Usborne Publishing Ltd The Haunting of Aveline Jones: The First Spine-Tingling Book in the Aveline Jones Series

Aveline Jones loves reading - especially ghost stories - so when she goes to stay with her Aunt Lilian in her aunt's old seaside cottage in Cornwall and discovers in a second-hand bookshop an old book entitled 'Ghosts and Phantoms of Dorset, Devon and Cornwall', she decides it is exactly what she is looking for. And when Aveline discovers that the previous owner, Primrose Penberthy, has totally obliterated the last story in the book and then learns that schoolgirl Primrose disappeared on a Halloween night more than thirty years before and has never since been found, Aveline becomes even more intrigued. Befriended by Harold, the great-nephew of Mr Lieberman, the friendly owner of the bookshop - who unearths in his shop a diary written by Primrose shortly before she disappeared - Aveline delves into the story of Primrose's disappearance and how her disappearance could have something to do with the obliterated chapter in the book. However, although Aveline loves a good ghost story, as she draws nearer to Primrose's own story and some rather strange things begin to happen, Aveline excitement turns to a feeling of dread, especially when the 31st October draws near...Bought for a young relative (but vetted by me first) this is a very enjoyable story with an endearing heroine and some interesting supporting characters and one in which the author's descriptions of situation and setting were carried out really well. Aunt Lilian's cottage, Mr Lieberman's bookshop and the cottage of local historian, Edith Fitzwilliam (who tells Aveline about the obliterated story in Primrose's book), were all evocatively portrayed to the reader, and this really autumnal story with its descriptions of the changeable weather on the Cornish coast, and of the tradition of placing weird scarecrow figures outside the homes of town's inhabitants in the days approaching Halloween, was one that I very much enjoyed - and the illustrations are just perfect for the story. I should perhaps comment that I would have liked the story to have been a little longer so I could have spent more time with the characters and I wish the author had omitted the part about the red Dr Marten boots, which didn't seem very believable (inasmuch as a story about ghosts can ever be truly believable) - but, of course, I am obviously not the target age for this prep school/middle-grade reader and on the whole I was engaged in this atmospheric and entertaining story from the first page to the last. I'm now looking forward to the next in the series: 'The Bewitching of Aveline Jones' which is due to be published soon and, although it will be bought for the same young relative, I shall be reading it first, just to make sure it's suitable (at least that's my excuse anyway!).4 Stars.

I read this book over two nights and thoroughly enjoyed it. As a teacher and school librarian, I am always looking for books that engage the children, and I think this definitely would. It has a very likable main character who loves ghost stories. The language used to describe the setting, (stormy seaside village) is beautiful and could be used in class to good effect. It is a well written spooky story for independent readers (ks2) but due to the subject matter, it might be worth reading it before giving it to a lower key stage 2 child.

Me and the kids love a ghost story, and this offering is as good as you'll find out there. Beautifully written, atmospheric with engaging characters, set in the quintessential olde english fishing town. The story trips along at the perfect speed, with a really satisfying conclusion. Bravo!

I loved this. It is a splendidly atmospheric ghost story which gets gradually creepier and creepier with every passing page. Beautifully illustrated and littered with hints and clues, this story tows you along at a tremendous pace. I read it in two sittings! I thought the characters were extremely well written - likeable and gutsy. Thoroughly satisfying.

Read this on the night it arrived - sooo good. Evocative seaside location with description to raise the hairs on the back of your neck. Just the right amount of scary without being OTT or gruesome. Reminded me of The Ghost of Thomas Kemp by Penelope Lively in that respect - though this is a modern novel. Looking forward to the next one. Never did like scarecrows!!!