Skulduggery Pleasant (Skulduggery Pleasant, #1)

Meet Skulduggery Pleasant,

Ace Detective,
Snappy Dresser,
Razor–tongued Wit,
Crackerjack Sorcerer,
and Walking, Talking,
Fire-throwing Skeleton,

—as well as ally, protector, and mentor of Stephanie Edgley, a very unusual and darkly talented twelve-year-old.

These two alone must defeat an all-consuming ancient evil.

The end of the world?

Over his dead body.