First published in Great Britain by HarperCollins Childrenâs Books in 2008
First published in this edition in the United States of America by HarperCollins Childrenâs Books in 2018
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Skulduggery Pleasant rests his weary bones on the web at: www.skulduggerypleasant.co.uk
Derek Landy blogs under duress at www.dereklandy.blogspot.com
Text copyright © Derek Landy 2008
Illuminated letters copyright © Tom Percival 2008
Skulduggery Pleasant logo>⢠HarperCollins Publishers
Skulduggery Pleasant>⢠© Derek Landy
Cover illustration © Neil Swaab 2018
Derek Landy asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of the work.
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Source ISBN: 9780008248796
Ebook Edition © ISBN: 9780008266325
Version: 2018-04-27
This book is dedicated to my family â because otherwise Iâd never hear the end of it â¦
Nadine: warm, kind and considerate. I am all of these things.
Audrey: the greatest thrill of your life is probably the fact that Iâmyour brother.
Ivan: meaningless words such as âbrilliantâ, âamazingâ and âinspirationalâ have been used to describe me, but not nearly enough.
If any of you thought that thereâd be anything sincere or heartfelt inyour dedications, allow me a moment to quietly laugh at you â¦
Because the heartfelt sincerity is reserved for my nana.
Chic, this book is also dedicated to you, for all the love and support youâve shown me over the years. I love you much more than any of your other grandchildren do, I swear.
alkyrie Cain hit the parapet and tumbled, unable to stop herself, and with a panicked gasp she disappeared off the edge.
The church tower stood high and proud, looking out over Dublin City. The night breeze was brisk and carried snatches of laughter from the street below. It was a long way down.
A man in a tattered coat walked up to the edge and peered over. He smirked.
âThis is insulting,â he said. âDonât they know how dangerous I am? I am very, very dangerous. Iâm a killer. Iâm a trained killing machine. And still, they send you. A child.â
Valkyrie felt her grip on the ledge loosen. She ignored the goading of the man standing above her, and looked around for something else to grab on to. She looked everywhere but down. Down was where the street was, where the long drop and the sudden stop was. She didnât want to look down. She didnât want anything to do with down right now.
âWhat age are you?â the man continued. âThirteen? What kind of responsible adult sends a thirteen-year-old child to stop me? What kind of thinking is that?â
Valkyrie swung herself gently towards the tower, planting her feet against a small buttress. The fear started to work through her and she felt herself freeze up. She closed her eyes against the oncoming wave of paralysis.