Skulduggery Pleasant Skulduggery Pleasant #1 Complete & Unabridged: Amazon.co.uk: Derek Landy, Rupert Degas: Books

Review

Audiobooks are the new black. This is the truth. For those of us too busy being busy to read, audiobooks are a lifesaver. That's not to say they're all great because they're not, but when you get a great one, those earbuds aren't coming out until the fat lady starts singing.

An audiobook has to work pretty damn hard - firstly, the story has to carry itself more than in print because it's incredibly easy to switch off and secondly, the narrator needs to be hand picked by very smart people in order for it to work - thankfully, Skulduggery Pleasant is one of the better audios picked up in the last month or two.

Skulduggery Pleasant is one of those books that's sort of aimed at the younger crowd but is so well written, lovers of a great story will get a kick out of it whatever age they are. That's the crux of the detail but Rupert Degas has brought this book to life with no small amount of panache attached. A voice for every character pitched perfectly and a laconic pacing, makes it an absolute pleasure to be in the company of.

If you hadn't figured it out already, Skulduggery Pleasant is a skeleton. He's also a detective. A detective skeleton if you like - and that much alone should tell you whether you'll like this or not. He embarks on his first adventure here and with his new sidekick, Stephanie, we are introduced to some cracking friendly characters and a good manner of original foes as we bear witness a thorough bonding of the two that will hopefully set the scene for plenty more books in the series. There is very little on the market at the moment that compares with this as an audio product - classy is an understatement.

If you're looking for a fun listen that delivers on all fronts, this is as good as it gets in the audiobook world. Review from Burn Digital Magazine

Review

Hugely enjoyable -- a thrill-a-minute adventure.' Jonathan Stroud 'It's exciting, pacy, nicely handled and fun. I sincerely hope Landy revisits these characters.' Philip Ardagh, Guardian 'A gripping debut.' Phil Hogan, Observer 'Skulduggery Pleasant serves up a thoroughly satisfying blend of humour, magic and adventure. Once you've met Stephanie and Skullduggery, you'll be clamouring for a sequel.' Rick Riordan "A remarkably accomplished debut with wonderful dialogue." Robert Dunbar, Irish Times "[Landy's] fight scenes are perfectly pitched. His characters are exceptionally well drawn and delightfully colourful! Reading [this book] is like riding a rollercoaster." Irish Independent "Landy's witty style will win him fans of all ages! With writing of this standard, a rattling plot and definite potential for cross-over appeal, it's a good job Harry's [Potter] resigning before he's forcibly retired." Irish Mail on Sunday "Humour and magic combine in this thrilling adventure." Waterstone's Books Quarterly "!people in the book world are raving about this book." Glasgow Herald "It's pacy, it's funny, it's irreverent. The relationship between Skulduggery and Stephanie is tremendously strong. Stephanie is a splendid character -- blunt, logical and outspoken! We enjoyed Skkulduggery Pleasant. Muchly. Roll on volume two!" The Book Bag "A rip-roaring adventure." Irish Sunday Independent "Full of black humour, super powers, mysteries, murder and mayhem." Carousel --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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4.6 out of 5 stars

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26 of 29 people found the following review helpful

A positive role model if ever there was one... dead or alive! 19 Jun 2007

By Ms. D. Samwell

Format:Hardcover

Since childhood I've always enjoyed a good read that enlivens the imagination and makes me smile. I was after a new read, something along the dark and twisted road with a morbid sense of humour; who would have thought it would be found in a "childrens" book?

I read reviews on Amazon about this book and was pleasantly surprised by the number of "adults" who too like to venture into their deepest imagination, and who better to do it with than Skulduggery? It was the number of warm and encouraging reviews that pursueded me to buy this adventure.

I loved every word of it. The characters and plot are well developed and rounded with interesting and strangely believable backstories. Derek Landy has touched on the single most important point that leads to the spectacular success of this book, we all want to believe in magic and so we are compelled to agree with Stephanie in her pursuit of her uncle's mysterious death. She encounters trouble and problems in everyway imaginable, both in her old normal life and in her new mysterious, magical and dangerous one.

I for one can't wait until my newly pre-ordered copy of Skulduggery Pleasant: 2 drops through my letterbox! Bravo!

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75 of 86 people found the following review helpful

Warning before you buy 10 July 2009

By J. Harvey

Format:Paperback

Important to note that Scepter of the Ancients is a re-print of the original Skullduggery Pleasant book - just re-titled ( we accidentally bought both - fell for the same trick when Northern Lights became the Golden compass, and when Sorcerers Apprentice was retitled Magicians Apprentice...all very annoying, I wish Amazon would make it clearer)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

magnificent 18 Sep 2011

By Jayne

Format:Kindle Edition

what a fantastic read, i got into skulldugery through a friends child and what a brilliiant goldmine this is, i just can't get enough of the adventures of skulldugery and his friends, fab for adults aswell as kids.