He came to the gate of the grave yard. There could be no doubt; the wool ran over the fence… Dumbly, he gripped it, as if it were a lifeline, when in reality it was leading him to death itself…

To Peter, Chust is just another tiny, godforsaken village in the middle of the forest; but when people start being mysteriously murdered and a band of gypsies arrive Peter’s interest and the story deepen further to uncover a nightmarish secret and a father’s forgotten past. The story starts quickly, deep in the woods where a woodcutter, Radu, is being chased by an elusive and terrifying killer. The story’s doesn’t slow down after Radu’s death, for another villager, Stephan, is soon to follow. Will Peter and Sophia escape the murderers in time to save the rest of the village and save Peter’s father?

My Swordhand is Singing is a fantastic horror/thriller; it grips like a drowning man, pulling you further into the spine-chilling plot. I found it impossible to put down from beginning to end. I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, creepy read that’s full of twists and unexpected turns. I think that this story fully deserves its place on the shortlist. I thought it was good how at the beginning there was a fast-paced, exciting chapter to make you want to keep reading because otherwise it would have been a rather slow beginning. I also enjoyed the short additional story, Bloodbeard, though I thought it was a bit of an anti-climax.