The sister is a knife thrower in a magician's stage act, the brother is an undertaker's assistant. Neither orphan knows of the other's existence. Until, that is, three terrible Aunts descend on the girl's house and imprison her guardian, the Great Cardamom. His dying act is to pass the girl a note with clues to the secret he has carried to his grave. Cardamom was one of three explorers on an expedition to locate the legendary Amarant, a plant with power over life and death. Now, pursued by flesh-eating crow-like ghuls, brother and sister must decode the message and save themselves from its sinister legacy.

Shortlisted for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize and nominated for the 2011 Branford Boase Award

Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror meets Indiana Jones. Mortlock is macabre, darkly humorous, masterfully written and . . . brilliant. A superlative adventure peppered with deadly thrills and traditional death rhymes

About the Author
Jon Mayhew is a man with a dark imagination, who has always loved writing and storytelling. An English teacher (to children and teenagers) for 20 years, he now works as a specialist teacher for children with autism. He has four children himself and, when neither teaching nor writing, he plays in ceilidh bands and runs marathons. Mortlock is his first novel and has been shortlisted for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize. Jon lives between the ancient cities of Chester and Liverpool.

Reviews
'Mayhew has woven a rich tapestry depicting a series of convincing worlds . . . It has a breathtaking pace [and there] are characters we hope to meet again' * Children's Book of the Month, The Observer *
'Mortlock is a thrilling adventure from start to finish' * SciFi Now *
'An accomplished page-turner . . . lighthanded, scary fun, with some sibling bickering thrown in' * SFX *
'If you're looking for a creepy chill to your summer reading, stop right here . . . Beware - magic and mystery awaits!' * National Geographic Kids *


Awards
Short-listed for Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2011.



Book Information
ISBN 9781408803936
Author Jon Mayhew
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Bloomsbury Childrens Books
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 316g