Glenn Duffield

The Sciontree Glenn Duffield

The suspicious disappearance of a scientist, his son and two bodyguards in the vicinity of the forbidding Wormwood Mount triggers a police investigation in The Four Corners, a remote area of East Yorkshire where strange events are a common occurrence. At first, it appears that the scientist may have been kidnapped but the investigation takes a dramatic turn for the worse when his body and those of his two bodyguards are found on the mount. 'The Sciontree' follows the adventures of four young misfits who live in the village of Bogglehole who decide to investigate the crime while on their summer holiday. The teenagers quickly find themselves embroiled in a deadly game of cat and mouse between unknown adversaries in a mystery that deepens with every chilling discovery they make. 'The Sciontree' mixes elements of fantasy and science fiction with mythology and classic detective literature. It is a novel apt for teens and adults of all ages. The story pits magic and superstition against science and logic. Its themes are friendship, loss and sacrifice, which are explored with pathos and humour. The setting is a unique and original world that the four protagonists discover alongside the reader. The idyllic village of Bogglehole is the setting for 'The Sciontree' and the idiosyncratic portrayal of village life is the backdrop for the greater events taking place.