On a dark and stormy night ...

A pair of ghost-hunting journalists arrive at the most haunted house in Britain - the Hollow Hotel. They're here to interview the Dark King of television magic, Romeo Gideon.

Instead, they discover the body of a murdered man hanging from the rafters - the work of a killer who wields actual magic as viciously as he does his blade. With the storm closing in, all exit routes cut off, and the killer taking them out one by one, their only hope lies with the two mysterious Irish detectives who seem quite at home with all this bloodshed ...

Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain have only hours to figure out who the killer is in a hotel filled with the tortured spirits of the dead, the anguished wails of the dying, and the relentless whines of the living.

New for 2025, an epic fantasy adventure in the bestselling Skulduggery Pleasant universe

About the Author

Derek Landy lives near Dublin. Before writing his children's story about a sharply-dressed skeleton detective, he wrote the screenplays for a zombie movie and a murderous horror film. "I think my career-guidance teacher is spinning in her grave," he says, "or she would be if she were dead."

Reviews

Praise for the Skulduggery Pleasant series:

'A writer at the height of his powers ... Whatever your age, read them and enjoy the ride' Irish Independent

'Fast and funny' The Times

'Skulduggery Pleasant serves up a thoroughly satisfying blend of humour, magic and adventure' Rick Riordan

'Landy's witty style will win him fans of all ages' Irish Mail on Sunday

'Hugely enjoyable - a thrill-a-minute adventure' Jonathan Stroud

'A fast evolving plot and a great mix of scariness and humour' Sunday Express

'Exciting, pacy, nicely handled and fun' Philip Ardagh, Guardian

'Gripping' Observer

'A remarkably accomplished debut with wonderful dialogue' Irish Times

'A rip-roaring adventure' Irish Sunday Independent

Book Information
ISBN 9780008708511
Author Derek Landy
Format Paperback
Page Count 240
Imprint HarperCollins
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 270g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 15mm