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Grimly Darkwood was born in the year nineteen hundred & blinkety blonk, which was a very long time ago. In those days, things were very different from how they are today. Carts were more common than cars, mobile phones had not been invented, and if you were very lucky, the highlight of your day was to find a free plastic spaceman in a packet of corn flakes.
Grimly thought that the sights and sounds of such days were gone forever. He was therefore surprised when, while studying the night sky with his telescope, he began to observe life on a planet which had much in common with those distant days. That he could see this place so clearly was remarkable in itself. Normally, only the brilliant stars which provide such planets with light can be observed at such a distance. But Grimly found out that he could see the planet because it possessed a phenomenon called strangeness, of which he was soon to learn a great deal more.
The Shop on Peculiar Hill is the first of Grimly’s accounts of life in a part of that distant planet, a vicinity known as The Vale of Strange. He is determined that more such tales will follow, in spite of attacks from mysterious ‘intergalactic forces’ which, he says, are trying to sabotage his telescope and clog up his ball point pen
More info about Grimly on his website https://grimlydarkwood.com/
where you can also read 2 free sample chapters of the book!
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
The Shop on Peculiar Hill by Grimly Darkwood is Book One of The Vale of Strange. Peter’s parents died in a weird accident and he goes to live with his aunt and uncle. They run a shop on Peculiar Hill, near the Vale of Strange. Peter is told that he must wear a hat and he must also wear sturdy boots, but why? Then he learns of the heeble-greebs, the bogeys, and other weird creatures that come from the Vale of Strange. He learns of tourists that go to the Vale and never come back, of the Strangeness which comes up from the ground. He gets together with Amanda, his new friend, to try to make things better, especially when he learns the secret that darkens the town, but things don’t quite go as planned. And can he trust Amanda? Is she the friend he thinks she is or is he about to make a big mistake?
The Shop on Peculiar Hill by Grimly Darkwood is a fascinating story, much like a dark version of a fairytale – I guess the author’s name might just be a clue as to what you find when you open the pages! This book has it all – death, darkness, fearsome creatures, strange vegetables – everything needed to brew up a fantastical tale. This story is well written in very straightforward language - if heeble-greeb could be considered a word – and trust, me by the end of this book, words like that will seem as normal as everyday language! The story followed a natural path and there is always something going on to keep your interest. The author has written the characters very well, so clearly that you can picture them in your mind – kind of like watching a Harry Potter movie. Great story and I'm looking forward to Book Two.
