“An atmospheric late-1930s adventure with old-time cinematic appeal. Fans of fast-paced, far-fetched action will lap it up as enthusiastically as Sam swallows his favorite brand of sardines.” —Kirkus Reviews
Lantern Sam is the wise-cracking, sarcastic, talking cat (for those who can hear him, that is) who lives on board the Lake Erie Shoreliner train and is one of the best detectives no one knows about. He doesn’t have much patience for humans (unless they bring him sardines), but when 10-year-old traveler Henry can’t find his new friend, the exuberant Ellie, Sam’s enlisted to help. A ransom note is soon discovered and just like that, Sam and Henry are on the case, with the help of Clarence the Conductor (who supplies Sam’s sardines). But is Ellie still on board the train? Did the salesman with his trunk full of samples sneak her off? And why does that couple keep acting so suspiciously?
Veteran middle-grade mystery author Michael D. Beil has crafted a hilarious and appealing adventure set in the 1930s that’s chock-full of quirky characters and red herrings, and all with an irresistible cat at its center.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
LANTERN SAM AND THE BLUE STREAK BANDITS is one of those rare mysteries that will keep you guessing until the end!
By KidsReads
Ten-year-old Henry Shipley figured he was in for a snooze of a train ride aboard the Lake Erie Shoreliner with his mother and little sister on their way to New York City. That was before two very different people walked into his life. The first was a girl his age named Ellie Strasbourg who came from money and could talk a mile a minute. The second wasn’t a person at all --- it was a calico cat named Lantern Sam who could talk and share his thoughts with a few select humans, Henry being one of them. Normally a talking cat would be excitement enough, but Lantern Sam also happens to be one of the greatest detectives, and a detective is exactly what Henry needs after finding himself at the center of a mystery.The Crime: Ellie Strasbourg has gone missing aboard the Lake Erie Shoreliner, and the kidnappers are demanding a very valuable necklace, the Blue Streak, for her safe return.The Suspects:· Judge Ambrose: The local law enforcement on the Shoreliner who seems to live by his own rules.· Reverend Perfiddle: The holy man whose holiness may be called into question.· Mrs. Perfiddle: Pregnant, yet seems particularly agile for someone so close to giving birth.· Mrs. Strasbourg: Ellie’s mom who appears heartbroken for her kidnapped daughter --- or is she?· Julia: The Strasbourg’s maid who seems to be good at “covering up” dirty messes.· The traveling salesman: His large suitcase full of samples that has conveniently gone missing --- with the samples left behind.· The gossip columnist: She seems to know an awful lot about everyone.· The man and woman in dark glasses: They really don’t want anyone to know they are on the train, but why?Now it’s up to Henry, Lantern Sam and conductor Clarence Nockwood to figure out who the kidnappers are, where they’ve hidden Ellie, and if there are any more sardines left on the Shoreliner. Well, the sardines aren’t as important as the first two, but you’ll have to convince Lantern Sam to work on an empty stomach, and good luck with that!I am always up for a good mystery, and LANTERN SAM AND THE BLUE STREAK BANDITS is one of those rare mysteries that will keep you guessing until the end! Everyone is a suspect and all of their stories just don’t match up. Plus, just when you think you’ve got it figured out, the twists and turns keep coming and make you rethink everything. A nice highlight to the whole book is that Lantern Sam’s life story is sprinkled throughout, giving you a chance to learn on how he got his nickname, how many of his nine lives he’s supposedly lost and how he lost them, and why in the world he’s so addicted to sardines. This fun-filled mystery will have you purring by the end!Reviewed by Benjamin Boche
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
super fun train trip
By M. M. Ayers
Recieved book promptly. Super fun train ride withThe most clever cat detective! Fun read for the whole family! And cat lovers too!
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.Lantern Sam and the Blue Streak Bandits (YA)
By Melissa A. Palmer
Book #108 Read in 2014Lantern Sam and the Blue Streak Bandits by Michael D. Beil (YA)This was a cute read. Lantern Sam is a cat who can telepathically speak to certain people....two of which are train conductor Clarence and train passenger Henry. Henry meets Ellie, a young girl who comes from a rich family and who eventually gets kidnapped on the train ride. Henry teams up with Sam to find her and figure out the identity of the kidnappers. I loved Lantern Sam; he was a great character. I would recommend this book upper elementary and middle school readers.http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
