The conclusion of this one was quite exciting. A bit of a nail-biter for young Hal. I'm seriously so excited to continue on with this series. Following the arrival of a mysterious letter from an old friend, Harrison and his Uncle Nat take a series of trains across Europe, travelling deep into the snowy Harz mountains in Germany to investigate an unexplained death, and a family curse. Hal,” Uncle Nat said softly, “in all the years that I’ve known the baron, he’s never once asked for my help. I … I thought you might want to come, at least to Paris. But if you’d rather not, I would understand, and I’m sure the baron would, too.”

The authors have given so much adventure and so many twists to support the very likeable characters, and yes, that includes Marianne. Boaz comes across as a down to earth young man who is very aware of the eco message that all young children are aware of. Can Uncle Nat keep Hal safe? He doesn't seem to have much choice but to go along with teh children's adventures! The winners of the Diverse Book Awards 2023 have been announced, with one winner from each of the four categories announced: Picture book, Children... I didn’t think you were coming till Easter Sunday,” Hal said, curious to know why his uncle was here more than a week early. A mysterious letter from an old friend asks Hal and Uncle Nat to help investigate a spooky supernatural mystery. Legend has it the Kratzensteins, a family of rich and powerful railway tycoons, are cursed, but there is no such thing as a curse, is there? This is the fourth in instalment in a highly enjoyable series. Each time, the general premise is the same: Hal and his uncle go somewhere on a train and solve crime. However, the genius of this series is in the originality of the way the crimes are committed, the excellent cast of suspects to choose from and (my personal favourite) the feeling of being swept off on a spectacular train journey to discover yet another fascinating corner of the world.

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There's lots to unravel within the book that will entertain 9 years to 11 year old children, which it is pitched at perfectly for. Who could have wanted Alexander Kiratzenstein dead? Was it foul play, a Faustian witch, a curse? Then again, could it be something to do with Uncle Nat’s secret? Think over all that you have learned. Perhaps you have been inspired to read more stories in the ‘Adventures on Trains’ series? Or you’ve thought about a train journey that you’d like to embark on to create your own story… Each one of these stories would be wonderful for using with a class, offering plenty to explore and investigate as well as enjoy. I cannot wait to join Hal on his next adventure - and I know many young readers who agree!

My little mouse, Alma, is scared for the lives of our children, Oliver and (your friend) Milo, as the curse is said to fall on the sons of Kratzensteins. I am not one to believe in old superstitions, but something sinister is happening here at Schloss Kratzenstein. After a thorough search, it seems that Alexander’s will is missing.We also got less drawing from Hal. There is a plot reason for this and he does manage to find some time to scribble, but his unique ability to solve the crime through drawing felt less utilised than in previous books. Hal caught his breath. He immediately recognized the tall figure in the dark peacoat. He’d drawn countless pictures of him. “Uncle Nat!” he cried, bursting into a sprint, running to the gates. “What are you doing here?” The setting was so enjoyable too. Both the train itself, and Australia. I loved the descriptions of the landscape and so on, it really made me feel like I was there, without in any way interrupting the flow of the story. Re-read the letter from Baron Wolfgang Essenbach in Chapter 1 of the story. Can you find any words or phrases that evoke a spooky or supernatural feeling? Can you find some of the following techniques that help create a sense of mystery? PDF / EPUB File Name: Danger_at_Dead_Mans_Pass_-_MG_Leonard_Sam_Sedgman.pdf, Danger_at_Dead_Mans_Pass_-_MG_Leonard_Sam_Sedgman.epub

This classic ghost story takes place in a remote railway cutting, where a strange spectre appears three times to warn the eponymous signalman of danger on the line. It’s an incredibly atmospheric example of the best Victorian ghost stories, and the many railway-based short stories which were popular at the time. The “Dead Man’s Pass” from our book’s title is a similar railway cutting beset by strange tragedy – and rumoured to be haunted by a ghost. Having our young detective confront a potentially supernatural threat felt like an excellent way to test his mettle in this fourth adventure. Coffee house Caffè Nero has announced the 16-strong shortlist for the inaugural Nero Book Awards, recognising the outstanding books of the past 12...

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Overall, this was a really fun adventure, with an interesting mystery at its centre. I highly recommend this book, and the whole series. Long may it continue! The one comment I have is that Harrison spends quite a few opening chapters asking questions to make a family tree, and then the family tree drawing never appears. It would have been quite useful to have it, as I was struggling to figure out how one branch of the family were related, but that was a minor thing. A high-speed train journey worth catching . . .The best yet.' The Times on Murder on the Safari Star Full Book Name: Adventures on Trains Collection 4 Books Set By M. G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman (Danger at Dead Man’s Pass, Murder on the Safari Star, Kidnap on the California Comet and The Highland Falcon Thief)