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Secondhand Spooks - December 32nd
Children's fiction
Reading 9-12
222 pages
Includes illustrations
Twelve-year-old Murphy Moss has a fascination for ghosts, mysteries and anything creepy. He ends up working a few hours a week at the Secondhand Spook shop. The shop's owner supplies ghosts, phantoms and other unworldly creatures to those who want to buy or hire them for special occasions.
The trouble starts when one of the Secondhand Spooks, Lucky Eddie, goes missing. Lucky Eddie has been darkled (captured by three evil ghouls known as the Darkles). The Darkles have a plan to cause chaos at the Creepy Castle when ghosts from all over the world gather to celebrate the night of December 32nd.
Murphy and his friend, Evie Snow, become involved in the trouble, along with a lively and fascinating selection of weird characters Raggety Wraith, Rattlebones the Skeleton, Mr Macabre the Horrible Highlander, the Spectre Inspector, Sebastian Knight and his ancient ghostly butler, Fossil, and Un-Dead Fred the cat.
Secondhand Spooks is filled with spooks, humour and all things ghostly.
About the
De-ann Black is a bestselling author, scriptwriter, and former newspaper journalist, traditionally published for over 15 years, with over 50 books published. She's also an artist and illustrator.
She splits her time between Scotland, Dublin and London.
Her latest children's and young adult books
FAERIEFIED
SECONDHAND SPOOKS - DECEMBER 32ND
WORMHOLE WYND
SCIENCE FASHION
POISON-WYND
SCHOOL FOR ALIENS
Reading 9-12
222 pages
Includes illustrations
Twelve-year-old Murphy Moss has a fascination for ghosts, mysteries and anything creepy. He ends up working a few hours a week at the Secondhand Spook shop. The shop's owner supplies ghosts, phantoms and other unworldly creatures to those who want to buy or hire them for special occasions.
The trouble starts when one of the Secondhand Spooks, Lucky Eddie, goes missing. Lucky Eddie has been darkled (captured by three evil ghouls known as the Darkles). The Darkles have a plan to cause chaos at the Creepy Castle when ghosts from all over the world gather to celebrate the night of December 32nd.
Murphy and his friend, Evie Snow, become involved in the trouble, along with a lively and fascinating selection of weird characters Raggety Wraith, Rattlebones the Skeleton, Mr Macabre the Horrible Highlander, the Spectre Inspector, Sebastian Knight and his ancient ghostly butler, Fossil, and Un-Dead Fred the cat.
Secondhand Spooks is filled with spooks, humour and all things ghostly.
About the
De-ann Black is a bestselling author, scriptwriter, and former newspaper journalist, traditionally published for over 15 years, with over 50 books published. She's also an artist and illustrator.
She splits her time between Scotland, Dublin and London.
Her latest children's and young adult books
FAERIEFIED
SECONDHAND SPOOKS - DECEMBER 32ND
WORMHOLE WYND
SCIENCE FASHION
POISON-WYND
SCHOOL FOR ALIENS
222 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2010
About the author
De-ann Black
175 books88 followersDe-ann Black's new books are: Craft Shop by the Loch, Bakery & Spring Ball, Fashion Shows at the Castle, Tea Shop by the Loch, Wedding Waltz, Vintage Ball, Autumn Nature Colouring Book, Autumn Ball Marriage & Music, Design, Dance & Romance, Romance Dancer, Summer Ball Weddings & Waltzing, Quilt Shop by the Seaside, Embroidery Bee, Crafting Bee, Scottish Highlands New Year Ball, Ballroom Dancing Christmas Romance, Christmas Ballroom Dancing, Autumn Romance, Knitting & Starlight, Knitting Bee, The Sweetest Waltz, Sweet Music, Love & Lyrics, Christmas Weddings, Fairytale Christmas on the Island, The Cure for Love at Christmas, Vintage Dress Shop on the Island, Scottish Island Fairytale Castle, Scottish Loch Summer Romance, Scottish Island Knitting Bee, Sewing & Mending Cottage, Knitting Shop by the Sea, Scottish Highlands Christmas Wedding, Colouring Book Cottage, Oops! I'm the Paparazzi, Again, and Knitting Cottage.
Her embroidery pattern books include: Floral Garden Embroidery Patterns, Floral Spring Embroidery Patterns, Sea Theme Embroidery Patterns, and Christmas & Winter Embroidery Patterns.
De-ann’s colouring books include: Autumn Nature, Summer Nature, Flower Nature, and Christmas Theme Colouring Book.
De-ann is a bestselling author, screenwriter and former newspaper journalist. Traditionally published for over 15 years. De-ann became an Amazon All-Star author in 2014 and 2015, as well as an Amazon All-Stars in 2025 and 2026.
She has over 100 books published. Romance, thrillers, espionage novels, action adventure. And children's books (non-fiction rocket science books, children's fiction and picture books).
She previously worked as a full-time newspaper journalist for several years. She had her own weekly columns in the press. This included being a motoring correspondent where she got to test drive cars every week for the press for three years.
Before being asked to work for the press, De-ann worked in magazine editorial writing everything from fashion features to social news. And was marketing editor of a glossy magazine.
She is also a professional artist and illustrator. Embroidery design, fabric design, dressmaking, sewing, knitting, photography and fashion are part of her work.
Additionally, De-ann has always been interested in fitness and dance, and was a fitness and bodybuilding champion, 100 metre runner and mountaineer. As a former N.A.B.B.A. Miss Scotland, she had a weekly fitness show on the radio that ran for over three years.
De-ann trained in Shukokai karate, boxing, kickboxing, Dayan Qigong and Jiu Jitsu.
She splits her time between Scotland and London.
Find out more at: www.de-annblack.com
Her embroidery pattern books include: Floral Garden Embroidery Patterns, Floral Spring Embroidery Patterns, Sea Theme Embroidery Patterns, and Christmas & Winter Embroidery Patterns.
De-ann’s colouring books include: Autumn Nature, Summer Nature, Flower Nature, and Christmas Theme Colouring Book.
De-ann is a bestselling author, screenwriter and former newspaper journalist. Traditionally published for over 15 years. De-ann became an Amazon All-Star author in 2014 and 2015, as well as an Amazon All-Stars in 2025 and 2026.
She has over 100 books published. Romance, thrillers, espionage novels, action adventure. And children's books (non-fiction rocket science books, children's fiction and picture books).
She previously worked as a full-time newspaper journalist for several years. She had her own weekly columns in the press. This included being a motoring correspondent where she got to test drive cars every week for the press for three years.
Before being asked to work for the press, De-ann worked in magazine editorial writing everything from fashion features to social news. And was marketing editor of a glossy magazine.
She is also a professional artist and illustrator. Embroidery design, fabric design, dressmaking, sewing, knitting, photography and fashion are part of her work.
Additionally, De-ann has always been interested in fitness and dance, and was a fitness and bodybuilding champion, 100 metre runner and mountaineer. As a former N.A.B.B.A. Miss Scotland, she had a weekly fitness show on the radio that ran for over three years.
De-ann trained in Shukokai karate, boxing, kickboxing, Dayan Qigong and Jiu Jitsu.
She splits her time between Scotland and London.
Find out more at: www.de-annblack.com
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 11, 2012
If on your first night in a new house, in a new town, you were to look out your bedroom window and see a business down the street named SECONDHAND SPOOKS being opened at 2:30 a.m. with ghosts, goblins, wraiths, and skeletons going in, would you be scared, creeped out, or intrigued? Well, for 12 year old Murphy this is exactly what happens and he is intrigued. He resolves to have a closer look the next day after school. What he finds leads him to take a job part-time working in the store after school. As he does so he meets and becomes friends with a rather interesting group of characters. This friendship leads him, along with his school friend Evie, to some interesting and unforgettable experiences.
As I read I tried to imagine how I would feel if I were in the story. I would hope that Murphy would be willing to be friends with me. Although I may initially be scared, I hope that I would overcome my fear and get to know the "residents" of the Secondhand Spooks shop. Added to this would be the pleasure I would derive from seeing the school bullies get their payback. Having been one who was occasionally tormented by bullies in elementary school I would have loved to have seen things happen to them as happens to the ones in the book.
I'm not one who likes ghost or horror stories, so I was a bit reluctant when I began reading this book. My concerns were quickly dispelled as I was quickly caught up in the story and didn't want to put it down. This book is one which I believe will appeal to both boys and girls alike, and adults as well if they are apt to read books intended for 9-12 year olds. This was such a fun romp that I hope the author has plans for a sequel. Although there wasn't anything to indicate that there will be, there is, at the same time, an unfinished story thread which can certainly continue on to another book. A good book which certainly won't disappoint you for having taken the time to read it.
As I read I tried to imagine how I would feel if I were in the story. I would hope that Murphy would be willing to be friends with me. Although I may initially be scared, I hope that I would overcome my fear and get to know the "residents" of the Secondhand Spooks shop. Added to this would be the pleasure I would derive from seeing the school bullies get their payback. Having been one who was occasionally tormented by bullies in elementary school I would have loved to have seen things happen to them as happens to the ones in the book.
I'm not one who likes ghost or horror stories, so I was a bit reluctant when I began reading this book. My concerns were quickly dispelled as I was quickly caught up in the story and didn't want to put it down. This book is one which I believe will appeal to both boys and girls alike, and adults as well if they are apt to read books intended for 9-12 year olds. This was such a fun romp that I hope the author has plans for a sequel. Although there wasn't anything to indicate that there will be, there is, at the same time, an unfinished story thread which can certainly continue on to another book. A good book which certainly won't disappoint you for having taken the time to read it.
October 4, 2011
"Secondhand Spooks - December 32nd" by De-ann Black, is a great Halloween story (even though the story occurs on December 32,)to be read by eight to thirteen year olds. Murphy is a twelve year old boy who gets a job at a ghost store and gets involved in fighting the Darkles. A great spooky adventure full of ghost and bullies.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews