A mesmerising Gothic mystery from Costa Award-shortlistedauthor Nicholas Bowling - perfect for reading by candlelight... 'Fans of dark academia will be on the edge of their seats... perfect for dark spooky nights' IRISH EXAMINER'This atmospheric gothic mystery is ideal winter fare for12+' THE GUARDIAN'Bowling's atmospheric prose keeps the scares and the surprisescoming' LITERARY REVIEWTo the horror of young gravedigger, Ned, bodysnatchers have beenvisiting his churchyard in the dead of night. Until now, he'dbeen daydreaming about another visitor - daughter of the manor,Obedience Wellrest.But sixteen-year-old Obedience has troubles of her own: her lovingbut overbearing father, and his wish to see her married to arich man of science, Phineas Mordaunt. When Mordaunt starts to poke his nose into her family history- in particular, the ruinous research of late Uncle Herbert- Obedience enters into a dangerous game with Death, and Nedmight be the only person who can save her ... A mesmerising tale of magic, death and science, wrappedup in a delicious Gothic mysteryThink Frankenstein vibes: dark academia, gravediggersand dark magicJonathan Strange and Mr Norrell meets DangerousRemedy - for young adult readersFrom highly acclaimed Costa Award-shortlisted authorof In the Shadow of Heroes and The Garden(as Nick Newman) 'Nicholas Bowling is a thrilling writer' THETELEGRAPH'A vastly entertaining riff not just on Mary Shelley, butthe novels of her father William Godwin' FINANCIAL TIMES'Gripping and evocative ... Creepiness will of course ensurein this page-turning historical thriller' IRISH TIMES