Product Description

'Wonderful. Anyone looking for the next big thing has come to the right place. Higgins has created a uniquely grim fantasy world that more than holds its own with Dickens or Peake. Her characters are brilliantly realised and the story grabs at the reader with hooked talons' Eoin Colfer.

When Ludlow Fitch’s parents cruelly betray him, he steals away on the back of a carriage and leaves behind the stinking City. He arrives in the dead of night at a remote village, where he crosses paths with the tall and limping figure of Joe Zabbidou - a pawnbroker with a difference. For Joe trades secrets, not goods, for cash.

Employed as Joe’s assistant, Ludlow records the villagers’ fiendish confessions in an ancient leather-bound volume: The Black Book of Secrets. There's the gravedigger who has been resurrecting bodies; the butcher who made a mouse-meat pie for his bullying father, with fatal consequences; the wizened bookseller who went to murderous lengths to get her hands on a priceless tome.

Ludlow longs to trust his mysterious master, but he senses Joe has much to hide. But then Ludlow Fitch has his own, very dark, secrets . . .

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #254169 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

About the Author

F. E. Higgins was born in England but raised in Ireland. She lives and writes in a house that dates back to the fifteenth century, in a small village in rural Kent. THE BLACK BOOK OF SECRETS is her debut, and she is currently writing THE BONE MAGICIAN, her second novel for Macmillan Children's Books.

Customer Reviews

Review of The Black Book Of Secrets by F. E. Higgins
The Black book of Secrets is an excellent book. It really makes you ponder about what you are reading and is suitable for very imaginative minds. The plot is very well thought out and quick- wittedly, everything falls in to place at the end. Ludlow Fitch is the main character and hasn't had a very calm and easy life, quite the opposite! His life is full of stress and after many years of harsh treatment he decides to leave the stinky city and lead a fuller life. He arrives at the village of Pagus Parvus and meets Joe Zabbidoe, a mysterious pawnbroker, he realises every thing in this small village in the mountains is not what it seems. Many of the viilagers have unbearable secrets to sell...

Many of the characters in this book have interesting personalities but some are very different. On one hand, Joe Zabbidoe, who takes Ludlow in, is quite relaxed at all times and his past is a mysterious subject. He never gives away his emotions by keeping his face blank. On the other hand Jeremiah Ratchett, the landlord of the village who cheats the villagers out of money, is always very uptight and jump, also his actions are sharp. Ludlow is a very samll and skinny boy who hasn't had much education although he is very street samrt from his past pick pocketing experience. Zabbidou and Fitch become quite a duo but Ludlow's frustration with Joe grows as it seems he isn't told the whole story.

F.E. Higgins is a very talented writer and her style is very easy to read. She is very good at persuading you to like some characters and dislike others.

I wolud say this book is a mixture of genres. It has a mixture of adventure/ magical/ horror and this makes it a very unique read and extremely enjoyable!

I would recommend it to readers who are adventurous and imaginative. Also it will suit you if you can relate to characters and sympathise with them.

OVERALL A MUST READ BOOK!!!

EXCELLENT!
When I ordered the black book of secrets I didn't realise it was part of the Macmillan Children's Books collection, when I opened the first page and saw the Macmillan stamp I have to admit I was completely gutted, I presumed that this book was a grown up story but what I had in front of me was going to be no more than a childish attempt of scaring little children, but I was so wrong.

The book took hold of me from the first page and I felt I was walking with Ludlow through the dark cold & snowy village of Pagus Parvus. The descriptions where so clearly written that I was able to see the village and the creepy village inhabitants, like the grave digger and the repulsive Jeremiah Ratchett. The book is written so effortlessly that each chapter just flows incredibly well. I found that the book reminded me of those dark Benson animations- I would love to see an animated version of the book, it would be absolutely brilliant! Fingers crossed the next instalment will be out soon, I would love to know what happened next with Ludlow! A surprisingly brilliant book which got me hooked by the claws, give this a go you definitely won't be let down!

moralistic storyline
gripping from the first page. Ludlow learns how luck and destiny are interwoven and how he must take responsibility for his own actions.
Couldn't put it down. read it in one day. Enjoyed the ending. Makes you think about the moral decisions you make throughout your life.
Very entertaining easy read.