THE BRIDGE OF DEAD THINGS
Please!' Miss Otis wailed. 'Please! For the love of God, step back!'
And suddenly the man did. A murmur ran through the crowd.
'Did you see that?'
'It looked like a hand!'
'No, not just a hand: an arm. I saw a whole arm!'
'A young girl's arm!'
'Yes! Reaching right out of her! Out through the poor girl's chest!'
'You mustn't touch her!' Miss Otis screeched over the din. 'She is a bridge! She is a bridge and people will cross!'
'A bridge?' murmured Lady Caroline slowly. 'A bridge to the other side?' Light dawned in the big woman's eyes. 'Billy,' she whispered as she clawed her way out of her seat. And even as she dropped to her knees, something small and grey and shadowy was already rising out of my chest to greet her.
Murky Victorian London. Thirteen-year-old Lizzie Blaylock has done her best to fill her absconding mother’s shoes, but her father is lazy and feckless, and her little sister is riddled with tuberculosis. When Lizzie has a fit at school, for which she is expelled, she and those around her slowly begin to realize that she may have special powers…powers to communicate with the dead.
Cover design by Negative Negative | Cover photographs by Captain Console, Harris & Ewing, Inc, and whatsthatpicture.
RRP Paperback: US$9.99; UK£7.50 | RRP Kindle ebook: US$3.99; UK£3.10 | RRP ePub ebook: US$3.99; UK£3.99
Published by Seventh Rainbow Publishing, London
Praise for The Bridge of Dead Things
“I absolutely loved it! I don't give out 5 stars very often, but I did for this book! It grabbed me from the start and didn't let go...Mysteries abound and Gallagher does an amazing job creating an atmosphere of rising fear and creepiness...I hope that there are many more additions to the Lizzie Blaylock series because I now consider myself a firm fan!”
—Suzy Schettler, LibraryThing Early Reviewer
“This was SO good!...Gallagher always does his homework and you can feel how much he loves this era and these characters.”
—Chris Keen, LibraryThing Early Reviewer
“I read most of the book in one night simply because I couldn't put it down and when I finally did it was five a.m. Wonderfully haunting and exciting it receives five stars from me...”
—Brittney L. Divine author, Smashwords Reviewer
“As with all his books, I could easily see this remarkable tale being adapted for a television audience.”
—Alasdair Muckersie, Smashwords Reviewer
“Loved this book. Has a Philip Pullman vibe.”
—Sausage, Amazon UK Reviewer
“What drew me was that the book is an historical fiction crime mystery ghost story. The Bridge delivered on all accounts. Fast paced and action-packed, the story immerses you in the life of distinct socio-economic groups in London’s late 19th century as seen through the eyes of a bright, precocious, and sincere young teen...A little bit Flavia de Luce, a little bit Nancy Drew and a little bit ghost story, The Bridge of Dead Things is a lot of fun.”
—K. E. Warner, Amazon CA Reviewer
“Michael Gallagher does a brilliant job as the voice of the somewhat reluctant teenage medium Lizzie Blaylock who finds herself pulled into the growing Victorian fascination for seances and the paranormal.”
—Anita Dow, Goodreads Reviewer
“Unexpected twists were never in short supply. I was amazed at the creativity and the thought process and even when I thought I had everything figured out, the ending still shocked me and left me wanting more!”
—A. L. Faulkenberry, Smashwords Reviewer
“...a fantastically detailed historical fiction novel ~ rich with period details from 1800 London, colorful characters, AND a very gripping ghostly tale...I am eager to get my hands on the second installment. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction, or a good thriller. Read this book, you will not be disappointed.”
—Paula Fetty-King, Smashwords Reviewer
“I have got to say, these books are unlike any other I have read...almost impossible to put down.”
—Helene Gårdsvold, Amazon.com Reviewer
“If you're a fan of the old penny dreadful (like Sweeney Todd) then you'll enjoy reading about Lizzie Blaylock and what happens to her...Unlike the penny dreadfuls the characters are fully drawn and the plot is cohesive.”
—astults, LibraryThing Early Reviewer
“This is a terrific first book for Mr. Gallagher. It's listed as a YA title, and I think that's exactly where it belongs. It is an outstanding introduction to several genres that are traditionally set outside the realm of YA, the most significant of which is that of the gothic.”
—Robb Flynn, robbflynn.com, LibraryThing Early Reviewer