The Murdstone Trilogy Book Summary

In 'The Murdstone Trilogy,' celebrated author Mal Peet delivers a sharp, humorous tale that blends fantasy with reality. The story follows a beleaguered writer who becomes embroiled in a deadly conspiracy involving a famous children's book and its dark, sinister magic. As the narrative unravels, Peet deftly critiques the publishing world and the nature of storytelling itself. Will the writer escape the clutches of his own creation? This inventive spin on adventure and self-discovery will leave readers eager for more.

By Mal Peet

Published: 2015

""Stories are like living creatures; they breathe, they evolve, and they can possess a darkness that mirrors our own.""

Book Review of The Murdstone Trilogy

How hard can it be to write a fantasy trilogy? From Carnegie Medalist Mal Peet comes an outrageously funny black comedy about an impoverished literary writer who makes a pact with the devil. Award-winning YA author Philip Murdstone is in trouble. His star has waned. The world is leaving him behind. His agent, the ruthless Minerva Cinch, convinces him that his only hope is to write a sword-and-sorcery blockbuster. Unfortunately, Philip—allergic to the faintest trace of Tolkien—is utterly unsuited to the task. In a dark hour, a dwarfish stranger comes to his rescue. But the deal he makes with Pocket Wellfair turns out to have Faustian consequences. The Murdstone Trilogy is a richly dark comedy described by one U.K. reviewer as “totally insane in the best way possible.”

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"Stories are like living creatures; they breathe, they evolve, and they can possess a darkness that mirrors our own."

The Murdstone Trilogy

By Mal Peet