The Mystery Express

“The Mystery Express,” made for kids ages 8 to 12, puts the reader in the shoes of a young passenger aboard a night train where a precious object has just vanished between two stations. On every page, a decision changes the course of the story: question the conductor or quietly search the compartments, trust the mysterious passenger in the dining car or stay wary of her, get off at the next station to raise the alarm or keep investigating aboard. No two readings are alike: the book offers more than twenty branches and several possible endings, from the object found before arrival to the discovery of a passenger with unexpected intentions. This is not a novel to read in one sitting but a real adventure to steer, where every choice counts and going back to try another path is part of the fun. The book already includes the complete story with all of its branches, a plan of the train to explore as you read, and a very simple rules page that shows how to jump from one numbered passage to the next from the very first page. A blank logbook is included to note the paths already tried and the endings already found, so readers can come back later for the train cars they missed.