Winterhouse

Elizabeth's aunt and uncle don't like her.  If they aren't yelling at her, they are ignoring her, so she is suspicious when the people barely have enough money to make it from day to day decide to go on vacation during Christmas break and send her to some hotel.

It must be terrible if they are sending her there.  She begged to stay home alone where she could spend her days reading without their judgment.  But she comes home from school to find a locked door and a plastic bag with a few of her clothes, a bus ticket, and three dollars.

But Winterhouse is like nothing she could have imagined.  It's beautiful and filled with interesting people.  It has a library and a friendly librarian, and the proprietor, Norbert may be the most interesting of all.  Plus, for the first time, she has a real friend.

But all is not well at Winterhouse.  A mysterious and menacing couple seem to want something from her, and Elizabeth is beginning to believe it has something to do with an ancient puzzle that could affect the fate Winterhouse forever.

This novel by Ben Guterson is a fun mix of fantasy and puzzle mystery, but it got a bit tedious in the middle.  Plus, I'm not really sure her new friend is worth the effort if he gets so angry every time they disagree.  It could have benefitted from some editing, but I think it will appeal to the puzzle mystery crowd.