The Shell Secret

Our school was incredibly lucky to get a visit from Sue Palmer. It was a real treat for the children, and adults too. Very engaging and the kids loved the shells. I would totally recommend booking your kids school in for a visit.

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.

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!

A gripping read whilst sensitively and subtly handling the impact of losing someone close. A valuable read for many children to feel a little less alone. Perfect for a holiday !

The Shell Secret is an absolute gem. Although it’s written for children, I found myself completely drawn in as an adult. The coastal setting is described with such gentle beauty that you can almost feel the sea breeze and hear the waves. The mystery at the heart of the story is engaging without ever becoming too complex, striking the perfect balance for young readers while still offering enough depth to keep adults turning the pages. I also loved the historical references woven throughout—they add richness and a wonderful sense of place without ever overwhelming the story. The characters are another highlight—independent, interesting, and full of personality. They feel authentic and relatable, making the story even more enjoyable. A charming, thoughtful, and wonderfully written book.

A beautifully written mystery that swept me straight back to my childhood here in Cornwall. The Shell Secret may be written for young readers, but I was completely hooked. Alice and Jasper feel wonderfully real, the Cornish setting is just perfectly portrayed, and the 50-year-old secret at the heart of the story gives it just the right amount of intrigue. It’s heartfelt, pacey, and full of personality. A book I genuinely didn’t want to put down. Perfect for 7–12s, and a quiet delight for the adults also. Well done Sue Palmer, another brilliantly researched and written book.

I was very lucky to be gifted this book in my capacity as a School Librarian. Having read and enjoyed the book, I have now purchased two class sets for our year 7. The Story will grip you from the start. Following a dual time line with the present day and an event that took place during the Second World War. The two main character Alice and Jasper form a friendship through necessity, each having a personal story of their own. Their friendship builds as they investigate an unsolved mystery, at times putting themselves in great danger. Sue Palmers descriptive and colourful writing made this book a joy to read.

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. It’s a gripping novel for children who love mysteries, adventure and compelling characters. It left me wanting to discover what Alice and Jasper get up to next.

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

As a child, I could see myself wanting to be part of this amazing adventure and as an adult, the mystery and intrigue had me immediately hooked. I wanted to find out what happened to Alice's sister and why Jasper was living with his dad - where was his mum? The brilliant WWII twist and vivid descriptions of the beautiful Cornish coastline added to this captivating read. Both characters had experienced life events that the author handled with care and sensitivity. I would highly recommend The Shell Secret to anyone who loves a good mystery with unexpected twists and surprises.

If you love seaside adventures, hidden clues and a deadly mystery, then The Shell Secret is perfect for you. Set in the beautiful Cornish coast, the story follows Alice and Jasper, new friends, as they uncover mysterious and dangerous clues to 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.