With the past safely restored to the past, Trilby Moffat is looking forward to sitting down to a big slice of cake and a good crossword puzzle. But she's about to find out that the job of Time Keeper is never done and the future has other plans for her . . . extremely perilous plans.

'This looks dangerous,' said Trilby, who was tied to an antique parlour chair teetering on the edge of a rocky cliff.

The man in the top hat arched one prickly eyebrow. 'Children can be so ungrateful. This will be the trip of a lifetime!' he said, pointing to the endless dark water below.

Trilby Moffat is in grave danger, again. When she arrives on a secret island outside of time, in search of her missing mother, she knows she's in trouble. A strange festival is about to take place and Trilby is the guest of honour.

Travellers from all over time are flocking to this mysterious carnival with its treasure markets, floating cupcakes and a terrifying surprise. Now Trilby and her friends must race against time (literally) to reveal the dark truth lurking beneath their beautiful island. Friendship will be tested. Loyalty is stretched to the limits and a skittish prehistoric bird named Anton will destroy Trilby's favourite jumper.

Just when she thinks time is on her side, Trilby is about to get a perilous promotion.

Praise for Trilby Moffat:

'A must-read for lovers of madcap adventures' The Guardian, Best Australian Children's Books of 2023

'[A] wonderful tale with humour and the right amount of excitement. This is great fun' Good Reading Magazine

'What a delicious book this is! Bursting with rich language, big ideas and sardonic humour . . . A gloriously enjoyable, rollicking reading experience for young and old' Living Arts Canberra

'Packed with her trademark clever humour, Temple's fast-paced, time-twisting adventure marks the beginning of an ambitious new series for middle-grade readers' Books+Publishing

'Insanely good, beautifully unique, cleverly written, brilliantly funny and wonderfully scary' Karen Foxlee, author of Lenny's Book of Everything

'A cheeky tale, with treasures on every page. Utterly delightful' Jeremy Lachlan, author of Jane Doe and the Cradle of All Worlds

'Funny and clever and crazy and brilliant . . . This is magical realism at its absolute best for middle grade readers' ReadPlus