A 1900s ghost debunker is solicited to solve a mystery involving an appearance of a duke’s ghost that leads to him reconnecting with his dead wife.

SYNOPSIS:

The opening starts at the Black Forest Castle during a furious storm in 1928 Scotland. Two maids are busy cleaning the eerie hallway that holds a variety of suits and armor along with a portrait from medieval times. As they clean, the lit candles suddenly go out as they are attacked by a shadowy figure.

A room comes into view with a psychic conducting a séance. Edward Cardinald, his good friend, Jack Stentson, and an elderly couple watch the seer communicate with a ghost. Since Edward’s grandfather was an illusionist, he knows the secrets and techniques of tricks, thus he reveals how the performance is a hoax.

A gloved hand of a silhouetted woman is looking through newspaper articles about the duo’s adventures and myth busting. The mysterious figure writes a letter and sends it through the post. A letter is given to Edward and Jack, who are in a tavern discussing Edward’s persistence on finding out if ghosts exist due to him wanting to connect with his dead wife, Rachel. It is from Jack’s old friend, Harry, who is having trouble with what is possibly the haunting ghost of her dead grandfather, Duke Van Daborf.

They ride the next day to the famous Black Forest Castle and meet Harry, whose full name is Harriet. After getting settled in, Edward and Jack meet the rest of the family, Duchess Iris, Aunt Luella, Uncle Thomas, and Cousin Milton. Harriet shows the two where the sightings began and the three investigate the medieval hallway. A large mirror reflects their image and a shadowy figure, which then shatters as pandemonium ensues.

After everyone’s nerves are settled, Harriet explains to the rest of the family what has occurred in the hallway. Edward and Jack are puzzled for they cannot explain, and the family begins to doubt Edward’s ability to solve the case.

In Edward’s room, Jack tries to convince him that it must be a trick, but Edward is not aware of any technique that has a figure reflect only on the inside of a mirror. They argue until Edward agrees to look further into it. He hopes for clues to find out if this is for real.

During the night, Edward has a dream of the ghost of his dead wife. Rachel gives him signs that can lead him to the truth. The next day, Edward scouts the house and interviews the family; the housekeeper, Miss Brumsby; the maid, Lily; and groundskeeper, George, more thoroughly. It seems everyone has an opinion on what should become of the estate. The information he collects leads him closer to the truth but is interrupted when Harriet’s aunt is attacked by a female ghost who resembles Edward’s deceased wife.

Edward and Jack try to come up with solutions. Edward receives a call from his grandfather, the illusionist, and reveals that the mirror is a trick. They investigate the mirror to find out it opens to a secret passageway to the Duke’s secret office. After solving a series of riddles, they question if the Duke may have been murdered. They find his handwritten journal with speculations that he’s being watched and the revelation that there is treasure somewhere in the house. Edward and Jack discuss if they should call the police since they do not have any experience dealing with murders.

Edward has another dream about his wife that leads Edward and Jack to the Duke’s grave where Harriet and her grandmother are trying to rest his spirit using sage and incantations. Jack trips over himself and opens another secret passageway into the Duke’s crypt. They enter a large room with a tall vault door and come face to face with the armed Aunt Luella and George, the groundskeeper. They force Edward to open the vault, thinking the treasure is there and find a book on a stand filled with blank pages. The villains are about to shoot everyone dead when the room begins to shake. Edward must solve another riddle or else they’ll be crushed.

Everyone gets out just in time and the police arrest Aunt Luella and George, who schemed as the shadowy ghost. Harriet thanks Edward and Jack for solving the haunting and wonders if there is any treasure. Before they leave, Edward takes the blank book, holds a page up to the sun, and exposes not only the layout of the house but the treasures that are hidden inside.

Edward and Jack are on a train to London. Edward has drifted asleep and has another dream about his dead wife, Rachel. But before Edward can finally speak with her, he is awakened by Jack. Their next case awaits them, a sighting of a phantom at the opera house.

EDWARD CARDINALD: "THE GHOST AT BLACK MOOR MANOR"