Author(s): T. L. Huchu

Novel | Dystopia, Science Fiction and Fantasy | Scotland | Read our reviews!

‘A fast-moving and entertaining tale, beautifully written’ – Ben Aaronovitch

When ghosts talk, she will listen . . .

Ropa dropped out of school to become a ghostalker – and she now speaks to Edinburgh’s dead, carrying messages to the living. A girl’s gotta earn a living, and it seems harmless enough. Until, that is, the dead whisper that someone’s bewitching children – leaving them husks, empty of joy and life. It’s on Ropa’s patch, so she feels honour bound to investigate.

But what she learns will change her world. She’ll dice with death (not part of her life plan . . .) as she calls on Zimbabwean magic and Scottish pragmatism to hunt down clues. For Edinburgh hides a wealth of secrets. And in the process, she discovers an occult library and some unexpected allies. Yet as shadows lengthen, will the hunter become the hunted?

Opening up a world of magic and adventure, The Library of the Dead by T. L. Huchu is the first book in the Edinburgh Nights series.

A fast-moving and entertaining tale, beautifully written -- Ben Aaronovitch, bestselling author of Rivers of London
I highly recommend The Library of the Dead -- Charlaine Harris
An absolute delight . . . kept me totally hooked -- Genevieve Cogman
What a delight. Great pacing, wonderfully creepy villains, and so much fun! -- A. K. Larkwood
Expertly blending elements of Zimbabwean and Scottish culture, Huchu's occult thriller is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking -- Publishers Weekly starred review
A fast-paced, future-set Edinburgh thriller. The Library of the Dead mixes magical mysteries with a streetwise style of writing . . . roll on the sequel -- The Times
One of the strangest and most compelling fantasy worlds you'll see all year . . . We can't wait for the next volume -- SFX
Terrific stuff -- The Big Issue
Contemporary fantasy, at its best, is both escapist and urgent: this does both admirably -- The Scotsman
An enjoyable dark urban fantasy tale . . . with a great lead character and a vibrant supporting cast -- Grimdark Magazine
With a strong female protagonist exploring a unique world, this novel is a fantastic debut and a must have for fantasy fans -- CulturedVultures
Drags you in and keeps you reading through the force of nature that is Ropa Moyo -- SFFWorld
The excellent characters keep the story engaging -- Booklist

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STELLA'S REVIEW:
It’s Edinburgh and the ghosts are restless. Ropa has left school to make a meagre living as a ghostalker. She needs to support her Gran and little sister. The ghosts who aren’t quite done with the mortal earth seek out a ghostalker — a passer of messages — to communicate with the living, usually their family members. There are wrongs to right, wills to be instructed, or all sorts of petty family negotiations to be navigated. Ropa is out on her patch, minding her own business, when Nicola, a distraught mother, recently deceased, asks her to find her missing boy. Detective work isn’t Ropa’s usual game and money isn’t forthcoming, but one thing leads to another and she’s in the thick of things. Juggling the bills, keeping the tiny caravan (home) in order, getting Izwa to school and keeping her hustle going keeps her busy, and life is just about to get more complicated. A chance encounter with Jomo, a mate from school, finds her sneaking into an exclusive library under the streets of this dystopian Edinburgh. And getting caught was not the plan, especially when it might lead to her own ghosting. Surprisingly, rather than be punished for her crime, she is given membership to the Library. There’s something magical about Ropa — she is a ghostalker, but you get the distinct impression that there’s more she’s inherited from her mysterious and magical Gran. With her new friend Priya and Jomo in tow, the teens start to unpick the mystery of the disappearing children. And strange and creepy it is. Some of the snatched children find their way home but the change in them is startling — hollowed out and listless, they are old before their time. Add to these scares, The Midnight Milkman (not one you want delivering to your house), a haunted house that holds you by an umbilicus sucked down into a cellar, the eerie in-between ‘everyThere’ underworld, and the excellent, yet disconcerting, Library of the Dead (which in book one we are briefly introduced to). This Edinburgh is a land of post-civil-war destruction, restricted resources and gated wealth. Its inhabitants are lively and diverse. Ropa with her green dreadlocks and black lipstick doesn’t take any stick, Jomo is good-natured and loyal, while Priya, a wheelchair-bound adrenaline junkie, knows her way around on the street and in the lab. The stage is set for the 'Edinburgh Nights' series. Dip your toes in but watch out for the milk — more to come. Plenty of thrills and spooks, with witty dialogue and an underlying commentary on privilege. Fantasy for those who like Ben Aaronovitch’s 'River of London' series and Jonathan Stroud’s 'Lockwood & Co'. Great for adults and teens. 

Author Biography: T. L. Huchu is a writer whose short fiction has appeared in publications such as Lightspeed, Interzone, AfroSF and elsewhere. He is the winner of a Nommo Award for African SF/F, and has been shortlisted for the Caine Prize and the Grand Prix de L'Imaginaire. Between projects, he translates fiction from Shona into English and the reverse. You can find him @TendaiHuchu.