Beneath The Stairs

In this spine-tingling, atmospheric “nail-biter of a novel” (Shelf Awareness), a woman returns to her hometown after her childhood friend attempts suicide at an alleged haunted house—the same place where a traumatic incident shattered their lives twenty years ago. Few in sleepy Sumner’s Mills have stumbled across the Octagon House hidden deep in the woods. Even fewer are brave enough to trespass. A man had killed his wife and two young daughters there, a shocking, gruesome crime that the sleepy upstate New York town tried to bury. One summer night, an emboldened fourteen-year-old Clare and her best friend, Abby, ventured into the Octagon House. Clare came out, but a piece of Abby never did. Twenty years later, Clare receives word that Abby has attempted suicide at the Octagon House and now lies in a coma. With little to lose, Clare returns to her roots to uncover the darkness responsible for ruining their lives. A “spellbinding horror story, where the terror comes not from ghosts, but from the haunted places we find within ourselves” (Elizabeth Brundage, author of The Vanishing Point), Beneath the Stairs is perfect for fans of Jennifer McMahon, Simone St. James, and Chris Bohjalian.

Two children open a forbidden door under the stairs... A barkeep shuts his doors one night every year for a special party... Do you really know the Muffin Man... A boy's chance to save the world rests in the hands of a dismissive pterodactyl... Big troubles come to a wizard when he loses his hat... A former police officer decides to face the events of his past... A woman's relationship with her husband causes her to face a disturbing truth... A time when the end is really the beginning... The short story collection "Under the Stairs" was an idea born in response to Flash Fiction Month on a popular art and literature website. This collection contains 20 stories of various genres written by authors from around the world. Each story is under 2000 words in length and is sure to keep the reader entertained.

Arriving at the great houses of 1920s London, fifteen-year-old Margaret’s life in service was about to begin... As a kitchen maid – the lowest of the low – she entered an entirely new world; one of stoves to be blacked, vegetables to be scrubbed, mistresses to be appeased, and even bootlaces to be ironed. Work started at 5.30am and went on until after dark. It was a far cry from her childhood on the beaches of Hove, where money and food were scarce, but warmth and laughter never were. Yet from the gentleman with a penchant for stroking the housemaids’ curlers, to raucous tea-dances with errand boys, to the heartbreaking story of Agnes the pregnant under-parlourmaid, fired for being seduced by her mistress’s nephew, Margaret’s tales of her time in service are told with wit, warmth, and a sharp eye for the prejudices of her situation. Brilliantly evoking the long-vanished world of masters and servants, Below Stairs is the remarkable true story of an indomitable woman, who, though her position was lowly, never stopped aiming high. 'Enormous gusto, salty humour, wisdom' Evening Standard 'Shrewd, unabashed, wickedly funny, a unique front-line report of her life's experiences' Jack De Manio, BBC

Rhyming text warns of the gruesome sights that pop-up and pull-tab illustrations reveal in a creepy cellar.

When the Librarian returns to his castle after lengthy travels, he finds that someone has stolen his collection of deadly books, and until he can get past a beast the thief left behind and track them down, the world is in great jeopardy.

Young Frederick is plucked from an orphanage to be a footboy for a wizard named Lord Schofield in Victorian England. Is his uncanny ability to tie perfect knots and render boots spotless a sign of his own magical talent, or the work of Billy Bly, the brownie who has been secretly watching over him since he was little? No matter, for the wizard has banished all magical creatures from his holdings. But Billy Bly isn?t going anywhere, and when he discovers a curse upon the manor house, it?s up to Frederick and Billy Bly to keep the lord?s new baby safe and rid the Schofield family of the curse forever.

On an island haunted by the ghost of a murdered girl, a young wife must unravel an eerie mystery to save her marriage in New York Times–bestselling author Jennifer Wilde’s spine-tingling novel of romantic suspense With its crashing waves, secret coves, and rumors of being haunted, Greycliff Island is a thrilling and magical place to lonely eleven-year-old Carolyn Dawson. It is here that she meets Grey Brandon, whose family owns the island’s cannery and who becomes her only friend. Thirteen years pass before he walks into her London bookshop. After a whirlwind courtship, Carolyn returns to her beloved island off the Cornish coast—as Grey’s bride. Not everyone likes the new mistress of Greycliff manor—not hostile, intimidating Burke, the servant who practically raised Grey; not Grey’s aunt; and not her insolent son, Evan, who think Carolyn is a fortune hunter. One day, in the gardens beyond the estate, Carolyn finds a tiny gravestone. That night, she’s awakened by a child’s screams. Years ago, a girl was murdered in one of the island’s caves. Is her ghost haunting Greycliff manor? When the household is rocked by murder, Carolyn must confront a flesh-and-blood killer—and a long-buried secret someone will kill to keep.

UPSTAIRS, an Edwardian home would have been a picture of elegance and calm, adorned with social gatherings and extravagantly envisioned dinner parties. DOWNSTAIRS, it was a hive of domestic activity, supported by a body of staff painstakingly devoted to ensuring the smooth running of the household. Brimming with family secrets, society scandal, and of course elaborate parties, dresses, and social customs, the world of an aristocratic Edwardian household as depicted on the hit show Downton Abbey has captivated millions. But what was life really like for the people who kept such a household running: the servants? In Life Below Stairs, international bestselling author Alison Maloney takes readers behind the scenes to reveal a lively and colorful picture of what went on "downstairs," describing servants' daily life in this now-vanished world. Detailing everything from household structure, pay and conditions, special duties, and rules and regulations, to perks, entertainment, and even romance, Maloney examines the drudgery and hardships below stairs, as well as the rewards and pleasures. Thoroughly researched and reliably informed, this charmingly illustrated volume also contains first-hand stories from the staff of the time, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the lifestyle and conduct of a bygone era.