The Shadow on the Wreck

by Claire Hatcher-Smith

A mysterious figure on an old fishing boat, anonymous postcards, disappearing cousins — Mizzy is thrilled to have a new mystery to solve! The next installment of this charming series for middle-grade readers, starring a girl with Down syndrome.

Mizzy is spending half-term with cousins in St Jude’ a seaside town struggling to accommodate an influx of refugees. When she sees a spooky shadow on a wrecked old fishing boat on the shore, she thinks she’s found her next mystery. But her cousins seem determined to keep her in the dark about their comings and goings to the wreck, and she’s left alone to help their old Greek-Cypriot grandfather Papou sort out his papers.

Then an anonymous postcard arrives for Papou, featuring a picture of the old wreck and the words WHAT REALLY HAPPENS? Mizzy must solve the mystery of the postcard sender and prove once again that she is the best detective in town.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 25, 2026

About the author

Claire is a speech and language therapist, with a masters in special education.
Originally from the UK, she now lives surrounded by sea on Vancouver Island, with her husband, their son and a Korean rescue dog. Neurodivergent herself, when she isn't writing, Claire runs peer-support groups for autistic tweens and teens.

Reviews

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read book one but I think book two cam be a stand alone book. It started out a little bit too slow than what I would like. It eventually builds up to the mystery, the analysis, the confrontations and climax. It is written from the girl’s point of view, very subtle and detailed. However, the feelings it depicted in details gives me a feeling of not wanting to read further. I guess it is just developing too slow.