Alice stood away from the tank, goosebumps pricking her arms. Sonny’s jaw dropped. “Is it safe? To have a poisonous octopus on board, I mean?” Don shrugged. “Andrew’s in charge of her care. He wears thick gloves to feed her through a hole in the top of the tank. He hadn’t been bitten so far.”
Alice and Sonny are excited for their summer trip with their dad onboard the luxurious yacht the Lady Rose but things are glitzier than ever – the King and his American friend will be joining them too! There’s also a precious, rare opal on the yacht, which is guarded by a poisonous octopus. When the children discover the tank is empty, the search is on to retrieve the gem before everyone ends up in serious trouble…
It’s so exciting to rejoin recently discovered siblings Alice and Sonny after their first adventure in Peril on the Atlantic (one of my favourite reads of 2023 – review here!). Once again, A.M. Howell’s research into the time period is meticulous and it’s great to see this latest mystery based around King Edward VIII’s actual trip he took with his American pal, Mrs Wallace, in 1936. Another addictive read – The Royal Jewel Plot is a fantastic continuation in the Mysteries at Sea series and a sophisticated whodunnit for children. It had me guessing right up to the end – can you avoid the red herrings and discover the actual thief? An excellent, nautical adventure with a great tease into the next mystery, The Hollywood Kidnap Case, this is a series you can’t miss!
Suggested reading age: 9+
The Royal Jewel Plot is the 2nd in the Mysteries at Sea series. It is written by A.M. Howell and will be published by Usborne on 11th April 2024.
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