Out of Time: The Secret of the Swan Gill Jepson
Rebecca's life takes a dramatic turn one summer. When she loses her beloved Granddad, she takes solace in visiting the places they used to go. Exploring one of her favourite places, Furness Abbey, with her friends one day leads to adventures beyond their wildest dreams. The youngsters find themselves in the midst of a mystery, as old as the abbey itself, and rather unexpectedly, make friends with the ghost of the Cistercian monk and an errand boy from the 1930s, who reveal to them the secret of the abbey treasures. The friends must race against time to find the lost abbey treasure before an evil adversary, the mysterious Mr. Steele, can seize it. Time is ticking as the friends decipher the clues that lead to the treasure, they must pit themselves against the evil Mr Steele to win the treasure back. The finale of the adventure reveals a surprise which Rebecca could never have anticipated that allows her to come to terms with the passing of her Granddad. Out of Time is a fascinating blend of past and present, magic and time travel, all woven together with a real life experience and the emotions that go with it. It vividly describes lives in other times and will appeal to readers aged 9 upwards.