Nathaniel Wolfe is bored. His life with his newly-found Grandfather is one of luxury and leisure, a vast change from his time spent working in the gutters of London, but he misses the excitement of his old life. This quickly changes however when a series of thefts from various graveyards by body snatchers begins. When a clerk from a law firm in London turns up at Nathaniel's house with a story about a ghost haunting him, it seems that Wolfe is to make a trip to the city. Meeting up with his old friends Sophie and Lily he sets out to discover the reasons behind the haunting. Little does he suspect that this case and the body snatching are related. The story picks up pace as a large inheritance comes in to play with a vicious group of thugs after it.
A supernatural detective story set in Victorian London, the plot is simple and without any serious twists which makes this quite any easy read, perfect for young readers beginning to take an interest in mysteries. It will also appeal to those who enjoy ghost stories. That aside, there is no real thrill to this ghost hunt and the writer doesn't quite manage to put the reader on the edge of their seat. This is perhaps due to the sedate progression of the plot line, with no particularly exciting action and the book gives the overall impression of a rather half-hearted plot. The main draw is the historical accuracy with which Brian Keaney describes Victorian society. Body snatching was a real problem at the time as was cholera, opium dens and even blocked sewer systems! The period lends itself very well to ghost stories and children will learn some interesting things from this tale. The lack of a gripping plotline aside, Nathaniel's adventure is an enjoyable meander through a well researched supernatural mystery.
