Arts
Schoolboy Abdul’s teenage adventure mystery
View(s):It is good to know that the spirit of Enid Blyton survives. Just when you wonder if the countryside adventures of the Famous Five and the boarding school idylls have become a bit stale- more “pleasures of childhood past”- up comes proof reminding nothing can be more exciting than the idea of a teenage adventure mystery.
Abdul Azeez at the launch of his book
Abdul Adhl Azeez is a junior prefect at St. Peter’s College. His first book, launched at the Annasi and Kadalagotu Fest last year, is titled Lord Chanchellor’s Daughter, the first of The School Detective Gang series.
The book is an imaginative tribute not only to Blyton but also to J. K. Rowling, Roald Dahl and Arthur Conan Doyle. Set in a boarding school in New Zealand with Sri Lankan twins as protagonists, it is a classic adventure where an aristocrat’s daughter is kidnapped under inexplicable circumstances.
The young detectives- the twins and a couple of friends- set out to unravel the mystery and uncover a devious plot. The story has been crafted well, and indeed getting a book published is a feat in itself. As those who have tried their hand at even a short story know well, getting anywhere beyond the second page, sustaining the first surge of inspiration, requires dedication and talent.
A fast-paced read with surprises, The Lord Chanchellor’s Daughter promises more to come from an imaginative writer. The book, priced at Rs. 300 is available at Sarasavi, Vijitha Yapa and M. D. Gunasena bookshops. Abdul can be contacted on abduladhlazeez@gmail.com.
