François Gravel

A construction site is no place for teenagers after dark. Oliver and Maddy learn that the hard way when they sneak through a hole in the fence and discover a half-buried yellow backpack. Inside, they find a tiny T-shirt and an old compass before they're chased off the property by a man and his big dog. Oliver and Maddy have no idea that they have just uncovered a key piece of evidence...one that could put their lives in danger. Told in collage format with journal entries, transcripts, newspaper articles and other artifacts, this short thriller recounts a terrifying encounter between Oliver and Maddy and the murderer whose crime they inadvertently uncover.
Key selling points Part of the Orca Shivers series that thrills readers with spine-tingling tales of horror, suspense and mystery, this fast-paced novel is a great high-interest choice for middle-grade readers. This chilling and tense murder mystery told in collage/epistolary format with transcripts, journal entries and more will appeal to readers looking for a quick read. Maddy and Oliver are brave and intrepid protagonists, who make impulsive but realistic choices that put them in danger.
The high levels of suspense combined with the collage of evidence and testimony evokes true crime podcasts or police procedural dramas that will have readers wanting to piece together the evidence and solve the mystery themselves. This is François Gravel's third book in the Orca Shivers series, following Creepy Classroom and Glow in the Graveyard.