Eustace

Allie's Ghost Hunters #2

by Catherine Jinks

After Allie's last experience with a ghost, she thought she was finally free of phantoms in her life—but that was before she went on a school trip to Hill End and found herself investigating several more of them. First there is the ghost of Granny Evans, pacing around the museum. Then she comes upon Eustace Harrow, possibly the ghost of a baby long dead, smashing things up in Taylor's cottage. When two of her classmates disappear, Allie realizes that things have gotten much more serious, and she must take action.

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade, Ghosts, Paranormal

168 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2003

About the author

Catherine Jinks is the Australian author of more than thirty books for all ages. She has garnered many awards, including the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award(three times), the Victorian Premier’s Award, the Aurealis Award for Science Fiction, the Australian Ibby Award, and the Davitt Award for Crime Fiction. Her work has been published in Australia, New Zealand, Britain, the United States, Germany, Spain, France, Portugal, Poland, Russia, the Czech Republic and Thailand.

Catherine was born in Brisbane, Queensland, in 1963. She grew up in Papua New Guinea, where her father worked as a patrol officer. Her high-school years were spent in Sydney, NSW; in 2006, her alma mater, Ku-ring-gai High School, named its library after her.

From 1982 to 1986, Catherine studied at the University of Sydney, graduating with an honours degree in medieval history. She then worked on Westpac Banking Corporation’s staff magazine for approximately seven years. In 1992 she married Peter Dockrill, a Canadian journalist; in 1993 she and her husband left Australia for a brief spell in Nova Scotia, where she began to write full time. They returned to Australia in 1994, and Catherine gave birth to her daughter Hannah in 1997. Since 1998, she and her family have been living in Leura, NSW.

She has two brothers, and two pet rats. Like most people in Leura, she has become a slave to her garden, but not to the extent that she’ll buy rooting powder.

Catherine has been writing books since she was eight years old. She doesn’t expect to stop writing them any time soon.

Author photo: Catherine Jinks in front of 'Conceptual Networks', by artist Paul du Moulin.
Photo by Paul du Moulin

Reviews

[Sherrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second in the series and definitely not as good as the first. Unlike, the first book the main focus is on middle school angst rather than the paranormal element. The plot was paper thin and came to a ho-hum conclusion. I was quite disappointed and don't plan to continue this series.

[Steph A · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was ok... ish

[Kate (pooxs_insta) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy middle grade read about ghosts in an old mining town in Australia. Not as good as the first in the series, Eglantine, but then hoaxes never are!

[Pieter · Rating 3 out of 5]

read as a kid, this one didn't vibe with me as well as the others for some reason. don't remember why

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in the Allie's Ghost Hunter series, this book was a bit more eerie than the first. Allie and her friends go on a class camping trip, and while they are there, they learn about three local ghosts. Allie doesn't want to do too much investigating any of these ghosts, but then two of her classmates go missing...

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was not as good as the first.

[Hadi Wijaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this one has unclear story and ending. The climax is unfinished and seem like the author is lack of story. Eglantine is far better than this one.

[Louisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this without reading the first one in the series, but found it pretty enjoyable regardless.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

eh..