The Highland Falcon Thief (Adventures on Trains)

by M. G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman

Elisa Paganelli (Illustrator)

Winner of the Book of the Year, Children's Fiction at The British Book Awards
Winner of the Books are My Bag Readers Award, Children's Fiction
Shortlisted for the FCBG Children's Book Award

'A thrilling and hugely entertaining adventure story' – David Walliams

Climb aboard the Adventures on Trains mystery series for young readers! From bestselling authors M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman. Beautifully illustrated by Elisa Paganelli.

First stop is The Highland Falcon Thief, a breathless train journey full of deceptions, puzzles and clues to solve.

Harrison Beck and his Uncle Nat are enjoying the final journey of the Highland Falcon, Britain's most famous steam train. But when a precious jewel goes missing, Harrison and his new friend Lenny find themselves at the centre of the investigation. Can they solve the mystery and catch the culprit before they reach the end of the line?

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.

The Highland Falcon Thief 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 next stops in this thrilling series, Kidnap on the California Comet and Murder on the Safari Star.

Praise for the Series:

'Like Murder on the Orient Express but better!' – Frank Cottrell-Boyce 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

• ISBN10: 1529013070
• ISBN13: 9781529013078
• Publish Date: 30 January 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 256
• Language: English

Reviews

[Kelly]

Eleven year old Harrison Beck is spending four days with his eccentric uncle and author Nathaniel Bradshaw, journeying across the British countryside upon The Highland Falcon, his mother heavily pregnant with her second child. bringing a new sibling for Harrison into the world. Harrison reluctantly boards The Highland Falcon, a steam powered locomotive on her final journey before decommissioned into retirement. Harrison isn't a train enthusiast like his uncle, documenting her final journey but adventure awaits onboard the locomotive for the wealthy and infamous passengers, a stowaway and the British Prince and Princess as a jewel thief journeys among them.

Harrison is a lovely young man, courteous and reluctantly boards The Highland Falcon, the only child on the journey from Crewe to Scotland until Harrison discovers a young stowaway. Marlene Singh is a railroad enthusiast and befriends Harrison as they begin their adventure across Britain.

The jewel heist has begun. Someone had been thieving from wealthy socialites and society members and when a brooch, earrings and and absurdly, the Atlas Diamond necklace as worn under security by the royal Princess herself disappears onboard, Harrison and Marlene are determined to unravel the mystery and find the culprit.

The Highland Falcon Thief is unequivocally delightful. A mystery adventure on the railway, surprising and wonderfully engaging. Throughout the narrative, learning about the romance of the railways was lovely, the almost obsolete steam powered locomotives and the journey onboard, an adventure itself. As Harrison sketches various scenes of interest, the illustrations are recreated throughout, enchanting and delighting middle grade readers. Simply brilliant.