The Scent of Blood

The Scent of Blood by Tanya Landman (Walker Books)
PB RRP $ 13.95
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

The Scent of Blood is another sensational murder mystery by Tanya Landman for the 12+ age group which revolves around the circus.

The narrator Poppy Fields is always accompanied by her best friend and walking encyclopaedia Graham. His brilliant mind is able to draw on unlimited information whenever it’s needed while Poppy’s extraordinary powers of observation serve to collect and retain data. These amateur sleuths love solving murders and their incredible tenacity and questioning minds assist police in catching criminals.

Poppy’s mum has just won first prize in a charity raffle. This sees Poppy and Graham experiencing the pleasure of a long weekend at Farleigh Manor Zoo. Formerly a stately home, the heir to the property has turned it into a New Age retreat combined with a zoo. As usual, they seem to be a magnet to murder.

After the death of several keepers, the two young sleuths move into action. ‘We’re going to find out what happened’ is their motto. What secrets is the new owner hiding and why are these deaths occurring?

This series of excellent dramas have all the excitement and activity of an adult book without the excessive blood and gore. The leading characters are intelligent, resourceful and observant youngsters. The stories are enriched with a wonderful flow of information about the chosen subject. This creates a terrific background setting and serves well in engaging the reader from the first page to the last.