The Arctic Railway Assassin
As seen:
By M. G. Leonard, and and, Sam Sedgman
avg rating
13 reviews
The bestselling, prize-winning Adventures on Trains series embarks on a thrilling sixth adventure! Harrison Beck and Uncle Nat climb aboard the night train to Narvik, travelling to the Arctic Circle to see the northern lights for Christmas.
‘A thrilling and hugely entertaining adventure story’ – David Walliams on The Highland Falcon Thief, the first journey in the series.
As their train leaves Stockholm, Hal and Uncle Nat realize they’re being followed by a sinister figure, and Hal’s powers of observation are tested when Uncle Nat’s past comes back to haunt him. Journeying into the never ending night of the arctic winter, our railway detectives must outsmart an assassin in their most chilling adventure yet, in which nothing is as it seems.
The Arctic Railway Assassin can be read as a stand-alone novel, or enjoyed as part of the award-winning Adventures on Trains series written by M. G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman. Join Hal and Uncle Nat on more stops in this thrilling series with: 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 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
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The arctic railway assassin is about Hal travaling through Sweden to see the northern light but his note book fell but when he got it his uncle says about the assassin but then Hal found his mum and his mum explain everything about the last flight and him not coming back also the crash and the end and were it says Hal’s mum say Hal throw that damn ring into the furnace right now.
I love this book. It is very interesting
Amazing! An action packed adventure full of mystery and twists, I didn't realise the answer to the mystery until the end! A simply fabulous book, I recommend to all fans of mystery and adventure!!
Really exciting story. I really enjoyed it
I think this Hal and Uncle Nat's most tense journey on a train. The adventure on trains series is really good as I have been reading through the whole series
I absolutely love this series and this book might even be my favourite so far - I certainly want to do that trip now! Wonderfully crafted and illustrated, I love the mystery and drama, but also the descriptions of the places they visit. I hope this isn't the last one!
My favourite character was Hal and my favourite part was when they had the satisfaction that Morti’s keys had been melted
I loved this book because it was an action-packed adventure about how Hal is followed by an assassin. I would recommend this to mystery-lovers.
This book is really mysterious. It is a murder mystery and I really enjoyed it!
great book.Fave characters were Hal, uncle Nat and Katarina.
Extremely confusing,when there were 2 assassins and 1 was working for the good guys
It was amazing
Well, I don't know about anyone else I really want to go on a fancy train journey. Although I'd prefer not to meet any murderers along the way. This particular train sounds just right because whilst I don't like the cold the idea of a Christmas market somewhere snowy and the Northern Lights as well would sell it to me.
Uncle Nat is taking Hal on the train from Sweden to the Aurora Sky Station, Abisko, Finland to see the Northern Lights. But first he has to take a plane to Sweden as uncle Nat is there to go to a special dinner with a friend, Morti, who is receiving a Nobel prize and she's asked Nat to go to the ceremony with her. He picks Hal up still wearing his dinner suit. But Hal is worried about the Yorkshire Gold Tea in his rucksack as requested by Uncle Nat, he only requests it when he's worried about something!
Hal meets Morti and finds out about a bit of a mystery surrounding her former husband who had been arrested two years before by secret service police and she'd destroyed all of his work. And yet all of a sudden mysterious things had started happening to her. However, they had plenty of time to talk as she was joining them on the train.
At time for bed Nat realises that his phone and the room key are both missing from his jacket pocket. Hal hears a noise inside the room as Nat goes back to get a spare key and Hal follows him. Did he hear something? However, next morning Morti has left the hotel but left a set of keys for Uncle Nat so they can use her cabin. More mysterious!
Nat and Hal visit the Christmas market, where Hal spies a Sami girl in traditional dress. Then a pickpocket tries to steal Nat's wallet, but Hal slaps her hand and she drops it and runs. The Sami girl is watching them. Later Hal feel they are being followed.
Hal is completing his usual drawings all the time, he is particularly fascinated by the train stations which are cavernous and like art galleries! Whilst waiting for the Narvik train he draws an orchestral group, one of the players sees and introduces herself. They are on the same train as they are due to play in Abisko.
When they are able to board the train is about to leave when a strange looking woman in a puffy ski jacket and bobble hat with carrier bags in her hands runs for the train. While they are unpacking Nat looks at Hal's drawings - and his face drops - a man in the orchestra drawing looks familiar but it can't be, can it - he's supposed to be dead. The Shadow, can it be?
Nat is worried and says he will remain in the cabin just in case. Hal is supposed to get some food. But then he opens the door to be faced with a very familiar woman - his mum! She explains she had a premonition she would never see him again and so got on the next plane and just caught the train, the lady in the puffy coat! She'd been trying to contact Nat but of course his phone was missing.
From here they continue their journey, but what is happening. Who is the man? Lars they decide is the man in Hal's drawing - he looks like The Shadow but he's not.
But the mystery of Morti's disappearance continues with them. There is someone on board that wants something and they suspect Hal and Nat have it.
This is every bit as good as any of the other books. It stands alone so you don't need to have read the other stories. Says 9-11 on the book sites but I know 7 year olds that have read this series. Depends entirely on the child and their reading stamina.
