Long Lankin

Lindsey Barraclough

Apr 2011 · Random House

About this ebook

Beware of Long Lankin . . .

When Cora and her little sister Mimi are sent to stay with their great-aunt in the isolated village of Bryers Guerdon, they sense immediately that they're not welcome. What they don't know is that the last time two young girls were at Guerdon Hall, their visit ended in a mysterious, violent tragedy.

Something dark and evil has haunted the village for centuries. Now it has set eyes on its next victim, and it will stop at nothing to lay claim to her. With the help of local schoolboys Roger and Peter, Cora must uncover the horrifying secrets buried deep within Bryers Guerdon - before it is too late for Mimi.

Bewitching and atmospheric, this is a truly stunning debut that will linger with you for days after the final, chilling pages.

Ratings and reviews

Rarely do read modern fiction. More rarely do read a first novel. Since 'Long Lankin' is one of my favourite songs, I decided to give it a try. While the novel draws heavily and at times predictably on Gothic conventions, nonetheless the simple, sincere prose style and polyphonic narration kept my interest. The author creates an atmosphere of decay, claustrophobic fear, and half-buried childhood memories very effectively. The Catholic Recusant theme makes for an outstanding take on the tale.

I have met Lindsey and her daughter

About the author

Lindsey Barraclough was born in Essex. She worked as a music teacher and lives in London with her husband and their five children. Her debut novel, Long Lankin, was published in 2011 to critical acclaim and was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award, the UKLA Children’s Book Award, the We Read Prize and the Southern Schools Award, and longlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the Waterstones Book Prize. It was also named one of the best 100 YA novels by the American Young Adult Library Services Association.