Skulduggery Pleasant: A Small Matter of Impending Catastrophe by Derek Landy - Young Adult - Hardcover

Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780008776664
Publisher: HarperCollins
Age Range: 9-12

Overview
A Small Matter of Impending Catastrophe is the latest installment in Derek Landy's long-running Skulduggery Pleasant series, following the sharp-dressed skeleton detective and his partner Valkyrie Cain into a decades-old mystery rooted in 1962, when three sorcerers clashed in a hidden chamber beneath the London Underground. Prophecy claimed the victor would control the fate of humanity. Now someone is hunting down everyone connected to that long-buried secret, and Skulduggery and Valkyrie must race to uncover the truth before the killer finishes the job. Fast, funny, and dark in equal measure.

About the Book
Derek Landy returns to the world of Skulduggery Pleasant with a case that reaches back more than sixty years. In 1962, three powerful sorcerers converged in a hidden chamber near a disused London Underground platform to settle a prophecy that promised the victor command over the fate of humanity. For decades afterward, nothing happened. Now, the handful of people who know what really occurred that night are being murdered one by one, and the pattern points to a killer working from a very old, very dangerous plan. Skulduggery Pleasant, the wisecracking skeleton detective, and his partner Valkyrie Cain are pulled into the investigation, following a trail that winds through magical politics, old grudges, and secrets the Irish sorcery community would rather stay buried. As always, the series blends rapid-fire banter with genuine stakes, layering dry humor over a plot that grows darker the closer Valkyrie and Skulduggery get to the truth. Longtime readers will recognize the series' signature mix of mystery, action, and found-family warmth, while the decades-spanning premise gives this entry a fresh, almost noir-tinged angle on the Skulduggery Pleasant universe. It's a story about consequences that outlive the people who caused them, and about two unlikely partners once again standing between the world and catastrophe.

Key Benefits

• Brand-new hardcover edition of the latest Skulduggery Pleasant novel
• Fast-paced fantasy mystery blending humor, action, and genuine mystery
• Continues the beloved partnership of Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain
• Satisfying for longtime series fans and newer teen readers alike
• Durable hardcover format, great for collectors and series completists
• Makes a fun gift for reluctant readers who love fantasy and mystery mashups

About the Author
Derek Landy is an Irish author and screenwriter best known for creating the Skulduggery Pleasant series, which follows a wisecracking skeleton detective and his young partner Valkyrie Cain through a hidden world of magic and danger. Before turning to children's and young adult fiction, Landy wrote screenplays, including work in the horror genre, and he has described his shift to writing about a skeleton detective as an unexpected turn for his career. He lives near Dublin, Ireland, and continues to expand the Skulduggery Pleasant universe with new novels and podcast adaptations.

Why You'll Love This Book
Whether you're restocking a young reader's bookshelf, picking up a back-to-school treat, or wrapping a birthday gift for a fantasy-loving teen, this hardcover delivers everything fans expect: dry wit, high stakes, and a mystery that spans decades. A great addition to any classroom library or holiday gift list.

Please Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.