This has to be one of the best books I've read since Harry Potter. Its the sort of thing you read and think 'Why didn't I think of that?'. The story starts with Stephanie Edgley attending the funeral of her uncle Gordon, where she first notices the figure in the tan overcoat. The figure turns up again at the will reading where Stephanie learns she has inherited all her uncle's fortune and his house. He is the Skulduggery Pleasant of the title. Later, when she is spending the night alone in her uncle's house, she is attacked by a strange man and the figure in the tan coat, all hidden under a scarf, wig and sunglasses, turns up to rescue her. It is then that Stephanie ...  Read the complete review

Ok, I admit, I approached this book with extreme caution. It was recommended by my younger sister, aged 11, and after raving about it for a day or so after she'd finished it, she thrust it into my hands, ordering me to read it. I approached with caution simply because (and call me prejudiced), it read: '9+' on the back cover, and I'm 18. But I've always enjoyed a good fantasy story so I gave it a go anyway. Wow, I'm glad I did! The story follows a 12 year old girl named Stephanie, who, after her Uncle Gordon dies, meets an old friend of his, a detective called Skulduggery Pleasant. Who is a skeleton. Suddenly she is introduced to a ...  Read the complete review

This book was recommended to me by my 12 year old son. This adventure story follows a 13 year old girl Stephanie and her journey into a world of magic and horror. Stephanie's uncle Gordon is a writer, who dies suddenly leaving her his entire estate. This is when she meets Skulduggery Pleasant a detective who is already dead. He introduces Stephanie to this other world of ancient magic and evil. Together they embark on a quest to retrieve a secret key and uncover the reasons for her uncle's murder, all the while being pursued by evil. The story moves at a fast pace, it's funny and action-packed, with scenes of fighting and torture. The characters are all ...  Read the complete review