Rose McPherson is excited to find herself spending her holidays in an idyllic alpine village with her parents, two elder brothers and younger sister. Everything is perfect, or so it seems until strange things begin to happen! What the family has not been told is the secret legend of a mysterious duck who, local people believe, organizes nasty 'surprises' for people who behave badly, whilst protecting those who need help. Laugh at the misfortunes of Monsieur Blanc, who has been discovered by Monty cheating his customers and find out how Monty tries to teach Rose's eldest brother a few lessons he won't forget! Monty's plots are very ingenious but his 'surprises', whilst amusing for the reader, are far from funny for his victims. Rose herself falls prey to an unkind scheme devised by her little sister and to her second brother's bullying. Rose is accused of stealing but no-one will believe her when she says that she is not guilty. Only Monty can help, but how? This is a highly readable children's story with a simple plot that is, at the same time strong enough to hold the attention of a child, by keeping the reader interested and wondering what will happen next.