The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow

Story

It is the early 1900s and Sophie, an orphan, has started work at a fancy new department store in London, called Sinclair’s. A robbery takes place, and Sophie is under suspicion. Together with her new friends, Lil and Billy, and another young man called Joe, she works to solve the case.

Why we chose it

A historical mystery thriller which introduces two daring detective heroines.

Where it came from

Katherine Woodfine (1983 - ) read lots of children’s adventure stories and mystery stories when she was growing up, and was particularly drawn to the character of Nancy Drew, the teen detective from Carolyn Keene’s Nancy Drew mystery stories, whom she has described as “brave, smart and confident, even in the face of danger”. Although Sophie, the main character in Katherine Woodfine’s story, does not have all the advantages in life that Nancy Drew does, she is equally brave and smart.

Where it went next

This book, the first of a series now known as The Sinclair’s Mysteries, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, longlisted for the Branford Boase Award and nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal.

Associated stories

Other books in The Sinclair’s Mysteries series are The Jewelled Moth, The Painted Dragon and The Midnight Peacock. The author has also written a series called Taylor and Rose Secret Agents.