The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker
A twisty, atmospheric and wickedly funny ghost story - for fans of supernatural thrillers and morally grey protagonists
Binding: Paperback
Imprint: Walker Books
Age 14+
Chillers Adventure Stories, Science Fiction Horror & Ghost Stories
A twisty supernatural thriller featuring a cast of misfit ghosts, a morally grey protagonist and a swoon-worthy romance. Perfect for fans of Cemetery Boys and Sixteen Souls, this highly original, wickedly funny and hauntingly atmospheric ghost story will keep you in its grip until the very last page.
"A wild ride. Twisty plot, murderous ghosts, found family, slow-burn romance - I was hooked from the very first chapter and could not put this book down." Alice Oseman
"A fast-paced spookfest full of twists and turns, with characters you’ll love (and love to hate!)." Kat Ellis
"Ghosts meets Killing Eve ... a masterpiece." Lucy Powrie
What if death is only the beginning?
When Harriet Stoker dies after falling from a balcony in a long-abandoned building, she discovers a world of ghosts with magical powers – shape-shifting, hypnosis, even the ability to possess the living. Felix, Kasper, Rima and Leah welcome her into their world, eager to make friends with the new arrival. Yet Harriet is more interested in unleashing her own power, even if it means destroying everyone around her. But when all of eternity is at stake, the afterlife can be a dangerous place to make an enemy.
Ideal for readers who enjoy:
Sharp thrillers with a paranormal twist
Found family of ghosts
LGBTQ+ slow-burn romance
Morally ambiguous characters
Power struggles beyond the grave
Creators
Lauren James is the twice Carnegie-nominated author of The Quiet at the End of the World, The Loneliest Girl in the Universe, The Starlight Watchmaker and The Next Together series. She sold the rights to her first novel when she was twenty-one. Lauren teaches creative writing for Coventry University, WriteMentor and Writing West Midlands, and has written articles for numerous publications, including the Guardian and the Children’s Writers' and Artists' Yearbook. She is a passionate advocate of STEM further education, and all of her books feature scientists in prominent roles. She lives in the West Midlands and you can find her on Twitter at @Lauren_E_James or her website http://www.laurenejames.co.uk
Reviews
wonderfully original and fantastically compelling … There are a multitude of blindsides that will stun even the most genre-savvy readers and will make this a pleasure to re-read to pick up on the hidden clues seeded throughout the story.
Dreaming of Cats
In love with this fabulous book … It’s tense and exciting seeing her toe the line between innocent misunderstanding and wilful villainy … Highly recommended!
BorgPrincess - Instagram
This book was beyond fun, dark and a little eerie; which was perfect! … James has a captivating writing style that blends so well with the twists and eeriness of this story, and I was hands down here for it!! … 5/5
Blue Fairy Tales
dark and brilliant and so much FUN
Book Book Owl
I just adored this – it hooked me right away, it was hard to put down, and I have been thinking about it since I finished. If you are looking for something smart and sassy, a bit creepy and really unique I can’t recommend it highly enough
Bookish Bron
