The Gameshouse

by Claire North

Published 5 November 2015
Everyone has heard of the Gameshouse. But few know all its secrets . . .

It is the place where fortunes can be made and lost though chess, backgammon - every game under the sun.

But those whom fortune favours may be invited to compete in the higher league . . . where the games played are of politics and nations, of economics and kings. It is a contest where Capture the Castle involves real castles and where hide and seek takes place on the scale of a continent.

Among those worthy of competing in the higher league, three unusually talented contestants play for the highest stakes of all . . .

From Claire North, author of word-of-mouth bestseller The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August and one of the most original new voices in modern fiction, comes the mesmerising tale of the Gameshouse, where games of chance and skill control the fate of empires.

*Originally published as three digital-only instalments: The Serpent, The Thief and The Master.*


Praise for Claire North:

'One of the fiction highlights of the decade' Judy Finnigan, Richard and Judy Book Club

'North's talent shines out' Sunday Times

'Little short of a masterpiece' Independent

'Poignant and intensely gripping' Guardian

'Terrific, smart and entertaining' Patrick Ness

The Master

by Claire North

Published 3 November 2015

The third and final installment of the Gameshouse, a mesmerising tale of a mystical gambling house whose deadly games of chance and skill control the fate of empires.

The Gamehouse is an unusual institution.

Many know it as the place where fortunes can be made and lost though games of Chess, Backgammon - every game under the sun.

But a select few, who are picked to compete in the higher league, know that some games are played for higher stakes - those of politics and empires, of economics and kings . . .

And now, the ultimate player is about to step forward.

The three installments of the Gameshouse are also available in a single edition.


The Serpent

by Claire North

Published 3 November 2015

The first installment of the Gameshouse, a mesmerising tale of a mystical gambling house whose deadly games of chance and skill control the fate of empires.

In seventeenth century Venice exists a mysterious establishment known only as the Gameshouse.

There, fortunes are made and fortunes are broken over games of chess, backgammon and every other game under the sun.

But those whom fortune favours may be invited to compete in the higher league . . . a league where the games played are of politics and empires, of economics and kings. It is a league where Capture the Castle involves real castles, where hide and seek takes place on a scale as big as the British Isles.

Not everyone proves worthy of competing in the higher league. But one woman who is about to play may just exceed everyone's expectations.

Though she must always remember: the higher the stakes, the more deadly the rules . . .

The three installments of the Gameshouse are also available in a single edition.


The Thief

by Claire North

Published 3 November 2015

The second installment of the Gameshouse, a mesmerising tale of a mystical gambling house whose deadly games of chance and skill control the fate of empires.

The Gameshouse is an unusual institution.

Many know it as the place where fortunes can be made and lost though games of Chess, Backgammon - every game under the sun.

But a select few, who are picked to compete in the higher league, know that some games are played for higher stakes - those of politics and empires, of economics and kings . . .

In 1930s Bangkok, one higher league player has just been challenged to a game of hide and seek. The board is all of Thailand - and the seeker will use any means possible to hunt down his quarry - be it police, government, strangers or even spies . . .

The three installments of the Gameshouse are also available in a single edition.