Mystery on Church Hill

The Virginia Mysteries #2

by Steven K. Smith

Young brothers Sam and Derek have a knack for uncovering mystery and adventure. When they visit Richmond's St. John's Church for a reenactment of Patrick Henry's famous liberty speech, they stumble upon a hidden piece of history. As the boys and their friends dig deeper, they find clues from America's founding fathers like George Wythe and Thomas Jefferson and a secret plot to steal a treasure from our nation's past. Join in the mystery as the search races from the from the cemeteries of Richmond to the streets of Colonial Williamsburg.


Recommended for young readers ages 8-12

Read all of Sam and Derek's Adventures!
Book #1 - Summer of the Woods
Book #2 - Mystery on Church Hill

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Middle Grade, Fiction, Audiobook, Juvenile, Historical Fiction

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 22, 2013

About the author

Steven K. Smith writes the middle grade series The Virginia Mysteries, Brother Wars, and Final Kingdom.

Steven lives in Richmond, Virginia, with his wife and three sons. Born and raised in rural northwestern New Jersey, he moved to Virginia in 2011 and quickly fell in love with its history and charm. Visit his website at www.stevenksmith.net.

When he's not writing, Steven enjoys coaching his boys in sports, hiking, kayaking, naps, and taking away his kids' screen time. Some of his favorite children's books include Where the Red Fern Grows, Rascal, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Bridge to Terabithia, and the Chronicles of Narnia series.

The Virginia Mysteries - Adventures with a twist of history
(Ages 7-12)

Book 1 - Summer of the Woods
Book 2 - Mystery on Church Hill
Book 3 - Ghosts of Belle Isle
Book 4 - Secret of the Staircase
Book 5 - Midnight at the Mansion
Book 6 - Shadows at Jamestown
Book 7 - Spies at Mount Vernon
Book 8 - Escape from Monticello

Brother Wars (Ages 7-12)
Brother Wars
Brother Wars: Cabin Eleven
Brother Wars: The Big Apple

Final Kingdom Trilogy (Ages 10+)
Book 1 - The Missing
Book 2- The Recruit
Book 3 - The Bridge

Reviews

[jv poore · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a warm and fuzzy reunion when I cheerfully joined impish brothers Sam and Derek on their second adventure. Learning all about Patrick Henry and his famous “…give me liberty…” speech, Sam’s class embarks on a seemingly simple field trip to St. John’s Church in Richmond’s own historic Church Hill District. An innocent search for a restroom places Sam in the most unlikely of situations. He stumbles onto two men searching for a treasure. A very important, and valuable, piece of history had been hidden, then forgotten. Upon discovery of this mystery, the hunt is on. Unfortunately, the seekers are solely in it for the money. Finding this motive simply unacceptable, Sam joins forces with his older brother Derek, and improbable cohort; female classmate, Caitlin Murphy.

Mr. Smith’s writing amused and delighted me throughout the experience. I simply adore the interactions within the Jackson family. The boys’ observations and comments crack me up. I hear very similar statements from my own son. A particular piece in the book keeps popping into my head, bringing a smile each time. Derek makes reference to “P. Henry” and Sam wonders if his older brother is attempting to emulate a historical rapper. I found the entire book to be exactly this charming, without being cheesy. The mystery is intriguing and the adventure is spirited. Historical references and rich descriptions make something from our history books interesting and appealing. Elements combine to create a fun, satisfying and enriching book. Well done, Mr. Smith.

I embrace whimsical, magical adventures often found in newer books and I continue to cherish the classic. As a parent reading with my 3rd grade son; I sometimes long for something simpler. I want to dig out my out Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. To me, they stand the test of time, but to him, they are a bit…..corny.

Mr. Smith graciously provides the compromise. His characters embody the kindness, open-hearted acceptance and true goodness of my personal heroine, Trixie. The brothers even have that dash of mischief that makes them both more realistic and endearing. Classic qualities, combined with current vocabulary and resources, result in the quintessential family book. Appropriate and entertaining for all ages, I fully expect to see Steven K. Smith’s books on best-selling and award-winning lists in the very near future.

[Jessaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steven Smith combines mystery and history in his books, all, so-far, in the area around the state of Virginia, so kids get histories lessons that are not boring to them.

This story has the brothers, Sam and Derek going with their class mates to Richmond, Virginia to see St. John's Church where Patrick Henry gave his "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech.

While there, Sam heads for the restroom and gets lost; I can understand that. I do a lot of that in my old age now. It is during this time that he runs into men who are digging stones out of the church wall. He gets suspicious and sneaks up on them and hears them talking about the job and realizes that they are trying to find something; they are thieves. They catch him spying and run after him, but he gets back to his classmates in time.

Once home he tells his brother Derek what happened and they get their parents to return to the church, without telling them about the thieves.

Having found a treasure at St. John's Church this time, they sneak it home and look at it in their bedroom and upon realizing that it has to do with George Wythe, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, they talk their parents into going to Williamsburg, Virginia to see the George Wythe museum.

After visiting the museum the boys and their friend Caitlin return to the museum and sneak in. One of the thieves returns and finds them, and the book becomes real interesting.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book #2 in the Virginia Mysteries. I liked it better than book #1. The characters are evolving. The author's writing is evolving. This series is for younger children. It features brothers Sam and Derek Johnson, who started out at ages 8 and 10 but age during the series. I think they are 10 and 12 in this book. This series is mystery and it also teaches history. This book has more mystery and interaction with the brothers solving it.

In this book we learn about Patrick Henry when a class trip takes Sam and his friend Caitlin to an old church in Richmond where the speech was actually given. We also learn about Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence along with George Wyeth, one of the signers of the Declaration. I learned some things that I never knew. And of course, there is the mystery. An actor who plays Patrick Henry seems to be everywhere the brothers go and he is up to no good. But the boys beat him to the punch.

[Nikki Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Steven Smith's first book in the series--Summer of the Woods--very much, but this book is even a step up from that one. I think the plot is a bit more tangible and interesting, and the mystery is very Hardy Boy-ish and fun to read. Plus, in this book, more kids are involved, which always makes a book more interesting.

Mystery at Church Hill interweaves modern day life with the USA's founding days. While Revolutionary characters like Patrick Henry and George Wythe might not be the most exciting subjects by themselves, throw in a buried treasure, a scheming, sinister bad guy, and you've got a rollicking adventure that any kid will love. Plus, they'll learn something about American History. Icing on the cake!

The book is easy and fun to read. You don't need to read the first book in the series to enjoy this one, although that book is a great adventure for kids too. And if you live near a historical area, especially anywhere in Virginia, you might just have to go explore it and find out more about the Revolutionary War, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers. Reading this entertaining and thought provoking story will make kids (and adults too) want to explore our past even more.

Nik's Picks Book Reviews
www.nikki-bennett.com

[Kell · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 11 year old son read this book. He says it was a great mix of fact and fiction and a fun way to learn. He showed it to his history teacher and the whole class ended up reading it together! I think that says a lot about the quality of the book. *We received our copy through goodreads first reads but that doesn't affect our review of the book.

[Rosie Mcclurg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gift from the author and a treasured one at that. I loved this book and gave it to my grandson and he read it in one day. It is historical and entertaining at the same time. Loved the book and highly recommend it for adults as well as children.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. I like accidentally learning more about my home town. And if you purchase at St John’s church, the book is signed by the author.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are a fun way to learn about the history of Virginia!

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another grandson recommendation! I enjoyed this very much.
History, mystery, and fun !

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think Hardy Boys meet National Treasure! This was a great sequel to Summer of the Woods. The characters are likable and realistic (although Derek seems a bit older than a 4th grader). The story is well-written and I love how Mr. Smith weaves US history into a great mystery. I think even kids who aren't history buffs will enjoy reading the book. I enjoyed the action in the book and the mystery had me guessing. Mr. Smith writes exciting books that are appropriate for all ages. I think it may also get some kids interested in learning more history too. I am looking forward to Mr. Smith's next book.
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Carol L. Caldwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of the three Steven Smith Derek and Sam mysteries, I like this one the best. Derek and Sam have their usual brother-banter going on. Poor Sam usually loses out, but this time, he discovers the answer to the mystery which revolves around the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and George Wyth. He also has the help of his classroom nemesis Caitlin (is there anything she doesn't know?)

Smith knows how to keep the story going with the brother's antics and they are never boring.

[Eileen Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even Better than the First

This is the second book in a series, and it's even better than the first book. Sam and Derek are brothers who find themselves in the middle of another mystery involving Virginia history. Caitlin is a new character in this book, a friend from Sam's school who helps them solve their mystery. This book is a lot of fun.

[Sarafina]

DNF
I hate to do it but at this point I am so bored! I really love the concept of this book series but a little less than halfway through my interest had waned!

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

We have a Little Library on our street. My oldest, 30, is also a reader. He likes visiting the Little Library as well. He recently bought home Ghosts of Belle Isle. (Belle Isle has lots of history, trails to hike, and plaques to read plus a cool bridge to walk across the James River to get too.) The book is #3 in The Virginia Mysteries series. It's a series that takes place in around Richmond, Virginia. We recently moved to Richmond 2 years ago. He read it. I wanted to read it next, but I couldn't start at #3. I ordered the first two books from my library, read the first one, Summer of the Woods, now this is #2, Mystery on Church Hill.

I love how the author, Steven K. Smith, has incorporated the city/state he lives in with the children's stories he wrote. There are 11 of them in total. This second one was written in 2013, 10 years ago. These are the stories he would make up and tell his three sons and with them in print, everyone can get to read them too.

The previous year, Derek and Sam's family moved from the north to Richmond. They are now 11 and 9. In the first novel, they discover an old mine in the woods behind their home and ended up solving a 60 year old mystery of a valuable coin collection stolen from the local museum.

These books remind me of the Hardy Boy books I used to read as a girl.

If you are from Virginia or live in Virginia, you'll know most details in the story, but I'm sure you'll also learn things you didn't know as well.

In book #2, the characters are evolving and author's writing is getting better. We are also introduced to a new character, a girl, Caitlin, in Sam's class who helps solve the mystery.

Church Hill is a district in Richmond. I happen to love the area, it's so quaint and I love the hill! People who live in Richmond or who have visited the area will know the hill I'm referring too. In this story, Sam's class goes on a field trip to St. John's Church for a reenactment of where Patrick Henry's Famous liberty speech, Give me Liberty or Give me Death, took place. I haven't gotten around to visiting the famous church/seeing the reenactment yet, though I have driven and walked by the church numerous times.

Sam accidentally ends up finding a hidden piece of history in the church to do with Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence and George Wyeth, one of the signers of the Declaration and with the help of Derek and Cailtin brings them to Colonial Williamsburg to solve the mystery.

I learned so much!

[Elease · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read aloud for my 6 and 8 y.o. kids. We all really enjoyed the first Virginia Mysteries book Summer of the Woods. This second book was a little more involved in the history side of things, and the "exciting" bits throughout are not threats from nature but from a malicious adult. These two factors knocked the star off. The more detailed history story isn't bad (hey, I got a minor in history at UVA!) but it made it a little more difficult of a read for my 6 year old. Luckily, we have been doing a survey of American history in kindergarten homeschool this year, so she was familiar with Thomas Jefferson and the the Declaration of Independence. But some of the finer points in the story were hard for her to comprehend.
As a parent, my bigger concern was that the thrilling/action part was setting up the kids against an actual bad guy who was intent on harming them, either physically or emotionally, in his greedy quest. The teachable moment here (always talk to a trusted adult if you ever feel unsafe around another adult) was harder to put forward (than it was in the first book) because there are no real repercussions for the boys. They are seen as the heroes once again, which is fine--it's a kid's book! But there is very little time spent on correcting their very dangerous choices throughout the book. In the first book, the enemy ended up being a dangerous cave, and Derek is given a fairly serious punishment for not trusting his Dad with what he knew and going off by himself. When the boys do something even more dangerous here, there aren't any consequences! Anyway, that whole aspect was a let-down for me. May be better for older kids only for this reason.

[The History Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This middle-grade series of 8 books is perfect for reluctant history readers in grades 3-6. Written with nonstop action and funny sibling squabbles that kids will like, these books introduce history in a way that is accessible and interesting. By including a current mystery element to the historical sites, even kids who aren’t fans of learning about “boring” history will fly through the books! Bonus for those who live in Virginia - all of the sites are easily visited and many have been reviewed on The History Mom!

This book is one of my favorites from the series!! It takes you from St. John's Church in Richmond to the Wythe house in Williamsburg. Such a fun and exciting book!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author has made me fall in love with young adult historical fiction. If history had been nearly as thrilling in school, I might have actually learned something. I adore Sam, Derek, and their new, know-it-all friend, Caitlyn. The three of them make an intrepid team! I enjoyed seeing Sam come into his own in Part 2 of the series! Truly, if you had mentioned the name ‘Patrick Henry’ before this series - even as a postgrad, I wouldn’t have bad a clue who he was. Now, I not only remember him vividly - I also remember the villainous actor who played him! We remember facts best in the context of stories. This author is an teacher disguised as an entertainer! Brilliant, all around.

[Río · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid addition to the series. This book is an easy read, combining adventure, mystery, history, and childhood friendships. I also like the sibling interactions. It is nice to see how the brothers have different personalities and sometimes get on each other's nerves, but how they are also willing to support each other and work together.

While I knew about Patrick Henry, I was unfamiliar with George Wythe prior to reading this and enjoyed learning some facts about him.

3.5 stars rounded to 4 because I think it fulfilled its job well. not quite exciting/impactful enough for five stars, but still an enjoyable read.

[K.A. Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery on Church Hill is a young adult book; however, this review is written from the prespective of an adult reading the book. I first became aware of the series when I saw this book on sale at St. John's Church in downtown RVA. Mystery on Church Hill is far better developed than Summer of the Woods (the first book in the series). The plot is more complex and contains more mystery. The addition of a female character to go along with the two brothers was a wise choice. Mystery on Church Hill is fun reading for adults and likely young adults as well.

[Savannah Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this 2nd book in the series!! As a teacher of 5 and 6th graders, I would definitely recommend this series to kids in this age range. This particular book was more of an "on the edge of your seat" type read. The kids are realistic and the history is fantastic. Smith had me looking up places to learn more about them. We have family we always visit in Richmond and usually drive out to Williamsburg. I hope my kids grow up reading these adventures as we make trips and continue to grow in their love and enthusiasm for history enjoying stories like these. Now onto book 3!

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the addition of Caitlin and her skill set to the mix of two bickering, historical, mystery solving brothers. Having been to the settings, St. John’s Historic Church, Richmond, and the Wythe House, Williamsburg makes the story more immediate and fun.

Like Nancy Drew, Derek runs towards danger, dragging a reluctant Sam along without having cued any adults before trouble hits (but then that would short circuit the action). I look forward to reading more. I wish every state had a series like this.

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

•audiobook•

Not as enjoyable as the first. Caitlin, a classmate, was a new addition to the young brothers and quite likable.
Patrick Henry still has a cameo thread to the mystery with relation to the George Wythe, a lesser known signer of the Declaration of Independence.
There were instances I had to replay scenes because it seemed like the Derrick was acting like Sam or vice versa.
The book blurb of comparing this series to The Magic Tree house is misleading.

[Ken Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second instalment in the Virginia Mystery series is more or less on par with the first book. Unfortunately, there are some typos and grammatical errors in the book, plus many horrid cases of people nodding their heads, which also occurred in the first volume. That's tantamount to describing how people run with their feet.

The story is great, though, and my seven-year-old was thoroughly entertained. I particularly loved the historical setting. Recommended.

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like the mystery as much in this one as I did in the first one of the series, but I still absolutely loved the voice of the boys. It's a fun, cute, quick read. I do wish that there was a touch more of the history in it... it's there, but the boys run away to learn more about their mystery and miss some really cool history. I liked it!

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

•audiobook•

Not as enjoyable as the first. Caitlin, a classmate, was a new addition to the young brothers and quite likable.
Patrick Henry still has a cameo thread to the mystery with relation to the George Wythe, a lesser known signer of the Declaration of Independence.
The book blurb of comparing this series to The Magic Tree house is misleading.

[Ingrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series! What a clever way to teach children about Colonial Virginia! The mystery was fun but a little scary too! I’m glad Caitlin has joined brothers Derek and Sam as their research assistant! She is a great addition! I’ve already purchased book 3! Anyone who is a fan of history and the Hardy Boys is going to love the Virginia Mystery series!

[Lauren McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son bought 2 copies of this book and gifted them to me (and him) for my birthday to read together. It was a super cute mystery based on history all in my hometown, Richmond, VA! He received the 4th in the series from his Literati subscription and this was the 2nd. I’m sure we’ll fly through the rest of them!

[Cameron Easton]

Brother Sam and Derek visit St. Johns Church in Richmond. The brothers and their friends find clues from the founding fathers that lead them to a quest for documents. however, they are not the only ones looking so, they need to search fast.

I liked this book, I would suggest it for kids aged 8-12 since it is more of an easier to read chapter book.

no diverse characters

[Janet Jongebloed · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are clearly written for middle schoolers, but I saw them at a Virginia State Park and I've read most all of them by now. They're basically The Hardy Boys in Virginia. This time around a lot of the book took place in Richmond, which is the city I live in, so I enjoyed reading about my hometown.

[Damien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another entertaining tale by Steven K. Smith, brings the boys, Derek and Sam, to Richmond and Williamsburg in a search of a lost revolutionary era document and a puzzling historic adventure. I and my boys, nine and seven, enjoyed "Mystery on Church Hill."