I read this in about 1 to 1 ½ hours. An entertaining kids’ book.

Monty Merrandrew is a boy with an allergy to ghosts. He starts sneezing when one is around and not visible. Once the ghost appears Monty stops sneezing.
Monty’s mother is a champion jugsaw puzzle expert and will be competing in the annual National Jigsaw Puzzle Championship, in hope of winning the grand prize.
Monty’s father is a government philosopher who works in the Department of National Despair. He is currently dealing with the failure and breakdown of his new used car.

When Monty’s mom asks what he’d been doing in the garden so early before breakfast, Monty explained he’d been playing with his friend Lulu. When he explained Lulu was a ghost, his mom became disturbed about it and decided Monty should change schools and go to the Brindley Codd School for Sensible Thought. The idea that Monty’s playmate was a ghost named Lulu was not a sensible thought.

While at the new school, Monty discovers it is haunted by a ghost; Mr. Brinley Codd’s ghost to be exact. Monty connects with Mr. Cobb and is give a task to find out what happened to three students from the past. Monty finds there are secrets to discover and a very disagreeable character to deal with, while searching for the three students.

I’ve read a few books by Margaret Mahy and have a few more on the TBR shelves. I’ve enjoyed each one and each one has been different. ( )