Check back for lastest news

Close
Back to previous page

The Sea Island's Secret

A Delta & Jax Mystery

Susan Diamond Riley

Paperback
978-1-61117-975-0
Published: Jul 31 2019

$16.99

Hardcover
978-1-61117-974-3
Published: Jul 31 2019

$34.99

Ebook
978-1-61117-976-7
Published: Jul 31 2019

OA Ebook
978-1-61117-976-7
Published: Jul 31 2019

$0.00

The inclusion of this book in the Open Carolina collection is made possible by the generous funding of

A fistful of bones and a mysterious treasure hunt—not quite what twelve-year-old Chicagoan Delta Wells is expecting when she arrives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to visit her grandparents for the summer! But when Pops tells her that his beloved Island History Museum may be demolished to make room for a golf resort, Delta visits the museum property and discovers a skeleton hidden in the marsh. The bones and a long-secret message from the past send Delta and her younger brother, Jax, on a race to unearth the island's secrets, save their grandfather's museum, and help complete a mission someone started more than 150 years ago.

From the Civil War ruins of Hilton Head, to the site of the H. L. Hunley submarine in Charleston and the University of South Carolina's historic Horseshoe in Columbia, Delta and Jax's vacation is an exciting and educational adventure through history.




Susan Diamond Riley holds a Master of Arts degree in children's literature from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has been a writer, editor, and educator for more than thirty years.

"Buckle up for some lowcountry adventure: a spooky mystery seasoned with history dug straight out of the pluff mud and saltwater shore of Hilton Head island! Tremendous fun."—AJ Hartley, New York Times bestselling author of Steeplejack and Cathedrals of Glass

"In this debut novel for children, Susan Diamond Riley braids together an intriguing mystery, two determined young siblings, an appreciation of Civil War history, and a deep love of Hilton Head Island. The result will appeal to mystery lovers, history buffs of all ages, and anyone who enjoys spending time on the beautiful South Carolina coast."—Mark I. West, Editor of RISE: A Children's Literacy Journal

"What do you get when you put together a couple of young sleuths, the remains of a skeleton, a cantankerous pirate, a Civil War secret, a possible ghost, and a head-scratching puzzle to solve? That's what you'll find in The Sea Island's Secret, a fast-paced and rollicking mystery that will keep you turning pages till the very end and learning some history on the way!"—Cassandra King, New York Times bestselling author of Moonrise

"The Sea Island's Secret is a non-stop adventure that starts with the harrowing discovery of a skull buried in mud. The plot is expertly interwoven with Charleston Lowcountry history and favorite places for visitors and locals. This book is a best bet for children's historical fiction."—Fran Hawk, author of The H. L. Hunley Submarine

"Susan Diamond Riley's debut novel offers history, mystery, and nonstop adventure... thoroughly entertaining while educating readers about the Civil War, Hilton Head Island, and interpersonal relationships. Middle grade readers with siblings will feel an instant connection to the love, and bickering, that Delta and Jax share as they unearth clues and fit together pieces of their Civil War puzzle... an enjoyable adventure for readers of almost any age."—RISE

Books, News & Resources!

Sign up to receive updates on new books, promotions, and USC Press news.