In the lobby of a Blackpool hotel, one year after the end of the Great War, Britain's spymaster recruits a young sideshow fortune-teller for a mission of historic importance.

A standalone novella from the author of The Bedlam Detective and The Authentic William James.

Kirkus Reviews: (for The Bedlam Detective, 100 Best Fiction selection for 2012) "Monsters, actual and metaphorical, are at the heart of this superbly crafted thriller. Gallagher loves character development but respects plotting enough to give it full measure. The result is that rare beast, a literary page turner."

Jonny Lee Miller, via Twitter: "Just finished Stephen Gallagher's The Bedlam Detective. Only bad thing about his books is that they eventually end. Brilliant."

The Historical Novel Society: "It's certainly a thriller, but with a literary depth unusual in the genre, and fascinating in the complexity of its construct. Gallagher's prose is swift, sure, and occasionally darkly comedic... Three words of advice: read this book."

Stephen Volk: "It's a blinding novel (The Authentic William James)... each chapter had me chuckling with joy-if not at the acerbic wit, the brilliant dialogue-the sheer spot-on elegance of the writing: the plot turns, the pin sharp beats. Always authoritative and convincing, never showy. Magnificently realised characters in a living breathing world... Absolutely stunning."

Publishers Weekly (starred): "British author Gallagher gives Sebastian Becker another puzzle worthy of his quirky sleuth's acumen in his outstanding third pre-WWI mystery... Gallagher makes the most of his unusual concept in the service of a twisty but logical plot line."

About the Author

Stoker and World Fantasy Award nominee, winner of British Fantasy and International Horror Guild Awards for his short fiction, Stephen Gallagher has a career both as a novelist and as a creator of primetime miniseries and episodic television. His fourteen novels include Valley of Lights, Down River, The Spirit Box, and Nightmare, With Angel.