Mystery, adventure and puzzle-solving are the main elements of this book.  Our heroes, twins Ellie and Zac, lead the rest of the family in unravelling a labyrinthine mystery.  Their great grandmother Lola has passed away and left the family a riddle in place of a will.  In the riddle she entreats her surviving relatives to work together in order to gain their inheritance.  Solving the puzzle involves an elaborate treasure hunt at the family estate: a large old house on the outskirts of Canberra.  There are many twists and turns in the plot, as well as trips through tunnels and cellars and plenty of opportunity for atmosphere and intrigue.  Ellie and Zac's family are struggling financially and could really benefit from a windfall so the twins are highly motivated in their quest.  Although it's not a race, there are some less scrupulous family members who would like to solve the riddle, but Ellie and Zac are clever and always get there first.  Although the characterisation is two-dimensional and the language perhaps a little formal for the genre, there is plenty of interest and adventure for avid puzzle solvers and those who like to nut things out, aged 8+.

Jane Watson-Brown is a writer and reviewer

Tags: janette brazel