Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor

April's mother only left two clues when she abandoned her as a baby--a letter saying she would return one day and a key.  April doesn't know what the key if for, but she does know she isn't like the rest of the kids in her foster homes.  She is only a temporary foster kid.  Even though she's twelve now, she still holds out hope her mother will return.  Maybe that's why she's never really had friends or a longterm good experience in the system.

One day on a museum field trip, she discovers a clue to unlocking her past.  There's a new exhibit opening about some rich Winterborne family, and the crest on her key matches the crest on a small chest in the exhibit!  She has to find out the truth.  It isn't hard to slip away and hide in the museum until everyone is gone.  What is more challenging is figuring out how to escape when she accidentally causes a massive fire.

Now instead of being in serious trouble, she's suddenly living in the Winterborne mansion with a group of orphans, Ms. Neslen, and a butler.  Part of her thinks she should just sit back and enjoy this new life, but something seems wrong.

Gabriel Winterborne, sole heir to the Winterborne fortune has been missing for years, but April discovers the truth.  He's actually living in secret in the basement of Winterborne house!  He's been living on the run for years, and now he's back for revenge.  April is drawn to him for reasons she doesn't understand and promises herself she will keep him alive.  Plus, she's hoping her mother's key will fit a lock somewhere in the mansion.

April has always been a loner, but now she realizes she will have to start trusting the other kids at Winterborne house.  The girl who has always taken pride in being self-sufficient will have to trust these new friends to help her.  But even with the help of a kid genius, a con artist, and an overprotective street-wise kid may not be enough.

Everyone at Winterborne house has a secret, and some of them go back generations.  Will April and her friends be able to uncover the truth before it's too late?

Ally Carter's new middle grade mystery is just about the perfect gothic mystery for the middle school crowd.  Huge mysterious house with secret passages, check.  Creepy guy living in the basement, check.  Plucky orphans, check.  Secrets, lies, and murder, check.  Thunderstorms and night time apparitions, check.  So much fun!  This one wraps up the adventure, but there are still questions to be answered which means April and friends will be back for round two, and so will I!  Highly recommended!