The Riddles of Epsilon

THE RIDDLES OF EPSILON by Christine Morton-Shaw
Category: Paranormal
Age Recommendation: Grades 6+
Release Date: 9/26/06
Publisher: Eos
Reviewed by: Jocelyn Pearce
Rating: 4 Stars

When she gets into some trouble at school, Jess's parents think they have the perfect solution: they'll move to Lume, an island
in the middle of nowhere. She thinks there is absolutely nothing interesting about Lume--until she discovers a derelict old
cottage. There's something creepy about the cottage--some sort of presence that Jess can't describe. It turns even weirder
and scarier when that same presence shows up in her instant message conversations--with no record of it on her computer.

This ghostly being, whatever he is, is soon revealed to be the owner of the cottage. He calls himself Epsilon, and he is leading
Jess on a dark sort of treasure hunt--where the treasure, if she solves his riddles properly, will be saving her mother.

The eerie quest mirrors that of Sebastian Wren, a boy who lived in the same house, and faced the same dangers, a hundred
years ago. Can Jess succeed where Sebastian did not?

This supernatural mystery/fantasy is certainly a suspenseful page-turner, but, in the end, it is quite forgettable. It's a nice way
to pass an afternoon. The best part of the story is the heart-pounding suspense! It's great for that, and it'll have you checking
nervously over your shoulder at times. It's even good enough for me to want to look for more by Christine Morton-Shaw, but
I might check it out of the library first rather than buying it.