This book contains two of Pete’s eeriest stories: THE GHOST DOG (also available separately) and THE CREEPER in one bumper volume.
"A haunting and captivating read which will keep you hooked to the end." Young Book Trust
"A compulsive read – not for the faint-hearted." School Library Association – Books to Enjoy
THE GHOST DOG: When Daniel and his friends make up a ghost story about a terrifying dog what begins as a story turns into a nightmare… A spine tingling tale about a boy haunted by the monsterous creature he created in his own imagination.
Young Telegraph Paperback of the Year, 1997
Stockton Children's Book of the Year Award 1997
"An incredibly enjoyable book . . . from a very accomplished writer. The children are drawn convincingly and the author gets into his main character very well . . . an exciting and touching story about friendship and the power of imagination, especially that of a child." Books for Keeps
THE CREEPER : "I am bringing you face to face with the King of Terror. I dare not say his name aloud. Come a little closer and I shall whisper it to you: The Creeper."
Winner of the Stockton Children's Book of the Year Award
"Compelling reading with its two creepy novellas." Sunday Express
"Pete Johnson brings us a story that is scary and spooky, with a ghostly apparition seeking horrible revenge. Readers will love it." The Bookseller
"When I was nine I never liked books much, but since the beginning of Year 6 when I read The Creeper, I enjoyed it so much it made me read all the other books you wrote. I even spent all my pocket money buying your books!" Lee, Blackpool
Laura, Harry and Daniel are telling scary stories on Halloween. Then they are joined by two unwelcome guests: Aaron and his dad . . .
‘It all began one dark and gloomy night,’ said Harry, ‘when this woman, who’s in the house all on her own, gets a phone call. This really husky voice says to her: ‘Hello, I am Blood Fingers and I’m coming to get you.’ The woman put the phone down, shaking. Then a minute later the phone rings again and she hears that horrible, husky voice say, ‘I am Blood Fingers and I am at your gate.’ The phone keeps ringing and each time he is getting closer. ‘I am Blood Fingers and I am in your garden. I am Blood Fingers and I am at your door’ and then … ‘I am Blood Fingers and I am in your house and I know where you are. I can see you. I am standing right next to you.’ The woman turns round and there is this huge guy with blood all over his hands. ‘Hello,’ he goes, ‘I’m Blood Fingers. You haven’t got any plasters, have you?’
At once, Harry burst into peals of laughter. And it was hard not to join in. Even Aaron laughed faintly.
‘You really had me going there,’ Roy said to Harry. He grinned broadly.
‘Laura’s turn now,’ joked Harry.
‘Oh, I can’t think,’ began Laura, ‘my mind’s gone blank. They do say, if at midnight on Halloween night you comb your hair a hundred times, then stare hard into the mirror, you’ll see the face of the person you’re going to marry.
‘That’s not scary,’ I said.
‘Depends who you see,’ said Harry.
‘There’s a story,’ went on Laura, ‘that a man did this and then he saw a vampire in his mirror which ripped his face open.’
‘Nice,’ murmured Harry.
Roy got up. ‘I expect I’ll be told off if I don’t give a hand with the drying-up. So I’ll leave you to it. I enjoyed your story, Harry.’ Then, in a piercing whisper to Aaron, ‘And don’t be afraid to join in.’
Even I couldn’t help feeling a bit embarrassed for Aaron at that moment. There’s nothing worse than a parent who tries to push you into things.
I think Laura felt a bit sorry for Aaron, too, because she said, quite gently to him. ‘Would you like to have a go at telling a ghost story now?’
Aaron didn’t answer for a moment. Then he said in this really sneery voice. ‘I stopped telling ghost stories years ago. They never scared me anyway …’
I was so angry I couldn’t speak at first. Why did Aaron always have to act as if he was way above us? He ruined everything. Then Harry looked across at me. ‘There’s one ghost story which scares everyone, isn’t there, Dan … a true one, too?’
I hadn’t a clue what Harry was talking about, but I went along with him. ‘Yeah, that’s a terrible story, but we’d better not tell Aaron that one; it would only give him nightmares.’
Aaron gave a mocking laugh.
‘Will you tell Aaron the story or shall I?’ asked Harry.
‘I will,’ I said. ‘This is the true story of … of the ghost dog.’
