Announcing the Summer Beach Read 2024!

Ronnie Willow and the Devil's Shadow by W. S. Childress

This year's Summer Beach Read features Cape Cod's favorite fictional heroine Ronnie Willow, the teenage sleuth introduced in the series' first book Ronnie Willow and the Silver Mask in 2022.

Advance reviews call the new adventure, which involves Ronnie Willow choosing to investigate a murder in her close-knit Cape Cod community, captivating and meticulously crafted.

Ronnie Willow and the Devil's Shadow is the second installment of the ongoing Ronnie Willow series.

Drawing on his experiences as a high school teacher and waterfront manager on Cape Cod, author W.S. Childress conjures plenty of local atmosphere in his books. His characters are typical young Cape Codders caught up in extraordinary events. The fictional village they live in, Kent, is drawn from several villages on the Cape's northside, and the main character, Ronnie Willow, is as comfortable racing sailboats as she is solving local crimes.

This is a book to savor on a long sunny afternoon at the beach.

What They're Saying

"Ronnie Willow leaves readers wanting more"

—The Enterprise

"With danger, intrigue, and loyalty, Ronnie Willow's story captivates readers as she uses her smarts, determination, and instincts to solve another chilling crime. Rooting for Ronnie is easy, whether it is for her newest romance or for the risks she takes to keep those she loves safe from the dangers that lurk in her small Cape Cod town."

—Karen Sabetta, author of Look AT What The Tide Pulled Out

"In The Devil's Shadow, Childress returns us to the meticulously crafted world of teenage sleuth Ronnie Willow as she navigates school, relationships, danger, and boat racing while investigating a grisly murder in her Cape Cod village. Each of Scott’s books feels like coming home to a small town where I know everyone but where grudges can last generations and everyone has secrets." —David Coggeshall, Screenwriter, The Family Plan, Orphan: First Kill

About the Author

W. S. Childress is a veteran high school English teacher on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Inspired by his passion for education and his love of writing, he is creating a collection of young adult novels. Childress lives with his family, including two Belgian Shepherd dogs, and enjoys swimming and cycling in the New England landscape. Ronnie Willow and the Devil's Shadow is the second book in his continuing series, preceded by Ronnie Willow and the Silver Mask.