Mrs Crabolli's Curious Casseroles

By Denise Silk-Martelli

Eleven year old James lives next door to Mrs Crabolli, also known as ‘Old Crabby’, a mysterious woman he believes may be up to no good. Could she really be eating the neighbourhood pets? Has she got a taste for... children? Could she possibly be capable of... murder? James and his friend Charlie are determined to find out.
With nasty messages and all-out threats arriving almost every day, James is wondering why Old Crabby hates him so much. Does he know too much? Is he able to protect his little sister, Baby? Will his mother finally listen to him? Who knows? Check out Mrs Crabolli and her curious casseroles – just what are they made from?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heather Mackay
• Release date: Aug 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476340760

Denise Silk-Martelli

I have been a teacher for over 20 years. Writing and reading have always been passions for me. With two articles published in the school journal as well as two short stories in magazines, I felt it was time to write a book. As a teacher I have always loved reading books aloud to children. I particularly love reading books that contain that thrilling element of suspense, and have the reader wondering just what on earth is going on, and what could possibly happen next. Mrs Crabolli’s Curious Casseroles is a fast paced story with unexpected twists and turns, which was enormous fun to write. I hope you enjoy reading it just as much as I did writing it! This book is aimed at 8 to 11 year olds.

Book preview

Mrs Crabolli’s Curious Casseroles

Denise Silk-Martelli

Published by Mackay Books on Smashwords

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Chapter 1

My neighbour is a total nutcase. Nutty as a fruitcake, says my dad, shaking his head in wonder. She really is very, very strange. And she certainly does some very odd things at times. In fact, she’s probably a w….

Now, now Harvey, my mum snaps, leaping into the conversation and frowning at him severely. She’s just a little eccentric and she’s a long way from her homeland, poor woman. Imagine how difficult it must be to make a life in a new country, especially after her husband disappeared. You need to cut her a bit of slack.

Mum’s voice drones on and on and I zone out.

Just give her a break, you two, she continues, glaring at me. (What did I do?) Being unusual is a good thing! Some of the people who have made the most difference on this earth have been square pegs in round holes. They have been totally at odds with the world. Totally different. Think about how boring it would be if we were all the same. What people need today is a bit of tolerance and appreciation of diversity …

She’s on fire, eyes glazed, as she warms to her topic. She drones on and on about how hard it must be to be alone in a foreign country and how dressing differently and muttering to yourself doesn’t make you odd.

I decide now is a good time to escape. I slide along the wall and I’m almost around the corner, out of sight.

Right, well, this conversation is over, she bristles, eyeing me. Come and help me get the washing in from the line, James.

Sighing, I slope out after her, thinking to myself that if everyone was just the same as me, life would be so much easier. And if we would just put our wet washing in the dryer like normal families do, life would be easier still.

Chapter 2

So, let me tell you about our neighbour. The real story. We (Dad, my mates, me; in fact everyone apart from my mum) call her ‘Old-Crabby-Next-Door’. Her real name is Mrs Crabolli. I know because I’ve seen it on letters that are addressed to her. (Don’t ask.)

Pets. She loves our pets. She loves all of the pets in our street. She calls them to her and pats them, then encourages them into her home. She hugs them and kisses them and mutters to them in a strange language, and then she eats them. You name