The Characters
Roger Stopford
Amiable, auburn-haired and prone to flights of fancy, Roger Stopford finds ghosts and folklore far more absorbing than his work in a Wendlelow grocery shop. A member of the McGinnity Society for Lore and Mythos, he has an enquiring mind and an earnest desire to be useful—particularly to Julie Harrington. But in Wendlelow, an interest in the unusual can lead into decidedly dangerous territory.
Lady Penderson
Elegant, aloof and accustomed to being obeyed, Lady Penderson is a commanding presence at Crowsmere Hall. Her graceful bearing and fine appearance conceal a cold temperament, making her a formidable guardian to the young Roger Stopford. With a crow upon her shoulder and an interest in matters best left undisturbed, she casts a long shadow over the household.
Alice Penderson
With her golden hair, delicate features and striking grey eyes, Alice Penderson is an enchanting presence at Crowsmere Hall. Lady Penderson’s daughter, she possesses a spirited curiosity beneath her old-fashioned appearance. Yet life under her formidable mother’s watchful eye is far from simple, and there is more to Alice’s world than its beautiful gardens suggest.
Casper Trenchton
Casper Trenchton is a troubled, melancholic young man, whose mind was badly scarred by an event in his youth. He is tall and powerfully built, resembling a rugby player. Following the death of his father he finds himself a resident of Wendlelow’s haunted streets, in the employment of the enigmatic Doctor Mogfadian.
Julie MogFadian
Julie is the niece of Doctor Mogfadian. She likes to wear a Bretton Fiddlers Cap - as she thinks it irks her somewhat stifling uncle – and has many boyish affectations. She is intelligent, if not a little naïve and helps the Doctor with some of his more esoteric tasks, as well as running a small antiques shop close to Wendlelow’s market. She is a member of a local Folklore Society, run by the universities head librarian Nolan Perkins.
With such a strange uncle, and living in a town plagued by sinister forces, it was only a matter of time before she was forced to confront the terrors that dwell in the darkness.
Doctor Benedict Mogfadian
Doctor Benedict Mogfadian is a somewhat mysterious individual. A self-styled magician, he is the employer of the main protagonist, Casper Trenchton. Though he currently spends most of his time at his house in Wendlelow, he also owns a rather grand home in the Cotswolds called Puddlebury Hall.
A somewhat eccentric individual, the doctor likes to wear a top hat, dark clothing, and a short cape. He always carries a mysterious blackthorn cane with him when he is out and about.
He lives with his niece, Julie, who assists him in his laboratory, where he brews concoctions that he refers to as “potions.”
Elspeth Mcginnity
Having recently lost her husband and Daughter in a terrible accident, Elspeth has decided to reinvent herself as a folklorist and moves to the Shropshire University Town of Wendlelow. But Wendlelow is an Old Town, and those exploring its myths and legends might find more than they bargained for.
Nolan Perkins
Disowned by his father, Nolan Perkins (Perky to his friends) has found employment with his cousin Elspeth, helping her produce a book on folklore. But is he prepared for what they will uncover.
Isobel Tailor
Elspeth’s deaf, mute housemaid, despite her challenges Isobel is both competent and brave.
Baltus Whiskerfisker
Baltus Whiskerfisker is the head librarian at Wendlelow University. It is an old Library, and few people fully understand the depths of the secrets it hides.