Frances Hardinge weaves a dark, otherworldly tale in A Skinful of Shadows, her first book since the Costa Award-winning The Lie Tree. 'Everyone should read Frances Hardinge. Everyone. Right now.' - Patrick Ness'Hardinge is a talent who deserves to be read by children and adults alike' - GuardianWhen a creature dies, its spirit can go looking for somewhere to hide.

Some people have space inside them, perfect for hiding. Makepeace, a courageous girl with a mysterious past, defends herself nightly from the ghosts which try to possess her.

Then a dreadful event causes her to drop her guard for a moment. And now there's a ghost inside her. The spirit is wild, brutish and strong, but it may be her only defence in a time of dark suspicion and fear.

As the English Civil War erupts, Makepeace must decide which is worse: possession - or death.