Author:K M Peyton
Mad is devastated when she's forced to move with her mother from London to a bleak, rural wilderness - until she gets a job restoring the local manor house, Good Graces. There, among the ancient tapestries and furniture, she meets the heir, Simon.
But as Mad and Simon grow closer, Mad realises her arrival has awoken the restless spirits of the old house. One ghostly presence seems welcoming, but the other is furious - and they are both frighteningly powerful. Mad's relationship with Simon soon spirals out of control, as they are swept up in a tide of centuries-old emotion and rage.
A tale of twin apprentices and foul murder set in the wintry alleys of old London
—— GuardianThe book is genuinely spooky and suspenseful, with appealing characters and great dialogue, and all shot through with Stroud's dry wit.
—— GuardianA heartily satisfying string of entertaining near-catastrophes, replete with narrow squeaks and spectral howls
—— KirkusStroud (the Bartimaeus series) shows his customary flair for blending deadpan humor with thrilling action, and the fiery interplay among the three agents of Lockwood & Co. invigorates the story (along with no shortage of creepy moments).
—— Publishers WeeklyIn a world overrun by evil spooks, can Paranormal Detection Agency Lockwood & Co do anything about the ghostly problems besetting London? Suspenseful, supernatural adventure.
—— MetroOne of those books you take with you to the bath . . . Packed with bloodcurdling spectral incident.
—— Evening StandardI have a particular terror of anything involving unfriendly ghosts and usually steer clear, but this one was just too tempting. Scare me it did, but the thrills were perfectly balanced by the intriguing plot twists and the humorous banter of the three main protagonists. It’s a little bit Sherlock Holmes, a little bit Skulduggery Pleasant, with a terrifying haunted house thrown in for good measure. You definitely won’t be disappointed
—— Waterstones.comThis was absolutely excellent. I loved the story, the amount of suspense and creepiness was exactly right to keep me reading page after page very quickly.
—— Guardian onlineStroud is one of the smartest and most talented writers around . . . Be prepared for lots of humour and some very creepy moments. You're going to be hooked.
—— Children's Books IrelandIt's a ripper! . . . With plentiful wit and good humour, more than a few chilling moments and, above all, refreshing creativity, Jonathan Stroud has constructed an energetic, fast paced narrative that trips nimbly back and forth from the present to the past as he first sketches and then deftly paints this fascinating landscape.
—— Science Fiction WorldIt's brilliant - that's all you need to know really so go and buy it now
—— Bookzone4boysIt’s almost impossible to put down and all I have left to say is that I want more.
—— books4teens