Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson (Hardcover)

Middle Grade Fiction - Mystery & Detective - Thrillers & Suspense - Ages 9-12

RELEASE DATE: 7/1/2025  (WILL SHIP DIRECTLY FROM OUR SUPPLIER'S WAREHOUSE)

This summer, beware of sharks...

Mega bestselling and award-winning author Tiffany D. Jackson (The Weight of Blood; White Smoke) makes her thrilling middle-grade debut with a can't-put-it-down murder mystery set on Martha's Vineyard.

Brooklyn girl Kaylani McKinnon feels like a fish out of water. She's spending the summer with family friends in their huge house on Martha's Vineyard, and the vibe is definitely snooty. Still, there are beautiful beaches, lots of ice cream, and a town full of fascinating Black history. Plus a few kids her age who seem friendly.

Until the shocking death of a popular teenage boy rocks the community to its core. Was it a drowning? A shark attack? Or the unthinkable--murder?

Kaylani is determined to solve the mystery. But her investigation leads her to uncover shocking secrets that could change her own life as she knows it... if she survives.

New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson makes her thrilling middle-grade debut with this heart-pounding mystery packed with twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the end.

AUTHOR BIO: 

Tiffany D. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of YA novels Monday's Not Coming, Allegedly, Let Me Hear A Rhyme, Grown, White Smoke, Santa in The City, The Weight of Blood, and co-author of Blackout. A Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent Award-winner and the NAACP Image Award-nominee, she received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University and has over a decade in TV/Film experience. The Brooklyn native is currently splitting her time between the borough she loves and the south, most likely multitasking.

Praise for Blood in the Water:

* "Jackson once again proves her brilliance at weaving suspense, heart, and truth into a story that refuses to let go... A masterful middle-grade mystery that challenges, entertains, and lingers long after the final page." -- School Library Journal, starred review

* "Exhilarating... The protagonist's whip-smart first-person narration expertly complements the suspenseful murder-mystery plot, while chilling prose, atmospheric storytelling, and rich explorations of the island's Black history culminate in an accessible and satisfying thriller." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "Jackson brings her trademark thrills and twists to a younger audience with riveting adeptness... the African American history and cultural significance of Martha's Vineyard are sprinkled throughout, adding further depth to the setting. This is a must-purchase mystery." -- Booklist, starred review

"Employing tight, steady writing, Jackson builds tension around the complexities of class and respectability politics... A perfect beach read for lovers of suspense." -- Kirkus Reviews

"What could spoil a glamorous, fun-filled summer in Martha's Vineyard? Uh... maybe a murder? Waves of suspense more chilling than the threatening ocean. Don't miss this one!" -- R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps and Fear Street

"There is so much to love about this book. A heart-wrenching and thrilling mystery, filled with wonderfully crafted characters and dynamic relationships. This riveting and suspenseful story kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end!" -- Daka Hermon, author of Hide and Seeker

"Jackson never disappoints; Blood in the Water showcases the signature plotting, pacing, and character work we've come to love from this author. Make room on your bookshelves if you haven't already. You're going to want this one for your collection!" -- Lamar Giles, author of Ruin Road

"At once a breezy vacation story (complete with beachside bonfires, arcades, and lobster ice cream) and a tightly plotted, high-stakes murder mystery. Jackson's Martha's Vineyard location is lovingly and immersively drawn, complete with local history, community tensions, and the weight of social expectation that tempers the delights of being able to hop on a bike and meet new friends at the arcade or the ice cream shop. Kaylani is a sharp and observant detective--even if getting to the bottom of a suspicious death isn't how she wanted to spend her summer--and I loved sharing this adventure with her." -- Kate Milford, New York Times bestselling author of Greenglass House