Written by Eva Frantz, illustrated by Elin Sandström (pub. Pushkin Press, 2023)
‘It’s her!’
The white thing disappeared too quickly for Flora to see what it was, but for a few horrible moments she thought she had seen a pale face peering in at her and whispering.
But the room was on the first floor, so surely no one could be peeking in up there?
Flora lingered in the doorway, dead still.
Did she dare go over to the window and look?
Flora’s mum has dragged her to the little seaside town of Helmersbruk for December and, although uncertain at first, the Gatekeeper’s Cottage they’re renting quickly grows on her. And when she discovers the manor it lies in the grounds of, she’s positively enchanted.
There’s trouble afoot though, as the mayor works towards a deal to build on the land where the manor stands. It seems that Flora is the only one who can do something to stop it, by solving the mystery of its past. But will the magic and the spirits of the manor help her do it…?
First published in 2021 in Finland and translated in 2023 by A.A. Prime, The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor hits some of the best Christmas spooky mystery beats. There’s a grand but dilapidated house, whispering voices, hidden treasure, and a tragedy in the past that might need solving.
What makes this book different however is not only the fact that our protagonist is only twelve, but that you get to read ONE chapter a day during December, until the 24th. Each chapter is 10 or less pages, which is a good daily length for those who perhaps have trouble reading for too long, or who just want a bitesize treat.
Our main character is Flora, who has come to stay at one of the cottages in the grounds with her mother for December. It’s their first Christmas without her dad, who Flora was close to, making the situation particularly poignant.
As Flora explores the grounds, and eventually the manor itself, more of its history comes to light and Flora becomes more and more attached to it, daydreaming of being the mistress of the house. So, when it’s revealed that the mayor and one of Helmersbruk’s prominent families want to tear it down to build flats, Flora is determined to find a way to stop it.
I really liked Flora; she’s still obviously a child, but there’s a maturity to her that is, unfortunately in part, the result of loss. Not only her father, but of her best friend who has become one of the “horsey” (i.e., mean) girls at school.
Being bullied at school is part of what leads to her decision to be brave at Helmersbruk no matter what, and I loved how quickly she got on board with the supernatural aspects of the house, such as shouting at the whispering voices in annoyance, rather than fear.
While the main story is set in 1975, we also get the occasional chapter set in 1961 – or rather, an account of the house and the events that occurred back around 1925, being written in 1961. It’s interesting to get an insight into what once happened; it gives us context for what Flora is seeing and hearing, meaning we can piece some things together before she does.
Each chapter starts with a picture of something that occurs during it, and the style is perfect for the story’s setting. And that front cover! I encourage you to scroll back up and take another look – the manor, both ominous and inviting, captured perfectly amid the snow. On the hardback, the title and author/illustrator names are gilded, as well as the stars in the sky, making it look truly magical.
As a veteran of festive mysteries (though admittedly normally for an older audience), I loved the way that the chapter a day paces the story out. Though more than once I caught myself flicking on a bit at the end of that day’s chapter in my eagerness to know what happened next, and had to force myself to put the book down!
I can’t tell you what I made of the ending, how the character arcs resolve or what happens to the manor because…well, at the time of writing, it’s December 20th. It’s starting to all fall into place for Flora but, tempting though it is to finish it now, I want to enjoy the book in the way it was intended to be.
Perfect for middle-grade readers, the mystery and the spookiness are just enough to entice without scaring. More than that though, it’s a book with a lot of heart; a story about being brave, caring, doing what’s right, and embracing the unknown.
Although you’re too late to start reading it this year, it’s one that we’d recommend grabbing now to save for December next year – even better if you can sit down daily to read it together!
If you want to solve the secret of Helmersbruk Manor, you can grab a copy at the link below.
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Looking for more mystery reads? Check out some of our previous book reviews here.
