Review by Caroline
When Australian Hannah gets a letter from The Countess of Wintersloe in Scotland claiming to be her granny, she is furious that she hasn’t been told more about her heritage. She knew her Scottish father disappeared near Loch Lomond right after she was born, but had no idea that she came from an ancient family living in an actual castle. There’s mention of a curse in the letter too, which Hannah’s rational mother pooh-poohs as a load of suspicious nonsense. Mum would much rather the past stayed where it was but as feisty Hannah is on the verge of being expelled for rubbing mud into the headmaster’s daughter’s face, mum is persuaded to move across the world and make a new life in Scotland. Swapping sunshine and beaches for cold winters and deep, dark lochs, Hannah soon realises that the curse is not just a story. Along with a group of friends she takes on a quest to find a ‘puzzle ring’ – which has been scattered in pieces in the past and is connected to bad luck that has befallen Hannah’s family. With her friends Donovan, Scarlett and Max they find a gateway to the past and scour the country looking for pieces of the ring. But in the days of Mary Queen of Scots, when suspicion and treachery were rife and witches were burned at the stake, four strangers with odd ways can only draw unwelcome attention…
The Puzzle Ring is one of those stories where you can’t imagine how the heroes are ever going to get out of the situation they’ve got into. Just as they get out of one dangerous mess, things get ten times worse... these poor characters are put through the mill! The story was gripping and the historical parts were so vivid you could almost smell the 16th century world as they travelled through it. If you like a satisfying mystery that has just enough magic and mayhem to be gripping but isn’t hardcore fantasy, then this is an excellent read.
Review by Caroline
Wow, this sounds quite good! I'm surprised I've not heard of it before. Great review!
Posted by: Kate Pinn | 04 October 2009 at 04:55 PM
Great review. I agree this book is full of magic and mystery.
Posted by: Becky (The Bookette) | 03 February 2010 at 09:07 AM