Drumroll...COVER REVEAL!

For my brand new book ALEX T SMITH presents... J. ALGERNON PICKLE in... THE MYSTERY AT ODD-DOINGS HOUSE!

AlexTSmith

Apr 10, 2026

OH HELLO!

Hark at me popping into your inbox on a Friday lunchtime, excuse me!

Well, I’m here and I bring *TWO* pieces of GREAT NEWS!

GREAT NEWS No.1:

I am DELIGHTED to present to you the cover of my brand new book - ALEX T SMITH presents… J. ALGERNON PICKLE in… THE MYSTERY AT ODD-DOINGS HOUSE!

And here it is!

The book is designed by Samuel Perrett (marvellous!)

THE BLURB…

Imagine if Hercule Poirot was a beaver... A fast-paced crime caper for readers aged 7+ with black and white illustrations.

Ten-year-old Jacob Oolong lives with his eccentric great aunt, Lady Petronella Oolong in the penthouse flat of Odd-Doings House.

They arrive home one afternoon to find an enormous heart shaped box of delicious chocolates has arrived for Lady Oolong. And these aren’t any old chocolates though. These are from Eclair’s (Est. 1844) and are the most wonderful and the most expensive chocolates in the entire world.

But the next morning - SHOCK HORROR! - they’ve vanished! Not just gone... STOLEN!

With his great aunt prostrate in her nightie with shock, it’s up to Jacob to find out who has taken them, but he’ll need help. He calls in a private detective who, rather surprisingly, is a beaver living on the floor below them. Enter... J. Algernon Pickle.

Together, J. Algernon Pickle and Jacob set about investigating this very confusing mystery. Things take an unexpected turn when it becomes clear that the chocolates could only have been stolen by someone who lives in Odd-Doings House. But WHO could it be?

The book publishes on September 10th 2026 with the Starboard imprint of Hachette Children’s Books.

GREAT NEWS No.2:

Our dear pals at Waterstones have a number of SIGNED COPIES available! And you can pre-order a copy NOW!

You simply have to dance your mouse-clicking finger upon this link to find out more!

The book is also available to preorder through all your favourite indie, highstreet and online booksellers.

I’m SO excited for you to read this book. As I’ve said on here before, it’s VERY stupid. I wanted to write a book that was just daft and silly and this is that. I can’t wait for you to get your eyeballs on it!