This historical fiction novel involves a mystery, assassins, and supernatural possibilities.

Cousins William and Maxine arrive at Battersea Manor to stay with their Grandfather for the summer. Having never met, William and Maxine quickly learn each other’s strengths, which serves them well for the rest of the novel. They find the manor empty. As kids will do, they begin exploring, discovering a hidden room with some rather unusual things in it. Finally, grandfather arrives, but he is nothing what they were expecting.

After a strange telegram arrives, the cousins and their grandfather leave for New York to meet a courier. Upon arrival, there are many surprises. Grandfather is kidnapped and a young Indian girl is the courier for this dangerous mission. In order to find Grandfather, the three kids have to embark on a dangerous mystery of hunting down clues and not getting assassinated by the gangsters.

It took me over a week to read this novel. I just couldn’t get interested in it. Perhaps it was summer and I wanted to play outside? Nonetheless, the characters didn’t have enough depth to make me care about them. Grandfather’s character seems to change from the first meeting to the end. Everything seemed contrived--I never cared about what happened. Let me know what y’all think. ( )