It is 1944. It seems the war will never end. When Lizzy and her brother and sister are evacuated to the village of Inglestone, they find their new home strange. Under the shadow of the ruined Inglestone Manor, they meet Dorothy Inglestone, the last of her line, and the ever-watchful Mr and Mrs Gains.
When they are told of a treasure hidden in a ruin manor, they can’t resist trying to find it. In their hunt, they come across a strange boy roaming the ruins. Not only is he wanted by the police, but he is also wanted by the Gains.
Can the Allens keep a secret and not betray the boy? Before long, their loyalties will be tested.
S S Saywack is the author of the Mary Finch Mysteries – Mary Finch and the Thief to be released soon, to be followed by Mary Finch and the Grey Lady, and Mary Finch and the Spy. After a career as a Graphic Designer, then an art teacher, he took to writing short stories, flash fiction and novels for middle-grade readers. He has a love of history - Victorian England and the early twentieth century – and is an avid reader. He lives in the East End of London, a place well suited for his creation, Mary Finch, to explore and to have her adventures.
What a beautiful well-written book! Inglestone Manor by S. S. Saywack is for 10–18-year-olds but, no matter your age, you will enjoy and cherish this book. When I was a child, my favourite books were Black Beauty, The Secret Garden, and anything by Enid Blyton. Inglestone Manor is right there with them. My 10-year-old self would declare this my favourite book of all time. I would be Lizzie and my brother and sister would be Charlie and May. We’d pretend one of our farm buildings was the derelict manor house and we’d hunt for the missing treasure, no doubt getting into all kinds of mishaps along the way. Saywack is an excellent author. I’ve already read the first in his excellent Mary Finch series and I plan on reading them all in due course. But this book is wonderful and I recommend it highly.
During the war children were sent away from towns and cities into the countryside for safety. This story follows the Allan children who were going for a second time, but the adventure they were about to undertake would be tinged with danger and mystery, establish new friendships and encounters with some unsavoury characters. A fantastic tale which holds your interest throughout. Very descriptive so you can imagine the people, places and events with ease. A great last chapter which brings the brings a pleasant suprise but an ending where a mystery is still unsolved so you can speculate and draw your own conclusions. Really well written, well developed characters that you both love and despise. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend to any age.
This was a great young teen book , it has everything in it that you'd want! It has a great pace throughout the story which keeps your attention.
This is a historical fiction book which starts when Lizzy along with her brother and sister are evacuated to the village on Inglestone during the war. When they find out about secret treasure they can't help but want to find it!
The characters are brilliant , very well described , easy to get along with and make the story enjoyable to read. The storyline has lots in it to hold your attention and keep you reading. A truly great read!
This is the the second book I have read by this author. I have also read 'Mary Finch And The Thief' which is the first book in the 'Mary Finch Mystery' series. I would highly recommend reading thay too.
I was originally drawn to this book by its fantastic eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. I am also a huge fan of S.S Saywack and if this book is half as good as 'Mary Finch And The Thief' it is guaranteed to be a page turner.
This novel consists of 53 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in England 🏴, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited and had holidays in England on several occasions so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise anywhere that S. S Saywack has based the book on.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Elizabeth (Lizzy) Allen. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO S S SAYWACK ON AN ABSOLUTELY ADDICTIVELY PAGE TURNING COSY MYSTERY.
AN absolutely successful unputdownable cosy mystery by the very talented S S Saywack. I'm always a bit dubious with books based historically as I worry about not being able to 'deal' with the language used but I absolutely love how Shiv Saywack has written his book. The language used is perfectly suited to the era whilst being easy to read and making it quite humorous on several occasions. The atmosphere and descriptions were perfect. The synopsis and cover also suit the storyline.
The storyline had me hooked immediately and I love the way that Lizzie, Charlie and Munch go about their detective work exploring. There was just so much about this book that I found unique and that I absolutely loved!!! The fact that the protagonists are children and they go about exploring Inglestone Manor trying to discover the jewels while keeping Miss Inglestone company makes this a unique storyline. Shiv's writing is absolutely brilliant and really brings the story alive. There was so much going on that it kept me entertained thoroughly throughout with mystery after mystery and clue after clue. It was filled with suspense, mystery, friendship, murder, clues, war. tension, suspense and so much more!! It is absolutely perfect to read either curled in front of the fire or lying on a beach which not many books can achieve. The atmosphere was perfectly suited to the mystery with the children exploring the Manor and the house plus the scenes that were set in London at the start of the book. The vivid descriptions helped the scene and characters come alive and there were many times when I looked up and felt completely lost to where I was as I was so lost in the book. I'm always a bit dubious with books based historically as I worry about not being able to 'deal' with the language used but I absolutely love how Shiv has written his book. The language used is perfectly suited to the era whilst being easy to read. I loved the author notes at the end which gives the reader information about the 'Blitz'. This book is a fantastic, easy to read page turner which really sucks you into the mystery. I loved the ending which left some mystery to who Abel really was.
It is advertised as having a suitable reading age of 10 to 18 but as a 36 year old I absolutely loved it. I read it with my 10 year old son Malaki who also got completely sucked into the storyline and hated it when I left it at a cliffhanger wanted to read 'just one more chaoter' again and again. The only part he wasn't a fan of was at the beginning when it mentioned the war with everything that is going on in Ukraine at the moment. However, he still absolutely loved the story and is looking forward to reading more books by this author. Malaki also enjoyed S.S Saywack’s 'Mary Finch And The Thief' which I would also highly recommend!! I would say it is great for anyone age 10 years and older. The fact that Lizzy, Munch and Charlie are only children the self helps to attract this book to the younger generations. I was absolutely hooked throughout and I am looking forward to getting stuck into more books by this fantastic author!!
The characters were all larger than life, realistic and jumped out of the pages. My heart went out to Lizzy, Munch and Charlie who are taken away from their mum and maid and sent to a Manor where they don't know anyone to keep them safe. Lizzy is so strong and such an amazing sister trying to look after Munch and Charlie and keep them calm and happy when their world is crumbling around them. Munch is sweet and I loved her little attitude and she is very strong headed. She is a lovely girl who is protective of Lizzy and Charlie. Charlie is also a sweetheart who is protective of his sisters and tries to be the "man of the house". I absolutely adored Miss Inglestone who the children went to live with. She is such a lovely woman and my heart broke at the end. I won't say more as I don't want to give anything away. I was intrigued listening to her history and watching her relationship with the children grow stronger throughout the book. I could not stand Mr Gains who was a brutish bully and ungrateful for everything Miss Inglestone does for him and Mrs Gains. Mrs Gains is just as bad although my attitude to her did change towards the end of the book. However, regardless of of you love them or hate them they all worked perfectly to make this such an explosive start to a promising series I cannot wait to meet them all again and see what they get up to in the next "episode".
If you are looking for a cosy and explosive historical mystery that will keep you absolutely hooked then look no further!!!
This is why you are one of my favourite authors S S Saywack! A page turning and unputdownable success! Here's to your next success 🥂!!
Overall an easy to read, fun,page turning and addictive cozy murder mystery that will keep you up late at night.
Genres covered in this novel include Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery, Historical Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction, Mysteries and Detective Stories For Children, Children, Children's Exploration & Discoveries Fiction, Teen, Murder, Children's Historical Fiction On Exploration & Discoveries,Classic Crime Fiction, Suspense, Young Adult, Mystery, Children's Mysteries And Detectives, and Crime amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of T E Kinsey, Agatha Christie, Lee Strauss, Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle and anyone looking for an addictive and page turning murder mystery.
219 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle and £8.85 on paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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Having read The Mary Finch Series by this author and enjoyed every one, I’ve been looking forward to reading Inglestone Manor. The book is written as a middle-grade historical novel, but like the other books is suitable for adults too. During the war, Lizzy Allen and her siblings are evacuated to the village of Inglestone, and their new home lies in the shadow of the ruined building of Inglestone Manor. Their elderly hostess is Dorothy Inglestone, the last of her line, and her servants are Mr and Mrs Gains. When the children learn of hidden treasure in the old manor ruins they cannot resist trying to find it. However, during their hunt, they encounter a strange boy roaming in the ruins, and the story takes on a supernatural element which will, no doubt, appeal to younger readers. The characters are well-developed and the book is an enjoyable read.
Loved, loved, loved this book! It had a paranormal edge to it – which was right down my alley! The author takes you on a journey during a time when the whole world is in turmoil. Three children are sent away to a strange, unknown location to keep them safe from the ravages of war. The three find themselves in an old manor house with a lovely, elderly woman and her two mean servants and unearth a mystery to which they embark on finding the answers. I didn’t want the story to end!
I can't say enough how much I enjoyed this book! It was a pleasant escape!! I loved the liveliness of the characters and their interactions and the rich settings! There is mystery and adventure in this story, and it is one I don't think should be missed!
Basic Details: Book Title: Inglestone Manor Subtitle: Author: S S Saywack Genre: Historical Fiction Part of a series? No Order in series: Best read after earlier books in series? Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... Overall score: I scored this book 5/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Short Summary of the book: This is a great work of historical fiction. During WWII, 3 children are evacuated for their safety. Soon, things turn out to not be quite as they seemed. Why did this elderly lady request their presence specifically? Why are the servants so difficult towards them? And who is that boy in the ruins? What I liked about the book: The book kept me on tenterhooks the entire time. Just like the Mary Finch series, this is another great book. What I didn’t like about the book: There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about the book. My favourite bits in the book: The book was an enjoyable read. My least favourite bits in the book: I enjoyed the entire book. Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author? This is the sixth book I’ve read by this author. Another little treasure to read. What books could this be compared to and why? This is a young adult crime and mystery novel with a hint of the paranormal. Recommendation: In summary, I would recommend this book to the following readers:
Children No Young Adult Yes Adult Yes
If you like crime and mystery, this book may be the book for you. Book Description by Author: It is 1944. It seems the war will never end. When Lizzy and her brother and sister are evacuated to the village of Inglestone, they find their new home strange. Under the shadow of the ruined Inglestone Manor, they meet Dorothy Inglestone, the last of her line, and the ever-watchful Mr and Mrs Gains.
When they are told of a treasure hidden in a ruin manor, they can’t resist trying to find it. In their hunt, they come across a strange boy roaming the ruins. Not only is he wanted by the police, but he is also wanted by the Gains.
Can the Allens keep a secret and not betray the boy? Before long, their loyalties will be tested. About the Author:
This is the most charming, beautifully written, and engaging fictional story I’ve read this year. It is, without doubt, a recommended read.
Set in 1940s wartime rural Yorkshire, it is the tale of three children evacuated to the cold and inhospitable Yorkshire moors in the middle of winter. Anybody who’s visited will know how bleak that can be.
They live in the lodge of the formerly resplendent Inglestone Manor—now a neglected ruin. We have the age of steam, and the emotions and trauma of three young children riven from their family.
It’s a story that is poignant, gentle, harsh and brutal. The sense of wartime England comes across with perfection, and the language, style and intelligent writing pull it together like a dream. The story is written in dialect, which adds to the charm.
While this book is equally suitable for young people or adults, the author pulls no punches. It’s a brutal world, and we meet some thoroughly villainous people to come to terms with. The author is accomplished and established, which means he knows how to tell a gripping and wonderfully descriptive story. His time and setting placement are beyond compare, and his people are delightful.
I like that it fits snugly into a cross-age market. It’s perfect for a child of ten but grown-up enough to work on the adult ghost shelf. This book really is a joy to read.
The characterisation is excellent. I loved the people and the way they worked perfectly together. Miss Inglestone and Susan are my favourites, but the kids are great, and I love that May (Munch) has a catchphrase, see how early you can spot it.
You can’t help but like the kids, and they balance well with the older characters. As for Miss Inglestone, what a sweetheart.
The story is captivating, and it’s bang on point for the genre. It screamed Enid Blyton meets Boris Karloff, but both are captured, held in time and sing from the page. It’s delightful.
The pace is good, and the pages flip along at a clip.
The story is structured well, and the description brings the characters to life.
Step into the Enchanting World of Inglestone Manor by SS Saywack and embark on an enthralling journey through the pages of historical mystery. Set against the backdrop of England during the relentless Nazi bombardment, this novel seamlessly weaves together the intrigue of historical fiction and the thrill of a gripping mystery.
The narrative unfolds with the interesting characters of Lizzy and her younger brother and sister, thrust out of their familiar Yorkshire hometown and thrust into the mysterious village of Inglestone. Their new abode, a sprawling manor, exudes an aura of both grandeur and intimidation, especially with the enigmatic Mr. and Mrs. Gains running the household. Yet, undeterred, the children courageously venture into the unknown, forming alliances with the captivating Dorothy Inglestone and a secretive young boy hidden within the manor's walls.
The author, SS Saywack, skillfully crafts a tale that captivates readers of all ages, making it a literary gem for both the young and the young at heart. The palpable sense of adventure and the magnetic pull of the unfolding mystery make it impossible to put the book down once you've delved into its enchanting pages.
Against the backdrop of wartime England, the story not only unravels the secrets within Inglestone Manor, but also paints a vivid picture of resilience, friendship, and the unyielding spirit of those facing adversity. It's a perfect companion for those cozy weekends when you want to immerse yourself in a world that seamlessly blends history, mystery, and the timeless bonds of camaraderie.
Inglestone Manor by SS Saywack is more than a book; it's a captivating historical mystery ride that will leave you spellbound from the first chapter to the last. So, grab your copy, settle into your favorite reading nook, and let the enchantment of Inglestone Manor transport you to a bygone era filled with secrets waiting to be unveiled.
Inglestone Manor by S S Sawywack is an intriguing historical mystery set in England during World War II. It includes gripping moments and heartwarming moments, a treasure hunt, secrets, time travel, and so many twists and turns that once I started reading, it was hard to put down.
When the war reaches the Allen’s home, and a bomb comes too close for comfort, Mrs. Allen sends her three children to Inglestone where they will be safe until the war ends. Little did she know that a different kind of war was playing out at Inglestone – a war of greed spearheaded by a madman who would do anything to get his hands on the manor’s treasure.
Lizzy, the eldest Allen child, and her younger siblings May (“Munch”) and Charlie don’t want to be sent away and are puzzled by the circumstances, especially when they learn that Miss Inglestone, whom they had never met, had specifically called for the three of them.
The children befriend Miss Inglestone and attempt to stay away from the mean housekeeper and groundskeeper. Before long the children learn about secrets and treasures in the partially ruined Inglestone Manor. With Miss Inglestone’s permission and encouragement, the children begin exploring and uncovering the mysteries of the manor. Their efforts to protect Abel (the boy master of the manor) turn into a gripping life-and-death chase. I won’t give away a spoiler but the surprise ending ties all of the plot twists together perfectly. Highly recommended for kids (and adults) of all ages!
War-torn Britain during the winter of 1944. London, a city in ruin where its population had endured repeated indiscriminate bombings by the German Luftwaffe. The huge exodus of the capital’s children was underway.
Lizzy 13, Charlie, and Munch (May) the youngest at 8 years old are evacuated to the north of England where it was safer. They go to stay with Miss Inglestone who had asked for them specifically though they had never met her before. A village north of Leeds, a dark cold November night. The Gains are employed by Miss Inglestone and are supposed to be looking after the children. But the Gains soon resort to their mean despicable selves. The children are miserable until they meet the elderly bed-ridden Miss Inglestone. Friendship and respect between them grow as they spend more time talking with the old lady. There is talk of hidden treasure within the ruins of the old abandoned Inglestone Manor and of a ghost and an elusive boy called, Abel who everyone is trying to find. Very enjoyable and although this is a middle grade book, I believe adults would fully appreciate this story too. Very descriptive and a beautifully written story.
This is an exciting and absorbing book, a page-turner with a fast pace.
The action takes place in 1944 towards the end of World War Two. Hitler’s V2 rockets pounded London, forcing a repeat evacuation of children from the city to other parts of the UK, to escape the destruction.
The story of the Allen family, three children who have to evacuate to the harsher northern climate of the UK and a frosty reception from a groundsman and his wife, housekeeper to the elderly lady who has taken the children in, is brought to life by excellent writing and credible character-drawing. Even the family’s enemies are given depth and believability – there are no polar opposites here, everything is shown in real-life blurring of good and bad. Changes of atmosphere are conveyed in a manner that draws the reader in.
Throw in the prospect of ‘treasure’ and a strange boy who appears in a burned-out manor house, and middle-graders won’t want to put the book down, eager to find out what happens next. A thoroughly enjoyable read and I would recommend this story to anyone wishing to buy an adventure/mystery book for children aged 9-13.
Set during Winter 1944, three children, Lizzie, Charlie and May or Munch to her friends are evacuated to the village of Inglestone as London is experiencing another wave of the Blitz. They were specifically asked for by Miss Inglestone, a sweet little old lady, but the reasons she asked for them is a mystery as the children have never heard of her before. Even more of a mystery is Inglestone Manor and the circumstances behind it being burnt down. But a boy from the local asylum is seen around the house and there is the possibility treasure is amongst the ruins. But before the children can find it they must contend with the nasty Mr and Mrs Bains with disastrous consequences for one of the little kids. This is a thrilling little mystery with the right amount of suspense and scares to make it suitable for children but still keep an adult entertained. It is beautifully crafted and is a real page turner i thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend to everybody
Set during Winter 1944, three children, Lizzie, Charlie and May or Munch to her friends are evacuated to the village of Inglestone as London is experiencing another wave of the Blitz. They were specifically asked for by Miss Inglestone, a sweet little old lady, but the reasons she asked for them is a mystery as the children have never heard of her before. Even more of a mystery is Inglestone Manor and the circumstances behind it being burnt down. But a boy from the local asylum is seen around the house and there is the possibility treasure is amongst the ruins. But before the children can find it they must contend with the nasty Mr and Mrs Bains with disastrous consequences for one of the little kids. This is a thrilling little mystery with the right amount of suspense and scares to make it suitable for children but still keep an adult entertained. It is beautifully crafted and is a real page turner i thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend to everybody
This is a beautifully written story about 3 children forced from their home during the last blitz in WW2, when the bombs are falling too close to their Yorkshire home for their mother's comfort. They are sent to the moors to stay with the mysterious Miss Inglestone, an aged woman who is ailing in bed an unaware of their mistreatment at the hands of her servants...at first. While the children struggle to be brave in their inhospitable temporary home for the sake of Miss Inglestone, another mystery unfolds in the ruins of the original manor on the grounds.
This is a heart warming, sometimes heart breaking tale that will appeal to middle grade children who enjoy historical mysteries, but it's also a great read for adults looking for something a little softer. It is not my usual genre, but I'm so glad I picked it up. My brain feels healthier for reading it.
It seems the war will never end. When Lizzy and her brother and sister are evacuated to the village of Inglestone, they find their new home strange. Under the shadow of the ruined Inglestone Manor, they meet Dorothy Inglestone, the last of her line, and the ever-watchful Mr and Mrs Gains. When they are told of a treasure hidden in a ruin manor, they can’t resist trying to find it. In their hunt, they come across a strange boy roaming the ruins. Not only is he wanted by the police, but he is also wanted by the Gains. Can the Allens keep a secret and not betray the boy? Before long, their loyalties will be tested.
I really did enjoy this book. I loved how detailed it was about the war. I don't normally like war books but I did surprise myself with this one. 5*.
Lizzie, Charlie and Munch are sent to Inglestone Manor as the bombing of World War 2 intensifies and they are no longer safe. They have been specially requested by the lady of the house, Dorothy Inglestone. The young family and the horrible Gains's have no idea why. When the story of missing treasure is shared, the young children can't resist looking for it. This is a wonderful story, for a book set to appeal to younger audiences, the writing is brilliant, I was hooked immediately. The characters are well formed, the mysterious old lady Inglestone, the horrendous mean spirited couple that look after her, and the children. The story flowed easily and once I started i found I couldn't stop reading and couldn't wait to get back to it. The setting of the bleak war time Yorkshire added perfectly to the story.
It’s 1944 towards to end of WW2 13 year old Lizzy and her two younger siblings are sent away from the bombing of their worn torn city to head up north of UK to Holcombe House to an older lady called Dorothy Inglestone. Mrs Allen the Mother of the children feels she has no choice she fears for their safety. She gives Lizzy two five pound notes for treats and one goes missing and suddenly Inglestone is sporting a new red hat. Then the children learn of hidden treasure in the old run down Manor which sends them hunting for it. They discover a weird boy roaming the ruins.
The book is so detailed about the era of the war it was a very enjoyable read. I would highly recommend it for children and adults ⭐️
Loving World War 2 stories, I picked this one up. Following Lizzie, Charlie and Munch as they leave wartorn London for the safety of Inglestone, I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of suspense. The story moves along at a great pace, with great characters that you will either love or hate. I particularly liked how Mr Bains comes across; he's the sort of person you love to hate. The children have a mystery to solve and treasure to find. Throw in a mysterious boy and the elderly owner of the Manor and what you have is a story reminiscent of the Enid Blyton books I used to read many moons ago. It took me back, although Inglestone Manor is infinitely better written than those. One for the kids and adults alike. Loved it.
Three evacuees, Lizzie, Charlie and May (known as Munch) are sent to live in a lodge in the village of Inglestone near Leeds, outside the ruins of the former Inglestone Manor. Their hostess is a mysterious elderly lady called Miss Inglestone, who has requested the children personally. However, they are forced to live with Miss Inglestone’s terrible servants, Mr and Mrs Gains, who don’t like the children and make their lives awful.
Miss Inglestone is said to own a treasure that is hidden deep within the ruins of the manor, and Mr Gains will stop at nothing to find it. There is also a mysterious young boy called Abel, whom befriends the children.
The story was very interesting overall with an intriguing plot, and it can be enjoyed by both children and adults.
We all love a middle grade and this is one of the best I’ve read in a while. Set in 1944, we follow the story of Lizzie, Charlie and Munch (May) as they are evacuated from London to go and stay with Miss Inglestone who has asked for them specifically. They’ve never met her before and she isn’t known to their mother so this is a bit strange to start with.
I didn’t like the Gains, Ede and Billy who are the groundskeeper and housemaid for Miss Inglestone, they were just plain nasty from the outset. The story has lots of interesting characters, storylines and fun within - so much so that I read this in a day (I’ve had some great books like this recently)
I’m hoping there will be more from these characters as I enjoyed them all so much. Definitely, a fab read for anyone who wants a fab MG read.
When I started reading this book I was immediately taken back to my childhood and early teens when I loved reading mysteries and historical WW2 fiction, but don’t be fooled; this book develops into one to be fully appreciated by adults as well. It starts off gentle, but some hard hitting events unfold, which left me reading with abated breath. I absolutely love the mystery of Abel. Who was he? Where did he come from and how was he connected to Mrs Inglestone? A little figment of the imagination? A time traveller? A ghost? Or just a lost, mentally challenged boy? A brilliant book to get totally immersed in and perfect for the run up to Christmas too!
Loved it! Set during WW2 during the blitz of 1944, Lizzy and her two younger siblings, May and Charlie are evacuated to Inglestone Village. Staying with old Miss Inglestone and the mean couple Mr and Mrs Gains they soon come to realise there’s something strange going on within the ruins of Inglestone Manor. With secrets and ghostly goings on, Inglestone Manor is a gripping read. This is a very well written story with great characters. The author has an amazing talent for writing mystery stories set in the past, which really does give you the feeling of that time in history. Another great mystery, suitable for adults and children. Highly recommended!!
Inglestone Manor is a fun look at a sad part of history. Set during WWII, three children were evacuated away from the bombing of London to Inglestone Manor. There, the children learn of a hidden treasure and cannot help but search for it. They find a youngster hiding in the manor and an evil caretaker who will do anything to find the treasure for himself. But strange things happen.
This book is well written with characters of every temperament with paranormal events and mysteries swirling around them. I read it in a day and will save it for my grandchildren along with my dusty copies of the Black Stallion.
I truly loved this book. Although the information indicates that it's appropriate for ages 10-18, I think adults would also enjoy it. I know I did! The characters were well-developed, descriptions beautifully written, and the plot, despite its setting of 1944 war-torn England, had somewhat of the feel of a Gothic mystery with a little magical realism thrown in for intrigue. I probably would have given the book 4.5 stars if I had option, I was a bit disappointed with the ending- the unraveled threads of the mystery were never fully woven together to a resolution- but the author may have deliberately left the story a bit unfinished to allow for young imaginations to figure it out.
The three children in this adventure face the challenge of being relocated from their family. Set during the German bombardments of England toward the end of World War Two, the children are put up by the secretive Miss Inglestone, far from their London home and the bombings. The unpleasant married couple taking care of the household scare the young trio, who find joy in exploring the town and old manor nearby. Meeting a mysterious boy, their adventure escalates.
I enjoyed the portrayal of the children in this story. They are innocents forced to mature and develop character as the tale unfolds. An intriguing story with a satisfying ending.
A fantastic children's historical fiction story that had me gripped from the beginning. This book tells the story of Lizzy, Charlie, and Munch as they are evacuated during the Blitz in 1944. They were sent to a lodge owned by an old lady, Dorothy Inglestone who knows them but they don't know her. Once there, they instantly run into trouble when they meet the Gains. Anything historical always grabs my interest and this book ticked all the boxes. Highly recommend.
FIVE PLUS STARS! A war-torn 1944 Britain established a perfect background for this extraordinary story. Children were caught in a world where there were times for playing and exploring, but also times when they needed to be mature way beyond their years. There is everything to love here including mystery, anguish, contentment, and a wisp of paranormal. The characters, the landscape, the buildings – especially the dilapidated manor – had me captivated! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this for young and old readers. Thank you, SS Saywack.