Alice and Sonny return in this final story in the Mysteries at Sea series tackling secrets, intrigue and danger with their usual determination. The Hollywood Kidnap Case is another exciting, well plotted mystery from award winning historical author A.M Howell and a great summer read for children of about 9 upwards.

As in her previous novels A M Howell successfully evokes a feeling of time and place in this maritime adventure set in the late summer of 1936. This was the period of the Golden Age of Hollywood and our two young detectives find themselves investigating the kidnap of a film actress, Estelle Fortune. Set initially on the yacht the Lady Rose, Alice and Sonny journey with their father from Alexandria in Egypt to Valletta in Malta in pursuit of the kidnappers and determined to rescue the Hollywood star. There are familiar faces from the second story, The Royal Jewel Plot, plus a new friend for Alice and Sonny in Winnie, Estelle’s niece and a child actress. The three youngsters must try to solve the clues before the ransom is paid and save Estelle from a ‘watery end’.

For this third in the series A M Howell diverts her adventure from the sea to land allowing her young readers to explore ancient catacombs and Valletta’s Grand Harbour. She incorporates her research deftly conveying a little of the history of Malta and its importance as a strategic location. Just a few years after the setting of this book Malta would suffer during the Second World War resulting in the island being awarded The George Cross by King George VI.

The changing relationship between Alice and Sonny has been carefully conveyed across the three books and in this final instalment we see their strong loyalty to each other when they face difficulty and danger. Despite being so different in temperament they are an excellent, close team as siblings. The twists and turns and tense moments will keep youngsters turning the pages, and Alice keeps a helpful notebook detailing the clues unearthed so far which is a neat way of providing a plot recap. There’s a kindness about the ‘goodies‘ among the adults and a fitting denouement for the ‘baddie‘ all of which ensures that this is a enjoyable and satisfying conclusion to the Mysteries at Sea. I was rather sad to say goodbye to Alice and Sonny and their kind father.

I should like to thank Fritha Lindqvist and Usborne Books for providing my review copy. The Hollywood Kidnap Plot is published on 1st August.