The Leaping [Paperback]

'Strong, convincing characters and great atmosphere. Bleak and compelling, this unusual mixture of grubby social realism with folklore and superstition stands out from the crowd' The Times.

'a refreshing take on a werewolf novel and it gives a masterful snapshot of the banality of many a graduate's life' Fantasy Fiction.

'an exceptional debut novel ... Definitely a writer to look out for' SocyBerty.

Jack finished university three years ago, but he's still stuck in a dead-end job in a sinister call-centre in Manchester. When the beautiful (and rich) Jennifer comes into his life he thinks he has finally found his ticket out of there. Trouble is that his boss is interested in Jennifer as well, and there's something strangely bestial about him... So when Jennifer buys Fell House, a mysterious old mansion out in remote Cumbria, a house party on a legendary scale seems like the perfect escape. But as the party spins out of control on a seemingly neverending night, they must face up to the terrifying possibility that not all their guests may be human - and some of them want to feed. An astonishing and innovative blend of horror, folktale and disturbing realism, The Leaping is the first instalment in what is shaping up to be a genre-defining series.

When the sky is blood-red, when the rivers freeze and snow lies upon the fells, it's time for the wolves to cross - time for the Leaping. Jack and Francis work in a call-centre in Manchester, where they are endlessly tormented by irate customers and sinister bosses. When Jack's girlfriend Jennifer buys Fell House, a mysterious ruin out in the remote mountains, a move to the country seems like the answer to all their problems. But an ancient evil is waiting in the valleys - Fell House has another owner. Time to lock the doors. Time to bar the windows. Time for the Leaping...

Tom Fletcher is a young author (he is 24) who has already made a name for himself thanks to spine-chilling readings of his work at Manchester's monthly live lit event, 'There's No Point in Not Being Friends'. He has published a number of his short stories in a three-author anthology, Before the Rain. The Leaping is his first novel.