<< Books of the Month
<< Previous Teenage Books of the Month

Creature of the Night by Kate Thompson
Published by The Bodley Head, 2008

When Bobby's mother moves the family from Dublin to a rented house in the country, she hopes they will escape the moneylenders who make her life hell and that a fresh start in the country will steer Bobby away from the undesirable habits and people he is involved with in the city.

But Bobby yearns for city life and getting back to what he does best; stealing from the crowded shopping streets and racing stolen cars at night.

Parallel stories running simultaneously in Thompson’s books are a regular feature of her writing and here again, the personal journey of Bobby is paralleled by the story of a previous tenant who once lived in their newly rented house and who mysteriously disappeared.

The longer Bobby spends in the old cottage, the more convinced he becomes that something very strange is going on there. Was there really a murder? And if so, was it the one he has been told about?

Thompson’s characters are as always well rounded and truly authentic. Combined with an excellent storyline with a touch of fantasy, this book is an excellent read for older children and young teens.