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First published in Great Britain by
HarperCollins Children’s Books in 2012
Reissued in this edition in 2017
HarperCollins Children’s Books is a division of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd,
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Skulduggery Pleasant rests his weary bones on the web at:
Derek Landy blogs under duress at
Text copyright © Derek Landy 2012
Illuminated letters copyright © Tom Percival 2012
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: 9780007480210
Ebook Edition © ISBN: 9780007480258
Version: 2017-05-25
This book is dedicated to the HarperCollins Children’s Books Publicity Department.
Publicists are an odd bunch. Part manager, part bodyguard, part servant, you’re only happy when you take over an author’s life completely. I would berate you for this, but I have yet to find a publicist who stops talking long enough for me to say anything.
To the Ireland branch, the legend that is Moira O’Reilly and the quiff that is Tony Purdue.
To the UK branch, both past and present (regrettably not future, though, but future publicists, feel free to accept this dedication as your own):
Emma Bradshaw – for that time I mocked your iPod choices. Oh how we/I laughed.
Catherine Ward – for that moment we shared, bonding over The Princess Bride. What do you mean you don’t remember it?
Tiffany McCall – you had ‘The Imperial March’ as your ringtone. How could we not get along?
Sam White – I like to think I played a part in why you married an Irishman. You’re welcome.
Mary Byrne – Gilmore Girls. Just … Gilmore Girls.
Geraldine Stroud – this is for that English/Polish dictionary you got me. It didn’t get me anywhere with the check-out girl, but at least you tried …
This is for all of you, without whom my life would be so much simpler. I’ve learned a lot from you, and I daresay you’ve learned a lot from me. Specifically, to never leave me on a train platform unattended. I will get on the wrong train.
Contents
Chapter 1: The Butterfly and the Wolf
Chapter 2: The Werewolf of Dublin
Chapter 6: Back in the Sanctuary
Chapter 7: The Story of Walden D’Essai
Chapter 11: Scenes from a Coffee Shop
Chapter 12: The Bedrock of Investigation
Chapter 17: Keeping the Demon Down
Chapter 19: Jumping from Airplanes