The Sinclair's Mysteries: The Midnight Peacock by Katherine Woodfine
| The Sinclair's Mysteries: The Midnight Peacock by Katherine Woodfine | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: Linda Lawlor
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| Summary: It is 1909, and dark mysteries and shadowy villains abound. Set against the backdrop of Sinclair's luxurious department store in London and a staid, upper-class Christmas party in a country house, the plot rattles along at breakneck speed, throwing our two heroines and their friends into desperate situations at every turn. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 352 | Date: October 2017 |
| Publisher: Egmont | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 9781405282901 | |
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Oh, the excitement, the glamour and the sheer, unabashed luxury of Christmas at Sinclair's! Windows full of fabulous items which lure shoppers inside, where their nostrils are filled with the scents of cinnamon, toffee and cigars while they browse the laden shelves or relax and take a refreshing cup of tea (with maybe just a teensy little cream cake or two: shopping is so very exhausting!). The staff scurry here and there, packing up purchases and sending them out to the delivery teams waiting patiently in the stables, helping customers to find that perfect something to place under the Christmas tree, and preparing costumes for the forthcoming New Year's Ball.
Upstairs, though, things are quieter, as our heroines Sophie and Lil curl up before the fire in the brand-new offices of Taylor and Rose, Private Detective Agency, a box of chocolates near at hand, and work their way through notes on their recent cases. Mr Sinclair himself gave them the rooms as thanks for their success in solving mysteries which could have ruined the reputation of his store, and the fledgling agency, the only one in London to feature two young lady detectives, has been busy ever since.
Darkness and evil, however, are never far away. That dastardly Baron is still on the loose, plotting mayhem and murder, and Sophie seems to be a particular target of his attention. Together with friends old and new – once again Ms Woodfine introduces additional characters to keep the story fresh - she battles to save the store, a Highly Important Personage and even the fate of the whole country, while questions about her own parents, now deceased, continue to plague her. How can well-brought up young Edwardian girls, office boys and a stable lad triumph where the constabulary have not? The answer is a stirring tale of courage, resourcefulness and determination. Readers will feel the urge to stand up and cheer for Sophie, Lil and their friends at the terrifying climax to this adventure: it is heart-in-your-mouth, how-can-they-possibly-succeed drama of the highest order. Seriously – don't miss it!
This book is the fourth in an excellent series, all of which are well worth reading. Each one is a rip-roaring adventure in its own right, and right through each book the tension increases as the connections between the diabolical Baron and Sophie become slowly clearer. Bookbag particularly enjoyed The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow and The Painted Dragon. Even the titles have that blend of colour and luxury which recalls so clearly the wares on sale in Sinclair's wondrous emporium! And if you enjoy drama and mystery in historical settings, you could try The Shakespeare Plot 1: Assassin's Code by Alex Woolf, about a couple of orphans working at the famous Globe Theatre, who also find themselves having to solve a mystery and save the life of a very important person. Stirring stuff!
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You can read more book reviews or buy The Sinclair's Mysteries: The Midnight Peacock by Katherine Woodfine at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy The Sinclair's Mysteries: The Midnight Peacock by Katherine Woodfine at Amazon.com.
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