BooksforTopics Reading for Pleasure Recommendations

Book Title: Taylor and Rose Secret Agents: Spies in St Petersburg (available here)

Author: Katherine Woodfine

Publisher: Egmont

Publication Date: May 2019

Most Suitable For: Years 5-8

Reviewed By: Caroline Waldron (@askyermother), Teaching Assistant & Librarian

Sophie Taylor and Lilian Rose make unlikely secret agents; unlikely but successful. As this story begins, Sophie is missing on a secret mission to St Petersburg in Russia. Lil is left behind in London, but upon being given a mission to Hamburg she sees her chance to take a detour to Russia to find her missing friend.

Meanwhile, Sophie is having her own adventure on the trail of a secret society who are looking to cause war in Europe. While Lil travels across Europe with an unlikely sidekick on an unusual train, Sophie is putting pieces of the puzzle together and tracking down a highly secret notebook. Can the pair solve the puzzle, prevent Europe from war and save the life of the Russian Imperial Family?

I have read and loved all of the author’s previous series called the Sinclair Mysteries (available here), so it was lovely to discover a new series with the same characters. Lil, Sophie and friends have grown up a lot since they were mere employees at Sinclair’s but still have great adventures and love having a mystery to solve.

This is a fast-paced story which moves across a Europe still at peace (set in 1911) but the rumblings of war are becoming louder. I love the period detail of Katherine Woodfine’s books and this is no exception. This series is probably aimed at a slightly older reader than the Sinclair Mysteries but both series would make a valuable addition to any book collection or library, with strong storylines and gutsy, inspiring female lead characters

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You can order Spies in St. Petersburg online or from your local bookshop or library.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book and to Caroline for reviewing it.