The open door felt like an invitation, or a trap. Bastien wasn't sure which, but with no other choice, he stepped inside...and hoped he'd make it out again alive.

Bastien Bonlivre is a boy with a big imagination, determined to finish the story his parents started, left to him in a red notebook.

On the other side of Paris, bestselling author Olivier Odieux is struggling to complete his latest novel. Along with his villainous brothers, he is masterminding his greatest plot yet...one that will spread fear throughout the city and beyond.

What connects these two stories is a dangerous secret, a hidden mystery and an unexpected race across Paris for the truth. Can Bastien and his friends Alice, Theo and Sami be brave enough to stop Olivier stealing the ending they deserve?

A classic adventure story about friendship, hope, bravery and the power of imagination.

About the Author
Clare Povey is an author and the editorial and communities manager of the Writers' & Artists' website. She fell in love with reading as a child, inspired by the stories in her local library, and also discovered a passion for French, when her parents bought her Usborne's First Thousand Words in French. Clare did a degree in French and Francophone Studies, and her first book The Unexpected Tale of Bastien Bonlivre was a Waterstones Book of the Month.

Reviews
A love letter to all things bookish * The I *
A really fun read with plenty of Parisian mystery and shades of Lemony Snicket in its dastardly villainy. * Peter Bunzl, author of Cogheart *
A charming and bookish tale of friendship, villainy and the power of stories * Thomas Taylor, author of Malamander *
An absolutely delightful French mystery with plenty of tension and suspense alongside wonderful friendships. * L.D. Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency *
A delightful literary mystery with a dastardly villain to boot! Perfect for fans of Peter Bunzl and Katherine Rundell. * Christopher Edge, author of The Many Worlds of Albie Bright *



Book Information
ISBN 9781474986489
Author Clare Povey
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint Usborne Publishing Ltd
Publisher Usborne Publishing Ltd
Weight(grams) 290g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 144mm * 24mm