The Left-Handed Booksellers of London

A girl's quest to find her father leads her to an extended family of magical
fighting booksellers who police the mythical Old World of England when it
intrudes on the modern world. From the bestselling master of fantasy, Garth
Nix.

In a slightly alternate London in 1983, Susan Arkshaw is looking for her
father, a man she has never met. Crime boss Frank Thringley might be able to
help her, but Susan doesn't get time to ask Frank any questions before he is
turned to dust by the prick of a silver hatpin in the hands of the
outrageously attractive Merlin.

Merlin is a young left-handed bookseller (one of the fighting ones), who with
the right-handed booksellers (the intellectual ones), are an extended family
of magical beings who police the mythic and legendary Old World when it
intrudes on the modern world, in addition to running several bookshops.

Susan's search for her father begins with her mother's possibly misremembered
or misspelt surnames, a reading room ticket, and a silver cigarette case
engraved with something that might be a coat of arms.

Merlin has a quest of his own, to find the Old World entity who used ordinary
criminals to kill his mother. As he and his sister, the right-handed
bookseller Vivien, tread in the path of a botched or covered-up police
investigation from years past, they find this quest strangely overlaps with
Susan's. Who or what was her father? Susan, Merlin, and Vivien must find out,
as the Old World erupts dangerously into the New.

Praise for Garth Nix

Garth Nix sets the standard for Fantasy (Leigh Bardugo)

A swashbuckling adventure . . . and the most original magic I've seen in years
(Joe Abercrombie)

Garth Nix is one of the best world-builders in fantasy. (BRANDON SANDERSON)

Angles are called, and swords are swished and there are jealousies and
romances galore in this riotous romp. (DAILY MAIL on ANGEL MAGE)

An exciting adventure full of intrigue and action while portraying women in
power in a refreshingly casual way. (KIRKUS REVIEW on ANGEL MAGE)