“What a great historical mystery/thriller book for kids! I was impressed by how author Paul Barra managed to bring history to life without slowing down the plot. Kids will love the thriller/adventure and friendship between Samson and his friends; educators will appreciate the curriculum tie-in of the Civil War. If you’re looking for an action-packed historical mystery for kids, add Samson and the Charleston Spy to your list…!”

— Fleur Bradley, award-winning author of Midnight at the Barclay Hotel and Daybreak on Raven Island.

“Samson and the Charleston Spy will warm your heart and make you laugh with delight at the antics of four fierce friends determined to find a spy in their midst. Someone forewarned soldiers at Fort Sumter about the first shots to be fired in the American Civil War—and The Fearless Four has a far-ranging list of suspects. One by one, the group led by Samson Collier, bravely eliminates names. What they discover is that life is never as simple as it seems. Even if you’re only eleven years old.”

— donalee Moulton, author of Conflagration!, winner of the 2024 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense (Historical Fiction).

“Samson and the Charleston Spy is an invigorating middle grade novel exploring the complicated past of the Southern ways. The author uses his skills to combine a fictional plot with a very real and accurate portrayal of the start of the Civil War. The well-versed writing allows the reader to learn history alongside the main characters, while viewing a spy thriller during the tension after the attack on Fort Sumter. Samson and the Fearless Four show how the controversy of slavery and impending war played out in the streets of Charleston. This group of kids and the setting are hard to not fall in love with, creating a bond between the reader and the plot. The author has a unique way of writing, giving a new perspective on a controversial time in our country. I highly recommend this historical thriller for any child interested in our complicated southern past, while also enjoying a mysterious setting full of twists and turns.”

— Page Jenkins, South Carolina writer and book publicist (https://pjs-portfolio.com/)

“Treachery is afoot in Charleston as the first shots of the Civil War are fired. Samson and his three best friends, one the child of a freed slave, take us through their journey to expose a gang of traitors. As they seek the spies among them, Samson examines the issues of slavery, emancipation, duty and honor to grapple with the impending war that will forever alter the South.”

— Susan Waller Lehmann, Author, Investigator, Journalist