Skulduggery Pleasant

Derek Landy (author)

 Action-packed adventures and a palette of quirky characters make this an entertaining, light-hearted read.

Stephanie first meets Skulduggery Pleasant at her uncle's funeral - a strange figure in sunglasses, hat, scarf wrapped around his face and wearing a large overcoat. The second meeting is at the reading of the will, when Stephanie discovers she has inherited most of her uncle's not-inconsiderable estate. The third meeting is the most dramatic, involving as it does a murderous attack, a door blown off its hinges, and Skulduggery's uncanny ability to throw fire from his hand.

Uncle Gordon's best-selling fantasy stories were, it seems, based on an all too real world of magic, evil villains - and, oh yes, a skeletal detective with a warped sense of humour. Part of Stephanie's inheritance appears to be an unfinished battle against the dark forces that seek world domination - not the usual lifestyle choice for a twelve year old girl!

Although somewhat linear in narrative and lacking the more complex relationships that denote great fantasy, there is an originality and vitality to Landy's writing that makes the novel very readable. The books are popular and several sequels have been released in rapid succession.