Published by Usborne, 2024.

I thoroughly enjoyed Peril on the Atlantic, the first book in this series, and so I jumped at the chance to read and review the sequel. The Royal Jewel Plot did not disappoint. It was great to be back on board with Alice and Sonny who, very quickly after setting sail on the Lady Rose, find themselves embroiled in another mystery.

Just like Alice and Sonny, I found myself alert for clues and suspicious behaviour; the exciting plot hooked me in right from the start. It’s not just the two children and their father and governess who are sailing on the luxurious yacht; the King of England and Wallis Simpson are onboard too. There’s also a precious jewel on the boat – a rare opal, kept in a tank protected by a poisonous octopus. One morning, Alice discovers that the opal and octopus are both missing. The search is on to retrieve the priceless gem before the ship reaches its destination and everyone on board finds themselves in serious trouble. There’s a lot at stake: livelihoods and the boat itself.

The story unfolds at an exciting pace and there are plenty of suspects. Numerous crew members seemingly have motives and even the king himself is under suspicion. It’s enjoyable to try and stay one step ahead of Alice and Sonny with the sleuthing and I liked all the plot twists and red herrings.

I loved the book’s detail: the descriptions of the boat and life on board; the period detail and the historical references; and the tempting descriptions of the picture-postcard Croatian coastline. I felt transported to another time and place.

I also enjoyed the sub-plot centred around Marjory, a stewardess with aspirations to become a sea captain. I admired her determination to succeed as a woman in a male-dominated world.

The Royal Jewel Plot is a gripping and exciting mystery and I’m already onboard for book three.

Rating: 💙💙💙💙💙

Suitable for children aged 8+

Thank you to Usborne for sending me this book to review. I reviewed this book as part of the The Royal Jewel Plot blog tour. Check out all the other posts on the tour for more exclusive content.