About the book series
When Kip Bramley receives a mysterious golden coin from a beetle-shaped drone, he is whisked into the hidden realm of Quicksmiths, and his ordinary life changes forever. Alongside his new friends and their sleuthing pets, Kip must solve a series of 400-year-old riddles and unlock the secrets of powerful strange energies that could save his family. But with dark forces closing in, they must stay one step ahead—or risk losing everything.
'A mind-blowing, puzzle-packed, epic adventure...
…such a fantastic book, packed with so many ideas… it’s hard to sum it up in one sentence!’
Kieran Larwood
Author of Podkin One-Ear and the Five Realms series, Freaks, Treekeepers and the Carnival of the lost series
'An incredibly inventive, fabulously funny book...
stuffed with likeable characters and a plot that will keep you guessing until the very last page. One of the best children’s fantasy books I’ve read so far this year. Do not miss it!’
Dan Walker
Author of Sky Thieves, Desert Thieves and The Light Hunters
The Observer
“Extraordinary”
Book 1
The Ten Riddles
When Kip Bramley receives a cryptic invitation, delivered by a beetle-shaped drone that appears to be breathing, his world changes forever.
Soon he finds himself chasing riddles and solving puzzles set 400 years earlier by a mysterious genius. Kip, his new friends, and their furry sidekicks must stay one step ahead to find the Ark of Ideas. But dark forces are closing in and getting closer…
Deeply hilarious, highly intelligent… Children’s Books Ireland
An ideal choice for whole class reading readingzone.com
Book 2
The Myriad Mysteries
With the Ark of Ideas resisting even Professor Steampunk’s attempts to learn its secrets, the trail left by Renaissance genius Eartha Quicksmith has gone cold.
But then a dream discovery and a freak accident send Kip and Timmi hurtling on a dangerous quest through fantastical hidden worlds.
To survive these strange new realms, they must decipher new riddles, battle monsters and face old enemies. But can they escape the Myriad Pirates to complete Eartha’s mission, and can Albert and Leela help them get home safely again?
Our recommended Book of the Month…unlike any book I have read for some time…packed with inventions, teamwork, and gadgets that will have you scratching your head… Mr Ripley’s Enchanted Books
The Guardian
Best books chosen by booksellers
“Favourite children’s book”
About Loris
Loris Owen was born in Bolton and raised in Zimbabwe. She roamed the world in search of adventure before settling in the Midlands, where she can still be found exploring the canals or navigating mountains of post-it notes. If she can't be found, she's probably disappeared into a particularly good puzzle.
Myriad Mysteries trailer
Just when you thought multiverses couldn’t get any stranger! For fans of Wonderscape, The Strangeworlds Travel Agency, and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series.
Book 3 coming in August 2025!
Best friends Kip, Albert, Leela, and Timmi uncover a new series of ingeniously hidden riddles, propelling them on another perilous quest. Aided by big-hearted android Incognita and some unexpected allies, they
discover an extraordinary vessel, The Salamander, and set sail to the beautiful and deadly Molten Ocean. As the Grittleshank Cooperative's smoulderstone mine threatens global catastrophe, Kip faces an impossible choice: stop them or save his captive mother.
With more adventure, more inventions, and a large helping of sideways thinking, this is an action-packed close to the trilogy.
Portrait Gallery
From four-armed professors to musclebound librarians, strange supercomputers, and legendary Elizabethan geniuses, meet the characters of Quicksmiths!
Mindbloggle
Why Riddles and Puzzles Are Powerful Tools for Growing Minds If you’re a parent or teacher of children aged 8 […]
A brief history of riddles: from Sumerians to sphinxes Riddles have been feeding our minds for thousands of years — […]
Write your own Easter treasure hunt with riddles! This Easter, why not be the Puzzle Master and design your very […]
A Guide to Storytelling Magic Welcome, storytellers! You’re about to embark on one of the greatest adventures of all: writing […]
With October in full swing and the shopfronts filling up with devilish delights, you may be inspired to bring your […]
Newsletter
We’ll occasionally be in touch about giveaways, free activity kits, events with Loris and, of course, new Quicksmiths books. You can unsubscribe at any time.
