The Secret of White Stone Gate

The Secret of White Stone Gate is the second novel in a series by Julia Nobel. The first book in the series, The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane, introduced the reader to Emmy as she is sent to a boarding school in England. While at school, she makes friends but also discovers a secret society, the Order, based at the school whose members begin to target her because they believe she has information about her father who disappeared over a decade ago. The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane ends with a confrontation between Emmy and the leader of the Order. The Secret of White Stone Gate begins with a new school year, and Emmy is sure her dealings with the Order are finished. When Emmy’s best friend is accused of a theft she didn’t commit and is expelled from the school, Emmy realizes that not only is the Order not finished with her but they are going to target those close to her to pressure her to give up information she isn’t even sure she has. Emmy feels that there are spies all around her, watching her every move, and she soon begins to question whom she can and cannot trust, eventually realizing that to stop the Order she will need to confront them again.

The Secret of White Stone Gate is a suspenseful page-turner with relatable characters and a plot full of intrigue. The novel is best read as a sequel to The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane. The plot of the second book follows directly from the first, deepening the mystery while also revealing more about the mysterious Order. As a mid-series novel, The Secret of White Stone Gate leaves many loose ends, but the ending has enough resolution to be satisfying. The “Order of Black Hollow Lane” series is an excellent choice for fans of suspenseful mysteries and will leave readers eagerly waiting for the next installment.