'The most perfect book about Edinburgh I have ever read, for adults or children. The atmosphere is captured exactly, the characters are rounded and satisfying, the mystery is gripping and the whole slightly otherworldly ambience is beautifully done. A child who can tackle the Harry Potter books will not be put off by the length of this one, but it works equally well for adults, if on a different level. Very highly recommended, as is Robinsheugh by the same author.' -- Reader review, Edinburgh, amazon.co.uk 'There is a ghostly element in this narrative, but it is predominantly a mystery where the two Ramsay children, Marion and Colin, have to become detectives to find out what happened to the trunk which vanished from their house in 1914. The ending, which could have been mawkish and sentimentalised, is surprisingly moving and effective, as all the bits of the jigsaw are finally fitted together and the whole story told. There is absolutely no concession on Dunlop's part to a child's lack of imagination or vocabulary, which makes this novel as enjoyable to the adult reader as to the young teenager.' -- Treasure Island: A guide to Scottish fiction for young readers aged 10-14, Summer 2003 'With skill and imagination, Dunlop guides the young reader in and out of hope and disappointment. This novel combines a jolly good story with the added bonus of moral teaching, teenage awakenings and some deeply ethereal ideas. The tale is rounded up with a plethora of neatly happy outcomes which will satisfy the most romantic of 10-14-year-olds.' -- Jackie Harris, Worcester Evening News, March 2002 'Good to see this back in print in a revised and up-dated edition.' -- Shelf Life, Scottish Book Trust, Winter 2000 'We got totally immersed in this wonderful and intriguing story. It is a classic ghost story with a difference. Highly recommended.' -- Sally Hall with Kevin (age 7), Education Otherwise 'I liked this book. It is a good mystery story. I would recommend it to 9-12 year olds.' -- Emily Simkins, age 11, Aquila
