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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Definitely the most obvious of the mysteries so far. I knew who it was going to be before the crime even happened. But still an enjoyable read.
An excellent mystery for MG readers, in the best tradition of Sherlock Holmes. Sophie and Lil are part time mystery solvers and when a priceless painting goes missing and a young girl is pushed onto train tracks narrowly escaping death, they just have to get involved. Lots of clue solving, break ins and dashing around London ensue with the girls teaming up with existing friends and making new allies along the way. The story is fast paced , exciting and shows just how important working as a team can be. An enthralling read for young would be sleuths.
(ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
(ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
Awesome rip roaring adventure. Best one yet. Love how the character arcs are taking shape.
I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Sinclair's Mysteries is turning out to be an absolute gem of a series. Intriguing mysteries, clever historical details and fast-paced action all intertwined. It's a great read for older children and young teens. There's so much going on that with the beautiful setting and varied characters there's enough to keep any adult hooked as well.
I would very strongly recommend it as a class or parent-child read as it opens up so much opportunity for discussion; the characters with their range of backgrounds and jobs, the expectations and attitudes of the time. The Suffragettes even make an appearance!
Although this story is the third in the series, it can be read alone. The main mystery revolves around new characters, but readers of the other books will be happy to see the return of our favourite amateur detectives. The ending hints at so much more to come and I am so pleased to know this series is continuing.
The Sinclair's Mysteries is turning out to be an absolute gem of a series. Intriguing mysteries, clever historical details and fast-paced action all intertwined. It's a great read for older children and young teens. There's so much going on that with the beautiful setting and varied characters there's enough to keep any adult hooked as well.
I would very strongly recommend it as a class or parent-child read as it opens up so much opportunity for discussion; the characters with their range of backgrounds and jobs, the expectations and attitudes of the time. The Suffragettes even make an appearance!
Although this story is the third in the series, it can be read alone. The main mystery revolves around new characters, but readers of the other books will be happy to see the return of our favourite amateur detectives. The ending hints at so much more to come and I am so pleased to know this series is continuing.
I haven't read the previous two books in this series, but The Mystery of the Painted Dragon has ensured I will be picking them up at the first opportunity. This Middle Grade novel was utterly compelling and I throughly enjoyed both the characters and mystery it provided.
When a famous painting is stolen from Sinclair’s department store, Sophie and Lil find themselves drawn into a mystery that leads them through doors of forgery, secret societies, and into the arms of old enemies. It’s their biggest mystery yet…
Despite starting with the third book in the series, I had no trouble following this story. Not only was the mystery unique to this book, but the bigger picture elements were easy enough to follow since just the right amount of backstory was offered.
The first thing that struck me about this series though was the historical setting of 20th century London. Theatre was a massive thing, motor cars were relatively new and I adored the inclusion of the suffragettes as they fought to give women the vote. Combined with lovely descriptions, interesting facts and fitting dialog, Katherine Woodfine has done an exceptional job of bringing this world to life.
The main characters, Lil and Sophie are strong heroines and I like how despite the odds, they always look out for each other, even when they aren't in agreement. In fact, the relationships between all the characters are really enjoyable, and I also liked the introduction of Leo — an antisocial artist with a bad leg — who added an element of compassion to the story, especially as nothing about her fitted the social conformities of the time.
As for the mystery, following the clues was interesting although I actually worked out straight away who the culprit was. Having said that, despite having guessed the bad guy, this didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book. In fact it enhanced it, and I felt all smug when it was revealed I was right. Not that I had any doubts.
With lots of intrigue and nefarious deeds, all delivered inside a fast paced plot, I can’t help but give this book 4 stars! A most enjoyable read!
When a famous painting is stolen from Sinclair’s department store, Sophie and Lil find themselves drawn into a mystery that leads them through doors of forgery, secret societies, and into the arms of old enemies. It’s their biggest mystery yet…
Despite starting with the third book in the series, I had no trouble following this story. Not only was the mystery unique to this book, but the bigger picture elements were easy enough to follow since just the right amount of backstory was offered.
The first thing that struck me about this series though was the historical setting of 20th century London. Theatre was a massive thing, motor cars were relatively new and I adored the inclusion of the suffragettes as they fought to give women the vote. Combined with lovely descriptions, interesting facts and fitting dialog, Katherine Woodfine has done an exceptional job of bringing this world to life.
The main characters, Lil and Sophie are strong heroines and I like how despite the odds, they always look out for each other, even when they aren't in agreement. In fact, the relationships between all the characters are really enjoyable, and I also liked the introduction of Leo — an antisocial artist with a bad leg — who added an element of compassion to the story, especially as nothing about her fitted the social conformities of the time.
As for the mystery, following the clues was interesting although I actually worked out straight away who the culprit was. Having said that, despite having guessed the bad guy, this didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book. In fact it enhanced it, and I felt all smug when it was revealed I was right. Not that I had any doubts.
With lots of intrigue and nefarious deeds, all delivered inside a fast paced plot, I can’t help but give this book 4 stars! A most enjoyable read!
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes