Reader, beware – Christopher endures some really painful (and vividly described) moments throughout the book, and not all the good guys survive to the end. He is cheerful and friendly, determined to work hard at his Latin and potions to please his master, but in no way is he a goody-goody – without meaning to, he somehow finds himself in trouble way too often for that! And yet, when a dreadful disaster strikes, he doesn't hesitate for a second to carry out his master's wishes, even though this means he is hunted by ruthless men who will use horrible tortures without hesitation, and who are ready to kill anyone they see as a threat to their plans. Makes feeding your homework to the dog seem almost virtuous in comparison, doesn't it?Ĭhristopher is such an enthusiastic boy that the reader is just as willing as Tom to forgive him the occasional 'accident' during his experiments. And he does, too, with pretty predictable consequences. Indeed, in the very first line of the book, our hero suggests it would be fun to build a cannon – a real one, with proper gunpowder. His apprenticeship to an apothecary gives him access to all manner of interesting potions and powders, and long-suffering Tom considers himself lucky to have escaped with minor burns and scalds, plus a few nasty stomach aches.

Not that Christopher lets that worry him too much: when he's not working in the shop or studying he's too busy involving his friend Tom in madcap schemes. It's a time to keep your head down and avoid attention from the authorities. There are spies everywhere, and rumours of conspiracies fill the streets. In 1665 Charles II has been back on the throne for several years, but not everyone is happy about his extravagant and luxurious lifestyle, even among those who found the Puritan rules of Cromwell's time excessively strict. Apart from the obvious differences from the modern-day – no National Health Service, no laws to protect children from cruelty and exploitation, and a constant foul smell from poor sanitation - fear and suspicion are a daily fact of life. Seventeenth-century England isn't always a comfortable place to live. Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2016: Younger Fiction Christopher stands to lose everything he holds dear – including his life. The members of a shadowy group want the details of a recipe known only to a few people, and they're prepared to torture and kill to get hold of it.

Thirteen-year-old orphan Christopher has found happiness for the first time in his life as an apprentice to the apothecary Master Benedict Blackthorn, but it is not destined to last. Summary: Conspiracies, secret codes, murder and plenty of explosions – bring a packed lunch, because once you start reading you won't be able to put this thrilling book down.

The blackthorn key