Reviews – Justin Thyme books by Panama Oxridge

Today we hear from Bookbabbler William..

Justin Thyme by Panama Oxridge 

‘I don’t have to build a time machine; I could still change my mind…’Justin shook his head, grasping the futility of his dilemma. The first domino had already been pushed; the fuse had been lit; the countdown had started. He’d passed the point of no return, and was trapped in the adventure of a lifetime with absolutely no way out.

You probably know the old saying ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ but this book is just as great as its cover. On the front it has an ambigram of the title, which means that which ever way up you hold the book, you can read the words ‘Justin Thyme’.

The story is set in a remote Scottish castle by Loch Ness. The residents are: Justin Thyme – a 13 year old inventor and billionaire, his sister Robyn – your average teenage girl, their younger brother Albion, their mother Lady Henny- a celebrity explorer, and Sir Willoughby- their father, Laird of Thyme.

As Justin begins to wonder about time and chance, he suddenly thinks up a way to build a working time machine, but as soon as he mentions it to his father lots of strange things start happening; one of the family is kidnapped, Justin learns about his father’s past and soon realises there is a spy in the castle.

This is a great book with a really unexpected ending. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed ‘Tanglewreck’ by Jeanette Winterson, or Phillip Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy.

Thyme Running Out by Panama Oxridge

As the threat of the Thyme Curse closes in on Justin’s family, his life is once again thrown into complete turmoil. Will he finally unmask Agent X and his spy? Has Evelyn Garnet stolen his wristwatch? Why is Eliza the tame gorilla acting so wild and aggressive? What’s suddenly made Sir Willoughby start planning a secret trip in the time machine? And where has Justin’s sister, Robyn, mysteriously vanished to? Only Nanny Verity knows the truth, but can Justin find her before its too late?

Following on from ‘Justin Thyme’ this book would have a lot to live up to, but this sequel was even more exciting than the first book and ticked all the boxes for a mystery/adventure story.

After buying a tropical island and rescuing a baby dodo, things keep on getting stranger and stranger for Justin.

Agent X strikes again, this time kidnapping Sir Willoughby, Robyn mysteriously vanishes and Evelyn Garnet starts threatening to get rid of Eliza.

Will Justin finally catch Agent X and find Robyn?  All will be revealed in this amazing second book in the Tartan of Thyme series.

Thanks, William, and thanks to Inside Pocket Publishing Ltd for sending us copies of the books to review. They’re here for you to buy now…..