The Power of Five 1: Raven's Gate

In trouble with the law and facing prison, Matt Freeman opts for an experimental fostering programme. But Lesser Malling is eerie, the villagers decidedly hostile and his new ‘mother’ emanates menace.

Desperate to escape, Matt finds everyone he turns to ends up unpleasantly dead. Matt slowly uncovers a story of ancient dark powers held at bay by the mysterious Raven’s Gate, the villagers hell-bent on releasing them.

Only Matt, the four shadowy others he encounters in recurring dreams and the shadowy Nexus group can stop them.

Horowitz aimed for ‘shivery horror’ and he’s succeeded! Suspense pervades Raven’s Gate, with its snaking plot of sinister twists and unpleasant dead-ends. Matt is likeably believable and the final pages definitely leave the reader wanting more.