Ann Halam — King Death's Garden

Puffin Books 1988 Paperback, 128pp. Maurice's family has left for the Middle East: Maurice: asthmatic, plagued by allergies, self-centred, impossible semi-invalid, is sent to live with his great aunt in Brighton, and becomes fascinated by the eerie and romantic old cemetery next door. Asthmatic, plagued by allergies, isolated from the real world around him, he discovers he can enjoy a kind of time travel in there. He dreams of scientific glory, once he's worked out how to control this 'scientific phenomenon'. But the sights that Maurice sees have been stolen from other eyes; his thrilling experiences of the past are not his own. And the real owners are getting restless. It's dangerous to pick the flowers that grow in King Death's Garden, but despite some alarming warnings, Maurice, who doesn't believe in ghosts, just can't stay away. Previous owner's name on first page. (ISBN: 9780140322927). Fair.