Home - Justin Thyme - Dramatis Personae - Panama Oxridge - The Thyme Clan - Time Travel - Cryptozoology
Puzzling Clues - News - Discussion - Reviews - Panama’s Puzzle - E-mail and Links - Buy the Book - Site Map

Justin Thyme is everything a children's novel should be. Beautifully written,
captivating, full of intrigue and mystery. The sort of book to curl up with on a rainy
afternoon and just lose yourself within the fascinating world of the boy hero, Justin
Thyme. The illustrations are excellent, and the whole general standard of the book
above the average. Any child who has loved Harry Potter will love this. My favourite
part of the whole book is the setting. A castle in Scotland creates a fantastic
atmosphere. A world within a world where the cares of the real world can be
forgotten. Which is what children's literature should be about. The book never
patronizes, and the author displays his faith in his young readership with a standard
of prose which is sadly lacking in most modern adult books. I can think of few other
works of fiction for children which could match Justin Thyme for imagination, polish,
intelligence and just plain fun.

Contemporary children's literature has seen many authors trying to catch the wave
of the Harry Potter success, and this is one of the few books that is worthy to be held
up in comparison. It has everything: a plot that keeps you on your toes at every twist
and turn, hidden clues that kids will have great fun de-coding,
a delightful cast of lovable characters (the cook Mrs Kof is a
masterpiece), wonderful illustrations and ambigrams, and -
as if that wasn't enough - an explanation of time travel that
makes it all seem so simple.

The website www.justinthyme.info is also a creative
masterpiece and a must for children and adults who enjoy
solving a mystery. Thank you Panama Oxridge for a terrific
reading experience.

This is a terrific, totally original story which will keep you turning the pages right to the
end. It is outstanding not only for the sheer inventiveness of the plot but also the
fantastic quality of the writing which never flags and which is in turn exciting, dramatic
and also hilarious. The cast includes a veritable circus of brilliantly drawn characters.
Eliza the computer literate gorilla who spends hours on the Internet chatting up
unsuspecting boys; the incredibly funny Mrs Kof whose cooking skills are matched
only by her ability to mangle the English language, and Robyn - Justin's rebellious
teenage sister - were my own particular favourites but the wonderful thing about this
book is that it is crammed full of all kinds of surprises and there will be something in it
to delight readers of all ages. You must read this - but try not to get so caught up in
the excitement of the mystery that you miss the amazing map of the castle or the
intriguing ambigram on the front cover. Oh and when you've finished the book don't
forget to log onto the extraordinary website - it is an unforgettable and addictive
experience in itself. Ten out of ten for originality and sheer wow factor! Can’t wait for
the second book in the series.