“Each character…sparks with life. Lark’s process and the reveals are perfectly paced…Readers will be hooked.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Description
Punctuated with transcripts, letters, and more, The Swallowtail Legacy: Wreck at Ada’s Reef is a vibrant contemporary mystery with a classic feel exploring righting past wrongs, redefining family, and finding yourself.
Twelve-year-old Lark Heron-Finch is steeling herself to spend the summer on Swallowtail Island off the shores of Lake Erie. It’s the first time that she and her sister will have seen the old house since their mom passed away. And while her stepfather and his boys are okay, the island’s always been full of happy memories—and now everything is different.
When Nadine, a close family friend, tells Lark about a tragic boat accident that happened off the coast many years before, Lark's enthralled with the story. Nadine’s working on a book about Dinah Purdy, Swallowtails’s oldest resident who had a connection to the crash, and she’s sure that the accident was not as it appeared. Impressed by Lark's keen eye, she hires her as her research assistant for the summer.
And then Lark discovers something amazing. Something that could change Dinah’s life. Something linked to the crash and even to her own family’s history with Swallowtail. But there are others on the island who would do anything to keep the truth buried in the watery depths of the past.
A compelling and complex mystery with a classic feel, Wreck at Ada’s Reef is perfect for fans of The Parker Inheritance, Holes, The Westing Game, and anyone looking for a satisfying puzzle that stretches across decades.
Praise
“Each character…sparks with life. Lark’s process and the reveals are perfectly paced…Readers will be hooked.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“[A] tightly plotted story of family intrigue and blackmail.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Both a consuming race-against-the-clock mystery and a break-your-heart drama about making peace with the past.” Shelf Awareness
“Fans of mystery will enjoy how Lark goes all out to solve this case…and the author does a wonderful job of bringing this island and its inhabitants to life.” School Library Journal
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Day | Jan 31, 2022 |
| Release Date | February 1, 2022 |
| Number in Series | 1 |
| Series Display String | The Swallowtail Legacy Series |
| Release Date Machine | 1643673600 |
| Imprint | Blackstone Publishing |
| Provider | Blackstone Publishing |
| Categories | Children's Books, Mystery & Suspense, Children/YA, Children 8-12, Fiction - All, Fiction - Child |
Author Bio
Michael Beil teaches English at a Catholic high school in New York City. But lest anyone peg him as a mere “mild mannered academic,” it should be noted that he and his wife are also intrepid mountain climbers.
Narrator Bio
Taylor Meskimen is an actress and a narrator. Her audiobook readings include several L. Ron Hubbard novels, such as Gun Boss of Tumbleweed and Death Waits at Sundown.
Overview
Punctuated with transcripts, letters, and more, The Swallowtail Legacy: Wreck at Ada’s Reef is a vibrant contemporary mystery with a classic feel exploring righting past wrongs, redefining family, and finding yourself.
Twelve-year-old Lark Heron-Finch is steeling herself to spend the summer on Swallowtail Island off the shores of Lake Erie. It’s the first time that she and her sister will have seen the old house since their mom passed away. And while her stepfather and his boys are okay, the island’s always been full of happy memories—and now everything is different.
When Nadine, a close family friend, tells Lark about a tragic boat accident that happened off the coast many years before, Lark's enthralled with the story. Nadine’s working on a book about Dinah Purdy, Swallowtails’s oldest resident who had a connection to the crash, and she’s sure that the accident was not as it appeared. Impressed by Lark's keen eye, she hires her as her research assistant for the summer.
And then Lark discovers something amazing. Something that could change Dinah’s life. Something linked to the crash and even to her own family’s history with Swallowtail. But there are others on the island who would do anything to keep the truth buried in the watery depths of the past.
A compelling and complex mystery with a classic feel, Wreck at Ada’s Reef is perfect for fans of The Parker Inheritance, Holes, The Westing Game, and anyone looking for a satisfying puzzle that stretches across decades.
Reviews
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