Long Lankin [Paperback]

A stunningly atmospheric and genuinely horrifying story. — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

In an exquisitely chilling novel, four children unravel the mystery of a family curse — and a ghostly creature known in folklore as Long Lankin. Sisters Cora and Mimi, along with village boys Roger and Peter, must uncover the horrifying truth that has held the isolated village of Bryers Guerdon in its dark grip for centuries — before it’s too late. Riveting and intensely atmospheric, this stunning debut will hold readers in its spell long after the last page is turned.Like all the best scary stories, this will haunt readers well after the tale has been told, leaving teens who have long thought themselves too old for the bogeyman double-checking the locks on their doors.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

This atmospheric, pulse-pounding debut makes the most of its rural, post–World War II setting, a time and place where folklore uneasily informs reality. Barraclough controls her narrative with authority, shifting voices and tenses to provide both perspective and the occasional welcome respite from tension. . .A good, old-fashioned literary horror tale for sophisticated readers.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

This debut horror story set in Britain during the late 1940s starts slowly but weaves a chilling spell that will immerse readers in this world and hold them through to the breathless conclusion. . . .A spine-tingling selection.
—School Library Journal

This is a story to get lost in: the gloomy, rain-soaked atmosphere recalls Wilkie Collins’ THE WOMAN IN WHITE... Those who appreciate old-fashioned chillers will be rewarded by incident after unsettling incident: witchcraft, exorcisms, fire, plagues, and a blood-drinking murderer who walks on all fours.
—Booklist

This title is a winlSC