I could try to compare this young adult book to the popular "A Discovery of Witches", but I won't, because this one is a lot more entertaining, moves faster and involves a lot less food and whine (pun intentional)

Although it embraces the good old rule of three for YA fiction (three children - one girl, two boys), the ever-present twin theme, the abandoned house scenario and other common themes, this one also has a historical base, magic and witchcraft, time travel, and a genuine mystery to unravel.

Finding a long buried wooden box beneath a tree is just the beginning of a spooky adventure for the three adventurers, which takes them deep within a decaying lunatic asylum, and back hundreds of years to the bad old days when they used to hang people for witchcraft.

The souls of all the painfully departed hang in the balance as one person, and one person alone, wagers the purity of their soul to break a bargain struck by avaricious men centuries before.

Extremely entertaining and well written in age appropriate language both ancient and modern, this one hints of a sequel. Hope it's not 300 years in the making.