The Pear Affair : 'Absolutely sparkling, enchanting storytelling.' Hilary McKay

The highly anticipated second novel from the author of the acclaimed The Secret Starling and The Accidental Stowaway - a spectacular adventure set through and under the streets of Paris.

When Penelope Magnificent''s awful parents tell her they''re taking a trip to Paris, she surprises them by begging to go along.

Nell is usually content to avoid her money-obsessed father and her fashion-focussed mother, but Paris holds something very dear to her . . . her old au pair Perrine - Pear - lives there. Pear used to write to Nell every week promising to come to her rescue but recently the letters have stopped . . .

Arriving at her parent''s posh hotel, Nell is determined to find Pear . . . but no one has seen her at her last known address, and no one seems to want to tell her anything about Pear''s whereabouts.

Luckily she befriends the hotel bellboy who introduces her to the world of tunnels underneath the city, and together they set out to find Pear, whilst uncovering an extraordinary mystery of their own . . .

Gorgeous black and white illustrations by Kim Geyer bring this story to life.

''A rumbustious, rollicking adventure with a generous heart and a happy ending.'' Books for Keeps

''FABULOUS!'' Emma Carroll, author of Letters from the Lighthouse

''I loved The Pear Affair! If you liked Katherine Rundell you''ll love this.'' Lisa Thompson, author of The Boy Who Fooled the World