The Casebooks of Captain Holloway: The Disappearance of Tom Pile

The first gripping story in a brilliant new series about a secret team investigating the strange, the mysterious and the unexplained.

WW2, somewhere in southern England. Our mathematically and psychically gifted soldier-narrator is on a secret mission . . . Despite the diversity of its elements, this is a well-paced, enjoyable read, which effectively combines ideas generally not seen together in WW2 fiction, and certainly not children's fiction

The real-life location, historical detail and plausible contemporary voices give this conviction

IAN BECK has worked as a freelance illustrator for many years (including such notable artwork as the record cover for Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album). Ian turned to writing and illustrating children's books when his own children were born.

On a bitterly cold winter's night in 1900, a young boy disappears without trace from the forest near his home in the quiet village of Litton Cheney. He is never found, but the man he was with claims he was snatched by angels. 
 
Forty years later, Corporal Jack Carmody is sent to investigate strange reports of mysterious lights above Litton Cheney. The villagers suspect German bombers overhead, but Carmody knows there's something far more intriguing going on. And when a terrified boy appears in the graveyard, convinced it's the year 1900, it's up to Carmody and his boss - the charismatic Captain Holloway - to uncover the truth.

The Haunting of Charity Delafield

A magical, enchanting tale, with stunning illustrations that will transport you into another world.

Beck's book is exquisitely produced, and a delight to hold; this would make a perfect present for a dreamy child of 9+ . . . Proves, triumphantly, that there are better books out there than the endless Twilight rip-offs pumped out for young girls. We just have to find what is beautiful and true

This has all the ingredients of an enthralling adventure - a lonely child, a missing parent, a series of clues and a surprisingly satisfying twist of an ending

A perfect fantasy novel for older children . . . In all senses, a magical tale

Flame-haired Charity Delafield has grown up in a vast, isolated house - most of which she is forbidden to explore - by her strict, cold father. With only her kindly nurse, Rose, and her cat Mr Tompkins for company, she knows very little of the outside world - or of her own family's shadowy past. What she does know is that she is NEVER to go outside unsupervised. And she is NEVER to over-excite herself, because of the mysterious 'condition' that she has been told she suffers from. 
 
But Charity has a secret of her own. All her life, she has had the same strange dream - a dream of a dark corridor, hidden somewhere in the house. Then, one day, Charity stumbles across the corridor. It leads to a door . . . and suddenly she realises things are not quite what they seem.

The Teddy Robber

The wonderfully funny tale of the giant who steals children's teddy bears because he has lost his own.

Sweet and gently paced . . . A beautifully illustrated bedtime story

A good read-together or a good read-alone

The illustrations work beautifully together . . . It is the perfect bedtime story for tiny tots and their teddies

Someone is stealing teddies. But who could it be? 
 
Who is the Teddy Robber? 
 
When Tom's own teddy is snatched in the dead of night, he is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery . . . 
 
A friendly, warmhearted and cheerful story that makes the perfect bedtime read for young children, teddies and Giants!

The Christmas Story

A simple and exquisitely illustrated first Nativity book.

Ian Beck complements a straightforward retelling of the first Christmas with striking illustrations. Richly bordered pages frame bright, lively scenes, giving the book the feel of an illuminated manuscript

Simple, straightforward, great for reading aloud to young children

The illustrations are subtle and Beck retells the story without being too wordy, or indeed, worthy

Beautifully and intricately illustrated . . . Offers a warm and reassuring introduction to the religious meaning behind the festive season

A brightly illustrated and delightfully simple version of the best known story of all

High above the stables the night sky was filled with angels, who gave thanks to God and welcomed the new baby with their beautiful music. A perfect first book of the Nativity; simply told and beautifully illustrated by Ian Beck.

The Owl And The Pussycat

It's the 200th anniversary of Edward Lear! Celebrate with his classic poem, THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT, beautifully illustrated by the award-winning Ian Beck.

Edward Lear's popular poem is accompanied by Ian Beck's gloriously atmospheric illustrations, full of humour and tenderness this is a thoroughly enchanting book.

Peter And The Wolf

A magnificent new interpretation of Prokofiev's classic tale.

Full of winter coldness balanced by a warm retelling of the famous story

Beautifully presented with childlike, atmospheric illustrations made more dreamy by the drifting snowflakes

An inventive way to introduce children to classical music

Peter and the Wolf was composed by the great Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev to introduce children to the instruments of the orchestra. This timeless tale is beautifully retold and illustrated with by award-winning Ian Beck, and remains a wonderful introduction to the world of music.

Ian Beck

'A cracker . . . Utterly convincing' Philip Pullman 
 
The Disappearance of Tom Pile 
 
When bright lights are spotted above a tiny village in Dorset, the locals suspect German bombers. 
Jack Carmody believes otherwise. He is part of a secret government department, set up to explore the supernatural and the unexplained. 
 
Then a boy – Tom Pile – is discovered, alone and scared. 
 
Tom went missing forty years ago 
 
The Miraculous Return of Annick Garel 
 
One year later two French fishermen see strange lights over the channel – and discover the body of a girl, still alive. 
 
Annick Garel drowned in a storm thirty years ago. 
 
Both children have powers that could change the course of the Second World War. Both sides in that war want their secrets 
 
These are two extraordinary stories. 
 
These are the Casebooks of Jack Carmody.

Ian Beck

Praise for The Carmody Casebooks

A cracker . . . Utterly convincing

WW2, somewhere in southern England. Our mathematically and psychically gifted soldier-narrator is on a secret mission . . . Despite the diversity of its elements, this is a well-paced, enjoyable read, which effectiv ...

The real-life location, historical detail and plausible contemporary voices give this conviction

A cracker . . . Utterly convincing

WW2, somewhere in southern England. Our mathematically and psychically gifted soldier-narrator is on a secret mission . . . Despite the diversity of its elements, this is a well-paced, enjoyable read, which effectiv ...

The real-life location, historical detail and plausible contemporary voices give this conviction

A cracker . . . Utterly convincing

WW2, somewhere in southern England. Our mathematically and psychically gifted soldier-narrator is on a secret mission . . . Despite the diversity of its elements, this is a well-paced, enjoyable read, which effectiv ...

The real-life location, historical detail and plausible contemporary voices give this conviction

Books by Ian Beck

Series by Ian Beck

The Casebooks of Captain Holloway

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