Ghosthunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost

A shaky ASG in Tom’s cellar brings about one of the most successful ghosthunting teams in the world. First mission: the hunt for a big, bad IRG…

Watch out for ghost goo! Tom’s stuck at home with his horrible sister, Lola. But there’s something stickier hiding out in his cellar – a slime-dripping ghost called Hugo! And harmless Hugo is in the goo too, because he’s being haunted – by a much bigger, badder, Incredibly Revolting Ghost. Lucky for Tom that his Granny’s best friend just happens to be a world-famous ghosthunter.

First published 2007
Reading age Age 8
Illustrated by Cornelia Funke
Publisher Scholastic Inc.
Also available as Audio Book

The thumping came closer, accompanied by a hollow, howling sound. Mr. Lovely still stood in the middle of the room as if rooted to the spot. "Get down!" cried Hetty Hyssop from behind the armchair. "Quick — hide!" "I-I-I-I can't!" stammered Mr. Lovely, covering his face with his hands. The thumping reached the door. With a crash it flew open, and a hideous, massive, vile-smelling something streamed into the room. The IRG.

"Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!" it roared, growing as high as the ceiling and making all the lightbulbs explode. Its yellow eyes, pits of bottomless evil, stared down at poor Mr. Lovely. Its gigantic mouth, a good three feet wide, gaped open and let out a foul and violent belch. Then the IRG took a deep breath and blew its icy breath down onto Mr. Lovely, who froze on the spot.

Tom's teeth chattered like a keyboard. He trembled so much that his glasses slid from his nose. Hugo's horrified wailing could be heard through the backpack. Only Hetty Hyssop kept her nerve. With lightning speed she grabbed a handful of graveyard dirt from the bucket, stood up — and threw it at the IRG`s nebulous chest. "Aaaaaaaaarghhhhhhh!" roared the gigantic ghost, turning as purple as a plum. Its yellow eyes spun around and its icy breath turned as warm as central heating. Bellowing hideously it shout out into the hall. The door slammed shut behind it and a couple of pictures fell off the walls. Then, suddenly, there was a deathly silence.

This is a series I published in Germany for boys who don't like to read (of course that doesn't exclude girls, who don't like it either). Scarcely anybody believes in ghosts anymore, but never mind.

I had much fun writing the four adventures, especially inventing the ghosts and all the tools Hetty and Tom use for hunting them. And I found out that my Inkheart-readers who normally feed only on thick books like them as well.

So, put on some red clothes and chase your first ghost. It can get slimy and sometimes rather silly, but maybe you'll enjoy it as much as I do.

And if you know about any ghosts I didn't write about yet, let us know!

Other books in the »Ghosthunters« series