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The Haunting of Old Splinter
By Jack Mackay
Published by Rock the Boat
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
Be careful what you wish for...
Peter and his half-brother Adrian live in the shadow of Old Splinter – the ruined mansion on the hill, where legends of ancient relics and dark magic swirl. And the cracks are starting to show in their once-happy family. Faced with the daunting task of renovating the place, Peter’s stepdad is at his wits’ end and the boys feel powerless to help.
Then Peter unearths a horrifying secret in the walls of the mansion and the brothers realise there’s some truth to the terrifying tales. If the Wishing Claw is real, it can grant their deepest desires – and it might just bring their family back together.
But wishes are tricky things and Peter unleashes much more than he bargained for. When a monstrous hunger comes knocking at his door, he must find a way to undo his wish before it’s too late.
Peter and his half-brother Adrian live in the shadow of Old Splinter – the ruined mansion on the hill, where legends of ancient relics and dark magic swirl. And the cracks are starting to show in their once-happy family. Faced with the daunting task of renovating the place, Peter’s stepdad is at his wits’ end and the boys feel powerless to help.
Then Peter unearths a horrifying secret in the walls of the mansion and the brothers realise there’s some truth to the terrifying tales. If the Wishing Claw is real, it can grant their deepest desires – and it might just bring their family back together.
But wishes are tricky things and Peter unleashes much more than he bargained for. When a monstrous hunger comes knocking at his door, he must find a way to undo his wish before it’s too late.
Product Details
- Publisher: Rock the Boat (September 3, 2026)
- Length: 288 pages
- ISBN13: 9781836432326
- Ages: 9 - 12
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Raves and Reviews
'The perfect amount of creepy - scary enough to make the young readers tear through the chapters ... It’s a book steeped in the horror classics ... Mackay is shaping up as a modern master of the genre.' Anthony McGowan
'Jack Mackay’s new spine-chiller is a story as much about brothers, sons and fathers as it is about gruesome frights ... a delightfully creepy tale with capacity to surprise the reader with spooky scares as well as take them unawares emotionally too.’ Keith Gray
'Deliciously creepy! I was a big horror fan as a kid (Goosebumps and Point Horror were my jam) and this reminded me of everything I loved about the genre. It was as gripping as a spooky severed hand... I couldn't put it down.' Sophie Cleverly
'A spine-shivering story, brimming with horror and heart. If I had a wishing claw of my own, I would compel everyone to read this book - whether they are living, dead, or somewhere in between. I'll be haunted by its pages for many years to come.' Jack Meggitt-Phillips
'A simply brilliant contemporary take on a classic horror story. Mackay firmly cements himself as one of the rising stars of children's literature.' Ashley Thorpe
Praise for Gloam:
'Thrillingly scary and impossible to put down. Don't read it alone!' Jonathan Stroud, author of Lockwood & Co
'Gloam, the accomplished debut by Jack Mackay, ticks a lot of boxes... delivers just the right amount of horror for young readers... a promising debut.' The Times Children's Book of the Week
'A superbly unsettling 9+ horror.' Guardian
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