Reviewed by Jackie Marchant
The opening of this book reminded me of one of my favourites,
The Railway Children – a close family enjoying a bonfire party, when Dad is
suddenly and inexplicably arrested. He
is suspected of selling government secrets for money, but his family know he is
innocent. But this is a modern family
and they don’t all go off to live a frugal life in the country, while the
children are kept in the dark about what has happened to their father.
In fact, thirteen year old Nathan’s dad gives him a coded
message at the point of his arrest.
Nathan now has a clue that will lead to the evidence that will prove his
dad’s innocence and the real culprit’s guilt.
But Nathan swears to tell no one about it, because his father warns him
to trust no one. Now he alone must
follow the trail that starts once he solves the clue his dad gave him.
The trail turns out to be one that was set in 1940 by the
mysterious Lily, who used to live in the house that Nathan’s family now live
in. As Nathan follows the trail, Lily
herself becomes more interesting, and we soon see that there is a story to tell
there as well.
The book is fast paced and holds interest at several levels
– the solving of clues to follow the trail, the emerging story of Lily, the
race against time to save Dad, and the continuing threat from those who need
the evidence destroyed. Who can Nathan
trust?
Eventually, he lets his two closest friends in on the secret
and the three of them set on a quest to find the truth. It isn’t easy of course, which only adds to
the tension. The two mysteries, Lily’s
and Dad’s, come together in a dramatic climax.
Despite its thrilling spy theme, this is a book that is
grounded in reality, which makes it all the more believable. It is an exciting, enjoyable read.
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