Review: Kidnap on the California Comet by M.G. Leonard & Sam Sedgman

Kidnap on the California Comet by 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 follows Hal and his Uncle Nat as they travel across the pond to board the California Comet, a train which would take them on a three-day journey from Chicago to San Francisco. Hal, who is very excited about taking another train journey with his Uncle, wonders what adventure he will have this time. When the daughter of a billionaire entrepreneur is kidnapped, it’s up to Hal to try and solve the mystery and uncover the kidnapper before their journey is up.

Just like its predecessor, Kidnap On The California Comet was such a fun, fast-paced mystery that had you wanting to read on and know more through each page. I found myself utterly captivated by this conundrum and I didn't want to stop reading, so much so that I finished it in one sitting. The writing is so vivid and what stood out was the accurate descriptions of the train and its journey, including the technical side. I am in awe of Leonard and Sedgman’s knowledge of trains and the research that must have gone into the rail journey on the American coast is admirable. I also feel that many children that read this book may find themselves wanting to know more about trains and the journeys they make.

The mystery in Kidnap On The California Comet was just as intriguing as the mystery in the first book of the series, The Highland Falcon Thief, but on a whole bigger scale. You get minuscule clues from the very start and it’s as though you as the reader need to start trying to solve the crime alongside Hal from the get-go. The fact we get introduced to a bunch of sceptical suspects adds to the riddle and I did find myself thinking that all of them were the kidnapper at one point or another. The kidnapping plot itself was executed extremely well and I will admit that I was shocked when we finally found out who was behind it. Once the kidnapper is revealed, you start to piece together all of the clues that were scattered throughout the book, which is a unique touch.

There were so many unique characters in Kidnap On The California Comet, from the magic-loving siblings Mason and Hadley who befriend Hal, to the feisty, mystifying journalist Zola. Despite many of them just being secondary characters, I felt I got to know them all personally. My favourite character by far in both books is Uncle Nat - he’s so supportive of Hal and is so eager to solve the mystery. They have such a close-knit bond and it’s heart-warming to see in middle-grade fiction.

Kidnap On The California Comet, was overall, an incredible sequel to what is becoming one of my favourite middle-grade mystery series. I cannot wait for book three to find out what mystery Hal and Uncle Nat will be solving next.