Swallowed by a Secret

Written by Risa Nyman
 
One dead father.

One lying mother.

After twelve-year-old Rocky overhears Mom admit her story about how his dad died is bogus, his trust in his one remaining parent unravels. The For-Sale sign appears on the front lawn right after the funeral, forcing Rocky to leave the house linked to so many memories of his dad.

Consumed by the secret and struggling to adjust to changing schools mid-year, Rocky is startled by a familiar voice. Dashing into a restroom stall to hide, the voice of his father tells him that the only way to learn the truth is to return to his old town.

Can you take advice from a dead person? 

Rocky finds a real partner in a new friend, Olive, who offers to be his assistant sleuth and help him crack the secret and get his life on track. The pair's schemes go bust, but they embolden Rocky to embark on a journey of risks, eavesdropping and snooping to discover the truth about the father he thought he knew.
 
Awards:
 
2020 Readers' Favourite Gold Medal for Children's Books - Mystery
2020 Moonbeam Awards Winner for Pre-Teen Fiction - Mature Issues