From Goodreads
Meet Skulduggery Pleasant

Ace Detective
Snappy Dresser
Razor–tongued Wit
Crackerjack Sorcerer
and
Walking, Talking,
Fire-throwing Skeleton

—as well as ally, protector, and mentor of Stephanie Edgley, a very unusual and darkly talented twelve-year-old.

These two alone must defeat an all-consuming ancient evil.

The end of the world?

Over his dead body.

ISBN: 9780061231155
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: April 3rd 2007
Pages: 392

Review
I asked my son-in-law for a good book recommendation for someone trying to get into fantasy (the next step up from Harry Potter) and this was his suggestion. I’d seen him with this series before but I put it off because it had a skeleton on the book cover. I know that is a poor excuse especially having read this book. I now wonder why it took me so long to pick it up.

We follow a 12 year old girl whose uncle (crazy uncle from all reports) dies and leaves her his money and estate. It was at the reading of the will that she met Skulduggery who was a good friend of her uncle’s. Skulduggery is a detective who comes from a fantasy world. He’s a skeleton because some time before he had had his skin ripped off him by another magical creature (one who loved torturing people). He and Stephanie pair up in this book to find out what happened to her uncle as they both believe that he was murdered and didn’t die of natural causes. In the process of their investigations Stephanie discovers a whole other world which she quickly comes to love and wants to become a part of. Skulduggery is absolutely hilarious and has a wonderful way with words. I had many times where I found myself laughing at comments made by Skulduggery. Apparently Derek Landy is very good at that. Derek Landy is Irish and the Irish sense of humour, which I love, comes through. The relationship between Skulduggery and Stephanie is wonderful and they work so well together.

Landy’s writing style is easy to follow and get involved with. I was reading this on audio and I found that I very quickly forgot that I was in a chapter until the narrator mentioned that we were at the next chapter. I wanted to keep listening to this book even though I had many other books I wanted to read. I’m also not a series reader but this series I would like to continue with in part because it’s great entertainment. I recommend it highly to anyone trying to get into fantasy or someone who just wants a different kind of fantasy to go on with.

Recommend for: Adults
Rating: 5 stars.