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by T. L. Lolley (Author)
A hidden map. An old journal. A mystery buried in the Alabama woods.
Eleven-year-old Eli Calloway has always noticed things other people miss. Small details. Strange patterns. Questions that do not go away just because adults stop asking them. So when he finds a map tucked inside his grandfather's old field journal, Eli knows it means something.
His grandfather, Dr. James Calloway, was a retired archaeologist who spent his life studying the past. But this journal is different. Inside are careful notes, old sketches, and clues leading deep into Forsyth Woods near the small town of Redbud, Alabama. By the next morning, Eli is following the trail himself.
What he finds is bigger than he expected.
Hidden stone markers lead him to a buried chamber with stone walls, ancient artifacts, and two empty spaces where something important used to be. Someone got there first. Someone has opened the chamber, taken what did not belong to them, and left behind marks of their own.
Now Eli has to figure out what his grandfather discovered years ago, why the site was never protected, and who is trying to keep the truth buried. As he follows the evidence, Eli uncovers a mystery tied to family history, local secrets, courage, and the responsibility of protecting what others are willing to overlook.
But Eli is still just eleven. He has to learn when to trust his own observations, when to ask for help, and how to keep following the truth even when the trail leads somewhere uncomfortable.
The Marked Stones is the first book in a new clean middle grade mystery adventure series for readers ages 9-12. Set in small-town Alabama and built around old maps, hidden clues, field notes, secret places, family legacy, and kid-led investigation, this story is a good fit for readers who enjoy outdoor adventure, archaeology, local history, smart kid detectives, and mysteries with heart.
Some things don't stay buried.
