Known for the wit of her writing, in her lifetime Catherine Cookson became the UKs most widely read novelist. When the Cookson Estate discovered the unpublished manuscript of Saint Christopher and the Gravedigger in the attic of her home, they unearthed a gem for Cooksons many fans. Gravedigger John Gascoigne lives in Downfell Hurst with his wife, Florrie, their three children and his mother, Gran. John is a deep thinker but extremely taciturna man of few words and many grunts. Which is why everyone is alarmed when hes hit on the head by a cricket ball, and it suddenly seems as if the words wont stop. Whats more, he says he is talking to Saint Christopheronly no one else can see the saint, and theyre beginning to worry Johns not quite right in the head Mad or not, John has some secrets hes been keeping. But if he cant stop talking, they wont stay secret for long.