The Scrub

by James Norton

Paris, 1888 - Foot-soldiers in the shadowy army of ‘scrubs’ that come down out of the mountains every winter to sweep the capital’s chimneys, thirteen-year-old Séraphin and his younger sister, Sophie, are on the run. Fleeing their brutal master, they take shelter in an abandoned mansion, but quickly realize that they are not alone... Thus begins a journey into a labyrinth of deceit and manipulation, in the heart of which is a long-lost library, in the dark of which is the mysterious incunabulum, an ancient volume which a book-crazed aristocrat will stop at nothing to acquire. The Scrub unfolds against the backdrop of a snow-bound Paris in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Beginning with a heart-stopping chase over the city’s snow-covered rooftops, and ending with a terrifying pursuit into the depths of its stinking sewers, The Scrub tells the story of a dyslexic boy with an extraordinary gift who risks his sanity, his freedom, and his very life to save his little sister. A thrilling adventure, The Scrub is also a heart-warming tale of self-discovery and friendship, of hatred and of love, a story peopled with vivid characters and pungent rogues, in the classic tradition of Les Misérables and Oliver Twist. It is the first book of the Ringbook Trilogy.

484 pages, Paperback

Published September 21, 2016

About the author

James Norton worked for several years as the Middle East editor for The Christian Science Monitor. Subsequently, he worked for the comedian (now US Senator) Al Franken and as a pop food reviewer for CHOW.com. He's currently the editor of The Heavy Table, an online magazine documenting food and drink in the Upper Midwest.

Norton's books include volumes on politics ("Saving General Washington"), food ("Lake Superior Flavors") and one collection of short fiction, "The Wendigo's Credit Card."

He lives in Minneapolis with his wife (photographer Becca Dilley), his son, and three semi-competent cats.