Face at the Window by Julie Ireland

There's not a lot available about author, Julie Ireland, on the internet, but she has written a few books for children. This novel is full of suspense and if you like mysteries, you will most likely enjoy this one. The decaying old mansion, Wundilla, had always been given a wide berth, especially after the owner, Miss McKenzie’s week-old corpse had been discovered, full of maggots. It was supposed to be empty but Toby found it wasn't. Whilst trying to escape some local bullies, a strange girl called Leanda comes to his rescue. She has been using the old barn as her private sanctuary, and inside the house itself Toby discovered a boy and his mother, both ill and both on the run.

The Games Board Map by Stephen Elboz

This is quite a bizarre book, so beware. It is not straightforward. Hebe receives a snakes and ladders board game from Grandma Behan, but it turns out to be more like a map of the world. This novel is a fast-moving mixture of humour, crazy puns, and weird happenings. Hebe has to share the games board with all kinds of creatures: the bishop from the chess game who complains about 'those confounded draughts', various pawns (or prawns?), and probably snakes too - after all, there are ladders. What Hebe really wants to do is to get home, eventually. But it's not as easy as all that.

Underground Hero by Elaine K. McEwan

Josh hasn't learnt not to listen to Ben Anderson's bright ideas. Together they decide to explore the old Klum place which was once a stop on the Underground Railroad. They find evidence to suggest that this house isn't deserted as people think. And on top of this Ben is trying hard to deal with his parents' divorce.

The Cop Catchers by Terrance Dicks

This novel was withdrawn from the Rose Bay High School and still offers a good read. I found it at Vinnies. Detective Sergeant Day has vanished under mysterious circumstances. The police have been tipped off that he has been taking bribes and now he is on the wanted list. However, the Baker Street Irregulars, a group of friends, are not totally convinced. They suddenly find that they have their hands full solving the mysterious disappearance of their friend Detective-Sergeant Day as well as jewel theft, a series of truck hijackings, a missing person case, and a traffic violation when a yacht gets sailed into a seawall. Boy are they busy!

Games by Robin Klein

There are three three copies of this wonderful book in the Little Library of Rescued Book, and my preferred one is the hardback edition which also has a map of the house in it. Three friends could all read it together if they wanted to. When Patricia (a not so popular but very bright girl) is invited for a weekend away without adult supervision at Genevieve's aunt's house in the country she is flattered. Desperate to fit in at her new school, she goes along hoping to make new friends. However, not all goes to plan, things start to go wrong. The girls discover an old diary and decide to hold a seance. The weather is foul and there are other foul things afoot. Suddenly their game turns into something very sinister. Their nervousness turns to panic...what is happening in the house? This thriller is hard to put down. It is very descriptive so you feel you know the characters and the isolation of the house and you can really feel the tension.

The Body in the Basement by Norah McClintock

This Canadian author was a huge fan of Nancy Drew as I was in my early teens. McClintock writes primarily for 16 year olds . This is is the first book of hers that I have read and I found it very riveting. It was the winner of the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for Best Juvenile Crime Novel. It is all about a 15 year old girl called Tash who is about to lose all she loves. After a fire, a body is discovered underneath the cafe which Tasha's parents used to own and the police start looking for the murderer. The body turns out to be her mother whom she thought had abandoned her and soon the investigation leads them straight to Tasha's dad. She is devastated but she is sure her dad didn't do it. She tries to find out who did it but it seems everyone seems to have so many secrets to hide. Click on the link under the novel to find out more about the author.

http://www.scholastic.ca/titles/norahmcclintock/aboutnorah.htm

Zizzy Zing by Ursula Dubosarsky

The author's name is a real mouthful but she writes amazing and often complex books. This is her third novel. Phyllis, the main character in the book, discovers a shocking secret from the past. Whilst staying at an old convent school in the Blue Mountains, a mysterious letter arrives. It leads her on a funny and frightening journey by train to Katoomba where she meets Elizabeth who is wearing strange attire. The nun who is accompanying Phyllis, Sister Monica, suddenly disappears and then she finds herself in Elizabeth's house staring at the body of a dead child. This book has a sinister tone to it and probably would appeal to girls 11-14 years old. The title of the novel comes from an Italian street song called" Naughty Marietta" which Elizabeth plays on an old record player. Read the lyrics to the song on the following web page:

http://www.rhapsody.com/jeanette-macdonald/san-francisco-other-favorites/italian-street-song-from-naughty-marietta/lyrics.html

Or listen to it at this website:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UElHgLigwyI

I feel sorry for Phyllis having to listen to this song!

This hardback edition is now classified as "hard to find."

The Rented House by Phil Cummings

This is an Australian publication (2000) which I would best classify as a mystery. The story is about a stranger who comes to rent a house at 22 Ridley Road. The five children who live down the street from the rented house become suspicious of flashing lights and booming music that emits from it. The stranger is very secretive, has green spiked hair and drives his car like a maniac. When Harley, one of the children's dogs, is kidnapped by the stranger they become angry and frightened. I would recommend that readers from 9-12. There is another book about the rented house called On the Run which was published in 2001. Both these books are hard to get hold of.

See this book promo and see if you think it is the book for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gil-Kuk-9mg