The next installment in the New York Times best-selling series, Charlie Bone and The Hidden King in Charlie’s most perilous adventure yet, the shadow from the Red King’s portrait has escaped. Strange things start to happen at Bloor’s Academy. But, with the help of a mysterious force, Charlie and his friends are closer to discovering the truth about Charlie Bone’s father. 

Charlie and his friends take on the most powerful and dangerous magic in Book Eight of this extraordinary series. As wicked forces come to a head at Bloor's Academy, Charlie and his friends must use all their magic and all their might to fight the evil and save Charlie's parents.

The enchanter Count Harken – the shadow in the painting of the Red King – is determined to stop Billy from discovering a life-changing family secret. His incredible power reaches out from the dark land of Badlock to wreak revenge on Charlie and his friends. Charlie’s ancestor, Otus Yewbeam – a giant, married to Amoret, the Red King’s daughter – has been imprisoned in Badlock by Count Harken. Charlie is sucked into a painting of Badlock and tries to rescue Otus. But can he outwit the shadow’s troll army?

Charlie Bone has finally found his father, but he’s disappeared again - on a second honeymoon with Charlie’s mother. But there’s no time to miss them, for there’s a strange salty mist in the air, and chilling howls in the night. And someone has been searching Charlie’s house. What are they looking for? And could Dagbert, the new boy with pale lips and cold aquamarine eyes, have something to do with it?

A dark secret is emerging from Bloor's Academy. A boy was once lost in the attics and never seen again. Charlie Bone is intrigued, but he has problems of his own. Uncle Paton has disappeared.