Synopsis: A giant mosquito – the Ganges Red – a creature of legend – who could resist the possibility of actually finding such an animal? It is a hint that this creature might actually exist, that tempts young Ashley Reeves, aspiring journalist, to travel to the Lake District to meet the mysterious Mathers. It all seems so innocuous – but by the end of his brief stay, he is fleeing for his life.

Review: In this, his first novel, Carter has written an extremely readable and enjoyable novel in the horror genre. Here are all the traditional ingredients of the classic horror stories – a creature of legend, a psychotic “doctor”, the isolated setting and the naïve young hero – not a child, a young man. This is a novel that would be ideal for young readers who are beginning to look to the great writers in the horror genre – Conan Doyle, M.R. James and Poe. While Carter has consciously used these masters as his inspiration, his style is contemporary and direct with few passages of lengthy description. His setting is familiar – we are not taken on a voyage to a lost world, though the prologue sets the tone as we meet the deadly mosquito in Africa, - first London, then the Lake District. However suspense is built up little by little – the mysterious letter, the uncooperative boatman, the isolated island, the derelict buildings. None of these are particularly original, but Carter handles them skilfully, engaging the reader both through his first person narrative and by introducing a type of creature that is already feared for its ability to spread disease, and then giving it the further attribute of size. There is also the frisson of the supernatural. However, Carter does not just rely on the giant mosquito to create an atmosphere of fear. He introduces a very believable villain, the psychopath, Mathers. In creating this character, the author draws on awareness of current television serials which, though based on police procedure, look to horror to achieve their effects. A well paced story that could be recommended to KS3 readers, who want horror but might be reluctant to try nineteenth century prose or who might find Stephen King’s novels still too bulky.