THE debut book by Crediton author JM Smith is receiving rave reviews.

This is a new book written for youngsters, and it is causing great interest in adults too. 

The book “Tony Plumb and the Moles of Ellodian”, has garnered interest with children at Newton St Cyres Primary School, the Bunala children’s Book Group in Okehampton and with local libraries.

Janet recently retired after many years working in the NHS as a psychotherapist, and Tony Plumb’s psychological adventure draws from her clinical experience.

The book’s cover tells us a bit about the story:

If your mind housed a spy, what secrets would it spill?

Harbouring troubling memories of time in care, Tony struggles to keep his mind on track.

Prone to episodes in “Madsville” and bombarded by thought chariots carrying unwanted baggage from the past, he’s smuggled to Ellodian by the rule dodging social worker, Ms Bendy Leggett.

At this spooky, curious, underground facility, Tony’s history intertwines with the present and the task of answering three crucial life–changing questions cannot be avoided.

With help from good friends and therapy, Tony challenges authority, rights wrongs and makes enemies, until he finally comes to understand the nature of his conundrums, the meaning of the word family and the darkest secret of all; what really happened at the waterfall?

Inspired by an excavation site set up in the grounds of Oxford University, Janet has created “a spooky underground labyrinth,” where an alternative world holds the means to enlighten us.

“The underground idea is an allegory for what we see in life and what we don’t, what we express and what we hide. Having worked with young people and adults, I am now satisfied that I have reworked my experience in a story that should grab the curiosity of everyone over the age of nine”, she explained.

The reviews describe it as: “…unique and a cracking read…”, and “…I’ve just finished your book and am bowled over! I think it’s great - so imaginative and well written. I got completely caught up in not knowing what was literal/reality and what was fantasy/dream/nightmare, just as Tony would have done…” and “Deep, dark and funny…”.

Illustrations sketched by Janet, showing some of the characters from the book can be found on the website: www.ellodian.com .

The book is available on-line, from the publishers, Troubador, from Crediton Community Bookshop, Once Read and to order from other good bookshops.

It is priced at £7.99, ISBN 9781789015034.

In the near future Janet will be speaking about juvenile fiction at a writing course in the South Hams.

On Saturday, February 23, Janet will be doing a book signing and giving readings from the book at Crediton Coffee Company in Crediton from 1.30pm.

On Saturday, March 23, from 1pm, Janet will be signing “Tony Plumb and the Moles of Ellodian” at WH Smith in Exeter.

At the WH Smith signing, there will also be young actors performing some scenes from the book.