April is an orphan. She doesn't know much about her past except for the key hanging around her neck. Her mother never told her what it was for but she's sure that all will be explained when her mother returns. A trip to the local museum finally gives her a clue when she sees the crest on her key in the Winterborne exhibit. Always good at noticing things, April figures out how to get back into the museum that night. She doesn't mean to set the exhibit on fire. But when she wakes up in the aftermath, there is a mysterious woman, Ms. Nelson, who is taking her to a new group home. But first, they pick up two other children, the nearly silent Violet and her apparently self-appointed protector, Tim. When they get to the home, it is Winterborne house and there are two other children already in residence.The first is Sadie, an inventor, the daughter of scientists who used to work for the Winterborne family. The second is Colin who started living in the house after his mother posed as the fiancee of the long-lost Winterborne heir, Gabriel.
Everyone in Gabriel's family died in a boating accident except for his uncle. The fame and the wealth became too much for him and he disappeared ten years ago and is presumed dead. But mysterious happenings in the house make April wonder if the truth is something different.
There is enough time for some character development in this book but it is mostly world building. This might be a very interesting series as Carter has started a story but there is much room to grow.
Four stars
This book came out March 3rd, 2020
Borrowed as ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own
