On a secret island, three aunts are plotting a wicked crime. But Etta, Coral and Myrtle are no ordinary kidnappers. Their island is the base for a very special and mysterious mission -- and they desperately need children to help them in their work. So, armed with stun-darts, tranquilizers and a large trunk, they set off to capture two boys and a girl -- and plunge them into an amazing, thrilling and magical adventure.

Eva Ibbotson (born 21 January 1925) is an Austrian-born British novelist. She is known for her award-winning children's books and for her romance novels, which have been marketed to both a young adult and adult readership.