The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin Castle

A crumbling castle, a moat full of crocodiles, a catastrophe of kittens, and let’s not forget the villains and the mummies! This rambunctious story has it all.


It's England, 1873. When 12-year-old Hatshepsut (Hattie) Lambton’s guardian is unfortunately eaten by a crocodile, Hattie is sent to live with hitherto unknown relatives: Great-uncle Sisyphus and Great-aunt Iphigenia, in their half-ruined castle in mysterious, mist-shrouded marshes. Hattie discovers Great-aunt Iphigenia is an Egyptologist who conducts Mummy Unwrapping Parties at the houses of wealthy clients. The Parties are managed by her two assistants, the sinister (and, to Hattie, highly suspect) Edgar and Edwina Raven. Soon, a problem arises. It has become illegal to export mummies from Egypt. The solution? To set out on a one-thousand-mile voyage up the Nile, to acquire – and illegally export – mummies for the Unwrapping Parties. There, Hattie makes a friend, Amal, who has problems of her own. Already, Hattie has had doubts about whether it is Right to destroy the bodies of ancient Egyptians. But there’s no way the Ravens will allow the Unwrappings to be discontinued. They have a nice little racket set up. They threaten Hattie – and Great-uncle Sisyphus. Hattie knows they’re serious. Dead serious. Back in England, Hattie finds herself on a desperate dash to a famous London museum, with a very special, heavily disguised Egyptian mummy in her arms. And the Ravens hot on her trail. Will her quest to preserve the mummy’s eternal existence in the after-life be successful?

“This brilliantly researched book is a pleasure to read. Pamela Rushby has combined real events, fantasy and fiction to create an impressive novel full of secrets, intrigue and history”

Highly recommended ... It would make a great class novel to read while studying the History unit on Ancient Egypt in Year 7. ReadPlus
highly recommended … The perfect book gift for readers from 9-90 who have inquiring minds, a love of unusual world history and enjoy the utter escapism of a truly great story. Children's Books Daily
This brilliantly researched book is a pleasure to read. Pamela Rushby has combined real events, fantasy and fiction to create an impressive novel full of secrets, intrigue and history Kids' Book Review
another great story from Pamela Rushby. The premise is exciting and the settings fascinating … Recommended for upper primary, secondary and public libraries Magpies
The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin Castle is highly recommend reading and I sincerely hope we see more of Hattie in the future. The perfect book gift for readers from 9-90 who have inquiring minds, a love of unusual world history and enjoy the utter escapism of a truly great story Children's Book Daily!

Pamela Rushby is the author of over 200 books for children and young adults, as well as children's TV scripts, documentaries, short stories and freelance journalism. Pam has been an advertising copywriter, pre-school teacher, and producer of educational television, audio and multimedia. She has won several awards, including the NSW Premier's Ethel Turner Prize, five CBCA Notable Books – and a bag of gold coins at a film festival in Iran! Pam believes the strangest, most riveting, heart-breaking, laugh-out-loud stories aren't fiction. They're real. They come from history. And she loves tripping over unusual incidents from history – and then writing about them. Her website is

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