The Cryptids. Wild Men in the Marsh

Max Byström Beydogan & Ludwig Sandbacka

“When the light came on, I took a step back. In the small room stood a white cat, staring at me with shining eyes. But it was no ordinary cat. It had long, furry wings. Luckily, it wasn’t alive. The winged cat was stuffed and displayed inside a glass case. On a wall hung a large map of Sweden, covered in pins marking different locations and photographs showing strange, blurry figures and objects. Beneath the photos were captions: Large shadow beneath the water’s surface, Lake Storsjön, 1973. The Great Lake Monster? Unidentified flying object, Oskarshamn, 1988. Tic Tac? Ape-like creature, Karesuando, 1983. Wild Man?”

When Elliot’s parents leave for a conference, he’s forced to stay with their incredibly boring neighbor Salma, the one who always looks as if she’s swallowed a whole lemon. At least, that’s what Elliot thinks. According to him, all you can do at Salma’s house is listen to radio and flip through books about tadpoles. But before he has even spent a single night there, Elliot finds himself swept into the Swedish Cryptozoological Society and on the trail of giant, hairy, big-footed creatures.

The first book in a fast-paced and hilarious new series about Elliot, who accidentally becomes a member of a secret society dedicated to helping endangered cryptids, including snowmen, headless beings, and other mysterious creatures.

Featuring short chapters, cliffhangers, and lively illustrations by Ludwig Sandbacka, this is the perfect page-turner for reluctant readers aged 7-12.