Dead Yard: Seeds of Doom is the start of a spine-tingling new series, set in contemporary London, with a fantastic fusion of Caribbean folklore, heart and humour.

Aspiring film-maker Jermaine’s work on his entry for the junior film competition isn’t exactly going to plan when his werewolf is attacked by a little old lady with a walking stick. Arranging to meet his cast the following day to continue filming, Jermaine intends to continue getting some shots that evening until he is abruptly reminded that he has somewhere else he needs to be …

Jermaine’s great-great-uncle Carl has died and he needs to attend his Dead Yard, a party to celebrate his life with lots of music and food. Heading outside to the marquee to avoid the dancing, Jermaine can’t helping treating himself to one of his mother’s patties which leads him into trouble with his great-great-grandmother, Miss Nell, who warns him that eating before midnight, when the spirit passes to the afterlife, is forbidden. Imagine his shock when he also finds out that he’s in trouble with his Uncle Carl who has not passed on, but is instead following him home as they’re now connected – and Jermaine is the only one who can see him! Can Jermaine undo what he has inadvertently done and help Uncle Carl pass on? Or does Uncle Carl have another reason for not passing on?

When his friend Annette calls round, Jermaine discovers that children are falling ill with a mystery sickness, a sickness that soon affects his little sister Kayla. Can Jermaine, best friends Assad and Annette, and Uncle Carl discover the cause of this illness and save the children before something even worse is unleashed?

I really enjoyed this action-packed, exciting story with its blend of horror and humour which sits perfectly within middle-grade. Representation in children’s stories is so important so that children can see themselves in books and so that they can learn about different cultures so it was wonderful to see the celebration of Caribbean culture with its music, dance, food and stories. I loved learning more about its folklore through the stories Miss Nell tells, but could they be more than just stories? With strangers lurking in the neighbourhood, cursed cassava seeds causing chaos and children in danger, there is plenty of mystery, uncertainty and revelations to make this an enthralling read.

Jermaine is an incredibly likeable young boy who clearly adores his wonderful extended family and values his friendships. He has a keen interest in film-making and loves food – something that leads him into more trouble than he might have expected! I loved his growing bond with Uncle Carl as he learns more about him and as they work together to save those they care about.

I really enjoyed the setting of contemporary London with the mention of familiar places alongside the culture and folklore of a Caribbean community. I adored the strong sense of community within the story with people coming together to support each other when things become difficult.

The front cover of this book is absolutely stunning and I have no doubt will encourage readers to pick up this book and then make connections as they read. The internal illustrations are also wonderful and capture both the sense of danger and strength of family perfectly.

Cric? Crac! This is superb story for spooky season and is perfect for readers of 9+ to curl up with and enjoy – maybe with some patties.

Thank you to Little Tiger for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.