Karl James Mountford Books

Sophie Taylor and Lilian Rose make an unlikely but successful pair of secret agents, whose previous adventures in the first two books in this growing detective series have seen them solve mysteries in Paris and St Petersburg.

Now, it’s the winter of 1912 and the pair of friends are facing a surprise betrayal from someone within the Secret Service Bureau. With a double agent on the loose, the detective duo set about to navigate the tricky issue of working as a team when they are not quite sure who to trust. A new line of enquiry sets in motion an undercover mission to Venice – complete with its atmospheric canals, carnivals, piazzas and crumbling architecture. Can the pair avoid the enemies lurking in the shadows and find the final piece of their puzzle?

Many readers who have read and loved the author’s previous detective series called the Sinclair Mysteries will adore these fast-paced international adventures that are characterised by a slightly more grown-up feel. With a strong sense of peril and not-quite-knowing-who-to-trust, plenty of twists, interesting geographical details and gutsy, inspiring female lead characters, this is a thrilling middle-grade series with a winning formula for fans of detective stories.