The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow, Katherine Woodfine

Pages: 336

Publisher: Egmont

Release Date: 4^th June 2015

Edition: UK e-proof, NetGalley review copy

You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Opening of Sinclair’s department store!

Enter a world of bonbons, hates, perfumes and MYSTERIES around every corner. WONDER at the daring theft of the priceless CLOCKWORK SPARROW! TREMBLE as the most DASTARDLY criminals in London enact their wicked plans! GASP as our bold heroines, Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lilian Rose, CRACK CODES, DEVOUR ICED BUNS and vow to bring the villains to justice…

The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow is the story of two girls and two boys who simply turn up at Sinclair’s department store and find themselves embroiled in a dangerous mystery that they have to solve…

This novel is so much fun. It took me a little while to get into the novel, but once the ball started rolling, I couldn’t get back out again. Sinclair’s is a building of luxury and coupled with the setting of Edwardian London, there’s just something about it. With the way it’s described, it reminds me a little of Selfridges or Liberty, both of which are lots of fun to mooch around (and get lost in). Basically, it’s the perfect setting for a crime.

After the priceless Clockwork Sparrow and hoards of jewels are stolen from Mr Sinclair’s private collection on the night before the grand opening, everyone is a suspect. The atmosphere of suspicion and excited gossip was brilliantly balanced with the determination of Sophie, Lil and Billy to uncover what really happened. There were shootings and secret codes, crooked police and East End gang bosses, bombs and foreign intelligence threats – it has everything you could want from a decadent mystery. So much fun!

Katherine Woodfine’s debut is charming, fun and hugely enjoyable.

Thanks to Egmont and NetGalley for the review copy.

Sophie