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Kidnap on the California Comet

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( 1,685 ratings, 185 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Join Harrison Beck aboard the California Comet, the iconic train journey from Chicago to San Francisco, in Kidnap on the California Comet. Invited by his Uncle Nat, Hal is eager for another thrilling railway adventure. But when the daughter of billionaire August Reza disappears mid-journey, Hal must unravel a tense kidnapping mystery before the train reaches its final destination. This fast-paced sequel blends suspense, clever twists, and a vibrant cast of characters, making it a captivating standalone read or a continuation of the Adventures on Trains series.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$1999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for children and young readers who love mystery and adventure, especially those who enjoy railway-themed tales or are fans of authors like Robin Stevens and Katherine Woodfine.

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Climb aboard the California Comet and join Harrison Beck as he solves the case of a kidnapped passenger in the second exciting Adventures on Trains book from bestselling mystery-writing duo M. G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman.

Climb aboard the California Comet and join Harrison Beck as he solves the case of a kidnapped passenger in the second exciting Adventures on Trains book from bestselling mystery-writing duo M. G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! 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 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

Series: Adventures on Trains

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  • Danger at Dead Man's Pass
    Embark on a thrilling fourth adventure in the bestselling, prize-winning Adventures on Trains series - Danger at Dead Man's Pass, from M. G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman, as Harrison Beck investigates an ancient family curse high in the German mountains. Illustrated in black-and-white throughout by Elisa Paganelli. A mysterious letter from an old friend asks Hal and Uncle Nat to...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Kidnap on the California Comet
    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...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Murder on the Safari Star
    Join Hal and Uncle Nat as they plunge straight into an exciting mysteryβ€”this time while on Safari! All-aboard for the third amazing journey in the bestselling Adventures on Trains series, Murder on the Safari Star, from M. G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman, illustrated throughout by Elisa Paganelli. Harrison Beck and his Uncle Nat are on the journey of a lifetime...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Arctic Railway Assassin
    A thrilling and hugely entertaining adventure story - David Walliams on The Highland Falcon Thief, the first journey in the Adventures on Trains series. The bestselling, prize-winning Adventures on Trains series embarks on a thrilling sixth adventure as Harrison Beck and Uncle Nat climb aboard the night train to Narvik, travelling to the Arctic Circle to see the northern lights...
    Paperback
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  • The Highland Falcon Thief
    The Highland Falcon Thief is the winner of the Book of the Year, Children's Fiction at The British Book Awards, 2021, and the Books are My Bag Readers Award, Children's Fiction 2020. Adventures on Trains is a major mystery series from bestselling authors M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman. First stop is The Highland Falcon Thief, a breathless train journey full...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised as a "slick and super-satisfying sequel" by Ross Montgomery and called a "chuffing triumph" by The Times children’s book critic Alex O'Connell, this mystery combines humour, nail-biting suspense, and ingenious plot twists. Fans of Agatha Christie and contemporary mystery authors will appreciate its clever storytelling and engaging characters. The series has been lauded for its inventiveness and excitement, securing its place as a must-read for young mystery enthusiasts.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529013085

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 September 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Elisa Paganelli
  • Illustrated by Elisa Paganelli

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 258g

Pages: 256

About the Author

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).

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    WINNER OF THE SAINSBURYS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARDS 2021 WINNER OF THE CRIMEFEST AWARD FOR BEST CRIME NOVEL FOR CHILDREN 2021 "A twist-laden, thriller-like tale" Observer "Simply genius." BBC Wildlife From the internationally bestselling author of Beetle Boy and the Adventures on Trains series comes the first book in The Twitchers, a thrilling mystery adventure series celebrating friendship, bravery, and the...
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  • The Arctic Railway Assassin
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Also by Sam Sedgman

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