The House of Marvellous Books

The House of Marvellous Books is a publishing house on the brink of financial disaster, with assistant Ursula asleep at her desk, head publisher Gerard going health and safety mad, and chief editor Drusilla focused on finding a supposedly priceless but famously missing manuscript. Junior editor Mortimer Blakeley-Smith charts the descent of the House in his logbook as it lurches from one failure to the next. Will mysterious Russian buyers sink the ship or will Drusilla find the legendary Daybreak Manuscript and save the day?

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 19 May 2022
Publisher: Fairlight Books

Nestled within the heart of London, amidst the decaying remnants of a once-grand library, lies The House of Marvellous Books, a publishing house teetering on the precipice of financial ruin. As assistant Ursula slumbers peacefully at her desk, head publisher Gerard becomes consumed by an obsessive pursuit of health and safety regulations, while chief editor Drusilla diligently searches for a supposedly invaluable but famously missing manuscript. With a dwindling workforce, the ship seems rudderless, leaving only young Mortimer Blakeley-Smith, the junior editor, to document the gradual decline of the House in his logbook.

Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, a series of misfortunes unfolds, casting a shadow over the House's future. The once-promising publishing house stumbles from one failure to another, leaving its employees disheartened and demoralized. The once-thriving industry seems to be in a state of decline, and it appears as if the House is destined to follow suit.

However, amidst the chaos, a glimmer of hope emerges. Will mysterious Russian buyers, lurking in the wings, finally bring the House to its knees? Or will Drusilla, driven by her unwavering determination, uncover the legendary Daybreak Manuscript and save the day?

The tension mounts as Mortimer's logbook unfolds, revealing the intricate web of relationships and betrayals that have contributed to the House's decline. With each passing page, the reader is drawn deeper into the heart of the House, desperate to unravel the mystery and discover the fate that awaits it.

As the story reaches its climax, the fate of The House of Marvellous Books hangs in the balance. Will it succumb to the weight of its financial troubles, or will it rise from the ashes like a phoenix, reborn with a renewed purpose and a brighter future? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the journey to salvation will be a treacherous one, filled with challenges and obstacles that test the very limits of human resilience and determination.

Weight: 464g
Dimension: 145 x 222 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781914148095