From the author of the bestselling Roman Mysteries, a new series set in the Wild West, packed with danger and deadly desperados at every turn!

Virginia City in 1862 is a mining camp sitting above a rich vein of silver in America's Wild West. It's a dangerous place, full of gamblers, hurdy girls and gunmen - all of them on the make!

When twelve year-old P.K. Pinkerton arrives there, homeless, penniless and hunted, things don't look good. But P.K. soon finds allies in Sam Clemens, a newspaper reporter, Poker Face Jace, a gambler who can tell when someone is bluffing, and Ping, a Chinese photographer's apprentice. With the help of these friends - and armed with a Smith & Wesson seven-shooter and a knack for disguises - P.K. takes on the tricksters and desperados and tries to become a detective.

Fast, furious and funny - an utterly entertaining mystery adventure from an author who knows exactly how to grip and thrill her readers.

From the author of the bestselling Roman Mysteries, a new series set in the Wild West, packed with danger and deadly desperados at every turn!

About the Author
Caroline Lawrence is American. She lives with her husband by the river in London and is active as a speaker in schools and at book festivals. She took part in the British Museum's POMPEII LIVE event, giving talks that were streamed to schools all over the UK, and she is the winner of the 2009 CLASSICS ASSOCIATION PRIZE for 'a significant contribution to the public understanding of Classics'. In addition to the 17 novels in the ROMAN MYSTERIES sequence, Caroline Lawrence has written five spin-off titles, all of which have contributed to total UK sales in excess of 1 million copies. Visit Caroline's website at www.carolinelawrence.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolineLawrenc. Caroline Lawrence is American. She lives with her husband by the river in London and is active as a speaker in schools and at book festivals. She took part in the British Museum's POMPEII LIVE event, giving talks that were streamed to schools all over the UK, and she is the winner of the 2009 CLASSICS ASSOCIATION PRIZE for 'a significant contribution to the public understanding of Classics'. In addition to the 17 novels in the ROMAN MYSTERIES sequence, Caroline Lawrence has written five spin-off titles, all of which have contributed to total UK sales in excess of 1 million copies. Visit Caroline's website at www.carolinelawrence.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolineLawrenc.

Reviews
I Love, Love, LOVE it!!!! Pinky is a wonderful creation - authentic and lovable. It's exciting (I love all the cliffhangers) and funny and sometimes truly moving. * Sophie McKenzie, author of Girl, Missing *
Scalpings, six shooters, saloons and stage coaches. Clear your calendar because you'll want to read this in a single sitting! * Robert Muchamore, author of the Cherub series *
What we have here is a rip-roaring tale of the Wild West, with tons of credible local colour, a bunch of villains every bit as wicked as those to be found in Ancient Rome, and a likeable lead character... Original, intriguing, and a lot of fun, this book is well worth reading. * THE BOOKBAG *
Lawrence swaps Ancient Rome for the whip-cracking Wild West in a new historical series. The Western Mysteries is set in an 1860s mining camp, which sees 12-year-old P K Pinkerton determined to outwit the outlaws and become a detective. The Roman Mysteries have an outstanding track record. * THE BOOKSELLER *
We were only saying the other day that it is about time the Wild West came back into literary fashion, and blow me, ace historian and writer, Lawrence, inspired by the brilliant grown-up telly series Deadwood fires off the first of the PK Pinkerton mysteries, featuring a short gunslinger with a long list of disguises. -- Bookseller Crow * FAMILIES SOUTH EAST *
I enjoyed this rip-roaring, yee-hah adventure and I particularly liked the characters... I really liked this book! -- Delilah Ferry-Swainson, age 11 * FIRST NEWS *
I felt like I had stepped instantly back into Virginia City, right into the middle of a gun fight. I could almost hear the gun shots... this book is extremely detailed and keeps you on your toes the whole way through. The chapters are short, sharp and each one is finished off with an excellent cliff-hanger. All the characters come alive... * SERENDIPITY BLOG *
A gripping yarn, ideally suited for boys or girls aged 9+ * WE LOVE THIS BOOK *
Pinky is one of the most engaging heroes I have come across. * TELEGRAPH *
... a fast, funny adventure that cracks along as smartly as a cowboy's whip -- Amanda Craig * THE TIMES *
...vivid, alive and detailed... the book is full of humour... This book is quirkily different, fast-paced and great fun and I recommend it. * THE SCHOOL LIBRARIAN *
The story moves along at a pace, is very exciting and is full of twists and turns * BOOKS FOR KEEPS *
the action hurtles along at break-neck speed.... It's fast, action-packed * NATE CLASSROOM *
Recreating life in the 'Wild West' during the time of the American Civil War, this series is all set to be another triumph! * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *
Featuring real historical characters, as well as convincingly portrayed fictional ones, you get the feeling that Lawrence had a whale of a time immersing herself in the lore and ephemera of the era. Her enjoyment leaves you exilherated and throroughly entertained. * CAROUSEL *
I really enjoyed this rip-roaring, yee-hah adventure. I really liked this book! -- Delilah Ferry-Swainston * FIRST NEWS *
I have a great fondness for first person narrative and for books with a really clear and unusual voice, so I was hooked o this story from the first page! ... I can't wait to see what PK does next. * FANTASTIC READS *


Awards
Winner of Lancashire School Library Service Fantastic Book Award 2013 (UK). Short-listed for Shrewsbury Children's Book Award 2012 (UK) and The Hillingdon Primary School Book of the Year Award 2012 (UK).



Book Information
ISBN 9781444003253
Author Caroline Lawrence
Format Paperback
Page Count 304
Imprint Orion Children's Books
Publisher Hachette Children's Group
Weight(grams) 240g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 128mm * 22mm