Histria Books is pleased to announce the release of The Midnight Boy: A Percy St. John Novel by E. A. Allen. This book is published by Histria YA, an imprint of Histria Books dedicated to outstanding works for teens and young adults.
In Edwardian England, where gaslight meets gutter magic, a boy thief with a haunted past is recruited into the empire’s most secret war. The Midnight Boy, the standalone prequel to Percy St. John and the Chronicle of Secrets blends dark academia, supernatural thriller, and Victorian spy caper into a fast-paced series opener for fans of Garth Nix, Philip Pullman and Samantha Shannon.
At its heart are classic tropes with a twist: the brutal orphanage that hides a conspiracy, a snarky guardian cat that may be more than it seems, found family in a locksmith’s workshop, and a reluctant prodigy drawn into cloak and dagger missions. Expect cursed schools, demonic infestations in the city’s underbelly, and a charismatic villain who refuses to stay dead.
Perfect for readers seeking a high concept, cross over supernatural fantasy, The Midnight Boy offers espionage, occult mystery and coming of age peril in the shadows of a crumbling empire.
E. A. Allen is a cattle farmer, historian, and retired CIA intelligence officer who writes mystery and adventure fiction for both adults and young readers. He is the author of the Montclaire Mysteries for adult readers, and the Percy St.-John Adventures for teens and young adults, inspired by the classic traditions of Arthur Conan Doyle, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Agatha Christie. Allen holds a Ph.D. in Modern European History from Tulane University, has studied in France at the University of Montpellier and the Sorbonne, and previously served as Senior Analyst for European Security Affairs at the CIA and Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Europe on the National Intelligence Council. He lives with his wife on a farm in the mountains of northwest Arkansas.
