THE UNCANNY EXPRESS (THE UNINTENTIONAL ADVENTURES OF THE BLAND SISTERS BOOK 2) - Kara LaReau (writer) & Jen Hill (illustrator)

Having missed out on the Bland Sisters' first adventure, when they were kidnapped by pirates (though I will be seeking it out and reading it, now), I nevertheless was familiar with author Kara LaReau's work, having read and enjoyed The Infamous Ratsos (as well as have an ARC of the Ratsos sequel I need to finish). Here, LaReau channels a really cool combination of Lemony Snicket-meets-Agatha Christie, as Jaundice and Kale Bland are sent a mysterious letter by their world-traveling parents, asking them to meet their "Aunt Shallot" (whom they didn't even know existed, prior to the letter) at the train station, as she will be staying with them for awhile. Now, the Bland sisters totally live up to their name, spending their days drinking tepid tea and eating tasteless cheese sandwiches while indulging their obsessions (for Kale it's cleaning, while Jaundice loves tying knots). In other words, the last thing the sisters want is another adventure, which is why their lives are thrown out of whack when they meet up with their flamboyant aunt at the train station ... only to be led, instead, onto a departing train instead, with a woman who is actually the famous female magician, Magique! Now stuck on the moving Uncanny Express, things get even more complicated when Magique, disappears, and a flamboyant detective on-board (a terrific homage to Hercule Poirot worth reading the book for alone) offers to lead the girls in finding her. I loved this "kids" book, it's charming and amusing, with a bit of snark for the adults, and a fun story that - even if you see the end coming - is nevertheless a great ride getting there. Jen Hill's illustrations, just like with the Ratsos books, only add to the upbeat, lighthearted tone of the novel - which, naturally, hints of a book three to come by its end, that also seems to promise more development of the sisters as well as secrets (at last) to be revealed!  5/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.