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The Curse of Ragman’s Hollow (Merryweathers Mystery – 3) by Rhys Jones

Just a walk in the countryside. What could possibly go wrong

Sam Jones’s grandmother is training him to be one of the Cunning Folk, like her, and exams are looming.

But Sam’s mother has holiday plans and drags him off to a remote cottage in the middle of nowhere for some country air.  No mobile phone, nettle soup and long walks are the rule. One such walk takes them to Ragman’s Hollow, a place the locals avoid with good reason.
It’s a place where people and animals go missing, never to be found.

That’s just superstitious nonsense, according to Sam’s mother. But there is no smoke without fire and Sam soon finds himself up against an old, very spiteful, and very tricky enemy.
He’s going to need every ounce of his cunning to stop the Ragman. But can he do it alone?

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About the Author

Rhys A Jones was born in 1955 and grew up in a mining village in South Wales with his nose in a book and his head in the clouds. He managed to subdue his imagination long enough to carve out a career in medicine, writing whenever the chance arose.

The Merryweathers mysteries feature a boy and his more-than-meets-the-eye Granny Merryweather. The Curse of Wihtlea Barrows (previously the Dreables) and The Curse of Borage Doone have just been released as paperbacks with new covers and a new publisher (Wyrmwood). The third in the series entitled The Curse of Ragman’s Hollow is now available at last

Rhys is currently writing The Artefact Quintet featuring eleven-year-old Oz Chambers whose family inherits a ‘haunted’ house. His mother wants to leave, but Oz wants to unlock the house’s mysteries and uncovers a secret that will change his life forever.

Rhys also writes for adults as DC Farmer and Dylan Young

He has three grownup children who have emerged remarkably unscathed into adulthood.

When not writing, he practices medicine and lives in darkest West Wales with his understanding (very) wife and dog.

Oh, and the Rhys is pronounced Reece–as in the actor Rhys Ifans of Mr Lovegood (Harry Potter) and The Lizard (The Amazing Spiderman) fame. Or perhaps it’s easier if you just think of Reece Witherspoon, though she is a lady.

FROM WIKI:
 Rhys /ˈriːs/[1] is a Welsh given name (usually male), famous in Welsh history
a surname of Welsh origin that means “Dragon“, “fervour”, “passion”, “ultimate strength”, “king” or “zeal”

It was also my dad’s name!
The name is also anglicised as Rice, Rees, Reese and Reece

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My Review

5 Stars

Sam Jones is learning how to be one of the Cunning Folk from his grandmother. So far he has the ability to make himself and things invisible. He is excited to practice more with his grandmother until his mother, Arabella decides to go on holiday with her friend Hester and Hester’s two kids. They are off to a Welsh cottage near Ragman’s Hollow.

Arabella has always wanted to explore the Ragman’s Hollow but Ran has warned then to stay away. Animals and people that have gone into the Ragman’s Hollow don’t come back. Off they go on their adventure and they find themselves in some serious trouble. Sam is going to have to learn more control of his abilities if he is going to save everyone.

I really enjoyed this story. I didn’t even realize that it was the third book into the series. I easily got into the story and I was as excited to learn as Sam. The quick chapters had me reading up late just to finish one more. The characters we well developed and I have to say as much as I liked Sam and Arabella I couldn’t stand Hester. The Ragman was also a great, scary character.

I loved this book and think any mid-grade reader that likes magic and scares will enjoy the story. Now I’m going to go back and check out the other two books to see what I missed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

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I would like to thank Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and share this book.