Samantha McConnell

Samantha McConnell

1 bookMysteryHorrorTween kids

Samantha Jane McConnell is a passionate storyteller who loves weaving together suspense, humor, and heart for young readers. Drawing inspiration from her own childhood adventures and a lifelong fascination with local legends, she creates relatable characters who find courage in the most unexpected places. When she isn't brainstorming her next mystery or exploring historic neighborhoods, Samantha enjoys gardening, spending time with her family, and hunting for treasures in antique shops. She lives in a house that, fortunately, has a very bright and non-scary basement. 'Who's That In The Basement' is her debut novel for middle-grade readers, reflecting her belief that everyone has a little detective inside them waiting to be discovered.

Book

Who's That In The Basement

Who's That In The Basement

A dusty knife, a forgotten secret, and the shadow lurking in the dark

  • Mystery
  • Horror
  • Tween kids

Twelve-year-old Kelsey Delmonico is done with being the 'baby' of the family. Her overprotective mother, Beverly, won't let her breathe, but Kelsey is about to prove she's braver than anyone thinks. When Kelsey and her best friend Josselyn stumble upon a hidden room in the basement of an abandoned townhouse, they uncover more than just cobwebs—they find the remnants of a decades-old mystery the town of Oak Creek worked hard to forget. Armed with a dusty old knife and joined by their eccentric friend Caitlyn—who is convinced she can solve any problem with a magic spell—the girls dive headfirst into a cold case. From analyzing fingerprints with a quirky scientist to dodging the warnings of a jaded detective, the stakes are rising faster than Kelsey ever imagined. But they aren't the only ones interested in the basement. A shadowy figure is watching from the periphery, leaving chilling notes and stalking their every move. What started as a game to earn her mother’s respect has turned into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Kelsey must decide if she’s ready to face the truth of what happened in that basement before the person in the shadows catches up to them. Some secrets are buried for a reason, and this one is reaching out from the dark.