‘Ah. Now there, once again, it’s me who failed – failed to prove what I needed to in time. You have no idea the number of barns, deserted outhouses and villages I scoured in this area, all the time looking for a trail of destructive magical activity that would give her away. The stories of ghosts drew me here. And what was the first thing I discovered? Multiple unexplained deaths. I knew I had to be closing in on Tiffany.’
‘The gulls?’ said Nightshade, suddenly looking up with interest. ‘What on earth have they got to do with Tiffany?’
‘I wanted to see how they’d died. My guess is that if we could have examined one, we’d have found it was strangled. Probably by shadow. Unfortunately, despite my very best efforts, I failed to find one. All washed away by the stormtides, I assume.’
Seth took this in slowly. ‘You mean those gulls are the only evidence that she actually knew exactly what she was doing?’
Pewter nodded.
‘Then she’s going to get away with it? She’s not going to be safely locked up? She’ll be back on the streets wreaking havoc in no time.’ Seth now had yet another reason to keep practising hard at his magic. ‘I fear she will have little difficulty convincing the authorities that it was all an accident,’ said Pewter. ‘All caused by the firefly cage. Is that your last question, Seth? Then are you ready?’
Seth knew Pewter meant was he ready to leave, but far more important, he felt that he was ready to continue with his struggles. He was ready for the prospect of magic. He nodded.
Nightshade leapt into Seth’s arms. ‘I’m ready too.’
Pewter raised his silvery eyebrows. ‘Ah yes, I almost forgot about the dratted cat.’
Acknowledgements
Being given the chance to write a second book is mostly down to the many wonderful people who gave such support to your first book. It’s rather humbling to realize just how many people you have to thank for their involvement in you having that chance.
The lovely booksellers from both Waterstones and indies (particularly all at Mostly Books who are attempting to break all sales records with their sterling support). The sales and marketing folk at Bounce, the reviewers, the book bloggers, the heroic librarians, the educationalists tirelessly promoting reading for pleasure, the teachers who tweet, the other authors who generously offer advice and support. From me to all of you, thank you for making the world of books such a pleasurable and supportive place to be part of. Together we will recruit more children to the love of reading.
I would particularly like to mention Joseph Cash Primary School in Coventry, who made the decision to try to teach English in a different way and chose to base all reading and writing lessons for a half term on The Last Chance Hotel. It was such a pleasure to meet such enthusiastic children, who knew the story and characters even better than I did.
Particular thanks, of course, goes to my publishing team, including my wonderfully wise agent, Jo Hayes, at The Blair Partnership. And everyone at Chicken House for giving me the chance and then navigating me through the difficulties of a second book. Barry Cunningham, Rachel Leyshon and Laura Myers all have their very important roles to play and great copy-editing from Fraser Crichton. Rachel Hickman and illustrator Matt Saunders I have to thank for another phenomenal job in producing such a stunning design and cover. Thanks, Elinor Bagenal, for regularly sending me joyful news that readers in other countries will get a chance to read about Seth and his magical mystery adventures. Not forgetting Jazz Bartlett for helping me to get started in organizing my school events. It has been a busy year.
Thanks also to my early readers and writing ‘fam’: Oliver Nicholls, Jo Collins, Sally Poyton, Sandra Simpson and Noreen Miller all kept me on the right track. And again, enormous thanks to the incredible talents of Oliver Nicholls for the unexpected delight of having elements of Seth’s world put brilliantly to music.
And as always, I could do nothing without my wonderful team at home, Mark, Alex and Tim. Always there with a much-needed cup of tea and support at the right moment.
And finally, thanks to you, you lovely readers, particularly those who have been in touch and shared how much you enjoyed reading The Last Chance Hotel. I really hope we meet again in the next adventure.
TRY ANOTHER GREAT BOOK FROM CHICKEN HOUSE
MIDNIGHT HOUR by BENJAMIN READ & LAURA TRINDER
Emily’s parents have vanished into the secret world of the Midnight Hour – a Victorian London frozen in time – home to magic and monsters. Emily must find them in the city of the Night Folk, armed only with a packed lunch, a stowaway hedgehog and her infamously big mouth. With bloodthirsty creatures on her tail, Emily has to discover the truth to rescue her parents. What family secret connects her to the Midnight Hour? And can she save both worlds before she runs out of sandwiches?
Anarchic humour, rich imagination and poetic writing, interspersed with elegant line drawings, add up to pure delight – with a stowaway hedgehog as a bonus.
GUARDIAN
Paperback, ISBN 978-1-911490-90-6, £6.99 • ebook, ISBN 978-1-911490-91-3, £6.99
TRY ANOTHER GREAT BOOK FROM CHICKEN HOUSE
THE PECULIARS by KIERAN LARWOOD
The Peculiars are a band of misfits, trapped in a nightly Victorian sideshow. There’s Wolfgirl, Sheba; Sister Moon, who can move at the speed of light; and Monkey Boy, ace climber and human stink bomb. But during the day, in a world of child-snatchers, grave robbers and dastardly doctors, they solve the mysteries no one else cares about – including why London’s poorest children are being snatched from the banks of the Thames . . .
. . . reminiscent of Philip Pullman’s immortal Sally Lockhart books.
THE TIMES
Paperback, ISBN 978-1-911490-21-0, £6.99 • ebook, 978-1-911490-22-7, £6.99
TRY ANOTHER GREAT BOOK FROM CHICKEN HOUSE
POG by PÁDRAIG KENNY
After their mother dies, David and Penny move to her family’s old house in the forest. Dad says it’s a fresh start but it feels sad and empty without Mum.
And there are noises in the attic . . .
A small furry creature is living in the roof. There are other creatures too – less friendly ones – that seem to be multiplying. Only with Pog’s help can David and Penny save themselves – and goodness in the world.
If they can resist promises from the darkness.
A fantastical tale of monsters and grief, family and love . . . with real depth and heart.
THE BOOKSELLER
Paperback, ISBN 978-1-911490-39-5, £6.99 • ebook, ISBN 978-1-912626-01-4, £6.99
Text © Nicki Thornton 2019
Illustrations © Matt Saunders 2019
First paperback edition published in Great Britain in 2019
This electronic edition published in 2019
Chicken House
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Nicki Thornton has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
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Produced in the UK by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon CR0 4YY
Cover and interior design by Steve Wells
Cover and interior illus
trations by Matt Saunders
British Library Cataloguing in Publication data available.
PB ISBN 978-1-912626-30-4
eISBN 978-1-912626-36-6
The Bad Luck Lighthouse Page 21
