Born on the chime of noon, Peter and Paul Gannet enter a world full of dire prophecy. "Twins is bad enough," cries old Mr. Bagley, a ship's carpenter, "but Saturday makes it worse. Saturday's child will see ghosts."

Now Peter is fourteen and apprenticed to a locksmith. He dreams of going to sea, and dislikes his job, but it's better than living at home, where his parents fawn over "saintly" Paul and make Peter the scapegoat.

If only Peter had money, he could book passage on a ship and escape. All he owns is a ship-in-a-bottle Mr. Bagley presented to the twins, saying they would foretell the fate of Saturday's child. But he has access to a duplicate of every key in the neighbourhood. Can he withstand the temptation they present?

At home, Paul, who has maliciously switched his ship for Peter's, watches in horror as Peter's ship ominously shivers and breaks.

A colourful and gripping tale of eighteenth-century adventure, The Empty Sleeve will chill and delight readers with its sizzling tension and suspense.