T.H. Jay
Hide and Seek
In 1939, pre-war England, Edmund Culpepper has exiled himself to a quiet, country home, wanting to be left alone, forgotten. He hides because he’s cursed. His Nanna Orla told him so, shortly after his birth rite. Over the years the insidious curse brought him pain and misery, driving him from the bright environs of London to the far hills of Batcombe.
But when two men arrive at his door, dressed black as ravens, Edmund fears all his guarded secrets may soon unravel. The men bring a message from Buckingham Palace – the King is stricken by a grave illness, and they require a Crafter’s unique skills to solve the mystery.
To save England on the eve of war, Edmund must confront the secret of his curse, rescue the man he loves, and trek to the land of the dead to save the King.
Alex’s parents divorced when he was very young, thrusting him into a world not of his own choosing. A world full of loss, betrayal, blame, two homes, and a half sister.
Lily loves her brother and looks forward to his visits. To Alex, she is the chasm between a life he can barely remember, and the reality he refuses to acknowledge.
In place of his broken family, he surrounds himself with books of far-off worlds, and heroic adventures. But this crafted façade threatens to crumble when their dog runs away, and he and Lily must find
him, together.
Their search leads them to an ancient neighborhood house, crumbling, abandoned, perhaps even haunted. Inside, a terrible story awaits, one Alex’s books never imagined.
The house, framed by three colossal oaks, holds a secret that will change their lives forever, if they survive.
