What mysteries lie inside that antiquated barn, or buried in the history of that odd family on the corner?

Those are the questions that have fuelled two novels by Bracebridge author Caroline Pattison. Her latest book, The Law of Three, was released earlier this month, and is the second in her series involving the fictitious young Muskoka sleuth Sarah Martin.

The first novel, The Whole, Entire, Complete Truth, was released in 2006. In that story, Grade 9 student Sarah Martin has just moved to Muskoka from the big city, when she uncovers a poaching ring operating out of a neighbour’s barn.

“The second book picks up where the first book left off,” said Pattison. “Sarah is still looking for friends, and still finding there are some mysterious things going on.”

Martin is teamed up with classmate Byron Hopper for a geography project, when she discovers the Hopper family has many strange rumours circulating around them.

“They’re a mysterious family . . . and when Sarah gets threatened by one of the family, she decides to investigate,” said Pattison.

The books are geared toward youth between 10 and 15 years of age, but Pattison said they are also read by those younger and older.

Pattison, a teacher-consultant with Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB), is the mother of two children, Natasha and Jacob.

“My daughter rides horses, so a lot of that comes into the stories, but other than that Sarah is not Natasha,” said Pattison. “You have to put a little bit of yourself in your characters, but she isn’t me either. Maybe she’s more of what I’d like to be.”

Pattison said the first novel took nearly five years to write, working off and on. After receiving positive reviews and decent sales with the book, Pattison said her editor asked if she could write a second.

“I said, ‘sure I can write more about her.’ I immediately knew I could write a series,” she said. “The second one took me about two years to finish. I worked a lot harder on this one because someone was waiting for it.”

The Scottish-born Pattison moved to Muskoka with her husband Mike in 1989. Although the stories take place in the Bracebridge area, Pattison said she does not use any of the actual names of the people, schools or streets in the area.

Being in the education field, Pattison said she has been overwhelmed by the response she gets from students. Her book has even been included on the TLDSB junior book list.

“I love the kids’ comments. When they give their reaction to something one of the characters did, there’s nothing better than that.”

Pattison’s books are available at Readers’ World in downtown Bracebridge, as well as Internet booksellers Indigo and Chapters, or through publisher Dundurn.