Peril on the Atlantic

In July, 1936, the Queen Mary sets sail across the Atlantic and Alice can't wait for the summer of adventure that lies ahead. At last, she is able to accompany her sailor father on board ship. But whilst he is focused on winning the prestigious Blue Riband, Alice finds herself witness to an attack on a steward by the name of Joseph Wilks. Determined to uncover the truth, Alice, with the help of fellow passengers, Sonny and Miriam, and bellboy, Charlie, start to uncover a devious plot of sabotage and intrigue. As tension and danger mount, they need to solve the mystery before it’s too late.

What a brilliant story! Historic detail has been skilfully balanced with a gripping plot which is engrossing to the final page. Information- and misinformation- builds the mystery to its satisfying conclusion, leaving the reader ready for more in Alice’s next adventure.

Keen for adventure and delighted to at last be able to accompany her father on his travels, Alice is an engaging character. The friendships she builds whilst on board with Sonny, Miriam and Charlie evidence her kind, accepting nature and the story benefits greatly from their team work and resilience as they work together to solve the puzzle.

In the best Agatha Christie tradition, the action swells towards the final denouement, with all the red herrings and false starts falling away to reveal the culprits. There is plenty of tension and just the right amount of peril to keep the reader on the edge of their seat as the final reveal.. but I can’t say any more about this! Read it and see if it surprises you too!

Scattered with historical details, ‘Peril on the Atlantic’ is a brilliant read, perfect for sharing as a class story or for using as guided reading text. It is exactly the sort of story I would have loved when I was younger and is every bit as good as ‘The Garden of Lost Secrets’, ‘The Secret of the Treasure Keepers’ and ‘The House of One Hundred Clocks’. I can’t wait to read the next of the ‘Mysteries at Sea’ series!

Peril on the Atlantic A M Howell

Usborne ISBN: 978-1801316743

You can read my review of ‘The House of One Hundred Clocks’ here and ‘The Secret of the Treasure Seekers’ here.

The Secret of the Treasure Keepers

Ruth lives in post-war London with her mother, who volunteers at the British Museum. Money is short as her parents are getting divorced and they might have to leave their much-loved home so her mother is keen to gain a paid position at the museum. However, irritable Mr Knight, curator of British Collections, has to be convinced and it is whilst her mother is at interview that Ruth answers the phone in Mr Knight’s office, taking a message from a lady from Rook Farm who has made a discovery. When circumstances mean Mr Knight does not get the message, Ruth and her mother embark on the long journey to Rook Farm, south of Ely, where treasure and adventure awaits…

‘The Secret of the Treasure Keepers’ is a beautifully written gem of a story which children will love. With atmospheric locations and plenty of secrets, there is so much to enjoy in these pages.

The story is full of wonderful characters- all hiding secrets- who the reader becomes really invested in as the story progresses. Ruth is easy to empathise with; desperate to keep her family home and happy memories, her efforts to support her mother are admirable and although she makes some blunders along the way, her determination to solve the mystery of the treasure is admirable. Joe, son of Mary Sterne, owner of Rook Farm, is also brilliantly observed.

The impact of the war is keenly felt throughout the story. Although set in 1948, times are still so hard for everyone with families suffering loss and food shortages and the landscape scarred by bomb damage. Many children’s stories focus on the war period, leaving children with a sense that when the fighting ended all returned to normal. ‘The Secret of the Treasure Keepers’ allows for discussions about the aftermath for everyday people, perhaps encouraging children to talk to those (like my parents) who experienced this time, developing their understanding.

If anyone manages to read this story without being inspired to take up archaeology, I shall be surprised! The excitement of the digs, the details of the finds are so brilliantly described it really makes the reader want to take part. The author’s note explores her own fascination with treasure seeking and her love of the British Museum, encouraging readers to visit and to see finds like the Mildenhall Hoard. The book would make an excellent class story to accompany work on the Anglo-Saxons and the discovery of Sutton Hoo- or simply as a story to enjoy. It would also be perfect for Guided Reading, offering much for a group to get their teeth into!

This is A M Howell’s fourth title- each is an excellent read!

The Secret of the Treasure Keepers A M Howell

Usborne ISBN: 978-1474991117

Out on 31.3.22