The Highland Falcon Thief (Adventures on Trains, 1)

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As soon as I found out it was going to be Book of the Month at work, I coukd be found eagerly awaiting the postie every day to see if my copy had arrived yet! Things get even more interesting when the royal prince and princess board for the last leg of the journey—because the princess’s diamond necklace is soon stolen and replaced with a fake! But things quickly start to go wrong, and as they speed across the Australian Outback they discover the train has been dangerously sabotaged. The first book in the Adventures on Trains series - The Highland Falcon Thief - was published in 2020 and went on to win multiple awards including Book of the Year at the British Book Awards. Uncle Nat is taking Hal on the journey of a lifetime – on a Safari Train from Pretoria to Victoria Falls.

Hear whispers in the dining car, find notes in the library and unknown passengers among the luggage, as you help Harrison solve the mystery aboard one of the world’s grandest trains.

Marlene Singh is a railroad enthusiast and befriends Harrison as they begin their adventure across Britain.

But then Hal spots a girl who should not be on board, and he quickly makes friends with the stowaway, Lenny. I feel bad because others are rating it so highly but the reality is that I was a little disappointed. So when his Uncle Nat invites him aboard the California Comet, the iconic three-day train journey from Chicago to San Francisco, he leaps at the chance to travel. Harrison “Hal” Beck is an average 11-year-old with an artist’s eye for details, which helps him draw conclusions about the colorful characters (and suspects) in the big picture of an investigation.

But if you wanted to read a MYSTERY I suggest you try Robin Stevens' Murder Most Unladylike series or Julie Berry's Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place which keep the atmosphere and style this book was going for but actually do the mystery part well too. It's one of those middle grade books that will stick with you and you probably will always keep in your heart. In spite of his fears, he holds his head high and joins his Uncle for the memorable final journey of the Highland Falcon. It honestly felt like the book was too long and an editor told Leonard they had to cute some of the mystery investigation or some of the train stuff and Leonard decided to keep the train stuff. Hal’s mom is sending him to take its last journey w/his Uncle Nat who is a journalist, while she prepares to have his baby sister.