The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow

Synopsis:You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Opening of Sinclair’s department store!Enter a world of bonbons, hats, 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…

Summary:

A fashionably old-fashioned charmer of a book reminiscent of classics such as Nancy Drew and Enid Blyton, you’ll find yourself caught up in the elegantly mysterious world of the Sinclair’s department store!

My Thoughts:

This book is fun, exciting, extremely mysterious and overall, delightful!

It reminded me of Phillip Pullman’s Sally Lockheart Series and Robin Steven’s A Murder Most Unladylike series and since I was waiting for First Class Murder to arrive,The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow certainly filled the gap that I’ve been needing to fill for some time!

Sophie Taylor is an orphan who has fallen on hard times but is now working at the new Sinclair’s Department Store. Set to be the most famous department store in the world… and it isn’t even open yet! Sinclair’s is both a shop and a socialite spot, filled with clothes, hats, sweets, pets whilst also housing a cafe and smoking room.

Sophie is shy and still finding herself and is often teased by the other uncouth shop girls. So she is surprised when she makes not one friend but two. Lilian Rose, one of the captain’s girls and aspiring actress and Billy, the shop porter. Lilian was by far my favourite character, she was bold, brave, loyal and eccentric to say the least and practically makes the pages sparkle whenever she’s in a scene.

For a 9-12 book, I think it has incredibly strong characters and a surprisingly interesting mix of  both girls AND boys so there’s no reason why this book should be categorized as a girl’s/boy’s only book. This book is well and truly for everyone and it is a truly fantastic read.

The main focus of the book is Sophie, her situation and the slow unraveling of the mystery surrounding both the store and the mysterious clockwork sparrow that goes missing the night of the store’s big opening. And what’s worse, the only witness is shot.

Sophie with her growing pile of stress, problems and enemies finds herself accused of the most heinous crime and the world she’s struggling to make for herself comes tumbling down. Sophie knows she is innocent, and so do her friends but she is no detective. So with the collective wits of Lilian, Billy and Joe, it’s up to them to find out who the real thief is and clear Sophie’s name once and for all.

Simple and effective, the plot sucks you in and sneakily drops breadcrumbs throughout the book not only pertaining to this mystery but also to others I can only presume will come to light in future books! Each chapter leaves you second guessing nearly everyone in the book. Tiny hints and clues whispered here and there drive you mad until you can’t know for sure who actually did it.

I really enjoyed this adventure. Great ideas tied up in a wonderfully alluring gold and blue package with plenty of seeds planted for the future – I’m sure I’m not the only one pleased that this will be part of an on going series!

Final Summary:

Fantastic characters and an exceptionally intriguing plot shrouded in fanciful things! Full of history and mystery, you’re bound to be swept up in its sparkling gold and blue clutches!