Mystery from History

Sylvia Pantaleo is an assistant professor of education specializing in
children’s literature at the University of Victoria. She is the
co-author of Learning with Literature in the Canadian Elementary
Classroom.

Katie is curious about an abandoned, supposedly haunted mansion in
Victoria. As well as a legend that explains why the house is haunted,
there are well-known stories about the previous owners who mysteriously
disappeared.

Katie persuades her friend Sheila and her cousin Rusty to investigate
the dwelling, but when Katie sees a white figure moving in the house,
the trio makes a quick exit. For a number of reasons, Katie and Sheila
are suspicious about the Chief of Police. As the story develops, the
girls discover a cave that leads under the house. While in the cave,
they overhear voices in the house and must make a speedy departure to
avoid being caught. Katie discovers the diary of the woman who lived in
the house long ago and the entries provide valuable details of past
events. The children also search for information about the house in the
library. A near-escape from disaster heightens the girls’ suspicions
about the Chief of Police. When the art gallery is robbed, the trio
becomes involved in solving the crime and inadvertently resolves some of
the house’s mysteries.

After a slow start, the story becomes more engaging as the pace
quickens and Gaetz effectively weaves several subplots. Although the
book is a work of fiction, the historical references to life in the
1850s and 1860s are authentic, as is the fact that the MacDonald Bank in
Victoria was robbed. The characters are believable, although some of the
events near the end of the story are overly convenient. Recommended.