Lucy Strange on Lockett & Wilde's Dreadfully Haunting Mysteries and the best ghost stories for kids

We’re delighted to be sharing The Ghosts of the Manor by Lucy Strange and Pam Smy with our Cockatoo subscribers this month - the first spine-tingling instalment in the Lockett & Wilde’s Dreadfully Haunting Mysteries series. Perfect for readers aged 8+, this gently spooky and delightfully quirky mystery follows young Matilda Lockett and ghostly sleuth Edgar Wilde as they unravel the secrets of Beauchamp Manor. With its gothic charm, witty humour and stunning illustrations, it’s a must-read for fans of Lemony Snicket and the Murder Most Unladylike series. We caught up with Lucy Strange to chat about her inspirations, her collaboration with illustrator Pam Smy, and what lies ahead for this supernatural detective duo.

What inspired you to write Lockett & Wilde’s Dreadfully Haunting Mysteries?

The Lockett & Wilde series began with my friendship with the amazing artist Pam Smy. We both have a love of the gothic genre and all things spooky, and we wanted to create a new series of spooky mysteries for young readers which were fun and warm-hearted and in which the illustrations were a big part of the storytelling.

Are any of the characters or elements of the story inspired by real people or events?

Matilda takes her name from the daughter of dear friends of mine, but otherwise the characters are made up - with the odd mannerism / turn of phrase borrowed from real people I know. Many of the settings in the Lockett & Wilde books are based on real places. I love using real buildings and landscapes in my writing - I think they can contribute so much to the mood and atmosphere of a story.

Which was your favourite character to write and why?

Oh I love all of them! The real joy of writing a series is that you already know the characters when you start work on a new story - they're already talking to you, and to each other! The banter between Matilda and Edgar is always so much fun, but I think Uncle Barnabus and Colin the parakeet might be my favourites - they're so funny I have to limit the amount of space they get in the stories!

We love the illustrations! How did collaborating with the illustrator work – and how do you think they impact the way we read the story?

The illustrations are very much part of the story - with speech bubbles and sometimes whole sections of the story told in pictures. Pam and I shared lots of images in an online folder to make sure we were both on the same page (haha!) with the style and tone. I think they make reading the story a much more lively and interactive experience - especially as there are CLUES hidden in some of the pictures that will help you solve the mystery! In addition to this, I would say the beauty and depth of Pam's artwork enriches the whole series immeasurably. 

Can you tell us anything about what the future holds for Matilda and Edgar?

Well, Lockett & Wilde's Dreadfully Haunting Mysteries are a trilogy: the second book - The Ghosts of London - is out now, and the third and final book - The Ghosts of the Library - will be out next year! I'm not going to give too much away, but there are strange mysteries in the past of Matilda's family, and Edgar has yet to discover the REAL reason his spirit is still here . . .

Do you have a favourite place to write?

I almost always write in my writing shed at the bottom of my garden. It is a cosy, peaceful place where I can gaze out at the countryside and allow myself to become completely immersed in my stories.

Why did you choose to write books for this age group?

I was a teacher for a long time and I wanted to write stories for the children I was teaching. When I first started out, my mission was to write stories that felt like "classics" - books that have been around for a long time, but to make them thrilling, pacy, page-turners for today's young readers. That remains my philosophy to this day! 

Which other middle grade ghost stories would you recommend our subscribers read next?

Ooh so many great ghost stories around! I'd recommend The Haunting of Fortune Farm by Sophie Kirtley, Jennifer Killick's Dread Wood and Serial Chillers series and Shadowhall Academy by Phil Hickes. Fans of the Lockett & Wilde books will also enjoy Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens, the Mallory Vale books by Martin Howard, The Beast and the Bethany series by Jack Meggitt-Phillips and Murder! By Narwhal! by Alex T. Smith.

Copies of our Lockett & Wilde's Dreadfully Haunting Mysteries pack, including a copy of the book and loads of fun activities to go with it, are now available for individual purchase. Grab a copy while stocks last!

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