Author Description

Victorian London harbours many secrets: alien visitors, strange phenomena and unearthly powers. But a trio of investigators stands ready to delve into such mysteries – the Great Detective, Madame Vastra, her resourceful spouse, Jenny Flint, and their loyal valet, Strax. If an impossible puzzle needs solving, or a grave injustice needs righting, help can be found on Paternoster Row. But even heroes can never escape their past… 2.1 Dining with Death by Dan Starkey When negotiations between two warring alien races are sabotaged, Madame Vastra offers Paternoster Row as neutral ground upon which to continue their diplomacy – and to celebrate the treaty with a feast. While Strax frets about hosting two species with very different dietary needs, Jenny investigates the dissenters who want to halt the peace process. But a deadly plot is brewing, and the diners may not survive the cheese course... 2.2 The Screaming Ceiling by Guy Adams In one of the earliest cases of his illustrious career, Thomas Carnacki heads to the Highlands to embark upon the terrifying investigation of Castle Kraighten. On arrival, he finds that another party of sleuths has been engaged – surely these amateurs of Paternoster Row have nothing to teach the great Ghost Finder? But this is no ordinary haunting. A room in the castle has a mouth in its ceiling. And it screams... 2.3 Spring-Heeled Jack by Gemma Arrowsmith People are being stolen from the streets by a monster. By all accounts, it has burning eyes, breathes blue flames, and can leap the height of a building at a bound. While Vastra and Jenny fend off an over-eager member of the gutter press, Strax dives into dangerous waters. Is this Spring-Heeled Jack of legend, returned to terrorise the capital? Or are there more sinister forces at work?