I'm always on the lookout for things that would interest my nephew, partially because we share a taste in books. (Or at least, he reads many books that I liked when I was his age.) As such, I usually tend to read much of the new books before I send them to him. 
 Raven's Gate is the first in a series of 5 books by Anthony Horowitz. The first book follows Matt, a young boy who has been enrolled into the LEAF program after being a somewhat unwilling accomplice in what should have been a simple snatch & grab theft. He's sent to the home of Ms. Deverill, a sinister old lady with whom Matt instantly distrusts. Matt soon discovers that there's something sinister going on, & that if he's not careful he will end up as one of the latest casualties in the town of Lesser Malling. 
 I really did enjoy this book, although there was one thing that sort of bugged me. It's nothing major, but if you are curious then I'll elaborate more in the comments section. (The gripe is sort of spoilerish.) The book wasn't as well fleshed out as I'd like, but then this is only the first volume in the series. I can't expect all of the secrets to be revealed in the first book, now can I? 
 The only thing I'd warn parents about is that there's a lot of violence in the book, with one character dying graphically in the course of the book. Since each parent is different when it comes to this sort of thing, I recommend that the parents read the book first & then discuss the content with their child after they've finished reading it. The book is quite good, so the parents shouldn't have any problem reading it. (Plus it's a great way to connect with your kid!) 
 I can't wait to read the rest of the series- this shows a lot of promise!