I think it is quite an unusual mystery book as you find out the criminal at the very beginning of the story but the characters have to find a way to prove it! I also like the front cover and the illustrations all through the book. At the beginning of each part of the book there is an illustration of a different hat and a description of the hat. Sophie works in the millinery department with all the hats. It is set in 1909 and the book has a hat theme. But when valuables get stolen all the fingers point to Sophie so she and her friends have to get the real criminal before it’s too late even though it’s putting them in real danger!!!! The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow is about a girl called Sophie Taylor who works for a big department store in London called Sinclair’s. You might have seen my first little blog on it. The department store setting was inspired by the likes of Selfridges and Fortnum and Mason.This is a brilliant book that I have just finished. This detective story is set in an Edwardian department store owned by an enigmatic New York millionaire. Her friends Lil and Billy help her to solve the crime. When Sophie herself becomes a suspect, the only solution is to solve the mystery of the clockwork sparrow. Just before the store is due to open, there is a daring burglary, including the theft of the priceless Clockwork Sparrow. And, together with the help of vagabond Joe, they soon find out who stole the priceless jewellery. There, she makes friends with Billy, a junior porter, and beautiful Lil, who is one of the department store “mannequins” by day and an aspiring actress by night. Left penniless when her father dies, Sophie is pleased to find a job in the millinery department of Sinclair’s, soon to be London’s largest and most glamorous department store. Wonder at the daring theft of the priceless clockwork sparrow! Introduction Įnter a world of bonbons, hats, perfumes and mysteries around every corner. Nesbit, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Enid Blyton and Nancy Drew. The novel was inspired by Katherine's love of classic children's adventure stories, E.

The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow was Waterstones Children's Book of the Month in June 2015. The novel is the first book in The Sinclair's Mysteries, a quartet of mystery-adventure novels set in Edwardian England. The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow is the debut novel of British children's author Katherine Woodfine, initially published by Egmont Publishing in June 2015.

The mystery of the clockwork sparrow