The Secret of Camp Whispering Pines

Publisher's Summary

What could be better than hiking, swimming, and horseback riding? Having a mystery to solve, of course! When Sam and Ally embark on their next quest together, they have no idea what secrets hide in the shadows at Camp Whispering Pines. Set in the beautiful, rugged mountains of the Pacific Northwest, the clues are slowly revealed, and it's up to the two girls to figure it out. New friendships are formed, while at the same time enemies lurk nearby. The closer they get to uncovering the truth behind the camp, the further they are pushed into danger and deceit. Can Sam and Alley put all of the pieces together before it's too late? Follow them on another thrilling tale filled with excitement and adventure, along misty, high mountain trails and deep ravines, where the answers wait to be found!

©2015 Tara Ellis (P)2015 Tara Ellis

Another fun kids mystery

This is like a modern day Nancy Drew for tween girls. My 8-year-old daughter really liked this book. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

There's something strange happening at the camp.

When Samantha keeps getting blamed for things she didn't do she decides to find out what's going on at the camp. With the help of her group they encounter something mysterious that puts them in danger. A very enticing story.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Another great story!

If the first book was great, this one is amazing. Sam and Ali are going to Camp Whispering Pines, but from the very beginning, things take a wrong turn. Sam seems to be targeted by the director and keeps getting unjustly punished. Something strange is going on... and Big Foot might be around.

The story is delightful, the way the different girls are portrayed is great, and there are so many subthemes here! Anyone who had a best friend as a child knows how hard is let anyone else in, and here we are witness to that very opening. It is about friendship, and how kids feel about their parents, and about when trusting adults and when distrust them.

A great read for kids... and those who delight in innocent adventures.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A mysterious read!

Summer camp...
New friendships are made...
And a mystery that needs solving...

Another mystery begging to be solved! These girls went for quite a journey, I must say! I am so glad they were okay after all that has happened to them.

These girls were fantastic and enjoyable to read - loved every moment of their journey and how they solved the mystery.

These girls are loads of fun! Cannot get enough of these books!

Full of mystery, adventure, suspense, suspicion, friendships, camp. sleuthing, action and secrets.

Perfect for readers of mystery reads.

The narrator was amazing. A great listen!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Just the right amount of mystery

Another excellent kids mystery! These are not complicated or overly fantastical stories.
It is an enjoyable read about Samantha and her best friend while they are at a summer camp where they befriend some girls assigned to their cabin. As strange things start happening they start to piece things together and realize there is something more going on than a camp that is loosing its good standing.

This is the second book I’ve listened to by this author. Previously, I listened to Hollow Inn- Book 1 of the Samantha Wolf Mysteries.

Once again, the author provides a good narration for the book. She does well giving each of the characters voices and has a nice cadence to her narration.

There is no violence or swearing.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

What a wonderful book that appeals to multiple age

If you could sum up The Secret of Camp Whispering Pines in three words, what would they be?

Friendship, adventure, fun

What did you like best about this story?

What a wonderful book with an appeal for multiple age groups. My son and I both thoroughly enjoyed our second foray into the adventures of Sam and Ally.
The girls go to summer camp, they meet new friends, learn new songs and have a great adventure! I love the deeper messages in this book. how they don't want to judge someone in the first ten minutes of camp and end up friending a friendless girl. A shared love of reading brings in another friend and kindness alone earns the next. Most importantly well chosen friends matter. Those who are honest and kind and try hard because you cannot do everything by yourself.
While I have never been to a summer camp I live in the mountains and can perfectly picture the raccoons finding a snack, the chill of the lake water and the peace and beauty of riding up a trail.
We cannot wait to read the next installment! Audible doesn't have it so I'm going to get a hard copy. It will take us a little longer to read it but I'm sure we will both enjoy it tremendously.

What does Tara Ellis bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I didn't realize she read the book! As the author she would be able to bring all of the inflections that she imagined when she wrote it. She does a great job, the characters come alive and the scenes play out through your head.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Jason isn't here! lol

Any additional comments?

All joking aside these are great books and I'm disappointed that Audible doesn't have the rest of the series.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A cute mystery for young readers and listeners

The Secret of Camp Whispering Pines is a cute mystery for young readers and listeners. The story is entertaining, and the author does a fairly good job narrating her own book. She does have a bad habit if switching between present and past tense which I personally found distracting, but otherwise it is a fun book.

I received a complimentary copy of this audio book. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The Secret of Camp Whispering Pines

Sam and Alley go off to summer camp for a week and discover something isn’t quite right. It’s another mystery. Can the girls figure it out before it’s to late?

Tara Ellis has written and narrated a great stand alone story.

I was given this free review copy Audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

Great mystery for all ages

This is the second one my kids and I have listened to and Tara really does a wonderful job with her plots and narrating her own stories, which I really like when the author can read/entertain their audience. My kids (11yr and 9yr) both really enjoyed this book and so did I. I would recommend this one to those who like the Nancy Drew series or just the fun mysteries.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Sam and Ally, Round Two of the Duo Sleuths

In true serial stand alone mystery sets (the Bobbsey Twins, Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew), book 2 is a direct opposite to the previous book. In Camp Whispering Pines, the strict adult figure had a closer, if not crooked, eye on Sam and Ellie. The leniency of a flexible summer schedule to explore and solve a mystery is a bygone and the girls are growing and maturing as they’ve aged a year since we met them.
I thoroughly enjoyed the new world building, as the setting is different, yet still vibrant. I’ve never been to summer camp, but the book brings back the euphoria a campy feel (campfires and bigfoot) and vast personality clashes and meshes.
The series also grows as we watch the teens interact with others their age.
Ms Ellis is an engaging narrator for her books!
I’m so excited to collect these audiobooks and share them with my granddaughters! Keep them coming!
In the meantime, I’m ready and eager to explore her books for an older audience, too.