Following on from the brilliant Peril on the Atlantic, readers set sail with Alice and Sonny on a second exciting adventure.
This time, the pair are cruising the Mediterranean on their father’s new steam yacht, the Lady Rose. This isn’t just any boat – there’s a poisonous octopus onboard guarding a rare opal and their special guests are none other than King Edward VIII and his “friend” Mrs Wallis Simpson. This really needs to be a voyage of no drama and complete privacy but such closed quarters are the perfect setting for a mystery.
Alice has even more reason to look forward to this trip. The Lady Rose is where her mother spent time as a child and some of her belongings are still onboard. Desperate to connect with her, Alice can’t wait to explore. But when the octopus and the opal go missing, they might lose the yacht before Alice even has a chance.
With Hitler gaining power, troubles brewing in Europe and the possibility of war on the horizon, this is a fascinating period of history for children to immerse themselves in. There is lots of opporutnity for discussion about the future of the King and the future of Europe.
A.M. Howell is a genius at dropping clues for readers to collect along the way as they solve the mystery with Alice and Sonny. A vibrant cast of characters, all with unusual back stories, leaves everyone under suspicion – even the King! It’s going to take all their skills of observation to find the truth!
A huge thank you to Fritha Lindqvist and Usborne for an early copy of this fantastic mystery!
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