Joy Wells isn’t like most other girls—not that she much cares. Obsessed with famous horror writer E. A. Peugeot, Joy spends her time dressing up in a dead woman’s tweeds and investigating paranormal activity around her hometown of Spooking.
Meanwhile the mayor’s assistant Mr. Octavio Phipps has also trained his sinister sights on the mysterious asylum. As Joy already knows, the embittered ex-punk rocker will stop at nothing in his nefarious quest to destroy her beloved town.
When her pet frog Fizz becomes trapped behind the walls of a mental asylum, Joy must mount a rescue operation that brings her into conflict with Mr. Phipps again. Along with her brother Byron and their strange playmate Poppy, Joy soon uncovers mind-bending secrets straight from the pages of her favorite author. Can Joy get everyone out alive, or will they be trapped in the unearthly asylum forever?
Praise for UNEARTHLY ASYLUM
“Sophisticated fare for readers in search of a few more Unfortunate Events. . . .the thoroughly gothic setting and a madcap climax will keep younger audiences entertained.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Bracegirdle knows how to spin an engaging story; his characters continue to grow in wisdom and personality, and the teaser he gives us at the end of this book definitely makes me want to come back for more.” — Montreal Gazette
“. . . the secret behind the asylum’s reclusive inhabitants, a legend of an undead army, a Gypsy curse, and a mysterious girl. Bracegirdle manages to weave these seemingly disparate ideas into a gripping climax while leaving a few compelling mysteries for the trilogy’s conclusion. Joy’s nonconformist attitude and bouts of self-doubt will speak to many readers, and Phipps makes for a complex antagonist.” — School Library Journal
“. . . the humorous prose and wry point of view continue to be great fun.” — The Horn Book Guide
