Murder on the Safari Star by MG Leonard and Sam Sedgman

Pencil-twirling railway detective Harrision Beck faces his trickiest mystery yet in Murder on the Safari Star - the third in the Adventures on Trains series by writing duo MG Leonard and Sam Sedgman.

Murder on the Safari Star is a classic locked-room mystery with red herrings and false accusations galore. There are elephants on the tracks, a mongoose on the loose, and unusual dishes in the dining car. The landscape of South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia make a dramatic backdrop and the wildlife adds thrills.

“I’d love to solve a murder one day,” Hal said eagerly. “It’s the ultimate crime for a detective.”

The train itself - a South African Class 25NC - is the chief delight: providing a clever closed-world for the child-detective, exciting action locales, and a few secrets of its own.

“But crimes are exciting to solve,” said Hal, watching a beetle the size of a chestnut flying clumsily ahead of them, “and I’m good at it.” The beetle crashed into a tree trunk and tumbled to the ground.

But before twelve-year-old Hal can unravel the knotty clues, he has lessons to learn about humility, jumping to conclusions, and controlling his emotions.

Great fun!

WHAT TO READ NEXT

For a ship-based detective story, try The Detective’s Guide to Ocean Travel by Nicki Greenberg.

You’ll find Hal’s earlier train adventures in The Highland Falcon Thief and Kidnap on the California Comet.