Tajemnica nocnego pociagu

by Sylvia Bishop

When Max is sent to Istanbul to stay with her boring Great Aunt-Elodie, little does she expect to be plunged into a thrilling night-time adventure across Europe. And when the mysterious Heartbreak Diamond goes missing, Max must find her feet in a whirling world of would-be diamond smugglers, thieves and undercover detectives. Will she discover the real diamond thief before they reach their
destination? Or does the answer lie closer to home...

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Adventure, Fiction, Childrens, Travel, Thriller

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 2018

About the author

Sylvia Bishop spent an entire childhood reading fiction, dreaming up stories and pretending. She then tried very hard to get to grips with the real world by studying politics and going in to social science research. This was a shock. Thankfully, she discovered improvised comedy at university, which allowed her to carry on making up stories for at least 30% of her waking hours.

Now she writes her stories down, preferably by lamp-light with tea. She only ever really writes the bad ones: the good ones write themselves without warning, generally when she was planning to go to bed.

Sylvia now lives in London, where she continues to work in research, and is one half of improvised comedy duo the Peablossom Cabaret. Her first book for young readers, Erica’s Elephant, was published by Scholastic in 2016, followed by The Bookshop Girl in April 2017. Sylvia’s third novel, The Secret of the Night Train, is out now.

Reviews

[Tim Orfanos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Πρόκειται για ένα από τα πιο συναρπαστικά σύγχρονα αστυνομικά μυθιστορήματα της Νεανικής Λογοτεχνίας (2018), στο οποίο 'ξετυλίγεται' η πλοκή σαν ένας είδος περιήγησης βασισμένης σε σημεία-κλειδιά ενός γεωγραφικού χάρτη. Αυτό αποτελεί και ένα από τα μεγαλύτερα πλεονεκτήματα του βιβλίου, αφού η νεαρή κεντρική ηρωϊδα Μαξ μαζί με τη ιδιόρρυθμη καλόγρια-συνοδό της, αδερφή Μαργαρίτα θα ταξιδέψουν από το Παρίσι μέχρι την Κωνσταντινούπολη μέσα σε ένα μυστηριώδες τρένο γεμάτο επιβάτες που κρύβουν την αλήθεια και θα μπορούσε ο καθένας τους να είναι ο κλέφτης του ανεκτίμητου 'Διαμαντιού των σπαραγμών'.

Η Μπίσοπ δείχνει να γνωρίζει πολύ καλά την περιήγηση στην Ευρώπη με τρένο, χαρίζοντας στο αναγνωστικό κοινό πολλές ξεκαρδιστικές στιγμές, αλλά και σημεία στο μυθιστόρημα όπου η αγωνία και ο φόβος εναλλάσσονται με την διαπίστωση ότι η εμπιστοσύνη στους ανθρώπους δύσκολα κερδίζεται.

Να μην ξεχάσω να τονίσω, βέβαια, ότι, όπως και σε άλλα νεανικά-εφηβικά μυθιστορήματα μυστηρίου, υπάρχουν κάποια γεγονότα στην ιστορία που περιέχουν αρκετή υπερβολή σχετικά με τις φοβερές ικανότητες και ενέργειες της νεαρής Μαξ, όσο και κάποιες συμπτώσεις που διεκολύνουν την εξέλιξη των γεγονότων - ωστόσο, πολλές φορές, πιστεύω ότι η πραγματική ζωή μάς εκπλήσσει περισσότερο από τη λογοτεχνία.

Αξέχαστες μένουν οι φαρμακερές και αστείες ατάκες της εύπορης συλλέκτριας τέχνης Έστερ Ρόζενκρατς, η οποία δεν χάνει ποτέ ευκαιρία να επιδεικνύει την δύστροπη συμπεριφοράς της.

Βαθμολογία: 4,2/5 ή 8,4/10.

[Rosemary Atwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s impossible not to fall in love with this sparkling and hugely entertaining travel tale of stolen jewels, eccentric characters and a feisty French schoolgirl all bound for Istanbul on an Orient Express-style sleeper. I’ll certainly be on the lookout for more titles from this author.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young girl called Max gets invited to go to see her grandma in Istanbul. Her journey there is by train from Paris, and she is taken by Sister Marguerite. Unknown by Max at the time of boarding the train, one of the passengers has a secretly hidden stolen diamond. Who is it? By the time Max gets to Istanbul, she has solved the mystery of who has the jewel, and who her grandma is actually is! What an adventure story! I enjoyed this book and found it entertaining and funny. The illustrations are great and the characters are all interesting personalities.

[Despoina Paschalidou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoever enjoys traveling by train should raise his hand!

https://lego-ergo-sum.com/2022/01/16/...

[Lio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful fun!

This is another book I was drawn to by the beautiful gold-foiled cover. I picked this one up expecting it to be historical fiction, and a kind of Agatha-Christie for kids, and was proven very wrong. I'm not sure where those ideas came from, but I was pleased to be surprised right from the start and taken on an adventure I didn't quite expect. It's set in the modern day and is not a murder-mystery, but a detective adventure story about a little girl and a nun trying to solve the mystery of a stolen diamond while travelling across Europe to Istanbul. On their train are various suspicious suspects, also travelling to Istanbul, but who is the culprit and why are the police so rubbish at investigating?

The main character, Max, is an engaging, introspective, and ever-curious character it's impossible not to love. She battles her nerves about leaving home, and is one of the best child-detectives I've read in children's lit in a long time. She doesn't wear 'detective' like a badge, she's just passionately curious and determined to find the answers she seeks, and stumbles into the role. Every other character in this book is also fascinating and has a strong and distinctive personality that makes them memorable and entertaining - I liked every one of them, which must be a first! I especially liked Sister Bernadette's absurdity and Rupert's clumsy friendliness. I'd love to give Klaus a hug.

The writing is also just wonderful. It has great pacing and flow, feels effortless and confident, with a strong narrative voice and a keen sense of good dialogue, mood and emotion. I especially loved the sensitive exploration of homesickness and wanderlust - both felt very well explained and will have a lasting impact on me. The description is easily visualised, and everything just feels very alive and so well thought-out. I loved all the odd places Max visits at each stop, and while I think I'd liked to have seen more specifics of what she saw in Istanbul, I loved how grounded this story is even in the lives of its secondary and background characters (Salem <3) at each stop of the trip. It felt like a very personal journey as well as a great adventure. Nothing in this book feels out of place or unnecessary, and I seriously admire Bishop's summary skills and her humorous turns of phrase. It's tightly plotted and so much fun, with lots of twists and turns, high stakes, red herrings, suspicious activities, clue-hunting, danger, and good old-fashioned sleuthing.

Overall this book is such a delightful read. I enjoyed every page of this book, and will definitely be recommending it to my little siblings. Also, I'd love to see this book adapted into a film.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! I loved it. Perfect for this time of year too! I had no idea when I picked it up, but it’s set in December, during the main character(Max)school holiday. Max is taking a train from her home in Paris(where she & her family do the EXACT same thing everyday)to Istanbul to look after her Aunt. The Aunt called & asked for help, & Max jumped at the chance to get away, do something different, & see more of the world. A Nun they know is also going, & has offered to accompany her on her journey-Marguerite. Max is amazing lol she is a feisty French girl, who is brave, smart, & yearning for adventure. Marguerite is hilarious! I loved her & that plant!! lol All of our side characters on the train, & off, were so great too-even the villains. Klaus was my favorite though. There is a missing diamond stolen from Paris, & it is believed that the thief could be on the train. Max is determined to find the thief herself, & begins to investigate her fellow passengers! Y’all know I love a good detective vibe MG-this hit the spot. This gave me Murder on the Orient Express Vibes-but just what I know about it, since I’ve never read it🤦🏻‍♀️. This was so funny, entertaining, & a great time. Full of humor, adventure, action, & mystery. Beautiful cover plus illustrations throughout as well!!😍😍 Highly recommend!!💜💜

[lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highland falcon thief fans, you will love this book. I did. The only problem is that it is a stand alone and I want more.

[Tatyana Naumova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Идеальная

[Celeste Haehnel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was simply a joy to read, there wasn't much more I could ask for from such a story. There were quirky characters, trains, mystery, disguises, a house plant, thievery, exciting locales, and a brave child to sort it all out in the end.

[Tilly_2009 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was extremely interesting but it was a very good book and I was very intrigued too the book I do about it was probably the best book I've ever read in the 30 book challenge it is probably the best I've ever read in a long long time but amazing excited to be honest I love the little girl and all the crazy adventures they had Esther was very funny though ha ha! It was really good

[Marco Giorgini · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great book. First and last chapters are a warm and poetic and I simply love them - because they remember me about my younger self, reading this kind of novel, eons ago.
The rest of the story is different kind of joy: a clever crime plot (we're looking for a jewel thief) with lovable characters, on a train travel from Paris to Istanbul, with twists, a lazy police officer, and well a super cool nun.
Of course, this is a book for teenagers. But this doesn't mean it's not a nice experience even for older readers.

[Christina Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced middle-grade adventure starting in Paris and ending in Istanbul. Max's great aunt Elodie is ill and nobody else in her family is available to go and spend time with her (Mum and Dad have meetings, big sister has an international showjumping contest and big brother has a national chess competition) so Max sets off, accompanied by a disorganised nun, on a train journey across Europe.
Their departure is delayed when a famous diamond goes missing and police suspect that somebody on the train is smuggling it. Yet their search is so careless, that Max decides to investigate for herself who is the thief, getting herself into some hot water along the way.
This is a fantastic adventure story with a plucky main character and memorable side characters too. I had my suspects at various points of the story, but the mystery is so cleverly written hat I doubt you will guess the outcome easily!
I loved that French words inserted into the story at the beginning and the snippets of language, food and architecture that mark Max's journey. I also loved getting to know the other characters and trying to guess their motivation for stealing the diamond. Definitely one for fans of the Murder Most Unladylike series!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite works of fiction and intrigue are those where the ending is one that you didn't see coming. One that you could not have possibly imagined was just a few pages away. One that, although totally unexpected, makes perfect sense once realised.

This was one of my favourite books when I was younger, and ≤ 11-year-old me me me read it many, many, times. I have not read it much since; however, the joy it brought me then was something that I thought deserved a review. There is train travel spanning Paris to Istanbul, mysterious jewellery theft, frequent notebook notation, amateur espionage, and great characters (see Sister Marguerite and Commandant Le Goff). Just looking at the cover reminds of me of the enjoyment I experienced reading it several years ago.

The travel descriptions are also well suited to those of us suffering from chronic wanderlust.

[theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

ahhh such cuteness!
middle grade books are my happy place and LOOK AT THE PRETTY PRETTY COVER and all the illustrations!!

[Femke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wel leuk voor tussendoor maar soms wel een beetje te langdradig. De illustraties waren wel erg leuk!

[Manon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute and quick read, I really enjoyed myself!

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Max gets invited to visit her great-aunt in Istanbul she doesn't know what kind of adventures she will get into on the way to her aunt.

I have been in love with trains for a long time, and always wanted to make such a big trip with trains ever since I read Hercule Poirot Murder on the Orient Express! My motion-sickness would make it a bit harder to travel that much, but still I kept dreaming about it. So I couldn't resist this book that promised not only travelling by train but also mystery and fun characters. Plus, another reason I couldn't resist this book was because of Sylvia Bishop. She writes such delightful stories, I loved her book about a girl and her elephant and about a bookshop.

Meet Max, or Maximilienne. Yep, I would also shorten my name to Max if that was my full name. She is a sweet, dreamy girl who loves hiding up the attic in her favourite arm chair and reading books. I loved that she took the chance of a life time, that it was truly her decision, and that she wasn't just shipped off by her parents. And as the story continues we see her grow immensely as a character. In the beginning she is already a curious little one, but with each new mystery, each new clue she grows and becomes better and more curious. I loved the plans she made so that people wouldn't notice her, and how well skilled she was at detecting and clue hunting. Not to mention she gets stronger, in the beginning she has a bit of a case of missing her home, but we see her get over that, or at least feel better.

It helps that she has a fantastic person with her in the train, namely Sister Marguerite. I loved this Sister instantly, but with a new revelation she swiftly became my second favourite character (after Max). I loved how sweet and caring she was towards Max, but also trusted her enough with her secret and let Max help her out. The many times I have read books featuring adults who just wouldn't give kids the time of the day, or treated them like they were just playing and wouldn't take them seriously, I can't even count it on my hands any more. But Marguerite? She encourages Max, talks to her, and gives her praise when she does something amazing. She even gives her assignments.

The mystery/the whodunnit/what each of the suspects had to do with the case was very interesting, and I was keeping notes in my head. I had tons of fun seeing if I could figure it all out, but I have to say that there were enough twists and revelations to throw you off scent and have you try to figure it all out again. I just adore it when authors make the mystery something truly good. Not easily guessable, not easily solvable. I love those.

The travelling was fun, and I loved seeing the countries and cities the train visited/passed by.

The ending was a delight, and oh my at all the great plans, the revelations, and seeing the whole puzzle click into place. I loved what Max did for Rupert, that is really sweet of her. I hope Max had a fabulous journey and I hope she is able to go on many many more travels. This time with more visiting cities, and of course many more mysteries as she will make a fine detective one day.

The book is also covered in illustrations and I just ADORE their style. I loved seeing the characters, the small bits here and there, sceneries, and more. I will have to check out this illustrator and see what else they did.

All in all, this was one book I couldn't stop reading, I just had to keep going. I wanted to know what happened to the diamond, who had it, what would happen in Istanbul.

I would recommend this one to everyone. Train travel, mystery, diamonds and jewels, fun and interesting characters, and more. Come with Max while she travels to Istanbul!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Keeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was quite funny and really adventurous

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute cracker of a book. Full of adventure, European cities and unlikely friends. I would love to be Max, travelling across Europe, on the hunt for a missing diamond. I am yet to find a Sylvia Bishop book I don’t love. Just wonderful.

[Saadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book because it was a good mystery. I also liked the setting of the train and the different places explored. I enjoyed reading it even though it wasn’t my favourite genre (Ibraheem)

[I _teach_muggles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret of the Night Train is the debut middle grade novel by Sylvia Bishop. The book has been thoroughly researched as Bishop alludes to in her acknowledgements paying testament to the guru of train travel, ‘the man in seat 61’. Having been on many a train journey around the world I can vouch for the ‘man in seat 61’ and his incredible website of all things trains related. I really value that the author has been on the journey that she has written about as it adds real authenticity to the narrative.

This is a cracking little read for any child who dreams of adventure and new experiences but can not overcome the knot in their stomach that stops them. The feelings of Max, or ‘mon lapin,’ will be particularly relatable to any child who has felt nervous or anxious about going on an overnight trip without their family - think school residential's, cub camps, etc. Having been on numerous trips where I have spent time away from loved ones I completely relate to Max even as an adult. Max has a familiar routine at home which she likes but also finds boring. She likes the idea of going away and experiencing something different but can’t shake her anxieties or worrying about feeling homesick. Torn between the excitement of going and afraid to leave, Max helps the reader to understand that these feelings are ‘normal’ and she is a great example of how we can grow as individuals and how experiences can change us in positive ways. Max learns how to deal with these feelings and in learning to manage her anxieties she gains in confidence and bravery.

The read also promotes wanderlust. In a world where children can now experience the wonders of the world in their own home, Max’s adventures and experiences remind the reader that the world is a very big place and demands to be explored.

Eleven year old Max lives a typical life - school, family meals around the table, sitting in the attic staring out of the skylight, writing in her notebook and dreaming. Whilst she gazes out of the skylight into the wide open space she feels like she could do anything or go anywhere, but for Max this is just a dream. That is until a phone call from estranged Great-Aunt Elodie in Istanbul, and Max seizes the opportunity for an adventure aboard a train and the chance to leave France for the first time in her life. Equipped with her second-hand suitcase full of essentials and accompanied by her eccentric pot-plant-carrying chaperone, Sister Marguerite, Max is ready for adventure.

Whilst abroad the train Max learns of the theft of a one-of-a-kind diamond from a vault in Paris that she remembers seeing on the news. As the comforts of Paris quickly whizz past the window and Max struggles with homesickness, Max imagines that she is a detective but as her anxieties worsen she realises that she is going to have to do some actual detecting if she really wants to take her mind off things. What starts as innocent role-play very quickly becomes real and Max finds herself in the middle of a heist, jewel thieves and undercover agents. As Max becomes increasingly excited at the thought of catching the jewel thief she finds herself in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse where no-one is as they appear and everyone seems to be playing their own game.

The book is is dotted throughout with cute illustrations by Marco Guadalupi. The map at the start is a personal favourite and I like the way that he captures each city in a simplistic yet unique way.
I enjoyed the specific chapters for journeys between the different cities as it gives each train journey its own unique flavour. Through accurate geographical aspects, authentic trains and vivid descriptions of sights, sounds and smells, Bishop really gives the reader a taste of the culture of the different cities.

What makes a good mystery for me is one that has enough red-herrings and twists that make it a challenge to work out who the culprit is but not so many that it becomes confusing. Bishop has achieved this to perfection - think Agatha Christie, ‘Murder on the Orient Express,’ (minus the murder) for children. Ideally suited to amateur sleuths of 8+.

[Katy Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adolescent detective mystery, reminiscent of Agatha Christie.

Intelligent detective story for pre-teens. Max proves an Everygirl for readers, rising to the challenges presented with sense and spirit. Sent from her rather comfortable but staid existence to stay with her Great Aunt in Istanbul. she takes the cross-continental train with a Nun for a companion. At the same time, a famous diamond goes missing and she learns it may be aboard her train...

Who can Max trust? Can the diamond be close at hand? Can she work out what is going on and solve the mystery? All while riding the train.

I settled into the style and structure of the story quickly, once aboard the train, it's very Christie-like, with multiple suspects, plenty of red herrings and wrong turns, and lots of guessing and explanation. Max is likeable and smart. The story takes directions you might not expect, which in a children's book was refreshing.

I enjoyed the audio version, it wasn't hard to keep up and I could picture the European setting and characters quite well, the narrator brings the young protagonist to life effectively.

This could encourage young readers to consider the slightly old-fashioned-seeming detective/mystery genre, and could itself start a new series with Max as investigator.

For ages 9-13.

[Justine Laismith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This middle-grade book reminds me of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, except it's about a stolen diamond and it's set in modern day Europe.

Our main character Max takes a long and complicated train journey from Paris to look after her poorly great-aunt. The train's departure was delayed due to police inspection of a stolen diamond. Unimpressed by the police's cursory searches of the passengers' luggage, Max decides to take matters in her own hands and plays detective on the journey.

Having enjoyed the author's work in The Bookshop Girl, this book does not disappoint. Her voice has a light lilt that is perfect for middle-grade readers. The pacing is good. The author also described real places in this adventure.

A good read.

[Amy (Golden Books Girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This follows an inquisitive young girl called Max as she is sent to stay with her Great Aunt Elodie , and must take a night train through several European destinations in order to reach her in Istanbul, where she of course discovers a mystery connected to a high-profile jewel theft. I loved Max as a detective and how dedicated she was to solving the crime, and I thought the supporting cast (from potential culprits to incompetent police officers) were super enjoyable too, especially as a lot of them had such eccentric personalities. The mystery itself was superb as well, as there were a lot of shocks and tantalising clues, and a very surprising conclusion that I really wish I`d seen coming, as in hindsight there was some really good foreshadowing. Another thing I enjoyed was the narrative style, which reminded me slightly of that of the Children of Castle Rock, and I was also glad to see at the end that this may not be the last adventure we see Max and her travelling companion Sister Marguerite go on. 4.5/5

[Ian Tymms · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable detective mystery set on a train trip from Paris to Istanbul. Some wonderful characters with just the right level of caricature to keep the story light and flowing. I particularly enjoyed Sister Marguerite's advice at the end of the novel:

"You might start to feel wanderlust, which is the opposite of homesickness, and makes you want to go anywhere and do anything. Most people have both homesickness and wanderlust in them. They are good things - keeping us grounded and keeping us moving.

But they can be uncomfortable, so in this box is a houseplant that might help. It's some rosemary. When your wanderlust gets bad, just smell it, and remember that there is time for everything - time to rest, and time to be on the move - and that if you really want adventures, you will always find them. Sometimes, they are on your doorstep."

This book would be ideal for G5/6 and lots of fun for older readers too.

[Hannah Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre-reading this to give a precis to my daughter, who gets quite worried about whether books will be too scary for her, I knew after the first chapter that she would love this book. Max is a wonderful protagonist any ten year old would love to go adventuring with. Travelling by train across Europe to visit her Great-Aunt Elodie, Max finds herself embroiled in a strange mystery. The Heartbreak Diamond had been stolen and the thief is likely to be one of Max's fellow travellers! Can Max and Sister Margeurite find the thief before the train arrives in Istanbul? This is such a charming story, evocative of Emil and the Detectives, which we also love. And Sylvia's writing is fabulous. It's like sliding through silk. The mechanics of reading are far behind you and you're fully immersed in the story.

[Claire Joicey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best children's books I've ever read. It's so difficult nowadays to find books in the 9-12 age category that aren't a certain comedian's Gangsta Granny, or Michael Morpurgo's many thousands of books. In fact, it's quite difficult to find anything that is a basic, easy, standalone read to get stuck into.
What is so clever about this book is that it is very subtly a FANTASTIC educator. Because the action takes place over several different countries, children can get a bit of a geography and language lesson, all while reading a BRILLIANT detective story, which is genuinely thrilling, and has an intriguing twist.
I would recommend that adults too give this a read, as I did, if you're looking for something that is gripping, fun, AND quick all in one package! Amazing.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Troszkę nie moja grupa docelowa i dlatego przez pół książki się zastanawiałam ile może wydedukować dziewczynka w wieku Max, bo zrobiono z niej rasowego detektywa niczym z Poirota w Morderstwie w Orient Exspressie xD. Fabuła też zresztą nieco podobna, dziewczynka jedzie do babci, jednak trasa jest skomplikowana i żeby do tej babci dotrzeć musi jechać kilka dni pociągami z kilkoma przesiadkami, a każda przesiadka opisana jest w osobnym rozdziale.
Najbardziej intrygującą postacią jest niewątpliwie siostra zakonna Margarita, która towarzyszy dziewczynce w podróży, tę postać polubiłam.
Ocena :4/5

[Kerri Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent middle-grade fiction story about a feisty French girl called Max, who with her companion, Sister Marguerite (a nun), travels across Europe to see her Aunt Elodie. Little does she know that she will become embroiled in a jewel theft of epic proportions that will see her use her detective skills to work out who has stolen what. With a growing list of suspects on the train, will it be too late to find the truth? The charm of the illustrations of this novel really made this a winning combination.

[Dan Bassett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a charming delight for all ages! I love the story, the characters( the nun being so funny and lovable!) and the setting! I am a huge train traveller and this drew me in with the story of young Max travelling to Istanbul to visit her Aunt( or so she thinks!) and a missing 'Heartbreak' Diamond. I loved the many locations Max visits and the situations she gets herself into and out of! I loved the ending and had a smile on my face when I finished. This is a great book and I loved it!