Night Owl Books

The Deadly Inheritance of Everest Macdonald - in conversation with A.J. West

£9.99

Tax included.

Join us at Night Owl Books on Monday, 30th November at 8pm, when award-winning author A.J. West will be discussing his new book, The Deadly Inheritance of Everest Macdonald - inspired by the real historical figure of Scottish poet Everest Macdonald - with Helen Graham, author of Disappearing Acts and The Real Mackay.

Purchase a copy of either book via this page to receive a free ticket to our event - while spaces last! Please note, copies of The Deadly Inheritance of Everest Macdonald will be the special, sprayed edge edition.

A.J. West will be in conversation with Helen Graham, followed by a book signing.

Select 'local collection' to pick up your copy from Night Owl. Alternatively please select a Royal Mail option, and I'll arrange for a copy to be shipped straight to you.

About The Deadly Inheritance of Everest Macdonald:

Some inherit a fortune. She inherited murder…

1917. As the Great War rages on the continent, Everest Macdonald is summoned to her father's deathbed and entrusted with a final urgent request: she must uncover the truth behind the murder of her uncle, the celebrated Victorian actor William Terriss, a crime that has haunted her family for twenty years.

In 1897, Terriss was stabbed to death outside London’s Adelphi Theatre, a killing that shocked Victorian society. The murderer was swiftly arrested and confined to Broadmoor, the case declared closed. Yet, years later, a sealed package of evidence is passed to Everest by her dying father, which casts doubt on the official verdict and the haste with which it was reached.

Drawn back to wartime London, with her husband and children left behind, Everest begins her investigation, following a trail that leads her into the world of late-Victorian theatre, where fame and fortune mask obsession, envy and cruelty. With time running out and her father’s strength failing, Everest must uncover what really happened on the night Terriss died, and shed light on the unsettling legacy he left behind.

Based on an extraordinary true story, The Deadly Inheritance of Everest Macdonald is a dark, atmospheric historical mystery and a compelling adventure, as an unlikely investigator risks everything to pursue one of the most notorious killings of the Victorian stage.

Hardback, 300 pages, publishing on the 8th October 2026.

About A.J. West:

A.J. West’s celebrated novel The Betrayal of Thomas True was an instant Sunday Times bestseller. He is an award-winning former BBC journalist and broadcaster from Buckinghamshire. He writes for newspapers and magazines and appears regularly on national television and radio. AJ’s debut novel, The Spirit Engineer was awarded the coveted HWA Debut Crown Award.

About Disappearing Acts:

Lottie has lived in a magical world of stories and imagination under the shelter of her beloved grandfather, a famous comic actor, for as long as she can remember - but now he’s dead and she’s stranded in a houseful of cousins, her strict Victorian uncle only noticing her when she steps out of line. Using her imagination, she begins to navigate the real world on her own terms, lurching from one idea to the next, taking risks and keeping secrets, determined no one will stop her pursuing her theatrical dreams. Eloping with an aspiring actor at seventeen, Lottie realises too late she has handed control of her life to her charming unpredictable husband who quickly discards the plans they made together and forms a very different kind of travelling theatre company.

A game of wits ensues, each vying for control in a world of comedy, illusions, and sleight of hand as they tour the length and breadth of the country till tragedy strikes and the future is suddenly impossible to imagine.

Paperback, 352 pages, published May 2026.

About Helen Graham:

Helen Graham published her debut novel, The Real Mackay: Walter Scott’s Favourite Comedian, in 2024, based on true events in the life of her ancestor, Charles Mackay. Disappearing Acts: The Real Mackay’s Granddaughter, also based on true events, was published in May 2026, and set in the evolving world of British theatre in the 19^th century. Originally a knitwear designer, Helen has directed award-winning short films, co-founded a community film festival and raised a family. She grew up in Oxfordshire and now lives in Edinburgh.

Event times:

Event: 20:00 - 21:00, followed by signing

Doors: 19:50

Venue information:

Night Owl Books, 1 Bridge Street, East Linton, EH40 3AG.

FAQs

- Will I be sent an e-ticket before the event?

Please note that we will have a guest list on the door on the night of the event, and you will not be sent an e-ticket for it - simply let us know your name/the name of the person who booked your ticket when you arrive, and we'll check you in!

A note on Covid precautions: if you feel unwell on the day, please err on the side of caution, and please take a lateral flow test before attending, if you can.