Mystery

National Archive Hunters 2: Eternal Flame

by Matthew Landis

5.0
Reviewed March 28, 2026

Ivy was thrilled by this fast-paced history-mystery sequel, praising its suspense, clever problem-solving, and exciting teamwork as the characters chase clues across cities and even overseas to uncover the secrets of the Statue of Liberty's original torch. She gave it a near-perfect score, only docking points for a cliffhanger ending that left her desperate for book three. If you love adventure, history, and mystery rolled into one, Ivy says this is a must-read series you'll want on your shelf!

Ivy's Review

In National Archive Hunters: Eternal Flame by Matthew Landis, Ike and Iris Carter are back with Ruby and Special Agent Brooks for another high-stakes adventure, and this time, the missing pieces of the Statue of Liberty’s original torch are at the center of the mystery. A major international event looming makes every second count. The twins start with training, practicing strategy, stealth, and problem-solving so they’re ready for anything, from tricky historical puzzles to tense encounters with clever enemies who seem to anticipate every move, so if they run into Cincinnatus, or Big C, they can escape and evade. Iris feels ready and is determined to bring Big C down, while Ike is struggling with anxiety, feeling like his brain is glitching and overthinking everything. They aren’t working alone, though. Once they realise they need a translator, as most of their resources are in French, Luna and her family join them. They bring extra skills, experience, and money to the search. Their journey takes them through multiple cities and even overseas, chasing clues, decoding riddles, sneaking into unexpected places, and putting their teamwork to the test at every turn. Along the way, there are close calls and times when the team has to improvise to get out of dangerous situations. The story is full of suspense, clever problem-solving, and fast-paced action, showing how the combination of courage, brains, and teamwork is crucial when facing nearly impossible odds. The story is full of suspense, clever problem-solving, and fast-paced action, showing how the combination of courage, brains, and teamwork is crucial when facing nearly impossible odds.

This book actually got a 4.75 out of 5, but I rounded it, because of a similar reason to book one, Capitol Chase: the ending. The ending was clear but it was a CLIFFHANGER!!!!!!!!!!!! If there's one thing I do not like in books, they're cliffhangers. They are so...cliffhangy! Other than the cliffhanger, Eternal Flame was an exciting, fast-paced history-mystery book that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it. I loved it! Except for the cliffhanger.

If you like history-mystery books-books with history and mystery-with fast-paced writing and immersive descriptions then you will love this book. Or maybe you won't. If you don't like history, you should still read this book! It's SO GOOD! And, hello! Matthew Landis! Book Three, please? Thank you! I highly recommend you read this series. You'll love it! this is definitely a series I want on my shelf.

I will be back soon with another review. Bye!

About This Book

Twins Ike and Iris Carter race from D.C. to Paris to New York on the trail of one of America's most iconic treasures, before it disappears like smoke. The second book in a breathtaking and hilarious middle grade action-adventure series. Fresh off saving the French Four--a quartet of American treasures--and their mom's museum, Carter twins Ike and Iris are back in Washington, D.C. when they're summoned to the National Archives by the FBI Art Crimes Team because the Statue of Liberty is missing. Well, not the statue. But pieces of the flame packed away in 1916 have somehow vanished. The Smithsonian has organized an elaborate, high-profile event around the artifacts in six days -- with the presidents of both the U.S. and France set to attend --and the flame's absence will be a national embarrassment. The National Archive Hunters jump into action, learning everything they can about Lady Liberty's construction, including that Gustave Eiffel helped original sculptor Frederic Bartholdi by designing the supports for the flame . . . and that one of Eiffel's original sketches is missing. They need to see what was so important on that page, and that means getting to France, where another set of Eiffel's sketches is housed. Ike and Iris need a French connection tout de suite, or the relationship between America and its oldest ally might be snuffed out.

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