The Investigation

Oct 22, 2025

"F-father... why?" Isaac whispered with terror as he stared at his mother's deceased body lying on the floor. Surrounding her was a pool of dark, crimson blood. Scars and scratches covered her body; her skin was as pale as a white sheet of paper. A knife was injected into her stomach; the wound was oozing out blood. Her eyes were open, they captured her horror before she passed. Isaac dashed up the basement stairs.

Tears started to form in his eyes. With trembling hands, he pulled out his phone that was in his pocket and immediately dialled 999. Suddenly, he heard slow footsteps coming up the stairs. Isaac started to run to the front door. He attempted to grab the house keys. He got hold of them and jabbed them in the keyhole. He twisted it and opened the door, wondering where he should go next. All of a sudden, he could hear his father mumbling something. Quickly, Isaac shut the door and locked it. His hands trembling made it difficult to do so "999 What's your emergency?" the caller asked.

"My father has killed my mother and he's chasing me! I’m sure he has gone rogue! I need an ambulance and police!" he exclaimed, while he was running down the street.

"Where is your location?" they asked.

"At the moment, I'm running to wherever I can but the body is in the basement of 14 Daisy Street!"

"Ok, we are sending some of our agents there but need you to wait." Those few minutes felt like hours for Isaac

I was sitting down in the police station waiting to be called and suddenly our chief barged into the room and called all of us to come to an address. We all rushed into the police car and speeded away to our location. I slammed the door shut and I heard banging from the door. I watched as someone kicked the door down. Then it all went very wrong. The criminal escaped and dashed down

I ran down the alleyway and into the road. "Agent 23, FOLLOW THAT MAN!" ordered the chief officers.

"Yes sir," I answered as I ran in the direction he went. The wind was in my face and all I saw was a blur. Unexpectedly, I heard a voice. I stopped and I saw a boy who looked worried - his hands were shaking.

"Help! I'm the boy who called. I know where he went. Please let me come with you!" Isaac exclaimed sadly.

"Alright, come on. There is no time to waste. By the way, call me Agent 23," I said hurriedly. We ran and ran. He told me the directions and we sprinted through the hustle. Finally, I saw the building, it looked abandoned. The glass was shattered and cobwebs were surrounding the house. I entered without a second doubt and I faced the first room. tried to see where the building was; it looked abandoned. The glass surrounding the house... I entered a first room. This mysterious voice bellowed “I live where there is no light, in shadowed corners I hide, I creep upon you, slow and low, when the sun begins to go. What am I?" I started to think, but Isaac had already said it. “Darkness” The door dicked and it opened. We ran through it. The next room had a jigsaw puzzle; it was easier than I thought. I clicked the final piece, and the door opened. There was the final room. It was another riddle. It said, "I wear you down, yet you’ll mourn me once I fly. You can kill me, but I will not die. What am I?" It took a while to figure it out

"What could it be?" Isaac asked...

"I know that it has to be metaphorically killed and to fly."

Then I thought of what I could kill and be regretful.

"I know! I have time," I said, and the door opened. There he was.

"How did you find me?" he said. He looked mortified. He ran to the long corridor that led outside. He was running as fast as he could but so was I. We were neck and neck, but he got ahead of me. I reached my arms out trying to capture him. He stopped and punched me. It hurt quite a bit. With the stinging pain, I ran to get him. He stopped abruptly to a halt—it was the end of the hallway. I put him in handcuffs and reported him to the police. They came rather quick. Isaac was sent to the police station to be dealt with. The criminal, who was Isaac's father, was deported to the police station. Everyone was congratulating me on how well I had handled the suspect. I arrived at my destination and met the chief. "You did an amazing job capturing that man. As a reward, I will give you this," he said gleefully as he passed me a golden badge. It was shiny and looked brand new.

On the front, it read, Chief Constable. I had become a chief. I was truly honoured, yet I couldn't stop thinking about Isaac. I knew this was not over...

A thirst for revenge

Nov 05, 2025

The Secret Necklace in Tokyo

Oct 29, 2025

The Investigation

Oct 22, 2025

Featured in

Seeing our classrooms come alive with oracy and imagination was amazing. The children were bouncing ideas off each other, sharing their creativity, and truly engaging with writing in a way we hadn’t seen before."

– Tom Hirst, Head of English and Year 6 Teacher, Bradford

It was amazing, you feel proud and free!”

– Student, StoryQuest™ Workshop

Bringing in published authors made writing feel real for our students. It helped them see that their words matter, that they too can be writers."

– English Lead, Bradford Academy

I believed in myself so I could create things I didn’t even know I could do.”

– Student, StoryQuest™ Workshop

From the very start of the session every pupil was engaged and couldn't wait to get started, pupils felt empowered and that they could use their own voice. Taking away boundaries of grammatical perfection freed up creativity.”

– Mrs Light : Quality of Education Leader, StoryQuest™ Workshop

I like writing my own story with no rules… I’m looking forward to finishing my story and to make more with only my rules! Not anybody else’s.”

– Student, StoryQuest™ Workshop

This whole experience has transformed the way our students view writing. They now see themselves as writers, and we can’t wait to see where their creativity takes them next!"

– Year 6 Teacher, Manningham

Now my brain feels better after I let my imagination out.”

– Student, StoryQuest™ Workshop

This programme has had a genuinely transformative effect on our pupils’ engagement with reading and writing. By placing creativity and storytelling at the heart of the process, it has re-ignited a sense of excitement and ownership in literacy that we don’t always see through more traditional approaches.”

– Mr Khan, Teacher StoryQuest™ Workshop

It was fun because I got to write what I wanted. I’m hoping I’ll make someone happy if they read my book!”

– Student, StoryQuest™ Workshop

Writing has never been easy for some of our students, particularly some of the boys. But today, they were eager, engaged, and didn’t want to stop. Seeing that level of enthusiasm was just incredible."

– Year 6 Teacher, Bradford

I was proud because I have never written a story with as much detail as this one"

– Yr 6, Bradford

We sometimes forget about writing for pleasure and what that can do for our kids. A lot of boys and girls have a fear of the blank page, you can do all the teaching, but they sort of shut down when asked to write a story. It was a really lovely experience to see them really joyful, talking about their stories they loved it.”

– Mr Hirst, Head of English, StoryQuest™ Workshop

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to do this. You have really inspired me!"

– Yr 6, Bradford

Hearing students use ambitious vocabulary without relying on a model or word wall made us so proud. Their ideas flowed naturally, and they truly started thinking like writers."

– Year 6 Teacher, Manningham

Normally the teacher tells us what to do. But this time we were free.”

– Student, StoryQuest™ Workshop

Kate and Mary delivered a truly inspiring and unique session based on The Adventures of Gabriel. Their approach ignited the children’s imaginations and encouraged creative writing without limits.

– Ben Linsel, Year 6 Teacher & KS2 Lead

I felt good because I wrote my first actual story"

– Yr 6, Bradford

Every child felt included, supported, and empowered to express their ideas freely. It was a motivating experience where every voice was heard and every idea celebrated.A brilliant session that left a lasting impact!Peer assessment played a huge role.Students questioned each other’s choices, refined their ideas, and thought deeply about their audience. A simple old man in a story became a demon disguised as a professor—their imagination was unstoppable!"

____Teacher, Bradford

– Ben Linsel, Year 6 Teacher & KS2 Lead

It made me feel proud and responsible to be able to make my own story without support or a plan.”

– Student, StoryQuest™ Workshop

Pupils really worked well with their scribe partners, allowing a first draft of their story to be spoken, not written. Pupils also loved giving feedback and adjusting their planning. I could see throughout the day confidence growing, particularly for previously reluctant writers. Pupils cannot wait to see their published stories and share them across our school community and beyond.”

– Mrs Light : Quality of Education Leader, StoryQuest™ Workshop

It felt really exciting because I've never done something like this before. I was also happy that it was a story we made by ourself."

– Yr 6, Bradford

As Year 6 teachers, we are used to structured learning, especially in the run-up to SATs. Letting go and allowing students the freedom to write was daunting at first, but the results were incredible. They took ownership, structured their ideas, and embraced their creativity."

– English Lead, Bradford Academy

It was very good and made me wake up."

– Yr 6, Bradford

We’ve particularly noticed how the freedom to imagine, explore, and express ideas without strict constraints has empowered pupils to take risks in their writing and develop confidence in their own voices. Staff have also responded positively, commenting on the joy and energy pupils bring back to the classroom after participating.”

– Mr Khan, Teacher StoryQuest™ Workshop

My brain feels better after I let my imagination out."

– Bradford Student, 2025

Every child felt included, supported, and empowered to express their ideas freely. It was a motivating experience where every voice was heard and every idea celebrated. A brilliant session that left a lasting impact!

– Ben Linsel, Year 6 Teacher & KS2 Lead

Want This for Your School?

StoryQuest™: The 6-week program that gets 100% of children writing.

Free for teachers: Curriculum guide with KS2/KS3 mappings + Bradford case studies.

The Investigation

A thirst for revenge

The Secret Necklace in Tokyo

The Investigation

Featured in

Seeing our classrooms come alive with oracy and imagination was amazing. The children were bouncing ideas off each other, sharing their creativity, and truly engaging with writing in a way we hadn’t seen before."

It was amazing, you feel proud and free!”

Bringing in published authors made writing feel real for our students. It helped them see that their words matter, that they too can be writers."

I believed in myself so I could create things I didn’t even know I could do.”

From the very start of the session every pupil was engaged and couldn't wait to get started, pupils felt empowered and that they could use their own voice. Taking away boundaries of grammatical perfection freed up creativity.”

I like writing my own story with no rules… I’m looking forward to finishing my story and to make more with only my rules! Not anybody else’s.”

This whole experience has transformed the way our students view writing. They now see themselves as writers, and we can’t wait to see where their creativity takes them next!"

Now my brain feels better after I let my imagination out.”

It was fun because I got to write what I wanted. I’m hoping I’ll make someone happy if they read my book!”

Writing has never been easy for some of our students, particularly some of the boys. But today, they were eager, engaged, and didn’t want to stop. Seeing that level of enthusiasm was just incredible."

I was proud because I have never written a story with as much detail as this one"

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to do this. You have really inspired me!"

Hearing students use ambitious vocabulary without relying on a model or word wall made us so proud. Their ideas flowed naturally, and they truly started thinking like writers."

Normally the teacher tells us what to do. But this time we were free.”

Kate and Mary delivered a truly inspiring and unique session based on The Adventures of Gabriel. Their approach ignited the children’s imaginations and encouraged creative writing without limits.

I felt good because I wrote my first actual story"

It made me feel proud and responsible to be able to make my own story without support or a plan.”

It felt really exciting because I've never done something like this before. I was also happy that it was a story we made by ourself."

As Year 6 teachers, we are used to structured learning, especially in the run-up to SATs. Letting go and allowing students the freedom to write was daunting at first, but the results were incredible. They took ownership, structured their ideas, and embraced their creativity."

It was very good and made me wake up."

My brain feels better after I let my imagination out."

Every child felt included, supported, and empowered to express their ideas freely. It was a motivating experience where every voice was heard and every idea celebrated. A brilliant session that left a lasting impact!

Want This for Your School?

GET THE FREE GUIDE