Starseeker (Hardcover)

After two years of grieving for his dead father, also a virtuoso pianist, Luke is still troubled and unable to connect properly with the normality of his new circumstances. He has regrettably become involved in the illegal antics of three local village boys, and their latest plan, to have Luke burgle the house of a rich widow, is doomed to failure. That Luke actually goes through with the plan is madness--but his actions open up a far bigger issue in the shape of a young girl who shouldn't be in the house at all. Skin, the gang leader, knows nothing of Luke's discovery and demands results. His actions are violent and potentially lethal. Luke's own redemption has never seemed so far away.

Luke is expertly drawn--always at war with his mother, his mother's new lover, his friends and his teachers at school and yet, in contrast, is also able to experience great joy from his music and great comfort from the tall, solid, unchanging oak tree in the local woods. It is here that Luke feels most at ease--in the shadow of a tree that he shared with his father when he was alive and now likes to think of as his own.

The book has a magical quality to it, as seen through Luke's inner eye when he experiences his music and feels each note, every background noise, in a tangible way. Starseeker is an intense, emotionally draining reading experience and it should leave a huge impression on the reader. (Age 12 and over.) --John McLay

Review
Powerful and mysterious. This is Tim Bowlers best book yet. Wendy Cooling a thriller with a big heart and a real glimpse of the human soul, full of plot and passion, music and mystery. Melvin Burgess

Tim Bowler is well known for his excellent books for teenagers, and this novel stands out as a classic tale. It is rare to read a story so unforgettably moving and strikingly original. Luke is an exceptional teenager gifted with rare musical talent, but since the death of his father he has turned his back on his excellent record and become embroiled in the shady activities of the local gang. They seem to offer him an escape from the pain and anger of his loss but before long he finds that they have a hold over him far more terrifying than he could have imagined. He's trapped between the desire to do the right thing and the knowledge of the terrible punishment the gang will inflict if he leaves. When Luke is forced to break into the strange Mrs Little's house, he stumbles upon a secret that will lead him on a perilous journey that will change everything and everyone involved. Gradually, as his better self struggles to break free of the worthless actions the gang embrace, Luke taps into his most sensitive and receptive side and grows in understanding and confidence. This is an action-packed story with a strong undercurrent of tension and suspense. Woven into the story is a sense of the power and importance of music, illustrated by Luke's genius. Luke hears with a finely tuned ear all the mystical sounds of creation that other mortals miss. His sensitivity enables him to connect with others across physical barriers and to hear the unique song that distinguishes every living creature, like a musical fingerprint. It is this aspect of Starseeker that lingers with the reader, long after finishing the book. This is a gripping tale written with style and confidence. Highly recommended. Ages 10+ (Kirkus UK)

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