The Shell Secret by Sue Palmer

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The Shell Secret

Adventure / Mystery / Detective Story for 7-12 year olds

For 11-year-old budding detective Alice Clark, summers in Trevellen used to mean roaming the beaches and rockpools, collecting shells with her sister, Poppy.

But this year is different. A year after Poppy’s death, Alice returns alone—determined to build a shell memorial in her honour, and desperate to ensure her sister is never, ever forgotten.

Forbidden from visiting the beach by herself, Alice reluctantly strikes a deal with Jasper—the annoying boy who’s just moved in next door.

But the arrangement quickly becomes more complicated than she expects.

Drawn into the heart of a sinister World War II mystery, Alice and Jasper find themselves in real danger, unearth a shocking family secret, and risk losing the one thing Alice came back to Trevellen to protect.

Story background

The Shell Secret is a fast-paced adventure story, with a detective feel, set by the rockpools, in caves and on the beaches of Cornwall.

Join 11-year-old Alice Clark, as she attempts to navigate the difficulties of grief, uncovers dangerous secrets from the past and present and tries to be the sister she should have been to Poppy.

The Shell Secret spans three generations of the Clark family and has, at its heart, the themes of friendship, family and the healing powers of the outdoors.

The Shell Secret is a middle grade, classic adventure story with a detective feel.

Read the first Chapter of The Shell Secret

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Book Reviews from Children, Parents and Authors

  • Set on a family holiday in Cornwall, eleven-year-old Alice and the new neighbour, Jasper, are drawn into a 50-year-old secret that still haunts the village. Sue Palmer excels at writing compelling characters and pacy dialogue and the story zips along with twists and turns to keep readers interested. I think 9-12 year olds, who love mysteries and adventure, will really enjoy this. It left me wanting to discover what Alice and Jasper get up to next.
    Kate G
  • If you love seaside adventures, hidden clues and a deadly mystery, then The Shell Secret is perfect for you. Set on the beautiful Cornish coast, the story follows Alice and Jasper, new friends, as they uncover mysterious and dangerous clues, trying to discover what happened on that coast during WWII, while also getting embroiled in traps and even kidnapping! Alice's determination and detective skills are a highlight in the adventure, and as the story of the loss of her sister is sensitively developed, I could fully empathise with her need to finish her Shell Secret. All in all, a wonderful detective story with beautiful descriptions of the Cornish coastline and rockpool treasures, which reminded me of wonderful holidays in the sun. I would recommend this book to any readers who enjoy a good mystery.
    Ali F
  • This is a great book. Full of suspense and riddles. I really enjoyed all the plot twists and acting a detective, trying to work out what was going to happen next. Once I picked it up, I struggled to put it down and looked forward to reading it again each day! It would be amazing if there was a sequel.
    Dills, Age 11
  • I read this book whilst on holiday in Cornwall where it was set. Really engaging story with lots of twists and turns and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. A must read for any young detectives! Hopefully this will be the first of a series of stories about Alice and Jasper and their mystery solving adventures!
    Ruth L
  • A perfect combination of a gripping story and lovely gentle insight into how grief might be for children and handling friendships. A great holiday escape.
    Nicki LT
  • Falmouth Library — S Y Palmer
    It was a pleasure to meet you on Saturday, thanks so much for the running the session! Corey and Elyse both enjoyed it very much. They loved learning more about local beaches and looking at all the beautiful shells you shared really brought your talk to life. Corey has already whizzed few the first few chapters of the book and said that it is a great story 😊
    Falmouth Library