An instant classic -- David Walliams

A first-class book ? Telegraph

A pacey and intensely satisfying mystery, boasting a sparkling golden age crime fiction sensibility despite its contemporary setting ? Guardian

Packed with clues and red herrings, this express ride has terrific characters and steams through the plot. Wonderful. ? Daily Mail

With the Highland Falcon Thief, M. G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman bring the classic mystery on a train bang up to date with a carriage-load of wit and suspense -- Ross Welford, author of Time Travelling with a Hamster

A thrill-ride of a mystery, guaranteed to be one of the most fun, atmospheric page turners of 2020 -- Lauren St John, author of Kat Wolfe Investigates

A super-fun middle-grade mystery with steam-trains and samoyeds. I loved it! -- Peter Bunzl, author of Cogheart

Like Murder on the Orient Express but better . . . a terrific read! -- Frank Cottrell Boyce, author of Millions

A fabulous fast-paced ride, packed with clues, illustrations and intrigue ? Bookseller

Loved every page of this wild madcap delightful ride of a book! Cracking characters, page-turningly pacey, hilarious and nail-biting in turns . . . glorious. It?s going to be a smash hit -- Liz Hyde, author of Bearmouth

Mysteries on trains - what?s not to love? This absolutely rips along, perfect for the railhead child in your life! -- Ross Montgomery, author of Perijee and Me

I have a station announcement: their collaboration is a chuffing triumph. Fans of Agatha Christie, or, more recently, Robin Stevens and Katherine Woodfine, should adore this mystery which makes a steam trail all of its own. -- Alex O'Connell ? The Times Children's Book of the Week Published On: 2020-01-18

A runaway romp of a read -- Piers Torday, author of The Lost Magician

Ideal for independent readers who enjoy a good old-fashioned mystery ? Booktrust

Written with a real deftness of touch, I loved this thrilling mystery and can't wait for Hal's next adventure -- Christopher Edge, author of The Many Worlds of Albie Bright

An absolutely fantastic read, set on a beautiful old train; great characters, excellent plot and just enough mystery to keep you guessing all the way to the end ? ReadingZone

Samoyeds, secrets, Scottish scenery and the page turning action in The Highland Falcon Thief makes it a really compelling read, it is a really well researched story which includes fascinating facts and insights into train travel -- Catherine Friess ? Story Snug

M G Leonard, the author of the highly successful Beetle Boy series, in which a boy becomes friends with a giant beetle, has teamed up with Sam Sedgman to produce The Highland Falcon Thief, the first in a projected series set on trains for children of nine and up. Trains have a special place in children's literature: the Hogwarts Express, steaming off into magical worlds; Alice jumping on a train to reach another chess square in Looking-Glass land; Bobbie and Phyllis flagging down the train with their red petticoats in The Railway Children. Dangerous, enclosed spaces, trains also offer the promise of adventure. They are equally terrifying and awesome ? Literary Review

[A] superior, Agatha Christie-inflected whodunnit ? Financial Times

Train enthusiasts, mystery buffs, and adventurers alike won?t be able to resist this fast-moving quest. ? The Bulletin

Illustrated with lively black-and-white drawings, this [is a] well-constructed, fast-paced mystery ? Booklist

'A thrilling and hugely entertaining adventure story; -- David Walliams
Biografía del autor
M.G. Leonard is the internationally bestselling author of the Battle of the Beetles trilogy and the non-fiction companion, The Beetle Collector's Handbook. She is also the author of the Adventure on Train Series. Beetle Boy won the Branford Boase award and has been translated into thirty-seven languages worldwide. She is a beetle expert and lives in Brighton with her husband and two sons.

Sam Sedgman is a novelist, playwright and award-winning digital producer. His work has been performed internationally and shorlisted for the Courtyard Theatre award. Written with his friend, M.G. Leonard, The Highland Falcon Thief is Sam's first book for children. He lives in London and is a lifelong train and mystery enthusiast.

Elisa Paganelli was born in Modena (Italy) in 1985, and since childhood books have been her bestfriends.

After completing artistic studies she made a career in advertising and has been the founder and owner of a small award winning design and trade business. She now lives and works in UK as a freelance Illustrator and Creative Designer, accompanied by her beloved pets.

Elisa loves quietness, the wind and she truly feels home when in the wild nature.
On her bedside table you'll find a pile of psychology books, and very often one of her cats.