Having very much enjoyed 'The Highland Falcon' the first in the Adventures on Trains series which MG Leonard wrote with Sam Steadman, I was keen to try this book when it was recommended to me recently.

And what a great idea - a birdwater as a young detective! It's the first of the Twitchers series aimed at readers in the 9-12 age group.

Twitch - real name Corvus Featherstone - has three chickens, four pigeons he's training, and swallows nesting in his bedroom. He's a lovely, cheerful chap with a wonderful relationship with his mum.

Unfortunately Twitch is being bullied at school. And this book begins with a horrible incident where boys are threatening to harm Twitch's pigeon. It almost put me off the book, but happily it doesn't reflect the tone or content after that incident. In fact it's a very positive and cheering story.

On the first day of the summer holidays, Twitch arrives at his secret bird hide to find the place swarming with police. They're searching for a convicted robber who has broken out of prison and is believed to be hiding in the wood. Twitch goes on the hunt for the prisoner. He puts himself in danger, but also makes new friends. 

It's a gripping adventure with lovely characters and a brilliant concept, beautifully executed!