Invisible Fiends: Mr Mumbles By Barry Hutchison Published by HarperCollins ISBN 978 0 00 731515 4
Read the title of Barry Hutchinson's new series of novels very carefully. No, there isn't a spelling mistake. These stories for young teens are all about fiends - not friends. Mr Mumbles, the first imaginary fiend, is far from being a pal. He is a thoroughly nasty piece of work, who terrorises the novel's young hero to within an inch of losing his mind.
Hutchinson's novel has one aim in mind - to scare the reader. There is a short set-up in the first few chapters, and then the vengeful Mr Mumbles is released. He takes no prisoners, and that includes the reader, as well as the poor unfortunates he terrorises in the tale.
When Kyle was a young boy, he had an imaginary friend who he called Mr Mumbles because he mumbled when he spoke. Yet this Mr Mumbles was funny, pleasant and understood Kyle very well; the two of them used to do lots of interesting things together and Kyle would tell him secrets he told to no one else.
However, as all small boys do, Kyle grew up, and Mr Mumbles stopped playing a part in his life. By the age of eight, Kyle had completely forgotten about his one-time imaginary friend. And this is where the problems begin. Because Mr Mumbles had not forgotten about him. He wants to return to Kyle's life and he is full of vengeance for being rejected.
On Christmas Day, when Kyle is 12, a very different Mr Mumbles turns up. This time he is not imaginary - and he does not want to be Kyle's friend. He has turned into a monster who will stop at nothing to claim his revenge.