Erin the Literary Cat : Nosy Crow

Written by Jack Jackman

Cover image. The book cover is in matt pale blues, aqua/turquoise, with a near diamond pointed middle section that extends to points north and south and with flat sides east to west. Within and central is the books title, above is Maisie travelling on a zip wire. She wears a maroon short sleeve top and turquoise shorts. Below is an ornate compass in red and orange. in the outer quadrants/corners, from top left clockwise appears a Himalayan mountain temple, Maisie and her father doing rock climbing, two snow leopards, and finally, an eagle with wings out and up and legs and talons extended down. The authors name appears in blue within a pale creamy box between the bottom corner images. All of the above appear in a small scalloped red and cream coloured band set in from the book edge.

An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome to my latest Book Review featuring this week an Amazing Adventure in Middle Grade Fiction.

Without further ado, and with my trusty housekeeper, Mrs H, sorting out her crampons, pitons, ropes, and most importantly, my emergency rations, let's hit the high road and see what mischief and near disaster Maisie gets into when she takes on the Himalayas!

AUTHOR: Jack Jackman (Click to link to his INSTAGRAM site)

Illustrations by: Marco Guadalupi (Click to link to his INSTAGRAM site)

Published by: NOSY CROW (Click to link to their site)

Publication date Paperback: 14 August 2025

Paperback 13 digit ISBN: 978 180 513 1366

UK Cover price for Paperback: £7.99

Amazon KINDLE price: £6.17

Amazon Pre-order price: £6.49

Pages: 240

Age range: 9 +

SPOILER ALERT

Yes, some as to plot direction and characters.

Thank you to...

We are exceedingly grateful to Nosy Crow Publishers for offering us a chance to Read & Review this story.

As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, received as gifts, or received in exchange for an impartial review.

First and foremost, the books we review are those we select to read, like, and feel our global readers deserve to know about. And that we hope they, their family, friends and students will enjoy.

The plot

The story opens with Maisie and her father, George, about to explore a cave in the coastline that is usually inaccessible, save at low tide. The water is only knee-deep, and her dad's cooking is a riskier proposition she feels. But her dad, being who he is, heads off to get some rope to link them together as an extra security measure. He instructs Maisie to stay where she is. But being who she is, and paying scant regard for her dad's many and seemingly bizarre rules, Maisie tries to jump from rock to rock and make the short distance into the cave mouth. Of course, the rocks are slippy with seaweed and such like and she slips, and is dragged under and out to sea by a sudden wave.

In a last-ditch attempt to save herself, she stops time and thus the water. But she is neither strong nor skilled enough, and her fate is sealed. That is until her dad steps in and hauls her out and to safety.

George's researching his new book, 'How to Find Buried Treasure'. An expedition in Bhutan has just made a discovery in a cave, so he is heading off to the Himalayas. The mention of treasure piques Maisie's interest. Not least because she thinks it will be great research for the pirate ghost adventure book she wants to write, featuring a pirate called Nyteshade. Alas, this is no pirate treasure, no pieces of eight. It is actually an archaeological discovery.

She manages to get her father to take her with him on the brief trip. But little do they know the trouble that awaits them at the site of the discovery.

When they arrive at the site, they are met by Tashi, a Tibetan guide. Next, they meet the person who has sponsored the research and invited Maisie's dad to visit, Mrs Oszynska. But she turns out to be someone else, Renata Kowalska. She was once a friend of Maisie's now-dead mum. Her presence, as well as the deception, does not please George one bit. He'd rather fly home and go elsewhere to do his research than remain with Renata.

Despite the obvious dislike for each other, something Maisie can't understand, the adventure continues. Donning hard hats and harnesses, and clipping on climbing aids called 'jumars' they hook onto a steel wire. They start to climb down a metal ladder bolted to the rock face that descends scarily deep into the Himalayas and a secret cave.

It is in fact a series of caves which hold the key to what lies ahead, both betrayal and revelations. Not forgetting the action, peril, and heart-stopping moments and personal discovery.

So, what did we think?

After the brilliance of Maisie's first outing in Maisie vs Antarctica (see our review HERE), we had very high hopes. Suffice it to say, the presence of this review is a testament to these having been satisfied and exceeded.

As with the first adventure, there is a real sense of the precipitous location, the weather and people. There is also the same delightful humour and rapport, and Maisie's irrepressible imagination. I think most adults reading this will enjoy the wit as much as the action.

The plot ably combines the time-stoping skills Maisie discovers that she and her dad possess, with the discovery of yet more skills, and not just for herself.

Pleasingly, and somewhat unexpectedly, we get to find out more about Maisie's mum, and her relationship to not only her father but also the antagonist in this story. But this new detail is brought slowly into the plot and adds a delightful edge by the end. It also creates interesting and exciting new possible directions for future books. It also adds to the literary magic rather than weighing it down.

I am so pleased the cover style/design, unique so far as I recall, has been maintained.

A big thank you to Jack Jackman for adding the two snow leopards on the cover and in the story. They are distant relatives who are but two of the wonderful creatures found in the Himalayas.

The cover's new colours and images are captivating and dynamic. They certainly made us want to buy this, and it always catches the eye as I wander by. After finishing this adventure found ourselves wondering where Mr Jackman, Maisie and her dad will end up next, and wagering an extra meal what images would be on the cover. Time will tell on that I'm sure.

So, Crunch time.

Sheer breath-taking, cliff-hanging, flying over a chasm by the seat-of-your-pants kind of adventure that will take your breath away.

A tale that not surprisingly given the start, had us racing at breakneck speed to the conclusion. I can see the same kind of magic, effervescence and originality in this series as Thomas Taylor created in the Eerie on Sea adventures.

A blast of Himalayan fresh air that is an absolute must-read.

And now for something completely different . . .

We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America. CLICK THIS LINK to visit their site and to get the code to add to your own blog . . .

Small image. The Cat on My Head Sunday Selfies Blog Hop badge. Features a yellow-haired lady with a tuxedo cat on her head.

Erin is sat on her green seat pad. that sits on a grey and white fine striped sofa throw. The blue fabric of the sofa back cushion is in the left hand of the selfie. . She sits head towards and slightly to the right and down as viewed from the front. Her left leg extends outwards and the tips of that leg/paw just vanishes off shot.

I hope you enjoyed that adventure, and our whiter than white chest hairs. I vehemently and most strenuously deny that the white and majesty of those hairs is down to my deliberately over exposing myself, as Mrs H was inferring. I'm just naturally sheeny.

What books have you all been reading, and would you recommend them to your blogging friends and the wider world?

Till laters!

ERin