THE GHOST BY THE SEA

by Eileen Dunlop ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 1, 1996

When Robin, 10, is sent to live with her grandmother while her critically injured brother is in the hospital, she soon finds that Granny's house, Culaloe, has a mysterious history. Before WW I, a girl named Milly drowned, and most folks believed it was the fault of her brother Tom, who did nothing to save the girl when she fell out of their small boat and was swept away. Tragedy has struck each generation of Culaloe dwellers ever since; once Robin realizes that the house not only harbors dark secrets but is haunted by Milly's ghost, she becomes interested in solving the mystery of Milly's tragic end. With the help of her cousin, John, who is also a guest at Culaloe, Robin's search for clues begins, with an unexpected consequence. Milly's ghost reacts violently to the children, initiating a campaign of malicious retaliation that threatens their lives. Their discovery of the truth about Milly's death sets into motion a straggle that can only be resolved by a power greater than theirs--if Milly doesn't kill them first. Dunlop (Tales of St. Patrick, p. 528, etc.) pens a rip-roaring ghost story, properly suspenseful right up until the last page. Some heavy-handed foreshadowing--extraneous in a plot that gallops along as this one does--mars the story; otherwise, this is a real winner in the spook sweepstakes.

Pub Date: Dec. 1, 1996

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 192

Publisher: Holiday House

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 1996

Categories: CHILDREN'S