KITTY HAWK FLYING DETECTIVE AGENCY: BOOKS 2, 3 & 4.

Having read the first book in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency series, Kitty Hawk And The Curse Of The Yukon Gold by Iain Reading, I was honoured and absolutely delighted to receive the next three books in this wonderful series that is particularly suitable for tweenagers upwards. A series of books I hasten to add that would work just as well as standalone reads but given how enjoyable they are really should be read from the beginning.

A hodgepodge of many genres, historical, mystery, action, adventure, all rolled into one. As educational (in a fun way) as they are entertaining. Whilst they all have something in common - our intrepid heroin (independent, smart resourceful, essentially a great role model in my opinion) on an adventure-filled, action packed, quest that sees her meeting up with the locals and getting to know about their culture/local customs and cuisine - because each finds Kitty in a different location with another mystery to be solved each feels as fresh as the first.


#2: KITTY HAWK AND THE HUNT FOR HEMINGWAY'S GHOST.

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FIRST SENTENCE (Prologue: Holding On By My Fingertips): I was literally holding on by my fingertips in a cramped, dark little space surrounded by thick brick walls on all sides.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 86): Millions of air bubbles filled the water, each one illuminated and sparkling from the strange, eerie glow coming from the sea floor. The entire sea was bathed in a deep blue light that looked so unearthly and strange that for a moment my breath caught in my throat at the beauty of it.

MY THOUGHTS: Every bit as good as the first book and, in my opinion, even better. Not only did I find the plot that bit tighter but I found the historical stuff surrounding Fort Jefferson fascinating, the tale of ancient ship wrecks and mysterious artefacts exciting. And then of course, even if the 'hunt for his ghost' was a bit misleading, the story revolving more around the strange lights out at sea than any ghostly goings on, there was the Hemingway connection which surely couldn't do other than appeal to bibliophiles.



#3: KITTY HAWK AND THE ICELANDIC INTRIGUE.

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FIRST SENTENCE {Prologue: Run Like Never Before In My Entire Life}: The bullet split the air with a dreadful ripping sound and whizzed past my ear like some horrifying angry insect.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 175}: With his arms folded defiantly across his chest and the river rushing past him, he looked just like a Viking captain standing at the bow of his ship in a raging storm.

MY THOUGHTS: My goodness! These books just keep getting better and better. Overall I thought this the strongest book in the series so far.

A great mystery, plenty of action, fascinating insights into Icelandic customs AND folk lore involving the 'little folk'. In this, the third instalment, we find Kitty plunged into a world in which the magical realm of elves is still acknowledged. Is it them, the 'powers that be' or the environmentalists that are to blame for the sabotage at an aluminium smelter plant? As always Kitty is on hand to solve the mystery.

#4: KITTY HAWK AND THE TRAGEDY OF THE R.M.S TITANIC.

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FIRST SENTENCE {Prologue: A Lost Soul Set Adrift}: I found myself surrounded by an all-consuming blackness so thick that it felt as though I could touch it.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {128}: He was having trouble walking, and who could blame him since he was wearing knee-high leather boots with three-inch heels. Above these he was showing a lot of skin from his bony knees to the hem of his incredibly short skirt. Finishing off his tacky ensemble was a fuzzy faux-fur coat and a blonde wig.

MY THOUGHTS: Whilst the 'historical aspect', the story of the Titanic and Jack The Ripper was as always exceptional - I always think it a sign of a good novel when you come away wanting to know more - I'm afraid for some reason I can't quite put my finger on the action/adventure side of things wasn't quite as thrilling as the other books in the series.

And then there was Kitty herself. Great to follow how she is developing and arguably nice to see another facet to her character BUT I'm not altogether sure that the direction in which the author seemed to be taking her was a wise move. Added to which was the Ripper element. Something that as an adult I was happy enough with but it did leave me wondering how suitable some of the gory descriptions were for young readers.

Still, overall an enjoyable read. I can't wait to see where the next book(s) will find Kitty.