A Review By Frances

Jon Mayhew won the Warwickshire Schools children’s authors’ prize earlier this year for “Mortlock”  The Demon Collector is his second book.  Edgy Taylor doesn’t know where he comes from, but his life is very hard.  His job is to collect droppings (horse droppings & dog droppings) for the nearby tannery and his boss Mr Talon is a very hard taskmaster, frequently beating Edgy for misdemeanours both real and imaginary.  Edgy and his faithful dog Henry put up with this mistreatment in exchange for meagre rations of food and somewhere relatively safe to sleep.  Edgy has always noticed that Mr Talon has cloven hooves for feet and horns growing from his head, but no-one else seems to see the horns or the strange feet.

One day Edgy narrowly escapes being run down by a cart, and sadly a boy of about his own age is not so lucky.  Before he dies he gives Edgy a small piece of bone.  A mysterious, smartly dressed woman who seems to know more about Edgy than he know himself appears on the scene, swiftly followed by a Mr Janus.  Mr Janus befriends Edgy and his new adventures begin.

 At first all seems to be wonderful.  Edgy no longer has to work for the hateful Talon and Mr Janus is fascinated by Edgy’s ability to see Demons (like Talon).  But gradually, Edgy and Henry move into more dangerous places with Mr Janus and his brother the Lord Mauldeth.

 I really enjoyed this book – it is dark and frightening and a real page turner.  Jon Mayhew knows how to rack up the tension.