by Derek Landy
Fiction/Fantasy
Stephanie's uncle, the mystery writer Gordon Edgely, has died and she finds herself the major beneficiary of his will. Along with the mansion and the money comes a truth -- that magic (for good and evil) exists in the world, not just in Gordon's books -- and a friend, Skullduggery Pleasant. He's a detective and a living (sort of) skeleton, with a sharp suit and a sharp wit. Stephanie and Skullduggery go up against Skullduggery's old enemy, Nefarian Serpine, in a race to find the Sceptre and take control of the ultimate power -- The Book Of Names.
This is a fun read, full of fights and action, with plenty of gags along the way. Skullduggery is a wonderful character, well complemented by Stephanie and their cohorts. The plot is fast paced and rarely flags. A good read and a great character.