The Deadly Daylight by Ash Harrier
Twelve-year-old Alice England is a clever and curious girl with an unusual secret. She’s grown up working with her father in their family-owned funeral home, where she discovers some of their clients’ old belongings are ‘resonant’, meaning they allow her to see moments from a deceased person’s life. But working in a funeral home can make it hard to make friends – that is, until Alice meets Violet, an equally unique girl who suffers from a severe allergy to sunlight.
When Violet’s Uncle George passes away from the same allergy, Alice’s special gift shows her that his death may not be all it seems. What follows is an exciting and sometimes spooky investigation, as Alice and Violet try to uncover what was really going on in their little town that contributed to George’s death.
The first in a new middle-grade series, The Deadly Daylight is a fun and charming read that will keep you on your toes. Despite its macabre undertone, there are plenty of quirky puns and an overriding sense of adventure that balance out the novel. Alice and Violet are intelligent and inquisitive characters who learn to embrace their individual disabilities (Violet has a sunlight allergy and one of Alice’s legs was injured at birth), stand up for what is right, and develop a meaningful friendship.
Perfect for fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events, Enola Holmes and Coraline, The Deadly Daylight is recommended for kids aged 10+.
