William was a night watchman at the time of Good Queen Bess. That was a long time ago, but now 'Watchman William' floats about Hardleigh Manor minding his own business until Hardleigh Manor is opened to the public. It can be quite lonely for William (being a ghost you see) but his afterlife perks up a bit when he meets a young boy called Thomas. There are weird goings on in the Manor and if it isn't disappearing bicycles or missing marrows it's spooky showers and balmy bakers! William and Thomas take on the detective role and work together to find the culprits. With inkwell and quill in hand, William sets off on his adventures with his trusty sidekick Thomas (or Watson I do recall!).These wonderful adventures are just enough to keep the imagination entertained but not too long to bore you. There are amusing illustrations throughout and I particularly enjoyed the ‘Marrow Mystery' story the most. (There were so many people it could have been!) This wonderful novel invites the readers to join in with the investigations, dropping subtle hints throughout to encourage the reader to decide for themselves ‘who dunnit'!Although this book is very easy to read it is also beautifully written. There is a story in itself for each chapter so would suit the younger reader who may be struggling to read books from start to finish, and also those readers looking to read on their own. With this book they can enjoy several short stories all in one book. Delightful! --Waterstones.com