A fin-tastic tale of friendship and adventure, perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket and Edward Scissorhands! 'Charming and delightful ... a whimsical adventure story stuffed to the flippers with fish puns and fun.' SAM SEDGMAN, CO-AUTHOR OF THE ADVENTURES ON TRAINS SERIES 'The story has been polished like a pebble in a gift shop ... so charming and quirky is our voyage' THE TIMES Marina lives in Merlington, a fish-obsessed seaside town. Unfortunately, she doesn't care for fish; she loves telling stories. Marina finds her best story yet when she explores the ruined, haunted pier: a boy called William with a head of tentacles and crab claws for hands. He has lived on the pier all his life, cared for by a fisherman who has since disappeared and who warned him always to remain hidden. Together, the pair resolve to unravel the mystery of his past - but danger isn't far away ... The debut novel by Richard Pickard, a fresh new voice in children's fiction and winner of the Times/Chicken House Chairman's Choice Award 2019. A funny, dark, core middle-grade story touching on themes of lies, storytelling, secrets, acceptance and, of course, fish! Perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and Edward Scissorhands!