The Petersen Family Collection of Teen & Pre-teen Books by N.A.M. WelchIllustrated by Graeme Radue by Kay Mercer

The Petersen Family Series by N.A.M. Welch

N.A.M. Welch, who also writes as Neil Welch, has written a series of adventure stories for young teens and sub-teens, featuring the Petersen family. 

Available as e-books on Amazon and in print from Byronhurst

N.A.M. Welch tries to widen his readers’ horizons by setting these latest novels in different parts of the world, giving informative insights into the history and creatures of the regions, with safety tips on the activities involved. He now has four novels completed, the fifth with the editor and the sixth in progress. Covers are by Lucy Welch and line drawings by Graham Radue.

Andy’s Escape! 

In this, the first of the Petersen Family series, Andy Petersen is kidnapped whilst horse riding with his school friend near Maidstone, in England. When he has time to think he realises that his captors have mistaken him for his friend, the son of a wealthy businessman. He wonders if it would be good or bad for him if the kidnappers discover their mistake. He leaves cryptic clues in his first prison at the Old Quarry and hopes his family will be able to find them and decipher them.

The story tells of Andy’s efforts to escape, the family’s efforts to free him and includes a police chase through the city by a young policewoman whose off-duty passion is motorcycle stunt riding.

“Neil Welch … has written something that ought to tempt the most reluctant reader … Plenty of action, lots of techie stuff and satisfactory endings. I found the stories real page-turners.” Mary Elliott, former Advisory Librarian, Suffolk Schools Library Service, England.
“Well-written, exciting and fast-moving, these enthralling tales are about today’s youth caught up in real, present-day predicaments. Subtly woven into the narratives are the sensibilities of early adolescents in their relationships with adults and with each other … They would make enjoyable gifts for any young readers.” Petal Johnson, Literary critic and reviewer, Mosgiel, New Zealand.

Pirates Plot! 

While the Petersen family is on a cruise in their home-built yacht from Cape Town to the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean they are targeted by pirates. By skilful sailing they manage to shake off the first attempts to capture them, but the pirates seem somehow to have inside knowledge of their plans. They wonder how this can be, and which of the shady characters they have met in the cruise might be responsible. Their final attack and capture comes on land, however, and they fear that even the French Foreign Legion might not be able to save them.

“I really enjoyed these cracking stories: they are exactly the kind of thing I would have devoured as a child … They are meticulously researched and have a goodly amount of information in them which should appeal to older boys. There is always a level of danger and excitement that is appealing; … the children are always taken seriously and there is a total absence of sexism: everyone is a person of worth and dignity who has a part to play in the story. And this is accomplished without any feeling of it being forced or artificial ... I would be delighted to read them to a class of children or recommend them for private reading.” Heather Taylor, Retired Head Teacher, Maidstone, England.

Poachers End!

On a game-viewing safari in Botswana and Zimbabwe, the Petersen family uncovers a multi-faceted poaching racket, with endangered animals being killed for their tusks and horns. When the poachers try to silence the family the Endangered Species Protection Unit of the South African police are called in. But before help arrives the family must overcome attempts to force them into a road accident and to consume them in a raging veld fire.

A night-time 4x4 race through the African bush ends with smashed trucks and bullets flying.

“Being old enough to remember Blyton’s Famous Five and John Buchan’s heroic adventurers, Neil Welch’s thrillers proved a worthy successor in the genre of novels for young readers … With exotic locales and breathless adventure, all the novels offer an exceptionally good read as they relate their ‘ripping yarns’. Narratives are convincing in terms of plot and involve the reader in an extraordinary range of adventures … (They are) fast-paced, entertaining thrillers drawing readers into finely honed narratives. One looks forward to the next instalment.” David Hoskins, media scholar and writer, Otago, New Zealand.

Rustlers Rout!

The Petersen children seem to find baddies in the most innocent of pastimes. In this story they set off on a tramping and camping holiday in the far south of New Zealand and find a farmer recently robbed of some of his stock. Andy hears a truck with baa-ing sheep pass by their tents at night and he and Mike investigate.

Due to Mike’s distress and anxiety for the sheep the boys are captured by the rustlers.

The boys’ attempts to escape and the girls’ efforts to find them lead the young adventurers into peril at sea and a helicopter rescue, with a call-out of the Police and the Land Search and Rescue team.

“These fast-paced and entertaining but believable stories have well-developed characters and a wealth of factual information … Neil Welch’s knowledge and understanding of his locales brings an extra dimension to these rollicking good tales. The interaction of adult and teen characters adds a further layer to each well-crafted story … These are just the books needed in our school libraries. Young people 8-14 are going to be thrilled with these.” Joan Adams, Teacher Librarian, Otago, New Zealand.