Joni Jones and the Ghost Train

Published on 10 April 2025 at 09:38

Joni Jones and the Ghost Train

👻🎃💣💀

by P.D. Leyshon

★★★★★

Review

I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of Joni Jones and the Ghost Train from the author, P.D. Leyshon—and I’m so glad I did! This book has absolutely everything a spooky adventure needs: ghosts, zombies, pirates, creepy settings, and loads of suspense. If you like your stories exciting, a bit scary, and packed full of twists, then this is the book for you.

The story is full of fascinating characters. You’ll meet brave pilots, pus-covered plague victims, banshees, bullies, brothers, and even traitors. What makes it even more fun is that the characters come from all over—Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Ukraine, and more—so there are lots of different voices and personalities to enjoy.

One of my favourite things about this book is how it travels through time. Joni visits lots of different places from the past, like pirate-filled Cornwall, World War 2 London, and the dark days of the plague. Each setting is written so well that you feel like you’re really there, seeing and hearing it all through Joni’s eyes.

The plot is exciting, clever, and full of surprises, but it’s still easy to follow. Even though the book includes lots of big ideas and rich language, it’s written in a way that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.

I would absolutely recommend Joni Jones and the Ghost Train to anyone in KS2 who loves horror, history, or time travel. It would make a brilliant addition to a class library, especially for readers who want something fast-paced and thrilling. I’m really hoping there’s a sequel—because I need more Joni adventures!

Dive Deeper

At a glance

Author: P.D Leyshon

Cover artist: -

Release Date: 7th October 2024

Book type: Chapter, 296 pages

Reader level: Developing reader, Shared read 8+

Blurb

It is nearly a year since 11-year-old Cai Jones went missing on that awful Halloween night.

When Joni Jones starts hearing the eerie sound of a steam engine on the haunted old path in the woods, he is convinced it is linked to his older brother's mysterious vanishing.

After Joni and his friends, Osh and Ellie, sneak out to investigate, they discover a ghost train that takes them to a parallel spirit world, where all the ghosts that ever existed are trapped for eternity.

With the help of the Resistance, a commando unit of ghost fighters, Joni must rescue his brother, then somehow return home.

Travelling through time to fight ghosts isn't for everyone.

To have any kind of future, Joni and his friends must first conquer the paranormal past.