The Secret of the Summer Sweetheart

By Gregory RE Gallagher

Mary-Sue's eyes drifted past the footprints, beyond the cemetery wall, and up to the tree line at the bank of the lagoon. There, not thirty yards away, was a huge, metallic disc-and it looked exactly like a flying saucer.Eerie sightings of UFOs around small-town Bonnifield have caught the attention of The Britannica Junior Detectives, an amateur sleuthing duo. While Mary-Sue wants to believe the reports, Danny is skeptical. When she investigates, the teenage girl meets a mysterious rebel named Ace who pulls her deep in the weird world of paranormal conspiracy theories. Danny, meanwhile, is far more concerned with his new crush, a cynical beatnik girl who claims that the world is about to end. Plus, he's stumbled upon a mystery of his own-a bizarre and terrifying atomic experiment in his father's laboratory. Could his own father somehow be responsible for the unexplained sightings? Things only get stranger when a group of amateur radio enthusiasts pick up unusual signals they say originate on Mars, and a federal agent claiming to be from the FBI shows up and starts asking questions about something strange lurking out in the swamp. This fun, warm, and gripping love-letter to YA amateur detectives like Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys reads like a cozy, 1950s riff on The X-Files. Readers rave: There's lots of humor, there's drama, some social commentary, and of course a big helping of mystery and suspense that keeps you turning those pages. The writing is rich and strikes the perfect tone, never taking itself too seriously, while still treating the characters as real. "Gallagher updates the teenage detective trope with fully realized characters who are allowed to err, learn, and grow.""A clever thriller reminiscent of a Nancy Drew mystery type of book." "Engaging plot with relatable characters in a throw-back setting. I read it and loved it. So did my 12 year old daughter " A Note from the AuthorI wrote this book to capture the fun, intrigue, and charm of the teen detective books I grew up reading-but also to elevate those stories with socially-relevant themes, strong, empowered characters, wry, modern humor, and a celebration of the stories that influence me. This gripping and twisty mystery is a quick and engaging read with lots of lovable, quirky small-town characters and a touch of romance. It's the perfect rainy-day read

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1700455591
• ISBN13: 9781700455598
• Release Date: October 2019
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 372 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 8.0"