The House in Poplar Wood

About this book

Thirteen-year-old twins, Felix and Lee Vickery, live in the same house in Poplar Wood but lead very separate lives. Felix resides in the east side of the house with his father Vince, who is apprentice to Death. Lee and his mother Judith serve Memory in the west side of the house. Bound by a cruel Agreement with Death, Vince and Judith are not permitted to see one another, and each boy will never meet his other parent.

The Vickery’s sworn enemies are the Whipple family, whose role as summoners is to negotiate with Death, Memory and Passion to protect the best interests of the townsfolk. When a local girl dies in mysterious circumstances, Gretchen Whipple is convinced that her father is involved in a cover-up. Determined to discover the truth, she enlists the help of the Vickery brothers, promising that in return, she will find out how to break the Agreement. However, the teenagers are dealing with forces far greater than they imagined and Death is not afraid to use his immense power.

Skilfully combining a gripping plot, intriguing characters and a convincing alternative world, populated by sinister beings, this is a dark and compelling novel for older readers.