April has been in the foster care system for years, but in her heart she knows she is not an orphan. Her mother dropped her off with the promise that she would return, and a key shaped necklace as a token of the promise. April is surprised to find the same emblem from her necklace in a new museum display about the tragic Winterborne family. Her efforts to find out more about the emblem leads to a fire, and then to her being becoming a ward of the Winterborne family. Four other children at the Winterborne mansion as well, and so they discover that all of them have ties to the ancient ill-fated family. As they join together to try to find answers it becomes clear that there are some secrets that don't want to be discovered.
I enjoyed that Stuart Gibbs book so much I jumped right into another middle grade mystery. It did not disappoint. The children each have distinct but likable personalities, despite their tragic histories. The setting is appropriately gothic, and there is just the right amount of action and peril. I was impressed that I didn't know who were the good guys and the bad guys for sure until pretty near the end. Of course, the children are smart, and end up outwitting the bad guy. but the story ends with some questions unanswered, urging the reader to check out the second book in the series. (336 p. 2020)
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