In this nouvelle, Detective Benjamin Sterling, gets involved in a crime investigation at the mysterious Willowbrook Manor. On getting a call from the widow of the mansion, Evelyn DuPont, whose husband Victor DuPont, was found murdered in his study, the investigation begins. The exploration leads the detective into a maze of crime and deceit that is hued with elements of 'occult' and forbidden family 'curses', a " forgotten chamber beneath the hearth, where the past and future lie intertwined", as the author describes.
The description of the 'Shadows and the amulets', the long dark tunnels and a looming spirit guide', 'the clandestine organization known as the "Keepers of the Veil,", and 'the guardians and the keepers' are entertaining and enjoyable for young readers.
In the battle that ensues between the good and the evil forces of nature, the author keeps our hopes alive by allowing the 'good' to prevail over the malefic.
I recommend this short story to young readers who would love to venture into a fantasy world of gothic structures and ancient history cloaked in cryptic supernatural mystery. A commendable piece of fantasy by a teenager, I would say.
