Cruise Ship Kid: Kidnap at Sea!

By Author / Illustrator

Emma Swan

Genre

Mystery & Detective

Age range(s)

Publisher

Usborne

ISBN

9781835409961

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

12-03-2026

Synopsis

Jump on board again with Silver, the Cruise Ship Kid, as she solves another crime in the second book in the hilarious and bestselling detective adventure series from author and West-End actress, Emma Swan.

Hi, I'm Silver (yes, really) and I'm back! Here are 4 more things you should know about me:
1. I still live on a cruise ship...
2. But two days ago we moved to a brand-new ship!
3. I'm now definitely a detective!
4. And I need your help investigating my second case!

Since my last diary, Mum's been promoted and we now live on a cruise ship with a mini-golf course, an ice-cream parlour and a MEGA SLIDE! And The Gang, my amazing friends who are all over 80, have come along too!

I thought my biggest challenge this cruise would be to convince Mum to buy me a phone. But now a SUPER FAMOUS INFLUENCER has been KIDNAPPED, The Gang unhelpfully keep taking over my investigations, and we still can't find her. So, do you want to be definitely-a-detective too and help me solve the kidnap at sea?

THIS BOOK IS: 50% crime-solving + 50% getting creative = 100% FUN! Inspired by the author's childhood growing up on an actual cruise ship, it's written in diary form and packed with doodles, activities and lots of space to scribble! Pamela Butchart meets Tom Gates, set at sea!

Find out how actor Emma Swan's life on board ship helped inspire her Cruise Ship Kid series!

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Reviews

Sue

Silver and her mum have moved ships and are now sailing on the Fabula, a much bigger ship than their previous home. Fortunately, The Gang, her on-board pals who are all over 80, are on the same ship, although her friend, Mo, who helped her solve the last cruise ship mystery, is stuck at school! Desperate for a phone of her own, Silver is delighted when she learns that influencer, Kindness Kay, is joining the cruise, planning to use this as an opportunity to show her mum that she (Silver) can be creative using a mobile. However, when Kay gets kidnapped, it's up to Silver and the Clotted Cream C.I.T (Crime Investigation Team) aka The Gang to solve the case.

Fabulous fun and fabulously funny, Kidnap at Sea is perfectly pitched to engage and entertain young (and old!) readers. The chatty, light-hearted tone make it a very appealing read and there are plenty of places where readers are encouraged to write in the book (unless it's a library book or borrowed!) to add their own thoughts and ideas.

The mystery is well plotted, with plenty of clues, hints and a fair few red herrings. However, there is much more to this story than it first appears. The cross-generational relationship between Silver and The Gang is an absolute delight, showing just how enriching for both age groups these can be as well as adding plenty of humour. Although initially fascinated by Kindness Kay's lifestyle, Silver quickly begins to question how much fun someone can really be having just living their life facing a camera and on social media, missing so much which is happening around them. The fact that Kay comes to realise this for herself and abandons so much of her 'performing to camera' by the end of the book is such a positive message.

Silver also shows great growth of character in this story, learning not to worry about making mistakes and to be proud of her achievements. This is really proves that 'funny' books can contain real content, not just bodily functions! Silver is a delightful character, full of energy, enthusiasm, curiosity and a kind heart, making her very relatable. I really look forward to her next adventure!

340 pages / Ages 8+ / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher