Publisher's Summary
It is almost Halloween in the sleepy New England town of Blackwood Falls. Autumn leaves litter lawns and sidewalks, paper skeletons hang in windows, and carved pumpkins leer from stoops and front porches. The Doctor and Martha soon discover that something long-dormant has awoken in the town, and this will be no ordinary Halloween. What is the secret of the ancient chestnut tree and the mysterious book discovered tangled in its roots? What rises from the local churchyard in the dead of night, sealing up the lips of the only witness? And why are the harmless trappings of Halloween suddenly taking on a creepy new life of their own? As nightmarish creatures prowl the streets, the Doctor and Martha must battle to prevent both the townspeople and themselves from suffering a grisly fate...
Characters
References
In the book the Doctor says to one of Etta's cats "next time you invited to a fancy dress party, don't go as a nun" - a reference to events with Rose on New Earth. (DW: New Earth/Gridlock)
He also states he was beginning to like cats this may be due to Novice Hame as she turned friendly. (DW: Gridlock)
The Hervoken, the alien race featured in the book, are arch enemies of the Carrionites. (DW: The Shakespeare Code)
Audio releases
- This story was released on two disk audio CD read by Will Thorp.