BOOKS NIC BOTTOMLEY
Story time More lockdown means more time, which means more lovely books
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“Two playful mysteries, that are also full of comic touches, could offer much needed levity and escape this lockdown” 42 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
ith Christmas browsing needing to be done at a distance the Bath Life editorial squadron has offered up a larger than usual space (even my column needs social distancing) for me to bombard you with some of the books I think would be especially well received if they appeared under the tree this year, and. So here goes, six books that might appeal to different readers and that represent some of our current favourites here at Mr B’s. Let’s start with the youngest readers. More than ever this year, we’re going to need weaponry on hand to combat cabin fever amongst the kids this Christmastime. In fact I’m getting just a little bit shaky thinking about the worst case scenario of lockdown running straight into a largely indoor sugarfuelled Christmas. A great book for lengthier distraction is the third instalment of the Pierre the Maze Detective series, The Curious Case of the Castle in the Sky by Hiro Kamigaki (Laurence King, £14.99). Don’t worry if you’re new to these, each dastardly maze and mystery mash-up is separate and so there’s no need to have tried the previous volumes. On each page you are greeted by a vibrant twisty-turny overfilled scene with a fresh maze that might ultimately lead Pierre and Carmen to the fabled castle in the sky. At least it will if you can help them navigate it and, along the way, track down the many well-hidden objects needed to unpick the mystery of the missing Maze Egg. For young readers in need of escapism, and laughter, try out InvestiGATORS by John Patrick Green (Macmillan, £9.99). Illustrated in comic-book panel style, this is an exciting
