The Lovely Dark - by Matthew Fox (Hardcover)

About the Book

When twelve-year-old Eleanor and her best friend Justin die in an accident, they journey through the underworld and discover a mysterious boarding school for children who have died.

Book Synopsis

In this haunting and poignant novel, twelve-year-old Ellie and her best friend Justin must journey through the Underworld to find their way back to the world of the Living after her accidental death.

When twelve-year-old Eleanor Newton thinks she see her deceased grandmother, she misses her chance to speak with her one last time. Soon after, Ellie finds herself and her best friend Justin lost in the underworld. The pair are split up by the voices guiding their journey and Ellie arrives at Eventide House, a somewhat boarding school for children who have died.

The Underworld is beautiful, but Ellie is plagued by the feeling that something isn't right, leading her to search for a way back to her family in the world of the Living.

Matthew Fox's haunting and lyrical prose, exemplified in his debut The Sky Over Rebecca, guides readers through the complicated emotional landscape of grief and life after the pandemic with sincerity and a promise of hope.

Review Quotes

"In this imaginative and poignant reinterpretation of Orpheus and Eurydice, Fox transforms the tragic tale of loss into an evocative and endearing celebration of life, love, and lasting hope."

--Booklist

"Sad, sweet, and special; a subtle meditation on grief and love."

--Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

About the Author

Matthew Fox grew up in Wiltshire, UK and now lives in Stockholm. He studied Philosophy and Politics at Balliol College, University of Oxford and holds a Masters in Screenwriting from the Northern Film School. Fox's debut The Sky Over Rebecca received two starred reviews and was shortlisted for the Barnes & Noble Children's Book Award (2024). The Lovely Dark is his latest work.