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Ghost Light
A haunted theatre in Melbourne and a smashed grave in Walhalla. Twelve year old sleuth, Cinnamon Stevens and her two friends investigate.
216 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 9, 2018
Cinnamon Stevens ‘Ghost Light’ is the second book in Pauline Hosking’s girl detective series for 10-12 year olds. Like ‘Crime Busters’, the first in the series, it is written as Cinnamon’s diary, created while working on the current case. Complete with illustrations, newspaper cut outs, sticky notes, emojis and text and email printouts, its presentation is very attractive.
The thrust of the diary follows Cinnamon’s detective work, solving the mystery of the ghost of Adelaide Glendenning, a famous actress from Victoria’s gold rush past. In settings as far apart as a city theatre, Mt Dandenong Secondary College and historic Walhalla, Cinnamon is confronted with a mystery: why does Adelaide’s ghost turn up during rehearsals of Macbeth? And who or what attacked Showy on the night she and some of her classmates went on a ghost search in the Walhalla cemetery? Cinnamon suspects the two incidents are linked. ‘Someone (probably me) has to find out the truth about Showy’s accident.’
From this point on you can hardly bear to stop reading for long enough to turn the page.
Merged in with the detective tale is the growing friendship between Cinnamon and her two friends and associate detectives, Meera and Cossie. Peppered with girlie banter, the friends model how generous mutual support can overcome bullying and racial taunts. Cinnamon in particular comes across as someone prepared to confront wrongdoing and put things right, important qualities for a detective-in-the-making.
Cinnamon and her friends solve the mystery of who attacked Showy and why, along with the true identity of the ghost that haunts the theatre. The investigation culminates in a showdown where the girls narrowly escape disaster by using their martial arts skills.
Pauline Hosking’s writes a fast paced whodunnit, spiced with humour and the everyday angst of life as a twelve year old girl. In Cinnamon she has created a likeable and believable character, a girl of action whose ambition, be a great detective with ‘nerves of steel’, will surely be realised. I loved Cinnamon's list of inspirational quotes.
A great read. I hope we see more from Cinnamon soon.
The thrust of the diary follows Cinnamon’s detective work, solving the mystery of the ghost of Adelaide Glendenning, a famous actress from Victoria’s gold rush past. In settings as far apart as a city theatre, Mt Dandenong Secondary College and historic Walhalla, Cinnamon is confronted with a mystery: why does Adelaide’s ghost turn up during rehearsals of Macbeth? And who or what attacked Showy on the night she and some of her classmates went on a ghost search in the Walhalla cemetery? Cinnamon suspects the two incidents are linked. ‘Someone (probably me) has to find out the truth about Showy’s accident.’
From this point on you can hardly bear to stop reading for long enough to turn the page.
Merged in with the detective tale is the growing friendship between Cinnamon and her two friends and associate detectives, Meera and Cossie. Peppered with girlie banter, the friends model how generous mutual support can overcome bullying and racial taunts. Cinnamon in particular comes across as someone prepared to confront wrongdoing and put things right, important qualities for a detective-in-the-making.
Cinnamon and her friends solve the mystery of who attacked Showy and why, along with the true identity of the ghost that haunts the theatre. The investigation culminates in a showdown where the girls narrowly escape disaster by using their martial arts skills.
Pauline Hosking’s writes a fast paced whodunnit, spiced with humour and the everyday angst of life as a twelve year old girl. In Cinnamon she has created a likeable and believable character, a girl of action whose ambition, be a great detective with ‘nerves of steel’, will surely be realised. I loved Cinnamon's list of inspirational quotes.
A great read. I hope we see more from Cinnamon soon.
February 9, 2020
This book reads like an after school ABC kid’s show. It is vibrant, engaging and fun but also impressed me with its little connotations and quick references to Australian history and Melbourne culture. It brings magic to our everyday world/life in the same way a child’s imagination does, and so it seems like author Pauline Hosking has managed to write from the perspective of a young girl quite effectively. The detective mystery of a ghost in a theatre and attack in a graveyard may be the main plot, but themes such as bullying and multiculturalism make the more enticing parts of the story. The best thing is that none of these ideas are too heavy or forceful. It flows well, feels light and is always enjoyable to read so I believe kids will have a fun adventure while also learning something subconsciously. 5 stars for the penguins.
May 28, 2018
This is not a scary ghost story!
It's a suspenseful adventure that will keep readers turning the page.
What I really like is that it's based in Australia and curious readers can research the town of Walhalla and find out more about the facts and information included in this middle-grade novel.
Author, Pauline Hosking, layers this story with insightful facts about friendship, family, school camps, theatre idiosyncrasies and country towns. The clues to solve the mystery presented are woven cleverly throughout the story, but will keep you wondering right until the end.
Middle-grade readers will enjoy the cast of interesting characters too.
Highly Recommended
It's a suspenseful adventure that will keep readers turning the page.
What I really like is that it's based in Australia and curious readers can research the town of Walhalla and find out more about the facts and information included in this middle-grade novel.
Author, Pauline Hosking, layers this story with insightful facts about friendship, family, school camps, theatre idiosyncrasies and country towns. The clues to solve the mystery presented are woven cleverly throughout the story, but will keep you wondering right until the end.
Middle-grade readers will enjoy the cast of interesting characters too.
Highly Recommended
March 7, 2018
I loved the second book in the Cinnamon Stevens crime series. Twelve year old Cinnamon and her best friends Cossie and Meera battle bullies and ghosts in this clever adventure story. Filled with clues and culture from Dandenong to Walhalla it’s a fun ride!
July 15, 2018
This is the follow up book to Cinnamon Steven's Crimebuster, and is a fantastic book.
Cinnamon and her friends discover a mystery while on camp to Walhalla.
A fantastic story for crime loving kids and grown ups.
Cinnamon and her friends discover a mystery while on camp to Walhalla.
A fantastic story for crime loving kids and grown ups.
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March 7, 2018A spooky tale, humour and friendship amongst twelve year olds. Hard to put down.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews