<Tr> <Th> Media type </Th> <Td> Print (hardcover and paperback) Audiobook </Td> </Tr> <P> Skulduggery Pleasant is a series of fantasy novels written by Irish author Derek Landy . The books revolve around the adventures of the skeleton detective, Skulduggery Pleasant, and a teenage girl, Stephanie Edgley / Valkyrie Cain, along with other friends . The central story arc concerns Valkyrie's struggle to stop evil forces threatening the world, finally find justice for her late uncle's death, and her internal struggle of keeping the darkness within her to stay within . </P> <P> Since the release of the first novel in 2007, Skulduggery Pleasant, the series has been praised by both readers and critics . Following novels were released each year afterwards, with the exception of the fourth and fifth novels, Dark Days and Mortal Coil, which were both released in 2010 . Landy was initially contracted to write three books, with any further books depending on how well the first trilogy sold . The success of the first novels ensured that the deal was extended first to six books and in 2011, HarperCollins signed the deal for the final trilogy . </P> <P> In July 2016, Derek Landy announced via a video blog that although the first Skulduggery Pleasant series was complete, the series was still set to continue . A tenth Skulduggery Pleasant book was released on 1 June 2017, titled Resurrection, as the start of a second series . </P>

What is the first book in the skulduggery pleasant series