First published in Great Britain by
HarperCollins Children’s Books in 2010
Reissued in this edition in 2017
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Skulduggery Pleasant rests his weary bones on the web at:
Derek Landy blogs under duress at
Text copyright © Derek Landy 2011
Illuminated letters copyright © Tom Percival 2011
Skulduggery Pleasant logoTM HarperCollinsPublishers
Skulduggery Pleasant © TM Derek Landy
Cover design © blacksheep-uk.com
Cover illustration © Tom Percival
Derek Landy asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of the work.
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Source ISBN: 9780007326037
Ebook Edition © ISBN: 9780007455430
Version: 2017-04-06
This book is dedicated to my nieces.
Girls, none of you were born when Skulduggery Pleasant first appeared. But since you’ve arrived, no one in our family wants to talk about the writer any more. Now all they want to talk about are the damn babies. All of a sudden, no one wants to cuddle me, and for that I blame you.
But I suppose you have your good points. It’s because of you that Valkyrie has a little sister, after all. You’re all mildly cute, reasonably adorable, and you make me laugh when you fall over.
So this book is dedicated to you, Rebecca and Emily, Sophie and Clara and
(insert names of any more nieces or nephews that might sprout up between now and when they’re old enough to read this).
I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I am your favourite uncle. And you probably prefer me to your parents, too.
(I’ve met your parents. I don’t blame you. They’re rubbish.)
Contents
Chapter 8: Friends in High Places
Chapter 9: Friends in Low Places
Chapter 17: The Zombie King and Co
Chapter 18: The Arrest Warrant
Chapter 21: The Love of a Vampire
Chapter 22: The Church of the Faceless