The Mystery of Insch Brae House by Susan Fiddes

October is a great month for mysteries! Actually, every month is a great month for them, but this one also circles around a house and odd things occurring there. I'm pretty sure that this one will be in British English, and it takes place in Scotland...which adds a nice touch as well.

So grab those flashlights and blankets because we're going to dive into all sorts of secrets.

THE MYSTERY OF INSCH BRAE HOUSE

by Susan Fiddes

Tiger Loves Book

Middle Grade Mystery

101 pages

ages 8 to 12

Eight-year-old Muriel’s life has suddenly turned upside down. With her family in turmoil and her father missing, Muriel is whisked away to Insch Brae House (pronounced "Inch Bray") on the windswept coast of Scotland under the watchful eye of her less-than-friendly minder, Miss Floss.

At first, Moreland and Insch Brae seem to offer nothing but grey skies and dusty corners. But everything changes when Muriel meets a local boy who shares her suspicion that something about the town, and the run-down great house, just doesn’t make sense. Together, they discover that Insch Brae hides secrets in every shadow, and that even the icy Miss Floss may not be who she seems.

Perfect for fans of The Bletchley Riddle, Lemony Snicket, and The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Mystery of Insch Brae House is a captivating middle-grade mystery filled with creepy investigations, surprising twists, and puzzling secrets.

GOODREADS 

MY TIDBITS

With the atmosphere of past times and a hint of mystery, this is a quick read with a character to enjoy.

Muriel has no idea why she's been sent with a strange woman to a house in Scotland by her mother. Everyone has been saying that Mum needs a break, but Muriel isn't sure why. Her and her mum both miss her father, who is in India to help the people there after an earthquake, but everything else seems to be normal. While Muriel wonders what is going on, she also has to deal with a very grumpy Miss Floss, who only complains about Muriel. When they, finally, get to the house in Scotland, it's clear that Miss Floss wants Muriel to stay in the nursery or library and be as little seen as possible. But Muriel doesn't really enjoy be shut away, especially since someone or something seems to be in the house with them. At least, food appears in front of Muriel's bedroom door and things are knocked over without anyone around. It's a mystery Muriel has to solve.

This is an enjoyable, short tale which keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end...but not in the way I thought it would. While there is a little mystery, it's more about Muriel's search for the truth behind her trip with Miss Floss, which leads her to discover a bit about her mum's own time in the town as a child. There's a bit of tension and danger here and there to keep the tale grabbing, but this is by no means an action story or even spooky...although Miss Floss' unpleasant personality does leave Muriel, understandably, scared to run in to her.  Instead, the tale takes on almost an historical note as Muriel learns a little bit about the past and the people her mum once knew. Mix that with a few unexpected situations, and it's an interesting and enjoyable read.

The author keeps everything about this read short and directed. The chapters are often only two or so pages, if even that. There isn't a long, intricate plot, but rather, Muriel's tale is straightforward and fitting for the middle grade audience.