The Legacy of Arniston House

Huchu delivers another satisfying paranormal mystery in his entertaining fourth Edinburgh Nights urban fantasy (after The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle). Scottish teenager Ropa Mayo is a ghostalker, capable of delivering “messages from the dead to those they left behind,” including naming the killers of those who’ve been murdered. She has recently been hired by England’s Sorcerer Royal, Lord Samarasinghe, who hopes Ropa can serve as a bridge between Scottish and English magic, and brings her along to Arniston House to perform an unusual exorcism. Soon after Ropa describes this experience to her grandmother, Melsie Mhondoro, Melsie is found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning. The cops think it was murder and Ropa becomes the prime suspect, framed by someone who expects the crooked police to be biased against her. As Ropa works to clear her name, she uncovers a possible connection between Arniston House, a shadowy figure known as the Black Lord, and the killing. Huchu’s worldbuilding is as immersive and appealing as ever, and he makes this entry as accessible to first-time readers as to longtime fans. There’s plenty of life left in this series. (Nov.)