The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag

Alan Bradley - The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag

The story opens with the immortal words 'I was lying dead in the churchyard' (spoken, astonishingly, by Flavia herself) and ends with a funeral watched by the De Luce family on a newly-installed television set. Inbetween, Alan Bradley weaves a hauntingly nightmarish tale that involves Punch & Judy - and in particular Mr Punch's nemesis, the hangman, Jack Ketch - a frighteningly realistic puppet show, and a hitherto unexplored corner of Bishop's Lacey known as Gibbet's Wood.

The Gun Ketch by Dewey Lambdin

A fighter, rogue, and ladies' man, Alan Lewrie has done the unthinkable and gotten himself hitched--to a woman and a ship! He's bound for the Bahamas and a bloody game of cat and mouse with pirates.