Candy Jar Books has announced The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: A Fright at the Museum, a new mystery unlike anything the Doctor Who spin-off series has done before.
As part of the celebrations marking the fifteenth anniversary of the independent publisher, A Fright at the Museum takes the Brigadier’s granddaughter to the heart of Peterborough, where strange forces are at work inside the city’s museum and art gallery. But this time, Lucy is crossing over into the real world.
In May 2025, Adventures in Time and Space: An Unofficial Doctor Who Exhibition brought a stunning collection of monsters, props, costumes, ray guns, spaceships, and even the TARDIS itself to Peterborough Museum. To accompany this, Candy Jar Books has teamed up with the museum to create a unique Lucy Wilson story that’s fully integrated with the exhibition’s locations. Set within the museum itself, A Fright at the Museum features many real-life details, including a plesiosaur skeleton. It explores the building’s historical charm and the people who bring it to life.
Author Tom Dexter says:
“For the past year, I’ve been working to bring the Doctor Who exhibition to Peterborough, and the museum was the first venue I approached. Thankfully, Sarah Wilson, the museum’s heritage manager, understood the concept immediately – and now it’s a reality. So what better way to celebrate than by sending Lucy Wilson, the Brigadier’s granddaughter, into the museum on an all-new adventure?”
In A Fright at the Museum, Lucy and her friend Hobo find themselves in the middle of an eerie puzzle. Museum staff are vanishing into thin air, and when Hobo disappears too, Lucy must investigate. With the help of Sarah, Lucy uncovers the secrets of a mysterious figure named Abbie Foster, and confronts a very unsettling fossil that may not be as dead as it seems…
Sarah Wilson adds:
“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome the Doctor Who exhibition and Lucy Wilson to the museum. The fact that the Lucy Wilson story promotes reading and features our building so prominently is a fantastic way to celebrate what we do, and to engage young audiences in new, imaginative ways.”
Shaun Russell, Head of Publishing, at Candy Jar, says:
“I’m thrilled to see Lucy Wilson take on such a unique and atmospheric mystery. This story pushes both her and Hobo in new directions, and as a fifteenth anniversary gift to fans, there’s an Easter egg in the book that long-time readers will enjoy.”
Tom Dexter continues:
“This is the boldest, wildest Lucy Wilson adventure yet. It’s a mash-up of history, science fiction, and mystery that really tests Lucy and Hobo, and it’s been a joy to bring the museum and exhibition into the story in such an organic way.”
The exhibition itself features even more reasons to visit. Alongside the monsters and props, artwork by legendary Doctor Who artist Jeff Cummins will be on display, including some of his most iconic Target novel covers and new portraits of classic and modern Doctors. The display will also preview Jeff’s upcoming Candy Jar book, Outside the Box: The Complete Doctor Who Art of Jeff Cummins.
Jeff says:
“It’s truly amazing to see my work displayed in such a fantastic venue. From my very first Doctor Who illustration to my most recent work, this exhibition — and the book — trace a lifetime of creativity. I hope visitors get as much joy from it as I’ve had creating it.”
The exhibition further previews Jeff Cummins’ return to Doctor Who portraiture, showcasing new and exclusive artwork that continues to capture the spirit of the series.
His already acclaimed illustration of Patrick Troughton’s Doctor features on the cover of the upcoming book When I Say Run, Run. Also written by Tom Dexter, this book dives deep into the often-overlooked legacy of Troughton’s era.
Dexter concludes:
“For years, Patrick Troughton’s time on Doctor Who remained shrouded in mystery. Behind the scenes, BBC Television Centre functioned like a well-oiled machine, with departments working in harmony to produce these ambitious sci-fi adventures. But Doctor Who was more than just a television show — it was a creative force that helped shape the careers of technicians, writers, and actors, leaving a lasting mark on the industry. This book sets out to provide that context and explore the wider impact Doctor Who had on 1960s television.”
Here’s the blurb for A Fright at the Museum:
Deep in the shadows of Peterborough Museum, something sinister is stirring. When Hobo disappears during a visit, Lucy Wilson arrives to unravel the mystery. Teaming up with Sarah, the museum’s heritage manager, Lucy soon discovers there’s more to the museum than meets the eye.
Who is the enigmatic Abbie Foster? How has Hobo ended up in Paris at the end of the 1890s? What is the strange power behind the glowing blue light? And how could the fossil of a long-dead plesiosaur possibly be coming back to life?
A Fright at the Museum is no ordinary adventure for Lucy Wilson. Packed with mystery, time travel, and eerie encounters, this thrilling tale is set in the real-life Peterborough Museum, where you can visit the very locations featured in the story… and maybe even meet a certain prehistoric resident!
A Fright at the Museum will be available at Peterborough Museum, but if you can’t make it there, you can also order your copy from the Candy Jar Books website now!
