Although the Cleves generally revelled in every detail of their family history, the events of 'the terrible mother's day' were never, ever discussed On that day, dearly loved nine-year-old Robin was found hanging by the neck from a black-tupelo tree in his own garden The mystery - with its taunting traces of foul play - was still no nearer a solution than it had been on the day it happened Robin's youngest sister, Harriet, was only a baby when the tragedy occured Now twelve years old and steeped in the adventurous daring of favourite writers such as Stevenson, Kipling and Conan Doyle, Harriet is ready and eager to find and punish her brother's killer But the world she encounters is dark, adult and all too menacing