A gripping new whodunnit told entirely through the eyes of two teenage detectives -- written by a Cambridge author who was only 13 when she cracked the case herself.
Cambridge, United Kingdom (PRUnderground) September 13th, 2026
Grand Publishers today launches THE MOORLAND MYSTERY, a spellbinding debut novel from an exciting new voice in children's fiction: 14-year-old Cambridge author Martha Kidston, who wrote this gripping whodunnit at the age of just 13. Part classic country-house mystery, part fast-paced teen adventure, The Moorland Mystery announces a bold new storyteller.
Best friends Falcon Greene and Finn Carlton arrive at the remote Highland Stormwatch Hotel expecting nothing more than a quiet half-term break in the Scottish Highlands. Instead, they wake to devastating news: a guest has been murdered. As a violent storm seals the hotel off from the outside world, the truth becomes impossible to escape -- the killer is still inside, and every one of sixteen guests is a suspect. Racing against time, secrets and a storm that refuses to break, Falcon and Finn must follow every clue and work out who is telling the truth before it's too late.
What sets The Moorland Mystery apart is whose eyes readers see it through. The story unfolds entirely from the perspective of Falcon and Finn -- two young detectives close in age to the readers picking up the book. Falcon is curious, fearless and exceptionally observant; Finn is compassionate, thoughtful and quietly brave. Their contrasting voices give 8-to-14-year-old readers a detective duo they can genuinely see themselves in -- young people meeting danger and uncertainty with courage, humour and heart, rather than adult narrators watching from a distance. Add an atmospheric moorland setting, a storm that won't lift, and Purrlock Holmes -- a cat with an uncanny habit of turning up exactly where the next clue is hiding -- and the result is a mystery that young readers won't want to put down.
Martha Kidston is precisely the kind of author publishers dream of discovering. She began writing The Moorland Mystery at 13, drawing on a love of wildlife and classic detective fiction and a sharp instinct for plotting a mystery that keeps readers guessing until the final page. Grand Publishers is proud to introduce her as an exciting new voice in children's fiction -- a young author already writing with the confidence and imagination of someone twice her age, and one whose career booksellers, educators and readers will want to follow from the very start.
The publication is well timed, with The Moorland Mystery arriving at the start of the new school year and during the UK's National Year of Reading. The novel arrives just months after National Literacy Trust research (June 2026) recorded the first rise in children's reading enjoyment since 2021 -- up to 36.1%, from 32.7% in 2025, with the sharpest gains among 14-to-16-year-olds. As the conversation about young people and reading turns hopeful, Martha offers proof from inside the age group that reading, and writing, can matter.
Beautifully illustrated throughout, The Moorland Mystery is built to reward close reading: every clue counts, and nothing happens by accident. The launch is supported by the official Falcon & Finn Detective Quest, a free companion investigation at MarthaKidston.com where readers can test their own detective skills and earn a personalised Detective Certificate -- giving schools, libraries and families a ready-made reason to keep talking about the book long after the final page.
"I am excited to be able to share my characters and book with others and hope that it may inspire other young people to be creative"
-- Martha Kidston, author of The Moorland Mystery
THE MOORLAND MYSTERY is published by Grand Publishers on 11 September 2026 in paperback and eBook, following a pre-order period ahead of launch.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Review copies, high-resolution cover art and author photography are available on request.
Martha Kidston is available for interview, where possible given her school commitments.
Suggested categories: Middle Grade Mystery, Detective Fiction, Illustrated Fiction -- ages 8 to 14.
Companion online experience: the Falcon & Finn Detective Quest at MarthaKidston.com.
ABOUT MARTHA KIDSTON
Martha Kidston is a 14-year-old writer based in Cambridge, United Kingdom. She wrote The Moorland Mystery, her debut novel, at the age of 13. Falcon Greene and Finn Carlton mark the start of a detective partnership readers will want to follow through future adventures.
ABOUT GRAND PUBLISHERS
Grand Publishers believes remarkable stories deserve remarkable publishing. Every title is developed through careful editing, thoughtful design and global distribution to bring exceptional reading experiences to readers everywhere. The Moorland Mystery joins a growing list of Grand Publishers titles that inspire imagination and a lifelong love of reading.
