In a fast-moving plot, 14-year-old Will terrifyingly experiences a voice from the past when visiting the Norman remains of Totnes Castle in Devon. He comes to realise that a boy took revenge on the Normans for the murder of his father and was himself killed in 1067 when local Saxons were brutally enslaved to build the Castle. But the boy's spirit cannot rest until the knife he used is returned to the River Dart to complete Saxon tradition. Will breaks into the castle at night to dig up the knife, but then the nightmare begins as he relives his Saxon forebear's horrific ordeal.

A gripping story with sympathetic characters. Part of a unique range of books aimed at 11+s that through integration of text and illustration are also accessible to those with reading abilities of as young as 8. Produced in consultation with literacy consultant Wendy Cooling,

This is volume 1 in Tales From the Dark Side .

There are 128 pages in this book. This book was published 2005 by Hachette Children's Group .

Illustrator: Jason Cockcroft is a talented illustrator of children's books. He has collaborated with many established authors such as Helen Cresswell and Geraldine McCaughrean, illustrating Sophie and the Seawolf and Never Let Go respectively. Tim Bowler is the Carnegie medal winning author of RIVER BOY and a number of other highly acclaimed novels for teenagers.