriguing and unpredictable plot and vivid characterisation. I wish these books had been available before my niece became an adult (though adults can enjoy them as well)!
I recommend The Vanishing Young of Rydal Cave. Mysterious characters, historic Lakeland storylines with puzzles to be solved.
I have enjoyed them all. Could the author say what inspired him to write these?
Thanks for asking! I wanted to write adventure mysteries for my nieces. Hence the girl detectives. Given their age group of 9 – 12 , their adventures had to be tied to their neighborhood and places that children could easily reach, either on their own or with the help of a parent. Because they are sisters and there is a trope about twins or siblings being able to know what the other is thinking, I added telepathy as their special power. Plot inspiration came from the titles of the books, in that I took the names of pubs and combined them with geographic features local to The Lake District and let the portmanteau take me wherever it went.
Thanks for explaining why you wrote the books. I really liked some of the characters you created.
My favourites were Uncle Bill (The Wolf of Ennerdale) and Aunt Mary (The Mystery of the Chemic Tavern) – she reminded me of one of my aunts!
Exciting news – all five audiobooks will be released on 18 July
That’s great! Complete with Cumbrian accent?
The Jim and Nana Parton characters certainly are narrated with Cumbrian accents. There is a mix of accents for each of the other characters, as well as the narrator’s “standard” voice. A sound clip has been uploaded, if you would like to listen (go to the relevant book page and click on the audio button)
Yes – I really like the fact that the adventures are rooted in real geographical locations in Cumbria – Wray Castle etc. Like the link to Wordsworth’s The Prelude too! Is the lad in the lane based on Wordsworth’s owl-hooting boy?! Intriguing…
Yes, a loose inspiration for the boy, the owl hooting, and of course William Raincock is the real name of the “lad” who inspired Wordsworth
When I read the Fire on Slate Fell I was reminded of the magic that I felt as a child when reading all the Famous Five books. Mae & Isla are immediately likeable characters and I was transported up to the beautiful Lake District in a trance and involved n their adventures. I would highly recommend these books for children of this age group. Beautifully written and wonderfully descriptive with great story lines that keep you turning the page.
When I read the Fire on Slate Fell I was reminded of the magic that I felt as a child when reading all the Famous Five books. Mae & Isla are immediately likeable characters and I was transported up to the beautiful Lake District in a trance and involved in their adventures. I would highly recommend these books for children of this age group. Beautifully written and wonderfully descriptive with great story lines that keep you turning the page.
Happy to report that audiobooks of the entire series are now available online: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/search?query=Warren+Cabral&fclanguages=en
Soon to be available from Audible and other platforms.
Amazing summary put together by Gemini AI only a day after launch: “The Lakeland Mysteries” by Warren Cabral is a charming and engaging series of adventure mysteries primarily aimed at young readers, specifically in the 9-12 age group, but enjoyable for parents as well.
Here’s a deeper dive into the series:
Main Characters:
* Mae and Isla: The heart of the series are these two young, quirky sisters.
* Mae is often depicted as the more rational and pragmatic of the two.
* Isla is described as spontaneous and artistic, with a talent for drawing exactly what she sees.
* Their “Electric Thoughts”: A unique and central element of the sisters’ dynamic is their ability to communicate silently through “electric thoughts,” a form of telepathy. This allows them to share observations and clues without speaking, adding an intriguing layer to their detective work.
Plot and Themes:
* Setting: The mysteries are evocatively set against the backdrop of the Cumbrian landscape in England’s picturesque Lake District. Cabral draws on real geographical locations in Cumbria, such as Wray Castle, adding an authentic feel to the adventures.
* Mystery-Solving: Mae and Isla are natural detectives. They use their curiosity, their special communication, and their individual strengths (Mae’s word memory for clues, Isla’s observational drawing) to unravel baffling plots.
* Relatable Challenges: While they are super-sleuths, the girls also navigate typical childhood experiences, including interactions with their loving but sometimes perplexed parents and puzzled police. The stories touch on the humor of children being both fascinated and frustrated by the adult world.
* “Hidden in Plain Sight”: A recurring element seems to be the idea that the crimes or mysteries are often “hidden in plain sight,” requiring the girls’ unique perspective to uncover them.
* Inspiration: Warren Cabral has mentioned that he wrote the series for his nieces, aiming to create adventure mysteries tied to their neighborhood and places children could easily reach. He also draws inspiration from the names of local pubs and geographic features, letting these “portmanteau” titles guide the plots. For example, “The Lad in the Lane” has a loose inspiration from Wordsworth’s “owl-hooting boy.”
* Comparisons: Readers often compare the series to classic children’s mystery books like Enid Blyton’s “Famous Five” due to their fast-paced, fun, and adventurous nature.
Overall Feel:
The Lakeland Mysteries are described as:
* Fast-paced and engaging: Keeping readers hooked from beginning to end.
* Beautifully written and wonderfully descriptive: Immersing the reader in the Lake District setting.
* Suitable for young readers: With age-appropriate themes and adventures.
* Charming and humorous: With a touchingly humorous portrayal of the children’s perspective.
In essence, “The Lakeland Mysteries” offers a fresh take on children’s detective stories, combining a delightful setting, unique characters with a special ability, and clever mysteries that are both entertaining and accessible for its target audience.
Where did the idea come from about the water boatman bots in The Wolf of Ennerdale?
Yes I’d like to know that too – I thought they were brilliant!
Many thanks for asking such an interesting question. I am glad you are looking at some of the details. As to the water boatmen, I needed some sort of way to get down the river and into the Sellafield nuclear site that would not attract attention. Something natural and innocuous like an insect. Having read about using very small drones to “swarm” as a means of modern warfare, and particularly about naval drones, I went into a sort of word association about water and naval drones (little boats) which put me in mind of water boatmen, which I was aware could skim the water. How to make them into attack weapons was a different question, and the main thing I thought of was magnetism as a means of short-circuiting an electric motor. Thus, exploding magnetic water boatmen were born, with the addition of a homing system based on soundwaves. For that, I was thinking of the ADF and VOR systems for navigating airplanes (I have a pilot’s licence), and, although those are technically radio frequencies, it was the idea of following a set kHz as a navigational aid that inspired me.
Wow! Thanks for telling us about the water boatman bots. Amazing idea!
My favourite villain is Darren Fletcher in The Lad in the Lane. Is his character based on anyone you know?!
Glad you like Darren and his “piano” teeth. He is not based on any single person – none of the characters are, they are all fictional. But I do try to blend “archetypes” with the very pronounced personality traits of either people I know or public figures. I also draw on literary memes. So, with Darren, I needed a comic baddie. Recalling how minor mobsters can be very vain, with their slick clothes and pomaded hair, I started there and added in a dash of self-pity (we all know those types). As to literary memes, there’s Jack Favell, the dashing cad from Rebecca. And then for the “comic baddie” aspect, I kept in mind characters like Syndrome from The Incredibles.
Thanks for describing how you create your comic baddie characters. It’s fun to read about them!
Well, my favourite comic character in The Lad in the Lane is Miss Stemple, the over enthusiastic teacher.
And I also enjoyed the antics of the eccentric Aunt Mary in The Mystery of the Chemic Tavern.
So glad you liked Miss Stemple. I confess I took a bit of inspiration from the assistant teacher Hjordis, the assistant teacher in RITA, the Danish TV series set in a school.
I was looking for a recommendation for a mystery book for children set in the Lake District and a friend suggested the Lakeland Mysteries series. I got a copy of the Wolf of Ennerdale and thought it was great – lots of action and adventure for kids and all set in the Lake District where we regularly holiday. I now plan to get the audiobooks for our next drive up to Ambleside. If anyone else who loves the Lakes is looking for a suggestion of mystery books for kids, I know they will enjoy your Lakeland Mysteries – at least my 12 year-old did!