AustLit

'Ethan Hunter can't believe what he's hearing. His life is in ruins. They family is broke. His Dad has legal problems and like it or not they're heading for the bush... No warning. No questions. No choices! Could life get any worse? Sure it can! He and his Mum have to move into is cousin Stephanie's spooky, tumbled-down old house. There he meets a magpie with a sharp beak and a long memory, and a horse that thinks it's a dog. So Hunter's on a mission, dragging Stephanie in his wake, and sweeping Grace and James along for the ride. Ethan gets more that he bargained for as he braves the forbidden caves in search of the Clarke Brothers' hidden bushranger stash. But what is significane of the eagle? And who is the dusky stranger watching from the shadows?'  (Publication summary)

'Ethan, Steph and their new friend Lachie, are off again, this time following the cryptic trail left by the black-hearted bushranger brothers, Thomas & John Clarke. From forbidden caves and crumbling ruins, to spooky grave-yards and ancient burial grounds, the treasure-seekers delve into secret compartments and even more secret family histories in the hunt to solve a century-old mystery. But who are the mysterious figures dogging their every move? Does someone else know about the bushrangers¿ gold? And what does any of this have to do with ancient Vikings? The race is on. First to the treasure wins, and doesn¿t the winner always take it all¿? Join Hunter and his friends as they blast-off on the treasure-hunting rollercoaster ride of a lifetime to discover what matters most in life.'  (Publication summary)

'The book is an adventure story for 10-12 year old children with a religious/Christian back-story and an emphasis on ethical behaviour and Christian values. It is a story about children fitting into a new school situation, dealing with the ethics of friendship. peer-pressure, bullying. It also has a larger storyline involving courage in the face of personal danger (bush-fire) and making significant life decisions. The setting is the Mystery Bay district of the south NSW coast. There is an indigenous Australian element with one of the major characters being an Aboriginal park ranger called Jem. Along the way, the main protagonists Ethan Hunter and his cousin Stephanie, learn about courage, loyalty, and discover which things are truly of value in life. This is the third story in the Hunter Chronicles series for primary aged readers, continuing on from "Hunter and the Forgotten Treasure." It has as it's companion volume, the Bible Study guide - Hunter's Handbook 3.' (Publication summary)