If you’re looking for something spooky to get you in the mood for Halloween, look no further than Malice in Underland  by Jenni Jennings – published today by Scholastic.

What a week it has been for Jenni, having also released her adult fiction debut,  The Twelve Dates of Christmas (Pan Macmillan), in eBook earlier this week. This twisted Middle Grade mystery is the first in a series – it follows Malice Malign, who lives a wonderfully wayward life in Underland with her family and friends. That is, until people’s  loved ones begin disappearing without a trace – and Malice is determined to find them.

A gorgeously gothic debut series. Packed with wonderful characters, witty writing and thrilling adventure.

STARFELL meets THE ADDAMS FAMILY. 

Meet Malice Morbid Malign.

She’s from Underland, land of sorcery, spooks and skulduggery.

But, she and her family live in Topside and mischief is their business . . .

And the business of mischief is a very serious matter!

The Malign family hate books, they hate bathing, and they especially HATE helping.

But when grandad ghosts mysteriously start disappearing, including her own beloved grandad, Malice has no choice but to help.

She partners up with her Uncle Vexatious, to solve the case of the missing grandad-ghosts.

The perfect next read for Amelia Fang fans.

This funny, warm-hearted, spooky series – stunningly illustrated by Hannah Peck, and beautifully packaged – will delight and enchant middle-grade readers aged 9-12.

Described by Dominique Valente, author of Starfell, as ‘a warm-hearted, funny and gloriously gothic adventure set in a fantastic Burton-esque world’ this story is already garnering high praise.

You will also find this wickedly entertaining book in the children’s selection of LoveMyRead’s October subscription parcels. Be sure to sign up here.

Jenni Jennings lives in a small seaside town in the UK with her husband; their children having left home for big adventures. She went to university aged 39 to study part-time for a degree in Creative and Professional Writing, and for the last 7 years, Jenni has been baking cakes for a coffee shop where she lives. Jenni likes long walks, baking days and is obsessed with stationary. She doesn’t believe in saving things for best and shamelessly wears party dresses to the supermarket. Malice in Underland is Jenni’s debut middle grade series. Jenni also writes adult fiction under the name Jenny Bayliss.

We just know that you’ll love Jenni’s refreshing originality and witty style, in this title which is perfect for gothic literature fans, young and old.