This is a kids mystery story that had me suspecting everyone until the final pages when I finally figured it out, alongside the characters. What a testament to great story weaving! The beginning of the story felt like it had a bit of info-dumping from the previous book and that was a little dull for someone who had read the previous books, but after the first. 50 pages or so it felt like the story really got going and the pacing was perfect. One of the biggest strengths of this story was the writing of the burgeoning relationship between the newly reunited family members and I really loved the sibling friendship as it developed. Also really enjoyed the descriptions of Dubrovnik! Looking forward to the next mystery!

Last time round (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5845806548) we saw the launch of a series of crime thrillers for the under-elevens that had no pause in the contrivances – no mind to the realism of the expository characters, or of how clues fell in our heroine's lap. It was still engaging enough to pass an evening. This time round we're on similarly shaky ground, for the heroine can now present herself on board a rather posh Adriatic sailing cruiser, one to be taking Edward and Wallis-Simpson no less around the Yugoslav coast. The King's "friend" is toting a massive jewel that the press are making a thing of; the ship has possession of something even bigger and rarer. Which promptly goes missing. It has to be Alice and Sonny's job then to finger everyone on board as a suspect – even royalty.

(As an aside for the Royalists reading this – both of you – Edward comes across as a bit of a gruff pillock; his serial divorcer seems at an early stage in their affair, calling him Sir in public, but generally barely features.) (And that only stands out against a complete lack of deference, nautical or otherwise, in just about every character here.)

So once again here too much is turned up to eleven – I haven't even mentioned the potential result of the disappearance, for that contrivance triples the threat to the heroes, and thrusts a timeline upon them. People are still allowed to do stupid things, regarding mice, golf balls and anything else to double down on the jeopardy, or show someone in an iffy light to keep them a suspect still. It turns the whole thing into a shaggy dog story.

And the better shaggy dog stories are still enjoyable for all their implausibility. While this doesn't gain anything from the heap of unlikely situations, characters' connections, events, language skills, and so on and so forth, it doesn't really get hindered by them. It means that these pages, while dropping the over-long sentences and plummy language of the first book, are still very much an old-fashioned, Saturday Morning cinema club adventure kind of thing – a lively, kinetic historical lark. And in me thinking this navy lark is closer to four stars than three, it's proof these things can be rather good fun.

The second in the Mysteries at Sea series, we once again follow Alice and Sonny as they set sail on their newly found family yacht. The King of England and Wallis Simpson are also aboard, expecting peace and quiet but when a valuable opal disappears, Alice can't resist investigating to find out what happened.

Full of great historical and geographical detail and lots of intrigue, this made a great detective story. The culprit wasn't obvious from the start but some brilliant clues helped me to work out what was really going on.

A real page-turning book with great characters and an intriguing plot.

I have become a big AM Howell fan as she is an East Anglian author and I have been to many of the areas described in other books. I enjoyed Peril on the Atlantic, it was an amazing start to a new series and I had been looking forward to this.

The Royal Jewel Plot is set just a month after Peril on the Atlantic on the yacht, The Lady Rose, that Sonny and Alice who met on board the Queen Mary as they cruised across the Atlantic, only to find out that they were brother and sister and that their Grandfather had left them this Yacht in his will. The grandfather that Alice didn't know, and who had kept Sonny from her father, the second in command on the Queen Mary, and her for his whole life.

On this trip, their first on the yacht, which was used to for cruises around the Mediterranean for paying customers (rich ones) was to be joined by the King of England and his friend Mrs Simpson! She, Alice from Suffolk, was going to be onboard with the King! It was all supposed to be very hush-hush because the King did not want to be followed by the press who wanted to photograph him and Mrs Simpson and her new jewels. But it's a bit suspicious being followed around by a British naval ship, HMS Glowworm!
However, there is another jewel on board, a rare black opal in an aquarium guarded by Olive a Blue-ringed octopus from the Pacific and she's deadly poisonous! The opal was loaned to their grandfather on the basis it was guarded. It is to be collected by the jewellery store at the end of this voyage. The aquarium was moved by the Aquarist, Zoran, to a different area in the room in order to get the required amount of furniture in, it is now nearer the door with a view of the ocean.
All doesn't go well - first Olive and the opal go missing, next Mrs Simpson is photographed getting on to The Lady Rose from the launch, then Alice is hit on the head by a golf ball while swimming.
This is a fabulous story, it twists throughout to keep us guessing over who is the jewel thief. And indeed who engineered a photograph of Mrs Simpson and her jewelled flamingo! The characters are really well written and give us insight into this period of history, where women should do certain work only and when children should be seen and not heard! Well, Alice and Sonny are not good at being seen and not heard. They are however good at investigating, even if at times it gets them into trouble! Also there is the backdrop of the story behind the King and Mrs Simpson, a story which a lot of children may well not know.
On the press release this book is seen by 'The Bookseller' as appealing "to fans of the Adventures on Trains series" well I thoroughly agree Hal and Uncle Nat would be proud of Alice and Sonny! If you enjoy a mystery and rather a lot of adventure you definitely will want to get this. The next title is due in September and I can't wait! A preview is at the end of this book.

Following on from the brilliant Peril on the Atlantic, readers set sail with Alice and Sonny on a second exciting adventure.

This time, the pair are cruising the Mediterranean on their father’s new steam yacht, the Lady Rose. This isn’t just any boat – there’s a poisonous octopus onboard guarding a rare opal and their special guests are none other than King Edward VIII and his “friend” Mrs Wallis Simpson. This really needs to be a voyage of no drama and complete privacy but such closed quarters are the perfect setting for a mystery.

Alice has even more reason to look forward to this trip. The Lady Rose is where her mother spent time as a child and some of her belongings are still onboard. Desperate to connect with her, Alice can’t wait to explore. But when the octopus and the opal go missing, they might lose the yacht before Alice even has a chance.

With Hitler gaining power, troubles brewing in Europe and the possibility of war on the horizon, this is a fascinating period of history for children to immerse themselves in. There is lots of opporutnity for discussion about the future of the King and the future of Europe.

A.M. Howell is a genius at dropping clues for readers to collect along the way as they solve the mystery with Alice and Sonny. A vibrant cast of characters, all with unusual back stories, leaves everyone under suspicion – even the King! It’s going to take all their skills of observation to find the truth!

After enjoying the first Mysteries at Sea book I was excited to read the second.

Brilliant book, cementing the sibling relationship between Alice and Sonny who again tackle a mystery on board during their voyage. Fan characters, some intriguing plot twists and a bit of history mixed in. I enjoyed this and will be recommending it to the children I work with, who I know will also devour it.

Roll on book 3!

I was hooked from the very first page despite having not read book 1 as it reminded me of another of my favourite series of books but set on trains. The main characters of Alice, Sonny, their father and Dorothy the governess are very relatable and family is a theme which resonates throughout the entire story. Our young adventurers find themselves with a mystery to solve and a whole array of possible culprits. I loved the intrigue of the story as the plot kept twisting and turning as suspects were either ruled out or ruled in.
I'm definitely going to track down book 1.

The second book in the Mysteries at Sea series, Alice and her brother investigate the robbery of the famous opal from the aquarium on the yacht ‘The Mary Rose’ which has been recently inherited by Alice’s family and on which the King of England is taking a short cruise with his lady friend, the American divorcee Mrs Simpson.
The plot keeps one delightfully guessing. There are enough clues to keep one entertained and thinking up theories of who stole the opal along with lots of secrets and twists lurking under the surface. The importance of family is regularly touched on and there is a smattering of history there due to the period in which the story is set. There is also a nod towards diversity regarding attitudes about women and non whites, some showing the typical attitudes of the time and others demonstrating a more positive approach.

Overall, this is an excellent series to get into and which could well be the ‘hook’ to get more reluctant readers falling in love with books. However, whilst referrals are made to the first book, these mysteries can be read out of order.

Recommended for 8 to 12 year olds.

After reading the first Mysteries at Sea book, Peril on the Atlantic, I couldn’t wait to get started on The Royal Jewel Plot - it didn’t disappoint.

As a fan of historical fiction, A.M Howell’s research for this book was sublime, you literally felt like you were onboard a beautiful yacht in the 1930’s, observing moments in history. From the descriptions of the highly varnished decks to the listing of the boat in windy seas, to the mysterious escape of Olive the octopus - it transports you to a time in history where you feel change is coming.

In Peril on the Atlantic, we saw the foundations of Alice and Sonny’s relationship forming and the realisation that they were siblings. In this book, we see their relationship grow even more to one of love and protection, as they join forces once again to solve the mystery of the missing opal and hopefully save their inheritance and more importantly, a new life at sea together has a family.

With more intriguing young characters to get to know, this second book is equally has fast-paced and adventurous as the first. Yet another, beautifully written, page-turner. Once again, I’m left waiting for the next instalment, which I’m sure will be equally has enjoyable. A great series to enjoy at home, and I’d also, highly recommend it for the classroom.

Thank you to Net Galley and Usborne Publishing for the opportunity to read The Royal Jewel Plot.

This was a fun read, containing all the ingredients for a good mystery - exotic location, a missing jewel and a line-up of interesting characters and culprits! It’s 1936 and Alice Townsend, the main character from Howell’s first book, Peril On the Atlantic, returns with a mystery to solve aboard the Lady Rose. This time, as well as her recently reunited brother Sonny, she also has ship crew, Frances and Marjory, a new friend called Don, an deadly octopus called Olive and the King of England as shipmates! The book provides added interest by showing us round Dubrovnik and helping us to learn all about octopuses! Themes such as family, history and race and class are touched on lightly in this book, just the right amount needed, in my opinion, for young readers. Budding young sleuths will love this story and will enjoy trying to use the clues to solve the crime. I must admit, I kept on changing my own mind as to the culprit! A gentle and charming whodunnit from the Mysteries at Sea writer, A.M.Howell. Looking forward to number 3 - The Hollywood Kidnap Case!

A.M. Howell has transported me to a beautiful yacht in the middle of turquoise seas with not only extraordinary siblings, Alice and Sonny but with King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson!

Alice, Sonny, their father and governess Dorothy are still figuring out their new family dynamic since their first adventure and mystery on the Queen Mary! Having discovered their joint ownership of The Lady Rose, the family hops aboard just moments ahead of the King who has chartered the boat for a getaway with friend Wallis.

Aboard, is an aquarium with a poisonous blue ringed octopus and a priceless gem. There is much talk of gems as Wallis wears a lavish brooch featuring a flamingo that is sought after by photographers.

There are plenty of mysteries to be solved along the way- why is Frances acting strangely? How did the crack in the aquarium come to happen? And a few more questions get raised as you read.

Brilliantly set out, the true mystery unravels perfectly keeping the reader guessing and looking for clues. I make no secret that mysteries are my absolute favourite genre and this hit the spot perfectly this weekend.

With a sneak peek at a third in this series, I for one am wholeheartedly invested in these books. I also think they would make for excellent watching on tv! Imagine the sets, scenery and adventure!

My children and I really enjoyed Peril on the Atlantic so we were thrilled to be given a review copy of The Royal Jewel Plot. I have 8 year old twins so gave them each a copy to read on their kindles. They both reported back that they loved this new book. They told me that the book was exciting and that they loved the fact that familiar characters were back. They both sneakily read long after they should have had their lights out, which is testament to how much they were enjoying it!

We’re already looking forward to the next one!

Since the first book I read by AMHowell I have loved her style. This book is another gem in her collection.
A gripping story jam packed full of adventurous, exciting characters that develop so much over the course of the book that you find yourself swept up into their world.
Fantastic writing, fast paced storyline and a wealth of characters make this a brilliant read.

I have recently read the first book in the Mysteries at Sea series and so to read this second one was great as it picks up exactly where the last one left off. Sonny, Alice and their father, along with Sonny's governess Dorothy are about to spend the summer on the yacht Lady Rose. This is the yacht Alice and Sonny have just learned they are siblings and that their grandfather had left them this yacht. The King of England, Edward VIII has also just chartered it to spend the summer navigating the seas near Dubrovnik along with his companion Mrs Simpson. What I love about this book is that some of the story is based on fact about the King and Mrs Simpson. I felt really invested in it. Sonny and Alice make a great team investigating a disappearing deadly octopus and a priceless opal this time. They both make friends easily and are soon part of a little group including maids and workers on board the ship. Alice notes down what she can in her book of adventures and they investigate what has happened, against the clock before the opal's owners want it back.
This will appeal to those children who like adventure and mystery stories, but also it is not overly long and action moves so quickly to keep the interest. I oved how the end of the story sets up for the next adventure too.
A really enjoyable mystery adventure with wonderful main characters. A great series.

Alice and Sonny are back and this time, they are boarding The Lady Rose and setting sail with none other than the King of England and his companion, Mrs Simpson. Discretion is the order of the day and the king has insisted upon privacy throughout the trip. Also on board is a precious opal which is being guarded by a poisonous octopus; however, when both the octopus and the jewel going missing, the race is on to find them before the opal is due to be handed over to its new owner. With time of the essence, everybody suddenly becomes a suspect and Alice and Sonny begin investigations which could lead them into danger.
I have always been a fan of AM Howell's writing and the seamless way she entwines history with adventure in a way that captivates and excites readers. when Peril On The Atlantic published last year as the first in the Mysteries At Sea series, I was delighted (you can read my review here) so I was excited when I was able to re-join Alice and Sonny on their second adventure.

The prospect of weeks onboard The Lady Rose is proving to be an exciting prospect for the pair, even if they've been told they will have to help the rest of the crew with their duties. It isn't long though, before they realise that things aren't going to be quite as they expected. The King and Mrs Simpson are the prime focus of everybody's attention which means that some areas of the boat are off-limits; something which frustrates Alice in particular. When the opal goes missing, things take a dramatic turn and investigations uncover more questions than answers to begin with. Alice proves, once again, that her feisty character and her happiness to break the rules is what drives them on and leads them to uncover secrets and truths that they couldn't have imagined when they first stepped aboard. With danger lurking, this second adventure is one that will grip and excite readers in equal measure.

Mysteries At Sea: The Royal Jewel Plot publishes publishes on the 11th April and is an adventure that you definitely want to get on board with.

Alice and Sonny are back, and this time their luxury cruise on the yacht, the Lady Rose, will be alongside an unusual fellow passenger...the King!

But there is no smooth sailing to be had on this voyage, and the excitement of having the royal traveller on board is - to put it mildly - tempered by the knowledge that a valuable gem has gone missing. But how could that happen?

After all, the precious jewel was protected by a poisonous octopus. And now, both are missing! Luckily, both Alice and Sonny have experience of how to handle dodgy characters and their nefarious activities on the high seas...

Like the previous story featuring this set of characters, this too delivers excitement and adventure with an immensely likeable young pair of amateur sleuths. It gets 3.5 stars. Howell is on to a good thing with this series.