Spindlewood

The first book in a gripping new series, perfect for fans of The Swifts, Murder Most Unladylike, Lockwood and Co and Wednesday. 'Spectacularly spooky . . . Full of warmth and humour, but threaded with delicious darkness' Philippa Leathley 'Percy Jackson meets Wednesday, with a huge dollop of originality on top' Thomas Taylor Lilac Black does not believe in ghosts. So she's rather surprised to learn she comes from a long line of gifted Seers, all of whom attended Spindlewood: a top-secret boarding school for children with the power to see, hear and communicate with spirits. And now, Lilac has an invitation to Spindlewood herself. The only problem? There's been a huge misunderstanding. Lilac does not have the gift. Reluctant to disappoint her proud uncles, and curious to see this mysterious school for herself, she decides to play along. But as Lilac's web of lies becomes more tangled, one thing is clear: there is something wrong at Spindlewood. Something ancient and sinister, hidden beneath the library. Something connected to the long-ago disappearance of Lilac's parents. Something waiting for her... 'It's hard to put your finger on the difference between a very good and a great book, but you know it when you see it. Spindlewood is a great book' Russell Franklin 'Fantastically fresh . . . Deliciously cosy and creepy all at once' Booklist

Freddie Kölsch lives in Salem, Massachusetts, with her high school sweetheart-turned-wife, a handful of cats, a houseful of art, and a mind's eye full of ghosts. She's the author of YA horror novels Now, Conjurers and Empty Heaven. Spindlewood is her first book for middle-grade readers. Follow her on Instagram @cosmicdraculas.