| ||||||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £0.25
Get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade in Justin Thyme (Tartan of Thyme Series) for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £0.25, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
Remarkable...Ingenious... --Sunday Times
Product Description
Justin Thyme is a self-made billionaire living in a castle overlooking Loch Ness. The day he turns thirteen, he receives an anonymous gift: a fabulous watch with a puzzling message hidden on it. When he tells his father of his plans to build a time machine, the Laird of Thyme reveals tantalising fragments of past espionage and warns his son of a ruthless enemy keeping him under constant surveillance. At first, Justin fails to take Sir Willoughby seriously, but when a stranger arrives claiming to be his long-lost grandfather, Justin is wary - especially after his beloved Nanny insists the old man is an impostor. Suddenly, the race against time is on. Can Justin convert his vintage motorbike into a time machine, rescue his mum and discover the identity of their resident spy in less than a week ...or will the dreaded Thyme Curse claim another life?
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've been looking forward to getting this book, ever since I first found out about it when I stumbled upon the Justin Thyme website. My copy arrived in the last week of the school hols - and I certainly wasn't disappointed.
I read the story itself in a couple of sittings. The writing style is ideally suited to its target audience (I've just started reading it to my new class) - it's fun, easy to read and, although it uses a broad vocabulary, has a sort of mini-dictionary at the back simply defining the more complex words in the text. (And I have to admit I even learnt a few new words myself!)
The plot is a complex whodunit mystery (that would intrigue most adult readers), with an array of eccentric suspects, subtle clues and deceptive red herrings ... and the 'evidence' is all illustrated, which makes you feel like you're actually taking part in an investigation yourself.
But what makes this book really stand out for me, is that once you've read it, it's far, FAR from over. About half way through I noticed that there's a sort of puzzle "element" (excuse the pun ... you'll understand if you've read it), and I'm now working my way through it a second time with both eyes wide open. WOW! As the story says "Everything REALLY is connected to everything else!" I've realised that there are trails of "hidden" clues woven in amongst the standard ones. The few things I've found so far are amazing and add another dimension to the story! Number or letter sequences, times, dates, lists, codes ... I suspect nothing is there without a solid reason - although, in many cases I'm still figuring it out and know I'm probably missing stuff.
I wasn't sure how many younger readers would spot this kind of thing on their own - but, (now I'm back for the new term) have realised that they're far more observant then I am! (I have to confess that a missing "step" in the trail was pointed out to me by one of my 11 year-old pupils!!!) After only a couple of chapters it's totaly engaged the whole class - and the single school library copy is the centre of much heated debate.
Just as the title on the front cover can be read from two angles ... so, almost everything else in this story can be read on more than one level. Amazing!
I read the story itself in a couple of sittings. The writing style is ideally suited to its target audience (I've just started reading it to my new class) - it's fun, easy to read and, although it uses a broad vocabulary, has a sort of mini-dictionary at the back simply defining the more complex words in the text. (And I have to admit I even learnt a few new words myself!)
The plot is a complex whodunit mystery (that would intrigue most adult readers), with an array of eccentric suspects, subtle clues and deceptive red herrings ... and the 'evidence' is all illustrated, which makes you feel like you're actually taking part in an investigation yourself.
But what makes this book really stand out for me, is that once you've read it, it's far, FAR from over. About half way through I noticed that there's a sort of puzzle "element" (excuse the pun ... you'll understand if you've read it), and I'm now working my way through it a second time with both eyes wide open. WOW! As the story says "Everything REALLY is connected to everything else!" I've realised that there are trails of "hidden" clues woven in amongst the standard ones. The few things I've found so far are amazing and add another dimension to the story! Number or letter sequences, times, dates, lists, codes ... I suspect nothing is there without a solid reason - although, in many cases I'm still figuring it out and know I'm probably missing stuff.
I wasn't sure how many younger readers would spot this kind of thing on their own - but, (now I'm back for the new term) have realised that they're far more observant then I am! (I have to confess that a missing "step" in the trail was pointed out to me by one of my 11 year-old pupils!!!) After only a couple of chapters it's totaly engaged the whole class - and the single school library copy is the centre of much heated debate.
Just as the title on the front cover can be read from two angles ... so, almost everything else in this story can be read on more than one level. Amazing!
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a terrific, totally original story which will keep you turning the pages right to the end. It is outstanding not only for the sheer inventiveness of the plot but also the fantastic quality of the writing which never flags and which is in turn exciting, dramatic and also hilarious. The cast includes a veritable circus of brilliantly drawn characters. Eliza the computer literate gorilla who spends hours on the Internet chatting up unsuspecting boys; the incredibly funny Mrs Kof whose cooking skills are matched only by her ability to mangle the English language, and Robyn- Justin's rebellious teenage sister -were my own particular favourites but the wonderful thing about this book is that it is crammed full of all kinds of surprises and there will be something in it to delight readers of all ages. You must read this - but try not to get so caught up in the excitement of the mystery that you miss the amazing map of the castle or the intriguing ambigram on the front cover. Oh and when you've finished the book don't forget to log onto the extraordinary website- it is an unforgettable and addictive experience in itself. Ten out of ten for originality and sheer wow factor! Cant wait for the second book in the series.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
First in the promised four-book series Tartan of Thyme, Justin Thyme is full of mystery, intrigue, anagrams, puzzles, puns, and just plain fun. Set in a wonderful castle on Loch Ness (complete with the occasional sighting of Nessie), it explores the hero Justin's adventures beginning with the gift of a beautiful, personalized ambigram wristwatch for his 13th birthday--from an as-yet unknown beneficiary. The watch itself holds a number of clues to Justin's ensuing exploration of time travel, on which his family's very existence seems to depend. Aimed at younger readers, the engaging storyline, wonderful cast of characters--from the marvelous laptop-communicating Eliza the Gorilla to the hysterical English-mangling Mrs. Kof--and satisfyingly challenging science will doubtless attract readers of all ages who enjoy a good fantasy whodunit. (Particularly fun are the endless puns on the Thyme name via the various given names of family members: Willoughby Thyme, Henny Thyme, Robin Thyme, Albion Thyme--not to mention Justin himself!) Everyone will enjoy the many puzzles providing clues as to the identity of a spy in Thyme Castle (and other plot points), but even without these the story carries one right along through thrills and funny mishaps to a gratifying ending--that leaves you eager for the next installment. Add to all this the mystery of who the author Panama Oxridge really is, and the clues to this poser salted throughout the wonderful website for the series, and we truly have a winner of a tale. Sure to join the Hogwart's clan and the unfortunate Boudelaire orphans in gaining a loyal and widespread following, now is your chance to get on the Tartan of Thyme elevator on the ground floor. Enjoy!
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Loops and forks of a tale
My wife picked this book up from a lovely little book shop in Morton on the Marsh, she loved it, knowing I had read the Harry Potters and loved them, although this is a very... Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. S. Bennett
Pseudonyms, wormholes and time machines!
Justin Thyme (what a fantastic name!) is a multimillionaire at just 13 years of age. Not bad going at all. Read more
Published 6 months ago by BDMist
Pure genius!
This is a children's book but very well-written with amusing characters, plus plenty of twists and turns. Read more
Published 18 months ago by longhairedsally
More codes than 'Da Vinci'
This book is a showcase for the authors talent even before you open the first page for the jacket design, with it's `read it any way you like' title, is also a product of his... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Algernon Flowers
Justin Time for Justin Thyme
In a way, the ambigram of `Justin Thyme' sets a keynote for the whole book; the atmosphere of intrigue & mystery never falters, creating the novel as what has become known as a... Read more
Published 20 months ago by James
Just in Time for Justin Thyme
In a way, the ambigram of `Justin Thyme' sets a keynote for the whole book; the atmosphere of intrigue & mystery never falters, creating the novel as what has become known as a... Read more
Published 20 months ago by James
MI5 eat your heart out
One of my favourite authors, Tad Williams, has, in the front of his marvellous 'The Dragonbone Chair', the warning that, simply translated from the Trollish means 'avoid... Read more
Published on 24 Oct 2007 by Algernon Flowers
Justin Thyme
I really enjoyed this book as time travel has always fascinated me. Slightly odd writing style but you get used to it after a while. Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2007 by Mysty Dribble
Justin Thyme
This book was recommended to me. After reading it myself, (and enjoying it immensely), I bought copies for two boys, one aged 11 and one aged 12. Read more
Published on 25 July 2007 by Sarah Cartwright
Marred by an insecure writing style but - the plot twists, the...
(Review written by my 21 year-old son)
Panama Oxridge's Justin Thyme confused me less with the plot or characters than with an oddly insecure writing style. Read more
Panama Oxridge's Justin Thyme confused me less with the plot or characters than with an oddly insecure writing style. Read more
Published on 13 July 2007 by K. Bergsagel
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
