Mark Greenwood, the history lover and award-winning author, has an impressive backlist of children’s titles. From Ned Kelly and the Green Sash through to the tale of cricket’s real first eleven in Boomerang and Bat, he has shared with us his love of Australia’s past and its stories.

In this new series History Hunter, which begins with the dual release of two books at once, The Dragon’s Treasure and The Vanishing, he leads us through a docudrama-style story with a trove of tantalising titbits and facts. Where would you choose to begin? Looking for lost bounty and a ship-wrecked crew, or chasing a possible alien abduction?

I chose treasure. The beguiling prospect of silver coins found by four children on a West Australian beach in 1931 had me hooked from the start. And with Greenwood’s researched old newspaper articles and witness testimonies, alongside his dramatisation of the characters and events, you find yourself thoroughly engrossed in solving the puzzle.

An enticing tale for young readers interested in mysteries and history. For ages 7+.