Hunt for the Golden Scarab

Embark on an Egyptian adventure with bestselling and award-winning children’s writer, M.G. Leonard, as she reveals how a journey down the Nile inspired her latest book, Hunt for the Golden Scarab. Explore the Valley of the Kings, where the tombs of the Pharaohs can be found, unravel the ancient art of mummification, learn about heart scarabs, the Book of the Dead and the possible location of the lost tomb of Nefertiti. The perfect event for adventure seekers, budding Egyptologists and time travellers!

About Hunt for the Golden Scarab

The action of Indiana Jones meets the time travel of Dr Who in Hunt for the Golden Scarab, the first title in the Time Keys series by bestselling award-winner M. G. Leonard. Perfect for children of 8 to 12 and fans of Adventures on Trains, Beetle Boy and Twitch. Illustrated in black and white throughout by Manuel Šumberac.

Sim and his mum never live anywhere long. When dangerous strangers appear one night, Sim discovers why. His mum has been keeping secrets: she has the power to open doors in time.

Running for their lives, Sim and his friends are determined to outwit the sinister Council of Keys and be the first to find Nefertiti’s lost tomb and a powerful door to Ancient Egypt. They must piece together long-hidden clues if they are to solve the mystery of her golden heart scarab. Can they find it before the Council finds them?

‘A complete triumph of imagination . . . readers are going to fall in love with this brilliant new series.’ — A. F. Steadman, bestselling author of Skandar

‘Classic and fresh – a breathtaking adventure.’ — Eoin Colfer, bestselling author of Artemis Fowl

M.G. Leonard is the bestselling author of beloved children’s books, including Beetle Boy, the Adventures on Trains series, The Twitchers, and The Ice Children. Her work has been translated into over 40 languages, and Beetle Boy is currently being developed as a live-action TV series.

Her books have earned numerous accolades, including the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book of the Year (2021), the CrimeFest Award for Best Crime Novel for Children (2021), and the British Book Award for Children’s Fiction (2021). She has also won the Books Are My Bag Reader Award (2020), China’s Children’s Choice Book Gold Medal (2018), and the Branford Boase Award (2017). M.G. Leonard has been shortlisted twice for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America, nominated three times for the Carnegie Medal, and recognised globally for her storytelling.

A passionate advocate for insect conservation, she serves as vice president of the charity Buglife. M.G. Leonard and her beetles have appeared on Blue Peter, Springwatch Unsprung, Countryfile, Meet the Author with James Naughtie, Sky News, and in the BBC documentary The Bug Couple. Website / Instagram @mglnrd

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