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Shadow Thieves: Island of Skulls

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Shadow Thieves: Island of Skulls

By: Peter Burns
Narrated by: Zac Lowe-McAlley
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** SHADOW THIEVES (published as SCHOOL FOR THIEVES in the US) is the OVERALL WINNER of the Barnes & Noble Children’s and YA Book Prize 2026!**

“Top marks” Observer

"Utterly fabulous” ALEXANDER ARMSTRONG

“The real thing” MICHAEL GRANT

“A thrilling read!” JONATHAN STROUD

“Propulsive pacing and action packed plotting” Publishers’ Weekly starred review

SKANDAR MEETS OLIVER TWIST IN THIS BLOCKBUSTING MIDDLE-GRADE ADVENTURE SERIES – PERFECT FOR FANS OF PERCY JACKSON! Dare you step into the shadows?

Tom and his new friends from Beaufort’s School for Deceptive Arts are taken on a treasure-hunting trip to a private island in the Mediterranean once owned by the great villain himself, the Duke of Nimes. The Duke is said to have hidden a spectacular treasure in the warrens, tunnels and caves that pepper the island – as well as a terrifying weapon.

Will Tom’s street-smarts keep him and his friends alive as they chase down the treasure? And who are the deadly double agents that are sabotaging everything?

Trust no one. This is not a game.

⚡️⛵️⚡️⚜️⚡️🧨⚡️

“Top marks” Observer

"Utterly fabulous” ALEXANDER ARMSTRONG

“Shadow Thieves is the real thing” MICHAEL GRANT

“A thrilling read!” JONATHAN STROUD

“Propulsive pacing and action packed plotting” Publishers’ Weekly starred review

©2026 Peter Burns (P)2026 HarperCollins Publishers Growing Up & Facts of Life Law & Crime Literature & Fiction Mystery & Suspense Exciting Thief
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Critic reviews

Praise for book 1 in this incendiary series! ⚡️⛵️⚡️⚜️⚡️🧨⚡️
"This high-octane, fast-paced debut will be impossible to put down, especially for 9+ Skandar fans” – Imogen Russell Williams, Guardian
“A rip-snorting series opener … top marks” – Observer
“Fun, exciting and deliciously inventive” – Charlotte Eyre, The Bookseller
“A mix of Dickensian atmosphere, Bond-like stunts and boarding school rivalries, this is a must for Harry Potter or Percy Jackson fans” – Daily Mail
“Destined to be every youngster’s must read!” – The Lancashire Evening Post,
“Propulsive pacing and action-packed plotting … a page-turning, edge-of-the-seat adventure. Meticulously unraveled secrets and personable characters will have readers clamoring for the next volume of this enthralling series starter” – Publishers’ Weekly starred review
“Clever, mysterious and the start of a promising new series” New Statesman
"I have never been as quickly hooked by a book as I have been reading Shadow Thieves by debut fiction author Peter Burns. Debut author? And it’s this good? Shadow Thieves is the real thing. Gripping from page one, this epic novel is a more grounded Percy Jackson, a fun read start to finish” — Michael Grant
“Utterly fabulous … engrossing and charmingly done” — Alexander Armstrong
"Dark, daring and delightful, Shadow Thieves is packed with spectacular heists, stylish cons and breathtaking set-pieces. This unputdownable new fantasy is conjured with immense imagination and verve. A brilliant achievement and a thrilling read” – Jonathan Stroud
‘Deeply atmospheric, Shadow Thieves sweeps you along from one daring escapade to the next. Set in an alternate-history vision of London, I loved the rich, immersive world-building and can’t wait to read more!’ Jack Jackman, author of Maisie vs Antarctica
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