The Trapdoor Mysteries: The Scent of Danger

"The second book in an illustrated series by Abie Longstaff, featuring a quick-thinking orphan girl and her pet squirrel. Together, they solve crimes, with the help of a secret library full of magical books. Perfect for readers of Holly Webb or the Hetty Feather series. If you wanted to find Tally you would have to go down the hall ... down the spiral staircase ... into the kitchens ... and then find the scullery. Orphan Tally is the servant girl at Mollett Manor - and she's also the Secret Keeper of the magical library hidden underneath the manor's grounds. Along with her squirrel friend, Squill, she uses the enchanted books to help others and solve crimes. So when Lord and Lady Mollett's new puppy, Widdles, is kidnapped, it's up to Tally and Squill to save the day! With the help of her magical Secret Library, she discovers how a bloodhound uses its extra-sensitive nose to pick up on scents. Tally makes herself a paper super-nose of her own track the burglar. Will Tally manage to rescue Widdles? And what fascinating facts will she learn along the way? (Did YOU know that a bloodhound's flappy ears help direct scents to its nose?)"--Publisher description

Abie Longstaff wrote the Tally and Squill books because she wanted to feature an intelligent, inquisitive heroine who solves crimes by the power of her brain!
She was also inspired by her parents' house in France. The house is big and old, with lots of rooms and outbuildings. In one of the bedrooms, there is a secret entrance hidden in a fireplace. It leads to a room that was used by the French Resistance during the war. It was the perfect idea for a set of books!
Abie Longstaff is the eldest of six children and grew up in Australia, Hong Kong and France. She knows all about squabbling and bossing younger sisters around so she began her career as a barrister. She started writing when her children were born. Her books include The Fairytale Hairdresser series and The Magic Potions Shop books. She has a life-long love of fairy tales and mythology and her work is greatly influenced by these themes.
Abie lives with her family by the seaside in Hove.