A fortune in gold. A high-stakes chase. Big trouble.
Don’t miss the next thrilling stand-alone mystery in the Red Sands series for 11+ readers
WE DID IT ANYWAY COMING THIS JULY
Luna would do anything for her best friend, Milly, but why did she agree to spend a week roughing it on an island?
Alex loves the idea of camping on a beach with his friends Otto and Jasper. But their best-laid plans spiral out of control when they discover a fortune in gold bars and have to flee from armed smugglers who want it back.
Alarmed when the boys miss their designated rendezvous, Luna and Milly have to take matters into their own hands.
Can they save their friends before it's too late?
SHORTLISTED FOR CBCA 2026 BOOK OF THE YEAR
Fire, lies, rivalry, a new boy, first love and small-town suspicions threaten a coastal town in this YA mystery for 11+ readers.
Otto was a star surfer back in California, but now he just wants a fresh start. When fires break out in Red Sands, the locals are suspicious. It's no coincidence that Otto's at the scene every time.
Is it?
Milly isn't so sure. Public opinion isn't always right - that's why she has to work so hard if she wants to beat her 'perfect' brother and become captain of the surf lifesaving club. What if Otto is innocent?
Can Otto and Milly trust each other to find the truth behind the fires? And what happens when you do the wrong things for the right reasons?
A fiery whodunit, a thriller of surf and sea; We Saw What You Started is a suspenseful exploration of loyalty, family and friendship.
‘This cover. This story. These characters. We Saw What You Started is just itching to be gobbled up by the teens of Australia. It makes perfect sense author Carla Salmon teaches high school… her characters are vivid and faithful; you can picture them chatting and gossiping away as if they were next door… It’s a YA whodunit that will set tongues wagging in school across the country.’
— Samuel Bernard, Notable Books, The Australian‘The sights and sounds of this fictional location all feel very real. It is easy to visualise the hot summer days during the Christmas holidays, with chaotic traffic, temporary tourists and overcrowded beaches. There is a visceral sense of place bringing the story to life.’
— Patricia Buckley, CBCA Reading Time‘This is a gutsy crossover mystery suited to tweens and teens teetering on teenagerhood. Screens are suitably smoky and red herrings are obliging thrown, with enough vigour to keep readers guessing and turning pages right until the dramatic end.’
— Dimity Powell, Kids' Book ReviewMEET CARLA
Carla Salmon is an author, speaker and Highly Accomplished Lead Teacher who loves telling stories. Her debut novel We Saw What You Started was shortlisted for the 2026 CBCA Book of the Year Award for older readers.
We Did It Anyway is the second book in Carla’s series of thrilling standalone mysteries for 11+ readers, inspired by her country coastal childhood where sports ruled and beach campsites were paradise.
Much like the students in her classroom today, her characters lead action-packed lives with plenty of heart and humour. Carla loves living in sun-soaked Brisbane with her husband and two teens.
Sometimes you need a new perspective to
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