Two young teens, Bill and Charlotte, become drawn into the mystery of Randal, a man murdered by his uncle four hundred years ago, and who was rumoured to have hidden his family fortune. Charlotte's father works at Blacklode Hall, Randal's home, which his uncle usurped, and rumours have been spread by an unpleasant woman called Mrs Gosse who claims to be descended from the evil uncle. She certainly seems to have inherited his legendary power of being able to summon a spectral man-dog to terrify and even kill her enemies.

Thanks to Mrs Gosse, the gossip mill starts to whisper that Charlotte's father is a thief and has stolen items from the Hall. Meanwhile, Charlotte herself really is a thief, shoplifting Christmas cards and other things, and doesn't particularly care who knows it. When she steals a strange metal frog from Mrs Gosse's shop, eerie things begin to happen. Despite her thefts, Bill is drawn to her and beneath her outward cynicism, it seems she might be attracted to him too ....

Bill's family have their own difficulties, with the Rectory where they live crumbling around them. Bill also begins to be haunted by what appears to be the ghost of Randal. Or is the dead man trying to tell him something?

Quite a nice story which captures well the off-hand outwardly non-caring attitude of teenagers, even among themselves, and also the keen and slightly bumbling character of a younger, bullied boy, whom Bill defends and who is drawn into helping them in their secret quest to beat Mrs Gosse to Randal's treasure. A 3-star read. ( )