Eglantine

Allie's Ghost Hunters Case #1

By: Catherine Jinks

Narrated by: Melissa Chambers

Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

We moved into our new house because Mum liked the vibes. But those vibes turned scary when ghostly writing started appearing on the walls of Bethan's room. Mum tried a few new-age tricks, but couldn't stop the creepy nightmares. We even called in paranormal investigators, but they were totally stumped. That's when I decided to take matters into my own hands.

A spooky paranormal mystery for Allie's Ghost Hunters to solve, involving mysterious handwriting that keeps appearing on the bedroom walls, and a young girl who died tragically many years before.

©2002 Catherine Jinks (P)2007 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

"Cleverly creepy, well-written and well-researched, this is a delightful spine-tingler and a great read." (The Sunday Tasmanian)

"A first-class ghost story." (Reading Time)

"Allie and her brother, Bethan, have mixed emotions when their family moves into a very odd old house because their mother likes the vibes. When the walls of Bethan's room are painted, the strings old-fashioned handwriting that were there before return. Soon Allie begins to make sense of the words. Narrator Melissa Chambers is warm and charming as she goes back in time, from 1890 to 1907, to retell the sad story of Eglantine. Allie, a modern ghost hunter, learns about kids of an earlier generation and their difficult lives. She also helps Eglantine find rest by finishing her tragic story. This dramatic history lesson, told with great Aussie accents, will intrigue modern young listeners." (AudioFile Magazine)

Gothic and modern

Take a gothic romance written on the wall, attempt to paint over it with latex and a lot modern ancient-seeming ghost busting stuff, and you have a recipe for a really good story within a story within a story. The token and ineffectual male characters add comic relief, while the ultimate solution is brought by someone who reminds me of Pratchett's Esme Weatherwax and Bellairs' Jonathan Barnavelt, with maybe a look back at the Ghost Buster movies. Looking forward to case #2.

Rare & wonderful

A ghost story for kids that anyone can enjoy. Wonderful to find a writer that knows how to tell a story this rich and detailed in a small package. Touches on many issues, illustrating proactive ways to solve problems. Without talking down to anybody.

No villains here. Just ordinary people.

Yes, a ghost can be a learning experience - but don't let that hold you back.