It is the 1850's, and a young boy, Thomas, leaves his family to be apprenticed to a pharmacist, at the behest of his dead grandmother. He also inherits a magical box from her, which provides him entry into a mysterious garden. But while visiting it, he sees a ghostly vision of his grandmother, who tells him she was poisoned, and warns him that he must find the person responsible, and save her precious garden. For she was one of five members of an arcane guild, each of whom cultivated an individual garden, mastering the art of poison, perfume and medicine. The guild members jostle for power as, one by one, they are murdered... can Thomas solve the mystery, before he in turn is threatened?

 

This book has been graded for interest at 12+ years.

There are 288 pages in this book. This book was published 2009 by Simon & Schuster Ltd .

Sarah Singleton was born in Northamptonshire, studied in Nottingham and has travelled widely. She lives in Chippenham with her family and worked until recently as senior reporter for the Wiltshire Gazette & Herald. She is the author of Century, Heretic, Sacrifice and The Amethyst Child for Simon and Schuster.