By Martin Stewart (author) , Santy Gutierrez (illustrator) Part of the Sandy Fin series
"A quirky, absorbing seaside mystery, packed to the gills with unusual gadgets and eccentric characters."
Paperback In Stock £7.99 £7.19
View All Editions (1)
Weird is always good, at least that’s what Sandy Fin thinks, and there are certainly lots of weird goings on in Portwhistle Bay.
All its residents know the legend of the Phantom Diver, long used as a bogeyman threat to scare kids into eating their vegetables. But then it seems the Phantom Diver really is haunting the beach, and when Skip Breakfast says he’s seen it, Sandy and his best friend Lily believe him: Skip never lies. Why is the Phantom Diver in town? Is it out for revenge? Has someone summoned it and if so, why?
Sandy suspects his arch enemy Rear Admiral Straker, but untangling the truth is complicated, even with the help of a machine that registers whether people are lying, and by how much. Fortunately, our heroes are ‘disobedient, headstrong and reckless,’ which might be just what’s needed.
The second Sandy Fin adventure is an absorbing mystery, packed to the gills with unusual gadgets and eccentric characters, and some wonderful scenes, on dry land and the seabed. No matter what’s going on, the Portwhistle residents provide a reassuring sense of community and togetherness, and this is fast-moving, inventive fun.
Readers who like spending time in unusual seaside towns should also head for Eerie on Sea , as described by Thomas Taylor.
Meet ocean explorer Sandy Fin, silver-scaled diver of the deep, puzzler of puzzles and daring hero of a hilarious middle grade series by Martin Stewart, illustrated in black and white.
Read the full description
Sandy Fin and his best friend Lily are enjoying life by the sea, after saving Portwhistle and its marine life from Albo Start's aquapark.
Suddenly, odd things start to occur: an escaped convict is on the loose, curious mounds of sand appear on the beach. Strangest of all are reported sightings of the Phantom Diver - a figure of Portwhistle legend, long believed to be a figment of the most inventive imagination!
Suspicious, Sandy and Lily dive, snoop and climb their way through the mystery towards the Phantom Diver's true identity.
Who summoned this glowing ghoul, and what does it want? The no-good Strakers and a Cave Witch are top of Sandy and Lily’s suspect list. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s an escaped convict on the loose who once stole a stone that could control the weather. Armed with a compass that points to the truth and bellies full of Cap’n Cone’s finest desserts, can Sandy and Lily solve the mystery before the Phantom Diver claims its victims?
Praise for the series:
'This rip-roaring, sea-faring adventure is the first in a four-part series. It combines mystery, humour and a smattering of fantasy to create an intriguing tale, packed full of larger-than-life heroes and villains.' - BookTrust
' Madcap seaside fun, with zany characters and an ecological heart.' - Thomas Taylor, author of the Eerie-on-Sea Mysteries
'A funny new eco adventure series that’s set to make a splash!' - WRD
'Drama, witty exchanges, perilous dives down deep and baddies getting their just desserts.' - Reading Zone
' You’ll enjoy this quirky seaside story.' - The Week Junior
'[A] thrilling story, brought to life by Sandy Gutierrez’s vibrant illustrations, is a must read.' - School Reading List
' […] a classic seaside adventure.' - Books for Keeps
' It’s a terrific story: side-splitting humour and so much to inspire readers.' - Check ‘Em Out Books
' […] a mad cap adventure filled with excitement, funny moments and some zany inventions!' - Armadillo
Martin Stewart made his first book using Post-It notes aged eight. His work has been shortlisted for major awards and translated into multiple languages. A native of Glasgow and former secondary school English teacher, he now lives on the west coast with his wife, two children, and a very big dog.
Children's Books to Celebrate World Oceans Day
the best books for 9-12 year olds · the best books for teenagers
Sandy Fin: Quest for the Silver Skull
Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Shadow Compass
The Night I Borrowed Time
Sandy Fin: Operation Splash Landing
Leila and the Blue Fox
Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Meet ocean explorer Sandy Fin, silver-scaled diver of the deep, puzzler of puzzles and daring hero of a hilarious middle grade series by Martin Stewart, illustrated in black and white.Sandy Fin and his best friend Lily are enjoying life by the sea, after saving Portwhistle and its marine life from Albo Start's aquapark.Suddenly, odd things start to occur: an escaped convict is on the loose, curious mounds of sand appear on the beach. Strangest of all are reported sightings of the Phantom Diver - a figure of Portwhistle legend, long believed to be a figment of the most inventive imagination!Suspicious, Sandy and Lily dive, snoop and climb their way through the mystery towards the Phantom Diver's true identity.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Sandy Fin: Mystery of the Phantom Diver and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
Sandy Fin: Mystery of the Phantom Diver features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Recommendations, Adventure Stories, Crime & Mystery, Stories about Family and Friends, Fantasy / Magical, Ecological and Environmental Interest - Non Fiction, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE), Children’s / Teenage fiction: Comic (humorous) fantasy, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Oceans and seas, Children’s / Teenage: Social issues / topics, Other geographical groupings: Oceans and seas, historical, political etc, Place qualifiers
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
Sandy Fin: Mystery of the Phantom Diver was written by Martin Stewart and published by Zephyr an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Sandy Fin: Mystery of the Phantom Diver has 219 pages
Yes it is part of Sandy Fin series
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
©PTC International Ltd T/A LoveReading is registered in England. Company number: 10193437. VAT number: 270 4538 09. Registered address: 157 Shooters Hill, London, SE18 3HP. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
The National Year of Reading starts here. Join thousands of families and schools supporting reading for pleasure across the UK.