The Old Masters

Secrets Behind the Canvas

In The Old Masters, twelve-year-olds Anna and Toby Hartley stumble upon a long-sealed corridor beneath the Flemish Gallery at St. Giles Museum. When a cryptic sketch hidden behind a Rubens painting hints at a lost Rembrandt, they enlist the help of their inventive friend Marcus. Together, they navigate dust-swirled vaults, decipher coded inscriptions carved into marble pedestals, and piece together a centuries-old secret zealously guarded by museum curator Evelyn Sinclair. As oil lamps flicker against vaulted ceilings, the intrepid trio realizes they are not alone—the echo of hurried footsteps follows their every move, and a shadowy figure may be determined to keep the hidden masterpiece buried forever.

Chasing Shadows in the Gallery

Suspense mounts as Anna deciphers a set of elaborate riddles that lead from the copper-clad rooftop to the labyrinthine storage wings below. Each revelation brings them closer to the truth—and to danger. Museum security tightens, staff grow suspicious, and an enigmatic stranger in charcoal clerical robes appears at every turn. With the local inspector dismissing their claims as mischief, the children must rely on their wits and Marcus’s meticulously drawn diagrams to outsmart a modern-day art thief. Their journey races across moonlit courtyards and echoing hallways, transforming an ordinary school trip into an exhilarating mission that tests their loyalty and courage at every frame.

Brushstrokes of Courage

In a heart-pounding climax beneath a grand fresco of Saint Cecilia, Anna, Toby, and Marcus confront the antagonist in a hidden chamber lined with priceless canvases. Their daring rescue of the lost masterpiece not only preserves a cultural treasure but cements their unbreakable bond. William Haggard’s deft pacing and richly painted settings bring 18th-century Holland and 1970s London to life with vivid authenticity. The Old Masters is a timeless adventure that champions curiosity, bravery, and the transformative power of art. Young readers and art lovers alike will be captivated by this suspenseful treasure hunt through history, discovering that sometimes the greatest masterpieces are the friendships we forge along the way. Author’s description.