A Lakeland Mystery: The Lad in the Lane (A Lakeland Mystery Series Book Three)

If clairvoyant Mae and Isla are the only ones who can see a boy from the past, is he really there? And what does he want? This cold case of ancient family feuds and stolen deeds calls on all the mind-blending sisters’ powers of observation and deduction. If they fail, their beloved Nana will lose her home.

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.

Reviews

“Follow the absolutely marvellous sleuthing sisters, Mae and Isla, along with Reggie, the family's faithful pooch, as they sniff out clues in this wonderful romp around the Lake District with as many twists and turns as the well-travelled paths around Windermere.” Keith Madeiros, Actor, Singer, Peterborough

“The well-drawn characters of the young sleuths, who are both quirky and whip-smart, and the uniquely local nature of the mystery they solve, make this a great read! It was thoroughly enjoyable. I learned quite a bit about the Lake District, too. The psychic bond between the sibling detectives adds a magical touch to their relationship.” Kathryn Winter, Chicago

“Warren Cabral does an excellent job in blending the ordinary with the extraordinary, particularly when it comes to the more supernatural elements. A perfect introduction for children to more complex real-life narratives combined with a controlled and nuanced narrative style. I could see this being used as teaching materials, especially for those learning English as a second language.” Lu Acevedo, Writer, ESL Tutor, Mexico City.

“The Lad in the Lane has the right mix of adventure and mystery. It’s adult subject matter of greed is presented in a way the young reader can follow, with fun historical facts as a bonus. The two young heroines capture the reader's enthusiasm to keep reading. The clever little intuitive dog is a funny addition to the story. It's a five-star read.” Danni Roberto, Bibliophile, Mother, Grandmother and Great-grandmother, Canada

“A truly Cumbrian story! I really like the way Warren Cabral uses Wray Castle and Cockermouth to weave another mystery for the telepathic sisters Isla and Mae to solve. Could the ghostly lad in the lane be based on the owl-hooting boy in Wordsworth’s ‘The Prelude’? Intriguing…” Katriona Wade, Mother of three, Shropshire

“Full of fun and adventure. The wonderful Cumbria countryside is there in all its glory, but the two sisters are the stars of the show. This is a real page turner; you even want to hear more of the dastardly baddies and their plots.” David Thomas, Father of three

“The hooting of an owl as a storm recedes is the backdrop to another intriguing Lakeland Mystery. Two sisters with special skills explore the tangled web of local family legends to try to work out who did what to whom, when and why. A well written story that engages the reader from start to finish.” Janet Lewis, Retired, Scotland

“If you want a wonderland mystery, mixing the imagination of children with the power of illustration, then this is a book for you. If you don't, still buy it - buy the Series - because it does something else which all creative art should do. It takes you from where you were to where the author wants you to be - whether or not you wanted to go there! It works.” Michael Smith, Company director, West Sussex

“The Lad in the Lane is super exciting to read. I love the characters and especially all the drama in it.” Belle Kelly, 8, Young writer, London

Author biography

Warren Cabral practised law in Bermuda for 30 years before taking up his pen as author of fiction for adults and children. Even before his second career as a writer, he had written short stories, plays, pantomimes and the books for two musicals. He was the winner of The Royal Gazette prize for one of his short stories. His most recent theatrical work was On the Line, staged at The Tea House Theatre in London. The Lakeland Mysteries, of which The Fire on Slate Fell is the first book, is Warren's first venture into children's fiction.

Corryn Webb is a Welsh freelance illustrator and designer based in the rugged mountains beside the North Wales coast in the UK. Living with her husband, children and rescue dogs.With her vivid imagination and eye for detail, Corryn has been lauded for her beautiful award-winning pieces bursting to the rim with creativity. She is fascinated by the beauty, magic, and mythology of the natural landscape of Wales, which regularly inspires her art.