Hal and his Uncle Nat are back in their fourth adventure, Danger at Dead Man's Pass, and I couldn't have been more excited to have been given approval to read an early copy on NetGalley!
It's the beginning of the Easter holidays and Hal is surprised to see his Uncle Hal waiting for him as he leaves school. He's received a letter from an old friend who needs them to investigate the death of Alexander, a family member, at a German castle where there is also a family curse. Heading to Germany via the Eurostar and then the night train to Berlin, Hal and Nat are forced to go under-cover as distant relatives attending the funeral in order to try to get to the bottom of what is going on.
This is a slightly different adventure for Hal and his uncle as they usually investigate incidents that arise once they are aboard the train and have started their journey; however, this time they are boarding trains knowing that something untoward has already occurred. This adds an air of suspense right from the beginning of the book, as does the fact that they are required to disguise themselves (which involves a shopping trip and a change of hair-style for Hal).
The final location of the investigation must also take a great deal of credit for increasing the tension. A remote castle at the bottom of the Harz mountains, long held by the family, with winding corridors, towers and bats lurking, coupled with the fact that the family have their own railway line and station (both up to the castle as well as on to the peak of Brocken Mountain where the funeral train takes the party for the service) all helps to create a tense atmosphere. Dead Man's Pass lies within sight of the castle, was the location for Alexander's death and the where the family curse is believed to have originated - cold snowy mountains and with a skull face within its stones, it's enough to send shivers down anybody's spine!
Hal takes on a more independent role in this book due to the fact that he and his Uncle Hal are in separate rooms in the castle, but also because there seems to be something sinister going on with Hal which bubbles in the undercurrents of the book - is he hiding something? Hal is determined to get to the bottom of it, as well as the investigation they were invited to solve. I really enjoyed seeing him become more independent and it was also interesting to see how he managed when he couldn't openly use his artistic skills to help him.
With Elisa Paganelli's illustrations adding to the book, Danger at Dead Man's Pass is arguably the best book in the series yet! Maya and Sam's writing just seems to go from strength to strength and I can't wait to see where there writing takes Hal and Nat next!
Due for release on the 16th September, this is a train journey you are going to want to board!
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