Hi, I’m Seven.
And I’m 13. (Yeah, my name can be confusing.)
So, here’s the thing. Mr O, our caretaker at Riverside Academy, is gone. Maybe I was the last person to see him, out on the school field, and he didn’t look good. Now, he’s missing. And I have his keys.
Hang on, Mam’s calling, again…
Awards
Winner of the Hachette Children’s Novel Award at the Northern Writers' Awards 2023, and supported with public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Reviews
"Seven: Distracted Detective stands out for its confidence, imagination, originality and authentic voice." New Writing North
“A charming, original mystery with an engaging cast of characters and real emotional depth.” Sue H. Cunningham, author of Totally Deceased
Publishing Information, Illustrations and Design
Publisher: Aralyn Press
Date of publication: 13 November 2025
Paperback ISBN: 9781068421907
eBook ISBN: 9781068421914
Cover and interior illustrations: Lily Mae Kroese
Cover design: Megan Watson
Get Your Copy
Your local bookshop - because this is also listed with Nielsen's, Gardners and Ingram too.
Launch Events
In December 2025, I'm collaborating with Newcastle University's Careers Service on Pop-Up events. These include my book launch for Seven on 2nd December, and the Festive Pop-Up Market on 11th December. It would be great to see you there!
Resources and Extras
Download my information sheet for bookshops. You can also print questions for your Book Club! And if you're a bookshop, school or library, I'd also be happy to send you some bookmarks - get in touch.
If you'd like me to run a workshop, speak at an event, or collaborate on a creative writing project, I’d love to hear from you.
