Description

Part ghost story, part murder mystery – a creepy and magical tale steeped in Norse myth, perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman.

Welcome to the Circus of Myth & Mayhem – where performers re-enact tales of the Norse gods wearing masks which mysteriously change expression, the creepy jester isn’t quite human, and the big top is full of the dead.
Martha arrives at the circus, deep in the forests of Northern Norway, determined to learn how Nina died. Did she fall from the trapeze as Stig said, or was there more to her ‘accident?’
Drawn into a dangerous game of the gods, Martha must look behind the mask and see the truth . . . before it’s too late.

Following the events of THE TWISTED TREE, THE CROOKED MASK continues the story of Martha and Stig as she comes to terms with her magical inheritance.

Praise for The Twisted Tree
A creepy and evocative fantasy likely to make readers wary of the shadows in the corner of an eye, The Sunday Times
Rattles along with proper page-turning pace, The Daily Express
Creepy and amazing, MTV UK
Creates an atmosphere of Stephen King intensity, The Irish Examiner
A terrific read – twisty and scary and instantly gripping, Waterstones (Exeter Roman Gate)
A ghost story that will get under the skin of the most hardened reader, Starburst Magazine
The perfect book for cold and wintry nights, prepare to be chilled to your very bones, Culturefly

Publisher Review

The Twisted Tree is a romantic, creepy, hugely atmospheric story. I loved it. * L.A. Weatherly * I really enjoyed this book - well written, an original idea, with an unusual setting and some fantastic moments. Martha is a great character and I like the fact that she isn't an automatic hero, that her bravery isn't a given. * NM Browne, author of WOLF BLOOD * Creepy and amazing * MTV UK * The Twisted Tree is billed as a YA novel, but don't let that fool you - this is a ghost story that will get under the skin of the most hardened reader. It's a slow burner that makes fantastically creepy use of its isolated Norwegian setting, and expertly combines Nordic mythology with the supernatural. In many ways, it feels a bit like Neil Gaiman's Coraline collided with Catherine Storr's Marianne Dreams, with a smidgen of Beowulf thrown in for good measure * Starburst Magazine * Rachel Burge presents us with a stunning intermingling of Norse mythology, horror, and an unusual coming of age. Hauntingly beautiful descriptions, juxtaposed against a ramping relentless sense of peril. Wonderfully eerie, deliciously frightening, a perfect story for a dank and windy night in front of the fire * Bookbag * Its dark and ominous and the perfect quick read for those who want some eerie goodness on a weeknight. The fact that I opened it, sat down and read for 3 hours straight (minor breaks because my heart can't take creepy) on a night when I have 5000+ other things I should be occupying myself with solidifies my belief that this should get a perfect score * Close Encounters of the Paper Kind * So compelling and creepy, and would make a perfect Halloween or wintery read * Library of Books and Tea * Brilliantly effective at creating a slow, creeping atmosphere that made me feel chilled even when sitting in a room filled with lots of people. Fantastic writing! * Chrikaru Reads * This is the perfect story for the dark nights which will come before spring and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers which are atmospheric rather than gory. A beautiful and haunting tale * Book Murmuration * The spooky descriptions of the cabin and its surrounds are like an Arthur Rackham illustration melted into words; the mixture of Norse mythology and horror creates an atmosphere of Stephen King intensity, while at the same time we witness a slowburning and credible relationship between two very damaged but likeable protagonists * Irish Examiner * A creepy and evocative fantasy * Sunday Times * The dark, cold month of January is the perfect backdrop to this wonderfully chilling new novel * Viva Lewes *