The Johnny Moped Files
The Manchester Cockatrice
Published on 12. June 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
318 pages
978-1-83615-255-2 (ISBN)
Description
Johnny Moped is enjoying a domesticated life with Mora, until Detective Inspector Willis calls. He needs Johnny Moped's help to discover why four decapitated men left their heads in a skip outside his house and their bodies in the lake.
Hercules is more morose than ever as he turns up uninvited at Johnny's door.
Johnny Moped takes the case and he has four suspects: himself (after a less than romantic lycanthropic encounter with Sandra in the woods), Sandra, Hercules and the mysterious Manchester Cockatrice.
At the Office of Perplexing Complexity, GBP124,000 of cheese is missing. An unwilling Hieronymus Calmly and Mildred go on a mouse hunt.
These trails lead them to Cornucopia Lifesciences and the strange Dr. Achelous who captures and imprisons them. He proposes a long overdue marriage to Deianira in exchange for their release. Deianira, however, has other plans.
A betrayed Hieronymus finally agrees to give Deianira the time machine.
In the process of escaping, they have an unexpected encounter with the Fae Folk which prompts Mrs. Lonsdale and Mildred to become the Morrigan (Book 6).
Johnny Moped is unsurprised to find his domestic bliss ruined as Mora's true identity is revealed.
Hercules is more morose than ever as he turns up uninvited at Johnny's door.
Johnny Moped takes the case and he has four suspects: himself (after a less than romantic lycanthropic encounter with Sandra in the woods), Sandra, Hercules and the mysterious Manchester Cockatrice.
At the Office of Perplexing Complexity, GBP124,000 of cheese is missing. An unwilling Hieronymus Calmly and Mildred go on a mouse hunt.
These trails lead them to Cornucopia Lifesciences and the strange Dr. Achelous who captures and imprisons them. He proposes a long overdue marriage to Deianira in exchange for their release. Deianira, however, has other plans.
A betrayed Hieronymus finally agrees to give Deianira the time machine.
In the process of escaping, they have an unexpected encounter with the Fae Folk which prompts Mrs. Lonsdale and Mildred to become the Morrigan (Book 6).
Johnny Moped is unsurprised to find his domestic bliss ruined as Mora's true identity is revealed.
Reviews / Votes
"Another entertaining read! The Author has a great way of seamlessly pulling the characters together from previous books, alongside the introduction of new faces. In my opinion, the irrepressible Johnny's most entertaining investigation so far!" - Christine McPherson, EditorMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Claygate
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
384 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83615-255-2 (9781836152552)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Influenced from an early age by the Goon Show and Monty Python, particularly Michael Palin, and his Grandfather's collection of P.G. Wodehouse, the towering writing of JRR Tolkein, amongst many others from that classic age, C.R. Johnson enjoys humorous entertaining language and reluctant, less than heroic characters combined with an epic quest.