Kevin Sands

Kevin Sands is a Canadian children's author from Ontario.

Sands began his career teaching math and physics to high school students. He published his debut novel, The Blackthorn Key, with Simon & Schuster in 2015. This began a series followed by a Mark of the Plague (2016), The Assassin's Curse (2017), Call of the Wraith (2018), The Traitor's Blade (2022), and The Raven's Revenge (2024). This book series takes place in 17th-century England/Europe. The main character is Christopher Rowe, and his friends are Tom Bailey and Sally Deschamps. Together, they solve mysteries and stop malicious plots against their king, King Charles II.

Following The Blackthorn Key series, Sands began the Thieves of Shadow series, including Children of the Fox (2021), Seekers of the Fox (2022), and Champions of the Fox (2023). The Chicago Public Library and CBC Books included Children of the Fox on their lists of the best books of 2021.

Awards The Blackthorn Key (2015), Mark of the Plague (2016), The Assassin's Curse (2017), and Call of the Wraith (2018) are Junior Library Guild books. The Chicago Public Library, and Kirkus Reviews named The Blackthorn Key among the best middle grade books of 2015. The following year, Bank Street College of Education included it on their list of the best historical fiction for children ages 9 to 12, and the Association for Library Service to Children included on their list of Notable Children's Books for Middle Readers. Bank Street College of Education also included Mark of the Plague on their 2017 list of the best historical fiction for children ages 9 to 12.

The Chicago Public Library and CBC Books included Children of the Fox on their lists of the best books of 2021.

Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence: Best Juvenile or Young Adult Crime Book Finalist E. B. White Read Aloud Award for Middle Readers Honor Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Juvenile Finalist John Spray Mystery Award Winner Violet Downey Book Award Finalist

Silver Birch Award Finalist Mark of the Plague Geoffrey Bilson Award Winner

Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Juvenile Finalist Geoffrey Bilson Award Winner John Spray Mystery Award Finalist

Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence: Best Juvenile or Young Adult Crime Book Finalist John Spray Mystery Award Finalist 2020 Forest of Reading Red Maple Award Finalist

Children of the Fox Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Young Adult/Middle Readers Finalist Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence: Best Juvenile or Young Adult Crime Book Winner

Seekers of the Fox Forest of Reading Red Maple Award Finalist Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Young Adult/Middle Readers Winner Champions of the Fox Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence: Best Juvenile or Young Adult Crime Book Finalist Publications

The Blackthorn Key series

Thieves of Shadow series