snazel's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series for many reasons, including the fact that it's a fun and accessible mystery for small people, that it's full of textual victorian and regency shout-outs, and that our detectives are such good friends. But probably the reason I love it the most is the fact that I finish every book going "oh man there were so many smart and capable women in english history!"
Most of these I knew about before, but I had kinda thought of them all as the single exceptions. By making all these women meet each other and interact (with the help of some timeline fiddling to keep it MG), I'm reminded that they weren't all the one odd woman in history. There was more than one exceptional woman per century.
Which I don't think I can adequately explain how heartening it is to realize.
Most of these I knew about before, but I had kinda thought of them all as the single exceptions. By making all these women meet each other and interact (with the help of some timeline fiddling to keep it MG), I'm reminded that they weren't all the one odd woman in history. There was more than one exceptional woman per century.
Which I don't think I can adequately explain how heartening it is to realize.
melmo2610's review against another edition
3.0
Another fun installment in the Wollstonecraft Detective Agency series. Liked this one.
jenni415's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series and the latest mystery does not disappoint. It provides an engaging mystery with some numerous moments mixed in to make it more fun. I love how it incorporates historical figures including many accomplished women in different fields. I also appreciate how it increases vocabulary by including advanced words with a character always telling the reader what the word means. I highly recommend this book and series for all ages.
lecrockett's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I love middle grade detective fiction, and the Wollstonecraft Detective Agency series is no exception! Featuring Mary Shelley and Ada Byron as little girls (anachronistically), with partner in crime Charles Dickens, they solve what appear to be little instances of crime (stolen dog) but are actually major connections to criminal rings (there's a clever Moriarty character cropping up!). The books were originally inspired by the novels of Charles Dickens's protege, Wilkie Collins. Now they are taking on a life of their own and it's so thrilling to watch! I highly recommend this series for little history nerds, fierce feminists, readers with quick wit and sense of humor, and little detectives in the making.
I love middle grade detective fiction, and the Wollstonecraft Detective Agency series is no exception! Featuring Mary Shelley and Ada Byron as little girls (anachronistically), with partner in crime Charles Dickens, they solve what appear to be little instances of crime (stolen dog) but are actually major connections to criminal rings (there's a clever Moriarty character cropping up!). The books were originally inspired by the novels of Charles Dickens's protege, Wilkie Collins. Now they are taking on a life of their own and it's so thrilling to watch! I highly recommend this series for little history nerds, fierce feminists, readers with quick wit and sense of humor, and little detectives in the making.
stofkochic's review against another edition
2.0
Really, really disappointed in this book.
I've enjoyed the series up to now, but I really don't like the direction this is going in. It's becoming darker and more sinister, and I really just wanted a light hearted children's mystery.
It almost felt like this was written by someone else. Just, very odd.
Not sure I'll be continuing with the series.
I've enjoyed the series up to now, but I really don't like the direction this is going in. It's becoming darker and more sinister, and I really just wanted a light hearted children's mystery.
It almost felt like this was written by someone else. Just, very odd.
Not sure I'll be continuing with the series.
mipa_jt's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
neffcannon's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
nose_ina_book's review against another edition
5.0
Another fun mystery for the Wollstonecraft Detectives. In this book the girls begin to uncover a link between all of their cases.
The book is fun and exciting like the previous two. It also does a great job of setting the scene for more books in the series.
The book is fun and exciting like the previous two. It also does a great job of setting the scene for more books in the series.
hemlockreads's review against another edition
3.0
This was the first in the series that wasn't based on Wilkie Collins's work and instead took on more of a Sherlock Holmes flavor. Ada getting her own Moriarty and an overarching mystery is pretty cool, but I don't feel like all the clues were present in the narrative to figure out the mystery as you read along. Maybe I missed something since I typically read at work between tasks.
Either way the girls are charming as ever and this series is so cute. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
Either way the girls are charming as ever and this series is so cute. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
janedallaway's review against another edition
3.0
Another enjoyable jaunt through the lives of Ada and Mary. As I mentioned on my last review I sponsored, via Kickstarter, Jordan's first of these stories. And as such I get the newer ones too. So I've just had a bit of a catch up session. Fun and easy to read. And full of feminine role models to encourage younger readers.