History-mystery. Shot Tower is historical fiction set in the U.S. Civil War era. Teen friends Harry and Silas, the former the son of Irish immigrants, the latter a black from a Quaker family, travel South in search of the murderer of Harry’s mother.

They witness the naval assault on Port Royal Sound. It’s a loud affair and becomes known to the locals afterwards as “The Big Shoot.” Harry left his sweetheart behind while Silas encounters a romance on their adventure. They track down the suspected culprit but learn they may have the wrong man.