The Fire on Slate Fell
Mae & Isla thwart an audacious fraud

The Fire on Slate Fell

After a frightening encounter with a cigar-chomping biker gang, young sisters Mae and Isla Donaldson investigate a mysterious fire that has left no trace. The mystery deepens when a beautiful visitor speaks of buried treasure and a hooded stranger is overheard bragging in the local pub. Curiosity turns to terror when Ilsa disappears on the trail of clues left by a fell-walking eccentric, who has also vanished. Mae’s powers of deduction and Isla’s emotional insight are stretched to the limit by an audacious fraud.

Meet the Donaldson girls – primary schoolers and detectives. Mae, clever and very, very proper. Isla, a wild, artistic soul most at home wandering the fells of England’s beautiful Lake District. They are united by an uncanny ability to share their thoughts.

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“…an entertaining read for mystery loving middle grade readers.”

LoveReading4Kids

People and Places that Inspired the Book

Photos - The Fire on Slate Fell in Real Life.
Mystery Map

Explore Book 1 Locations

Location Name

  • Sainsburys Cockermouth
  • The Manor House
  • Old Bank House
  • Trout Hotel
  • Miller’s Bridge
  • Clear Lawn Primary School
  • Slate Fell
  • Sellafield
  • Wordsworth House
  • Sullart Street Roundabout

Coordinates

  • 54°39'43.5"N 3°21'53.8"W
  • 54.663163, -3.368660
  • 54.663960, -3.364031
  • 54.663613, -3.368570
  • 54.664723, -3.367825
  • 54.661820, -3.367553
  • 54.661164, -3.325357
  • 54.420794, -3.499347
  • 54.663678, -3.367762
  • 54.663418, -3.367960

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Reader Reviews of the Fire on slate Fell

Reviews by Readers around the world – Young and Old

★★★★★
“Very enjoyable read.  Clever plot involving treasure hunters, misplaced artefacts and mysterious fires on the fells. Are the bikers goodies or baddies? Can the girls solve it?  Of course, they can and way ahead of the adults who aren’t even aware there is a mystery to solve.”
David ThomasFather of three and keen fell walker
★★★★★
‘In this exciting mystery, two remarkable sisters watch the events around them and wonder why nothing is necessarily what it appears to be. Their natural curiosity and clever creative skills are put to the test as they try to put the pieces of the puzzle together. A thoroughly enjoyable Lakeland adventure that rattles along with its unique twists and turns."
Janet LewisRetired, Scotland
★★★★★
"This story is wonderfully written and illustrated. It captured the attention of my 6-year-old granddaughter who identified with the amateur detectives. She improved her vocabulary with new words, always a bonus. Good read indeed."
Danni Roberto/Evie Collacott aged 6reat-grandmother & great-granddaughter, Canada
★★★★★
“A well-written tale that engages the reader from the very start and that cannot help but make you look forward to the next Lakeland Mystery.”
Terry PryseDeep sea diver, Bermuda
★★★★★
“Move over Enid Blyton! With their telepathic powers and sharp eyes, sleuthing sisters Mae and Isla Donaldson get on the trail of a missing Cumbrian treasure trove. Fast paced, this fun read features bikers The Fells Angels, crooked curators and dodgy detectorists. The mystery unravels in the streets of Cockermouth and only Mae and Isla can figure out the vanishing Fire on Slate Fell!” 
Katriona WadeRetired BBC Radio Producer
★★★★★
“I thoroughly enjoyed The Fire on Slate Fell and it left me wanting more! I just loved the characters especially Isla & Mae and their secret communication!  It is written in such a descriptive way; it transported me straight to the Lake District with all its beauty. The Lakeland Mysteries are the 21st Century’s answer to the Famous 5.”
Philippa HaftkeMother of two, Kent
★★★★★
“Join two extraordinary girls, Isla and Mae, as they unravel a mystery involving a peculiar white van, a phony fire, and hidden treasure. Through their silent communication and clever observations, these sisters engage readers from start to finish. Perfect for curious and imaginative children with a passion for solving mysteries.”
Judith LankaEducationalist, Zurich
★★★★★
“I really enjoyed The Fire on Slate Fell! It’s a satisfying mystery with an old-school touch. Reminded me of the Nancy Drew series I read when I was younger, but the story is well pitched for an adult reader right to the end.”
Deirdre de WijzeMother of two, The Netherlands
★★★★★
“These two sisters are natural detectives; Isla with her talent for drawing exactly what she sees, and Mae with her word memory cues that help her keep track of clues. Their ability to communicate without speaking make for an engaging pair to solve another mystery. Enjoy the twists and turns of this Lakeland Mystery where intrigue on the fells gives an authentic touch to this adventure story. The one scene that might be considered scary depending on the age of the reader is deftly handled and quite short.”
Mary BredinEmmy nominated Executive Producer best known for her children’s series “True and the Rainbow Kingdom” and co-creating “Pickwick Pack” on Disney
★★★★★
“In this, the first of the “Lakeland Mysteries” series, we meet Mae and Isla, indomitable sisters who share ‘electric thoughts’.  Mae is rational and pragmatic, Isla is spontaneous and artistic, both are passionate for fair play.  When a gang of bikers arrive in Cockermouth and strangers appear, seemingly to coincide with a presentation at the girls’ school by the curator of the local museum, things are about to change - and not for the better.  With a baffling plot, perplexed parents and puzzled police, can Mae and Isla work quickly to uncover a crime hidden in plain sight?  Narrated fluently at pace, this is a book which adventure lovers everywhere will enjoy.” 
Elizabeth HolmanPoet, Mother of 6, Switzerland

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