The final exciting instalment in the Miss Penny Dreadful series from acclaimed author Allison Rushby.Searching for a new story idea for her aunt's famous penny dreadfuls, Penny and Aunt Harriet decide to follow up a newspaper article about a mysterious mermaid's grotto. Hidden down a secret passageway on the banks of the River Thames, the only way to enter is through a tavern, aptly named The Mermaid's Locks.In the glittering grotto, Penny and her aunt find a comb with some strands of the mermaid's red-gold hair. Penny sets out to investigate - can the mermaid truly be real? Also, why doesn't Mr Crowley, Aunt Harriet's publisher, want her to write about it? Meanwhile, another cryptic postcard arrives from Penny's missing parents. Nothing is as it seems in Penny's world. Will Penny be able to finally piece together all the clues?

**eBook Edition** An enquiring mind - and mystical mysteries to solve - adds up to adventure in the first book of the new junior fiction series from acclaimed author Allison Rushby."Now, Miss Pickering." Miss Strickland turned to her pupil. "If you would be so kind as to close the door behind you, we will endeavour to discuss why your aunt, her publisher and her monkey have called upon us this afternoon."1872Forever in trouble for sketching in her notebook, Penny Pickering dreams of her famous authoress aunt turning up at her boarding school and whisking her away. So when Aunt Harriet appears at Miss Strickland's School for Girls of an Enquiring Mind and asks Penny if she would like to join her on an adventure, Penny knows exactly what to say – yes, please! Penny soon finds herself headed for Hampshire and a strange place called Mr Toddington's Museum of the Curious and Absurd where bewitched kittens are said to have a tea party at...

He'd rather carry hod in hell... Finn Cathcart, a successful sculptor, is having a fine time on the Continent cavorting with alabaster nymphs and marble goddesses (so to speak), when he's informed that a ducal title awaits him back in England. The same family who disowned Finn's father now needs an heir to prevent all their wealth from falling into the Crown's greedy hands. ,,,She'd rather he did too. Wilhelmina Cathcart is the widow of the previous ducal heir, and she has no patience with fledgling peers who come grumbling to their honors. Mina has a daughter to raise, meddling family to manage, and no time to explain Mayfair society to a stubborn, backward, contrary duke... even if he is charming and a good listener. Mina and Finn are on the point of admitting a powerful attraction when an enemy close at hand threatens to ruin their hopes for a happily ever after. They will have to work together, and put aside both well...

I ducked into a niche between a cabin and the pilot house and hiked my skirt up enough to reach down into my garter holster. I've heard it said that God made all men, but Samuel Colt made all men equal. We'd see what Mr. Colt could do for a woman. Jack Gabert went to India to serve his Queen. He returned to London a violently changed man, infected with an unnatural sickness that altered his body and warped his mind. Eileen Callaghan left an Irish convent with a revolver and a secret. She knows everything and nothing about Jack's curse, but she cannot rest until he's caught. His soul cannot be saved. It can only be returned to God. In the years following the American Civil War, the nun and unnatural creature stalk one another across the United States. Their dangerous game of cat and mouse leads them along great rivers, across dusty plains, and into the no man's land of the unmarked western territories. Here are three tales of the hunt. Reader, take this volume and follow these tormented souls. Learn what you can from their struggle's against each other, against God, and against themselves.

Captivating stories of the places where human evil has left a nefarious mark—featuring both rare and best-loved stories from the hit podcast Lore, now a streaming television seriesSometimes you walk into a room, a building, or even a town, and you feel it. Something seems off—an atmosphere that leaves you oddly unsettled, with a sense of lingering darkness. Join Aaron Mahnke, the host of the popular podcast Lore, as he explores some of these dreadful places and the history that haunts them.Mahnke takes us to Colorado and the palatial Stanley Hotel, where wealthy guests enjoyed views of the Rocky Mountains at the turn of the twentieth century—and where, decades later, a restless author would awaken from a nightmare, inspired to write one of the most revered horror novels of all time. Mahnke also crosses land and sea to visit frightful sites—from New Orleans to Richmond, Virginia, to the brooding, ancient castles of England—each with its own echoes of dark deeds, horrible tragedies, and shocking evil still resounding.Filled with evocative illustrations, this eerie tour of lurid landmarks and doomed destinations is just the ticket to take armchair travelers with a taste for the macabre to places they never thought they’d visit in their wildest, scariest dreams. **Captivating stories of the places where human evil has left a nefarious mark, featuring stories from the podcast Lore--now a streaming television series--including "Echoes," "Withering Heights," and "Behind Closed Doors" as well as rare material.** Sometimes you walk into a room, a building, or even a town, and you feel it. Something seems off--an atmosphere that leaves you oddly unsettled, with a sense of lingering darkness. Join Aaron Mahnke, the host of the popular podcast Lore, as he explores some of these dreadful places and the history that haunts them. Mahnke takes us to Colorado and the palatial Stanley Hotel, where wealthy guests enjoyed views of the Rocky Mountains at the turn of the twentieth century--and where, decades later, a restless author would awaken from a nightmare, inspired to write one of the most revered horror novels of all time. Mahnke also crosses land and sea to visit frightful sites--from New Orleans to Richmond, Virginia, to the brooding, ancient castles of England--each with its own echoes of dark deeds, horrible tragedies, and shocking evil still resounding. Filled with evocative illustrations, this eerie tour of lurid landmarks and doomed destinations is just the ticket to take armchair travelers with a taste for the macabre to places they never thought they'd visit in their wildest, scariest dreams. ** The World of Lore series includes: ** **MONSTROUS CREATURES - WICKED MORTALS - DREADFUL PLACES** **Praise for *** **World of Lore: Dreadful Places** * "Well-written, rooted in deep historical research, and ridiculously entertaining . . . Each chapter brings a creepy story from folklore to life. . . . Hair-raising stuff."**--*SyFy Wire*** * * * "Fans of the *Lore* podcast won't want to miss this latest volume in the creator's series, a collection of illustrated versions of both rare and well-known stories about 'lurid landmarks and doomed destinations.'"**--*io9*** * * * "*Dreadful Places *is a delight for *Lore *fans and newbies alike. In the book, [Aaron] Mahnke visits places around the world that are steeped in a supernatural legacy."**--*Refinery29***

I would say it's a pleasure to meet thee, Prosperity Oceanus Redding, but truly, I only anticipate the delights of destroying thy happiness. Prosper is the only unexceptional Redding in his old and storied family history — that is, until he discovers the demon living inside him. Turns out Prosper's great-great-great-great-great-something grandfather made — and then broke — a contract with a malefactor, a demon who exchanges fortune for eternal servitude. And, weirdly enough, four-thousand-year-old Alastor isn't exactly the forgiving type. The fiend has reawakened with one purpose — to destroy the family whose success he ensured and who then betrayed him. With only days to break the curse and banish Alastor back to the demon realm, Prosper is playing unwilling host to the fiend, who delights in tormenting him with nasty insults and constant attempts trick him into a contract. Yeah, Prosper will take his future without a side of eternal servitude, thanks. Little does Prosper know, the malefactor's control over his body grows stronger with each passing night, and there's a lot Alastor isn't telling his dim-witted (but admittedly strong-willed) human host.

The second book in a mystical and adventurous junior fiction series from acclaimed author Allison Rushby.From the moment Penny steps into her family's Hyde Park Square townhouse, she can sense something dreadful has happened. This is confirmed when she discovers her parents' laboratory in terrible disarray. Before she can find out any more, Penny is whisked away with her authoress aunt to Harewood Hall in the countryside, where a malicious maze is rumoured to be gobbling up servants. Miss Penny Dreadful has yet another mystery to solve. And nothing, absolutely nothing, is as it seems!

Prepare yourself for the wrath of the Norsemen! That is, if you don't mind and it's not too inconvenient...Everyone knows Vikings are ruthless barbarians whose idea of a good time involves pillaging, plundering and feasting. But Thorfinn is no ordinary Viking! He is always polite and happily offers to wash the dirty dishes. Too bad his dad is Harald the Skull-Splitter, Village Chief and the roughest and toughest Viking of them all. Vikings far and wide are travelling to Scotland's Shetland Islands for the great Fire Festival where they'll compete to become ultimate champion by creating dazzling fire displays. Chief Harald is determined to be victorious but it seems as if Thorfinn has ruined their chances against rival Viking Chief Magnus the Bone-Breaker, until he remembers a story about a once-legendary dragon, now in hiding...Can Thorfinn and his ragtag crew track down the dreadful dragon and persuade her to help them put on a winning...

A VINTAGE MURDER MYSTERYSomeone is sending poison pen letters in the small village of Prior's Umborne, and they have already driven one of the inhabitants to suicide. Private detective Nigel Strangeways is commissioned to find the source of the letters by arrogant financier Sir Archibald Blick, whose two sons live in the village, only for Sir Archibald to meet an untimely end at the bottom of the dreadful hollow...A Nigel Strangeways murder mystery - the perfect introduction to the most charming and erudite detective in Golden Age crime fiction.;MORE VINTAGE MURDER MYSTERIES MARGERY ALLINGHAMMystery Mile Police at the Funeral Sweet Danger Flowers for the Judge The Case of the Late Pig The Fashion in Shrouds Traitor's PurseCoroner's Pidgin More Work for the Undertaker...

Combining romance and humor with elements of the paranormal, this is a profound novel about one teenage girl's decision to redefine her life in the wake of supernatural events.Teddi Alder is just trying to figure out her life. When she joins SUMMERTEENS, a library writing group, she's only looking to keep herself busy, not go digging around in her subconscious. But as she writes, disturbing memories of her lost childhood friend Corey bubble to the surface, and Teddi begins to question everything: her friendship with her BFF Willa, how much her mom really knows, and even her own memories. Teddi fears she's losing her grip on reality—as evidenced by that mysterious ghost-girl who emerges from the park pool one night, the one who won't leave Teddi alone. To top it all off, she finds herself juggling two guys with potential, a quirky new boy named Joy and her handsome barista crush Aidan, who has some issues of his own. As the summer unfolds, Teddi is...

England 1899. Dr Watson and Countess Volodymyrovna travel to the city of York. Someone is killing-off the authors who write cheap but popular penny dreadfuls, and Inspector Bird, a fervent admirer of Dr Watson, needs help.

Join the adventure in the year 2046. All science and technology have withered away. The paranormal, like ghosts, run rampant throughout the middle school. Rainbow portals and other dimensions abound. Can four misfit eleven-year-old kids fight the ghosts using their brains and common sense? Come along and find out!

Prosperity Redding is the only unexceptional member of his very successful family�that is, until he discovers a demon living inside him. Turns out, Prosper's great-great-great-great-great-something grandfather made�and then broke�a contract with a malefactor, a demon who exchanges fortune for eternal servitude. Now Alastor, the malefactor, has reawakened and is intent on destroying the Redding fortune, unless they can kill him in the body he inhabits�which, oh, wait, that's Prosper, and why is his grandmother coming at him with a silver blade? In danger from both the demon trying to take over his soul and the family that would rather protect their fortune than their own kin, Prosper narrowly escapes with the help of his long lost Uncle Barnabas and Barnabas's daughter, Nell, a witch in training. According to Barnabas and Nell, they have only days to break the family curse and find a way to banish Alastor back to the demon realm. Until then, Prosper has to deal with...

Louise comes to the big city to create a new life for herself. That life ends when a cruel sadist abducts her, mutilates her body and face, and dumps her remains in the East River. Not quite dead, she floats ashore to the ruins of an abandoned church. There she is found and saved—but what saves her isn’t human. Listed a Top Book of 2010 by Literary Mayhem.

It's Halloween, 1914. Teenage psychic Blossom Culp sneaks into the house where the rest of her class is having a party-and that's when everything goes haywire. Suddenly Blossom is hurled into a time warp. Her psychic powers have found a way to send her into the future-our time. But will they be able to send her back?

From a beloved master of crime fiction, "The Dreadful Lemon Sky" is one of many classic novels featuring Travis McGee, the hard-boiled detective who lives on a houseboat. Around four in the morning, Travis McGee is jarred awake by a breathless ghost from his past: an old flame who needs a place to stash a package full of cash. What's in it for McGee? Ten grand and no questions asked. Two weeks later, she's dead. "The Travis McGee novels are among the finest works of fiction ever penned by an American author."--Jonathan Kellerman Carolyn Milligan was only aboard McGee's boat for one night. She came to drop off a hundred grand for safekeeping. What Carrie really needed was someone to keep her safe. She said she'd be back in a month. Instead Carrie is killed in a dubious roadside accident. Now McGee is left with a fortune--and a nagging conscience. So McGee takes a trip to the seedy little town of Bayside, Florida, to look into Carrie's life before she showed up on his boat. What McGee finds only pushes him further into the corrupt world of drugs and blood that Carrie was trying to escape. McGee is used to high stakes, but when the bodies start piling up, even he may be in over his head. Features a new Introduction by Lee Child

Alexander MacNeill is in a quandary. In 1845 London, he edits Penny Dreadful’s written by his Uncle, but fears the horrific vampire stories have a major basis in fact. His new sweetheart is inextricably linked to the vampires, he worries for her safety, yet cannot prove his theories. Alexander decides to follow his Uncle on one of his weekends in the country. His life will never be the same again.

Zeus and his friends try to free Briar, Kottos, and Gyes from Tartarus so they can finally beat Cronus once and for all in this Heroes in Training adventure.The fourteen Olympians and Ron are headed toward Olympus. Ron is telling them the rumors that the Titans have all escaped Tartarus and are gearing up with Cronus for a final battle with the Olympians. When they reach the sea, Oceanus attacks them by surprise. They are almost washed away by a tidal wave when mysterious woman appears and saves them. It is Gaia, the wife of Uranus—and grandmother to Zeus and most of the Olympians. Gaia is on the side of the Olympians, partly because she believes that they will be better for the planet than Cronus, but also because she is angry with her son. He has imprisoned his three brothers: Briar, Kottos, and Gyes. She says if the Olympians free them from Tartarus, they will help the Olympians defeat Cronus. But can the three brothers be trusted? And can the...

Ronald the Magnificent is the youngest wizard in the Wizards' Club. The trouble is, he is not a very good wizard and all the others tease him terribly. They don't even let him have his own chair. What Ronald needs is a pet so at least somebody is on his side. But pets are not allowed, so Ronald has to magic his pet up in secret. And when he does get his pet, it is not as easily controlled as Ronald would have liked. A very funny new book featuring wizards, fire-breathing, some misplaced magic and a lot of sausages!

A voice is talking to Gene Richards. It's a low, calm, spooky voice that tells Gene to hurt his own Grandpa. The voice says his grandfather did something that can never be forgiven. Soon it becomes clear to Gene: Something happened a long time ago in the town of Magnolia. And until Gene can get to the bottom of it, this voice, this specter, isn't giving up. With his two friends Sonny and Sam, Gene begins investigating. He's determined to find out Magnolia's darkest secret and discover the truth about his grandfather. Set during the Depression, this page-turner with an unexpected final twist brings readers back to a time when small-town secrets could most certainly come back to haunt you. JAMES LINCOLN COLLIER is the author of more than fifty books for adults and children. He was awarded the Newbury Honor for My Brother Sam Is Dead and has twice been a finalist for the National Book Award. He is also well known for his writing for adults on jazz. He lives in New York City....