The Arctic Railway Assassin

This sixth book in the series has been much anticipated, and I was so grateful to get an early read from NetGalley. Well, I can tell you now that it’s been worth the wait. Once again Uncle Nat and Hal join forces to tackle crime - this time to stop a deadly code from being passed on. The night train journey from Stockholm to Narvik is eventful and full of surprises and kept me reading and not wanting to stop! Once again Hal’s sketch book and powers of observation proved invaluable towards solving the crime. Elisa Paganelli has produced beautiful pictures to bring the story to life.
It feels like this might be the last one of Adventures on Trains - I might just have to go back and start again at the beginning. Thank you so much Maya and Sam, your writing is fabulous.

Hal and Uncle Nat are channeling their inner James Bond on this high-stakes journey to the frozen north. With danger around every turn, readers hardly have time to catch their breath before the next threat comes charging down the tracks!

Hal (now 13 years-old!) is flying to Stockholm to meet his uncle for a once in a lifetime trip to the Aurora Sky Station to see the Northern Lights. It’s nearly Christmas so the days are short with polar night adding to the mystery in the air. Morti, Uncle Nat’s friend, has just won the Nobel Prize for medicine. She has discovered a way to treat illness using SONAR. The trouble is, someone else wants to use the same science for evil.

In Danger at Dead Man’s Pass (book 4 in the Adventures on Trains series), we learned about Uncle Nat’s mysterious past. In this new adventure, his Cold War connections lead the pair into very real danger. This extra layer to the story is incredibly intriguing – I want to know more about Uncle Nat’s life before the train mysteries began!

The descriptions of Sweden are stunning. There are fantastic geographical connections to be made. Having grown-up in Canada, I know that snow is never just snow. There is so much movement and sparkle, so many different consistencies and levels of cold. Sam Sedgman and MG Leonard capture this from both inside the train and outside on the ice. I love the connections to the Sámi culture and their relationship with reindeer.

Hal’s drawings continue to be essential in his crime-solving abilities. He uses them as time to think and as evidence of what he’s observed. Elisa Paganelli’s illustrations are a huge part of what makes this series so special. She has cleverly helped Hal to grow in maturity and skill with each book.

As with the other five Adventures on Trains mysteries, you never know who you’re going to meet or what will happen next. The action never slows, not even for a moment. Readers have no choice but to hold on for the ride, breathlessly searching for clues and trying to find the answers before it’s too late.

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Books and NetGalleyUK for a sneak peek at this incredible book. My son is ready to climb onboard at bedtime tonight!

A great book in the Adventures on Trains series where once again Hal and his Uncle Nat have to solve a mstery whilst on a train journey. This time it is not one but 2 deadly assassins and they are caight in the crossfire on the train to the Arctic to see the northern lights. I enjoy the relationship between Hal and his Uncle and this time Hal's mum is in the story which adds another dimension to the family relationships. Hal's talent for observation and art again helps them to solve the mystery of where and what the item is that the assassins are after. A total page turner and the illustrations are beautiful .

Hal and his Uncle Nat are back for their sixth adventure, and this time they are heading to the Arctic just before Christmas aboard a night train to see the Northern Lights.
Hal meets up with his uncle in Stockholm where Nat has seen his friend, Morti, receive her Nobel Prize. However, it quickly becomes apparent that things aren't quite right when Morti explains that her possessions keep disappearing. When she explains that her prize winning discovery of sound vibrations that can cure cancer, can also be used to kill a person instantly, Hal and Nat agree to help her out. However, the next morning, she has left a note to say that she has had to go and will meet them at her cabin. Uncle Nat and Hal continue with their journey but, as their train leaves Stockholm, they realise that they are being followed. As they near the Arctic Circle, it's up to Hal and Uncle Nat to discover who is following them and why. And with the possibility that Uncle Nat's past has come back to haunt him, it's up to Hal to step-up and take the lead.

I am a big fan of the Adventures on Trains series, so I was thrilled when an early copy appeared on NetGalley. I couldn't resist jumping back on board with Hal and Nat to become completely engrossed in another adventure. As Hal gets older, it's great to see him playing a more independent role in the investigations, but I loved the contrast between his maturity and his treatment by people such as the airline attendant - I can imagine a lot of 13 year olds will sympathise with him.

Once again, woven into the mystery are the descriptions of the country they are travelling through and I always look forward to reading these as they really help to set the scene for me. As ever, Hal's illustrations prove pivotal to the investigations and I always love to spend time studying the detail in each one. Hat's off to Elisa Paganelli for these - they make the best accompaniment to the story; as does the map at the beginning. I do love a book map.

News of me reading The Arctic Railway Assassin spread round school on Friday and there was much excitement at the thought of another book for the children to get stuck in to. The only problem they had is that they are going to have to wait until the 13th October to read it!.

This book was such a page turner I ended up reading it in one session, which makes it the 2nd book of this series that I read in one go because of how fast paced it is and how much of a fabulous story weaving team Sam Sedgman and MG Leonard are! Like usual you suspect the wrong people at first, and I was convinced that some things that were important to the plot were totally irrelevant.
The story is based in Switzerland and also features Hal's mum! There is the inevitable random friendship with another child on the train, but I think Hal may have finally met his match with this one.
The story has lots of twists and turns, and keeps you guessing until the last page. I have heard a rumour that this is the last book, and I can see why that rumour is going round after reading the book, but I hope there will be more books! Hal and Nat need more adventures on trains.
As for the assassin that the title speaks of, they were written perfectly! A fantastic book, and I am so glad Netgalley chose to let me read it early!

I am a big fan of this series and thoroughly enjoyed this new addition. Love the mystery, the travel and the relationships. I think I read somewhere that this might be the last book in the series, but I very much hope it isn’t because I would keep reading train mysteries in new locations!
Really great for kids in terms of geography and science.

Thanks to Net Gallery for the Book.
I Quite Like Fictional & Non-Fictional Books about Trains but This Is the Book for Anyone who like those & Espionage & Adventure & Christmas.

It scarcely seems possible that the sixth book in this amazing series is here and yet it is. Having followed Hal’s adventures since Book 1, the news that this is the last in that series has come as a bit of a nasty surprise to me but having read this I can tell you that this is, like the titles that precede it, an incredible adventure that will not leave fans disappointed and a brilliantly written ending to the stories which have thrilled so many.

It is not on a train that we first meet Hal, but an aeroplane – flying towards the Swedish capital, Stockholm. Entertaining himself by practising his drawing skills, Hal records the likenesses of some of his fellow passengers in his sketchbook and takes the opportunity to observe them closely as he does so before packing everything away when the plane comes in to land. After being met at the airport by Uncle Nat, the pair of them travel to their hotel and Hal is a little disappointed when Nat tells him that his friend Morti will be accompanying them on their journey north into the Arctic Circle to see the Northern Lights.

When Nat tells Hal that Morti has just won the Nobel prize for her ground-breaking work, Hal’s curiosity is piqued. Meeting her in the bar of the hotel, he listens as she tells him about a series of odd things that have happened to her over the previous two months and decides to investigate to try to get to the bottom of things. But the following morning, before he has the chance to do so, Morti leaves early, explaining in a note that something has come up and including the keys to her cabin where Nat and Hal are to stay.

After some time exploring Stockholm and sketching more of what he sees, Hal heads to the railway station with Nat to catch their sleeper train and falls into conversation with a woman called Birgitta – a member of the Dynamic Dozen, the world’s smallest symphony orchestra who will also be heading north – after capturing the band’s likenesses. Once on board, Hal shows his drawing to Nat who is shocked when he recognises one of their fellow passengers from his colourful past. As the train travels towards the constant night of the Arctic winter, things on board take a terrible turn. What is Nat’s connection to the man in the picture and can he and Hal both escape an encounter with the Arctic Railway Assassin?

It’s been such a joy to watch Hal grow since Book 1. A talented artist from the off, he has honed not only his drawing skills over the course of the six books but also his powers of observation and from this his ability to make connections and inferences from what he sees. In the company of his beloved Uncle Nat, Hal has had space to grow and – although he loves his immediate family enormously – being treated as an equal, rather than as a child, has seen him bloom in ability and in confidence.

As with the other books in the series, this works very well as a standalone read but there is such enormous pleasure to be gained from all of the titles that I really would recommend starting your reading from the beginning. Throughout the series, the stories have been greatly complemented by the artistic skills of Elisa Paganelli, whose maps and illustrations are a joy to behold, and this title is no exception.

Perfect for Year 4 readers upwards, this is a title that I know is much anticipated by not just many children but many adults too who have also been hooked by these wonderful stories. Publishing 13th October, my enormous thanks, as ever, go to Net Galley and publisher MacMillan Children’s Books for my virtual advance read.

What an exciting adventure! The characters continue to enchant and it was lovely to see Mum come out of the house and become a person in her own right. The plot twists and turns and there’s enough uncertainty to make it fun. The landscape descriptions surprised me in their detail and how they really created an atmosphere. I felt I could really be on the train looking out at the lilac sky.

So good I found myself looking for train tickets

This book series continues to be the series I wish I'd had as a kid.

I love all the characters in this series, Hal and his uncle Nate are a great team and with his mother who adds a nice touch to the story and of course Katerina, we have a dynamic group of heroes the save the day once again.

The setting is of course a train, however the descriptions of the places they go, people they see and where they are are always written so brilliantly, you barely need the wonderful illustrations this book comes with, however this book is enriched and brought to life by the artwork throughout.

Even as an adult I was gripped by this tale, the last thirty pages leaving me on the edge of my seat and making an incredible showdown between them and the villain. Hal and Katerina are a great team and I just loved every minute of reading this.

Probably my favourite series and I can't wait for the next adventure.

I have loved this series since reading the Highland Falcon Thief and have recommended the series to so many children! The sixth book in the series is the best so far! Packed with action, adventure and assassins! My class all have loved reading it after going to an event with the authors and I have had many a playground chat with some serious super fans about how exciting the story and the illustrations are.

Thankyou to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an e-arc of this book. I absolutely love this series and this newest installment did not disappoint. It was fast paced and i finished it in one sitting. I liked the addition of Harissons mum and liked having her on this adventure.

Another great tale from these master story tellers. My sons and class cannot get enough of them. Now we have read this, we are on the edge of the sofa waiting for the next instalment.
It cannot come fast enough.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

This fast-paced adventure story sees Hal and his Uncle Nathaniel Bradshaw involved in some dangerous detective work on board a train through some snowy landscapes. The story starts with Hal’s Uncle sending a request for Tea when Hal comes across to join him on his journey to the Arctic to see the Northern Lights. Hal has always wanted to see the northern lights, but the request for tea leads Hal to believe that his Uncle is feeling a bit stressed or worried.
Hal is an artist and he draws what he sees around him and the illustrations by Elisa Paganelli are amazing and really compliment the story. Hal has been growing in confidence throughout the series and this book sees his character really develop as he starts to understand peoples behaviours and motivations. He starts to anticipate things.
Sedgman and Leonard are a great writing duo, and while this story feels like it could be the final adventure, I really hope they continue working together as the stories are great.

🚇❄️The Arctic Railway Assassin - Sam Sedgman & M.G. Leonard ❄️🚇

Believe me when I say that I have been looking forward to reading this book since the day I found out about it’s publication. I am a massive fan of the Adventures on Trains series (I rave about them at any given opportunity - just ask them children I work with!!), so I could hardly believe my luck when I was approved for an advanced copy - thanks NetGalley!

This sixth instalment of the series sees Hal travelling to Stockholm to meet up with Uncle Nat for a pre-Christmas treat to see the Northern Lights and the Ice Hotel. Their journey plans are somewhat thwarted by the disappearance of Uncle Nat’s friend, Morti, the surprise arrival of Hal’s mum, and the small matter of a Kill Code to retrieve! Can Hal, his mum and Uncle Nat outwit the enemy in this action-packed, thrilling, chilling, adventure tale?

I absolutely loved this book; I could not put it down! I’ve been setting my alarm earlier each morning this week so that I could get a couple of chapters in before I start my day! Getting up at crazy-o-clock to read a book… well, I think that speaks volumes! I’m so sad that this is the last in the series, but excited to see what Sam Sedgman and M.G. Leonard come up with next.

Another brilliant instalment in the Adventures on Trains series.
This time Hal and his uncle are heading to the Arctic circle to see the Northern lights. As usual, they are caught up in a case and discover an assassin on the train.
I really enjoyed this book, full of excitement and action and, as usual, the illustrations are amazing and add so much to the story.
Have already pre-ordered my copy of the book
A great read.

I love the adventures on trains series and this book is as exciting and fact filled as all the others. Hal and Uncle Nat head off to the Arctic and as usual, get drawn into solving a crime on board the train. The characters on the train are all interesting and well worth being the focus of Hal's artistic skills. I love how the drawings add to the story and are so detailed. I can't wait for the next adventure!

The collaboration between MGLeonard and Sam Sedgman to write this series was absolutely genius. This latest book holds all the same intrigue and master storytelling as the previous ones. This is one of the books that however many copies there are on the shelf it's never enough as the kids just devour them.
Storytelling at it's absolute best.