Kidnap on the California Comet

Description

Board the California Comet and help Harrison Beck to solve another heart-stopping mystery in the second Adventures on Trains story, Kidnap on the California Comet, from bestselling authors M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman. After the excitement of his adventures aboard the Highland Falcon Thief, Harrison Beck can't wait for the opportunity to go on another amazing train journey. 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. But when the daughter of billionaire entrepreneur August Reza goes missing en route, Hal finds himself with another mystery to solve. Can he uncover the kidnapper before the journey's end? Kidnap on the California Comet can be read as a stand-alone novel, or enjoyed as part of the Adventures on Trains series. Join Hal and Uncle Nat on the more stops in this thrilling series with: The Highland Falcon Thief, Murder on the Safari Star, Danger at Dead Man's Pass and Sabotage on the Solar Express Praise for the Series: 'Like Murder on the Orient Express but better!' - Frank Cottrell-Boyce on The Highland Falcon Thief 'A thrilling and hugely entertaining adventure story' - David Walliams on The Highland Falcon Thief 'A first class choo-choo-dunnit!' - David Solomons on Kidnap on the California Comet 'A high-speed train journey worth catching . . .The best yet' - The Times on Murder on the Safari Star 'This series just gets better and better' - Maz Evans on Danger at Dead Man's Pass

M.G. Leonard has made up stories since she was a girl, but back then adults called them lies or tall tales and she didn't write them down. As a grown up, her favourite things to create stories about are beetles, birds, and trains. Her books have been translated into over forty languages and won many awards. She is the vice president of the insect charity Buglife, and a founding author of Authors4Oceans. She lives in Brighton with her husband, two sons, a fat cat called Kasper, a dog called Nell, and a variety of exotic beetles. Sam Sedgman is a bestselling author and presenter. Before writing stories for children, he worked as a playwright, journalist, and digital producer, and founded a company making murder mystery treasure hunts for adventurous Londoners. Written with his friend, M. G. Leonard, The Highland Falcon Thief was Sam's first book for young readers. A lifelong fan of puzzles, games, and detective fiction, he grew up with a railway at the bottom of his garden and has been mad about trains ever since. He lives in London. Elisa Paganelli was born in Italy and since childhood, hasn't been able to resist the smell of paper and pencils. She graduated from the European Institute of Design in Turn and worked in advertising, as well as running an award-winning design shop and studio. She now collaborates as a freelance designer with publishers and advertising agencies all over the world, including designing and illustrating The House With Chicken Legs (Usborne) and the Travels of Ermine series (Usborne).

A slick and super-satisfying sequel with kidnap, card tricks and the coolest train carriage ever! -- Ross Montgomery, author of Perijee and Me Wildly funny, with hairpin plot bends and inventive characters, this series is firmly on track to become a bestseller. * Daily Mail * I have a station announcement: their collaboration is a chuffing triumph. Fans of Agatha Christie, or, more recently, Robin Stevens and Katherine Woodfine, should adore this mystery which makes a steam trail all of its own. -- Alex O'Connell * The Times Children's Book of the Week * With the Highland Falcon Thief, M. G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman bring the classic mystery on a train bang up to date with a carriage-load of wit and suspense -- Ross Welford, author of Time Travelling with a Hamster on The Highland Falcon Thief A brilliant adventure, packed with blackmail, red herrings and silver superliners! * Mitch Johnson * With a cast of delightfully dubious characters who are all potential suspects, Kidnap on the California Comet will keep readers guessing and reading on to enjoy the developing friendships and follow the red herrings across the USA, to a satisfying conclusion. There are plenty of notes at the back for train fans, and the book may therefore appeal especially to vehicle-obsessed children who are looking for a longer book with a clear plot to follow * BookTrust *