Reading Metrics
Description
When the daughter of billionaire entrepreneur August Reza goes missing whilst travelling on the California Comet from Chicago to San Francisco, Hal finds himself with another mystery to solve. Co-author is Sam Sedgman. Book #2
Quick Summary
If your kid loves trains, mysteries, or just a good page-turner, this one's a winner. The story drops you right onto the California Comet a luxury train racing from Chicago to San Francisco when a billionaire's daughter vanishes, and it's up to our protagonist Hal to figure out what happened before the train reaches its destination. The train setting makes everything feel intimate and urgent since the action is contained in this moving space, and there are plenty of red herrings and twists to keep readers guessing. It's got that perfect balance of funny moments and genuine suspense that makes it hard to put down, plus a cast of characters that'll make you root for the good guys. This is the second book in a series (the first being The Highland Falcon Thief), so if your kid devours this one, there's more to dive into. Parents will appreciate that it's exciting without being too scary or dark it's that kind of mystery that makes you want to stay up way past bedtime. It's perfect for kids who like series like The Secret Seven or Encyclopedia Brown, blending clever puzzle-solving with the thrill of a high-stakes kidnapping. Leonard and Sedgman really nail the train setting, making this a solid choice for middle-grade readers who want something fun and fast-paced.