Florence is glad to be leaving the dreary, repressive orphan's home, and she hopes for a playmate or a sister at Crutchfield. What she finds is Great Aunt Eugenie (Thomas's sister) who despises her and a sickly younger cousin (orphaned son of Florence's father's brother) who can't leave his room. Uncle Thomas is, at least, one bright spot; he's friendly and comforting if a little bit stodgy. The servants too are helpful...but they all seem to have a secret.
No one wants to talk particulars of Sophia, Florence's other cousin who died a year earlier at Crutchfield...though Eugenie is always comparing the seemingly perfect Sohpia to Florence (and finding Florence wanting). Then Florence begins to sense someone watching her; she hears laughter when she is alone...and there are stories the townsfolk tell of the haunting at Crutchfield Hall.
To tell any more would spoil this short tale ghostly revenge. PERFECT for an October night (for readers 8-12)...maybe alone reading by candle light in a storm (ok, that might cause nightmares).
Hahn is a master of several types of fiction for middle graders and young teens. Historical, mystery, and ghostly horror. This is a fine and spooky turn, but readers well-read in the genre might find the denouement a bit rushed and even a bit dissatisfying. For reasons I don't want to tell you for fear of spoiling the fun. Also, if Thomas really wanted to find his niece would it have taken five years? I mean there was no Internet, but you could visit every nearby person and have a nice long chat in a year...lazy uncle! And then there is the idea that both of Sophia's parents and both of Florence's parents died...credulity gets a bit stretched; life expectancy might have been lower back then but, really! Well worth a read for fans of ghost stories and/or historical fiction.