KNIGHTLEY & SON: K-9 by Rohan Gavin, the much anticipated sequel to KNIGHTLEY & SON, is out today in the UK from Bloomsbury.
Darkus Knightley, tweed-wearing, mega-brained, thoroughly logical 13-year-old investigator of the weird, was just getting used to having his dad back in his life. Then Alan Knightley went off-radar, again, leaving Darkus with a traumatised ex-bomb-disposal dog as his only partner in crime-solving. Now things are getting even stranger. Family pets are being savaged by a beast at a top London beauty spot. Policemen have been tracked and attacked by a particularly aggressive canine. And two curiously alert hounds seem to be watching Darkus’s house. No one is using the word werewolf – yet – but as the full moon approaches, it doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to work out that someone or something sinister is messing with the minds of London’s dog population. A mysterious canine conspiracy is howling for the attention of Knightley & Son…
K-9 has already been chosen as one of Sunday Express Summer Picks for Older Children 2014, and KNIGHTLEY & SON was a Sunday Times Pick of the Week, a Guardian Best Kids’ Book, who called it “full of intrigue, suspense and humour ... a modern day classic detective mystery” and a Daily Mail Summer Book Choice, who wrote “the tweed-loving Doc is a young Holmes for our times”
There’s a great chance to get involved with some sleuthing yourself on swapit.co.uk who are hosting a KNIGHTLEY & SON treasure hunt from 13 August.
On 18 August, Rohan will be appearing at Edinburgh Book Festival, running a workshop on one of his favourite books, and inspiration for K-9, THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES.
Be sure to look out for copies of KNIGHTLEY & SON: K-9 on the London Underground as part of the Books on the Underground campaign from 11 August.
Rohan Gavin is a screenwriter and author based in London. He is the son of award-winning children's author Jamila Gavin, and recently became a father himself. KNIGHTLEY & SON: K-9 is published in the US in February 2015, and Rohan will be touring in the US next year. Rights have been sold to Gallimard in France.
See here for Knightley & Son profiles and case files…
Some praise for KNIGHTLEY & SON:
'A rousing page-turner with one fault: It ends.' - Kirkus starred review
‘An engaging, characterful debut’ – Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times Pick of the Week
'This book surpasses all expectations... Any fan of Sherlock Holmes will find this book very appealing ... full of suspense, mystery and some very clever detective skills.' – Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books
'Just too good... a fun adventure story that the whole family should read... I hope there are more adventures to come' – Girl-who-reads.com
'In Darkus Knightley, author Rohan Gavin has created a protagonist that readers will grow to love... clever, action-packed and humorous adventures' – bookzone4boys
‘His first novel, owes much to the world of film – especially the non-stop, tongue-in-cheek movies that are aimed at a family audience – Indiana Jones and most recently, Sherlock. … Action is high on the agenda … Aimed firmly at an audience who are steeped in Tintin and who have enjoyed The Diamond Brothers, this is a lively romp which will certainly please young readers.’ –Booksforkeeps