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Taylor & Rose, Secret Agents #1
Peril in Paris
ALL ABOARD THE TRAIN TO PARIS!
It’s 1911, and the young detectives of TAYLOR & ROSE are turning their talents to ESPIONAGE.
On a case for the mysterious SECRET SERVICE BUREAU, the daring MISS SOPHIE TAYLOR and MISS LILIAN ROSE must leave London for the boulevards and grand hotels of Paris.
But DANGER lurks beneath the bright lights of the city - and INTRIGUE and MURDER lie in store. As aeroplanes soar in the skies overhead, our heroines will need to put all their spy skills to the test to face the PERIL that awaits them...
It’s 1911, and the young detectives of TAYLOR & ROSE are turning their talents to ESPIONAGE.
On a case for the mysterious SECRET SERVICE BUREAU, the daring MISS SOPHIE TAYLOR and MISS LILIAN ROSE must leave London for the boulevards and grand hotels of Paris.
But DANGER lurks beneath the bright lights of the city - and INTRIGUE and MURDER lie in store. As aeroplanes soar in the skies overhead, our heroines will need to put all their spy skills to the test to face the PERIL that awaits them...
307 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2018
62 people are currently reading
2465 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Woodfine
32 books496 followersKatherine Woodfine is the author of more than 15 books for children, including the Sinclair’s Mysteries and Taylor & Rose Secret Agents series. Her first published novel, The Clockwork Sparrow, was a Sunday Times bestseller and was nominated for numerous awards. A champion of children’s literature, she has previously worked on projects including the Children’s Laureate, YALC (the UK’s first young adult literature convention) and children’s books podcast Down the Rabbit Hole. She now combines writing with reviewing children’s books. She lives in Lancashire, UK in an old house near a castle, with her family and two black cats. Find out more at katherinewoodfine.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
March 24, 2025
4 stars ⭐️ Clean Fiction - Middle-Grade Historical Mystery
Set a little over a year after the events in “The Midnight Peacock”, this first book in a spin-off series starts with Sophie and Lil now being secret agents for the British government. It didn’t have the same charm that the original series had in my opinion because of the lack of the whole group being together—or even just Sophie and Lil themselves being together as they are working on different cases/missions. Joe and Billy are only seen in the first few chapters, which I expected them to not be as frequently shown based on the title of this series being “Taylor & Rose, Secret Agents” after all, but was a bit disappointed by that. Still a fun book for fans of the prior series, though, and I will definitely be continuing with the rest of the books.
The author did so well showing how our main characters, Lil and Sophie, have grown—not only in their spy skills, but also their thoughts and actions. Sophie, especially, stood out to me as she wonders about what her life could have been like if her parents were still alive and my heart hurt for her in those moments, but was also proud at how determined she was. The ending of this book is a bit of a cliff-hanger, so I believe I’ll be getting to that one soon rather than savor these books like I had planned!
Main Content-
Sophie grasps her mother’s diary “like a talisman” at one point; Alex (Anna’s brother) makes up a story about their former governess being a wicked witch who kidnapped children, but Anna doesn’t think their new governess is a witch (“or at least not that kind”).
Mentions of alchemy, some who believed in the existence of an elixir which granted immortality, said to have “the power to defeat death”, & someone who was believed to have possessed the elixir of life; A couple mentions of a patron saint of Arnovia and a chapel dedicated to her (which Anna is named after); A couple mentions of a weapon that a group believes may have mysterious and “perhaps even legendary” powers; A couple mentions of illustrations of “angels and twisted serpents and five-pointed stars” in a book; A mention of a painting of a lion eating the sun which could also possibly represent a “process of spiritual transformation”.
Pain, Being grabbed, & Being chased (up to a couple sentences); Seeing a fight (up to a couple sentences); Seeing adults drink & smoke.
Sophie has to investigate a death where a man was shot and killed by bulgars in his home and to find out if it was a planned murder or just a burglary gone wrong; *Major Spoilers* .
Sophie and Tilly have to break into an apartment where a death/murder happened (Sophie picks the locks, they see the blood on the floor, and *Spoilers* ).
Sophie goes to a night club for her mission & there are descriptions of the ambiance and people there (some who are drinking, smoking, and gambling).
Sophie feels a flash of envy and also grief for what her life could have been had her parents still been alive (including imagining all the things she could have done on a trip with her mother).
A postcard of a lion holding a bleeding sun in it’s mouth is described and also shown in a black-and-white illustration (pg. 151-152).
A new character introduced in this book is thirteen-year-old Princess Anna of Arnovia, who does snoop, eavesdrop, and sneak around (the latter she finds excited to do even if it means breaking the rules; She thinks she has a talent for finding out things she’s not supposed to know, and pushes away the thought that this kind of sneaking is dishonorable; When upset, Anna sneaks out of the castle and is not caught; Her snooping comes in handy later and there are no punishments given for it; She tries to figure out why her new governess is strange by planning to steal something of her’s (she also witnesses the governess doing most of these things as well) and when Anna goes to tell an adult that she thinks the governess is a spy, the governess locks her in her room; *Spoilers* *Major Spoilers* .
Anna and Alex share some harsh words and Anna feels hurt; Anna is upset about the fact that her younger brother will be going to school and she will be left behind (adding that “a princess’s education was not considered to be very important”; She finds it horribly unfair that he doesn’t want to go when she would have given anything for the opportunity); *Spoiler* .
Some gender comments about girls and having untraditional roles (such as a mention of some people not caring for the idea of young ladies being detectives, a man not being delighted to meet an independent young lady despite saying so, a man commenting on not wanting to upset a woman’s “delicate…[nerves or sensibilities]”, Sophie being frustrated at others treating her like a fragile porcelain doll and being told what to do and think, Sophie being interested in hearing about other young women who earned their own living, a female journalist commenting on newspapers not hiring women journalists and if they do it’s only for fashions and society news (which she calls a “sort of rot”), and a male agent making a couple comments about female agents and thinking it’s idiotic for them to be agents which makes Lil want to throw something at him); Sophie and Tilly dress in boys’ clothes for a mission at night (including stuffing their hair in their caps).
Sophie and Lil both face an annoying young man (he gets under Sophie skin with his rude and sarcastic comments and Lil taunts him back).
No major language is said; Other words like ‘gosh’, ‘idiot’, ‘shut up’, and ‘stupid’ are said up to five times each; The British exclamation ‘dashed’ is said once; Religious exclamations like ‘good heavens’, ‘heavens knows’, ‘thank heavens’, and ‘who the devil’ are exclaimed once each and ‘for heavens sake’ is exclaimed twice; A couple mentions of adult cursing and another saying angry words in another language (said, but none of them are written out); A bit of eye rolling.
Many mentions of a looming war, threats from Germany, invasions, enemy spies trying to collect information, weapons, & smuggling; Mentions of deaths & grief (mainly Sophie and her grief for her parents and what could have been her life); Mentions of a death that seems like a murder during a burglary & if it was planned by the man’s enemy; Mentions of kidnapping plots & treason; Mentions of events in the prior books (an assassination plot, accused as a murderer, being kidnapped, & stolen items); Mentions of assassinations, possible assassinations, & Anna and her brother’s parents being assassinated when a bomb was thrown at their carriage by someone who opposed the monarchy (Anna and Alex don’t really miss their parents because they can’t remember them as they died when they were four and two); Mentions of Anna, Alex, and their governess playing a game called ‘Murder in the Dark’ (when it’s Anna’s turn to be ‘murdered’ she died with “such horrifying groans and moans that even Alex was impressed”); Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of illegal gambling at a night club & debts; Mentions of a night club with can-can girls; Mentions of alcohol/wine, drinks, & adults drinking; Mentions of cigars, cigarettes, & smoking; A couple mentions of envy; A mention of bombs; A mention of prison; A mention of a young woman being a support of the women’s suffrage and a man saying it with a sneer; A mention of a newspaper seller looking forward to having a glass of cold beer.
Sophie meets a man who she thinks can’t “resist the opportunity to try and charm any passing young lady”.
A mention of a secret love affair between a maid and a valet; A mention of a man enjoying the company of pretty maidens.
Set a little over a year after the events in “The Midnight Peacock”, this first book in a spin-off series starts with Sophie and Lil now being secret agents for the British government. It didn’t have the same charm that the original series had in my opinion because of the lack of the whole group being together—or even just Sophie and Lil themselves being together as they are working on different cases/missions. Joe and Billy are only seen in the first few chapters, which I expected them to not be as frequently shown based on the title of this series being “Taylor & Rose, Secret Agents” after all, but was a bit disappointed by that. Still a fun book for fans of the prior series, though, and I will definitely be continuing with the rest of the books.
The author did so well showing how our main characters, Lil and Sophie, have grown—not only in their spy skills, but also their thoughts and actions. Sophie, especially, stood out to me as she wonders about what her life could have been like if her parents were still alive and my heart hurt for her in those moments, but was also proud at how determined she was. The ending of this book is a bit of a cliff-hanger, so I believe I’ll be getting to that one soon rather than savor these books like I had planned!
Main Content-
Sophie grasps her mother’s diary “like a talisman” at one point; Alex (Anna’s brother) makes up a story about their former governess being a wicked witch who kidnapped children, but Anna doesn’t think their new governess is a witch (“or at least not that kind”).
Mentions of alchemy, some who believed in the existence of an elixir which granted immortality, said to have “the power to defeat death”, & someone who was believed to have possessed the elixir of life; A couple mentions of a patron saint of Arnovia and a chapel dedicated to her (which Anna is named after); A couple mentions of a weapon that a group believes may have mysterious and “perhaps even legendary” powers; A couple mentions of illustrations of “angels and twisted serpents and five-pointed stars” in a book; A mention of a painting of a lion eating the sun which could also possibly represent a “process of spiritual transformation”.
Pain, Being grabbed, & Being chased (up to a couple sentences); Seeing a fight (up to a couple sentences); Seeing adults drink & smoke.
Sophie has to investigate a death where a man was shot and killed by bulgars in his home and to find out if it was a planned murder or just a burglary gone wrong; *Major Spoilers* .
Sophie and Tilly have to break into an apartment where a death/murder happened (Sophie picks the locks, they see the blood on the floor, and *Spoilers* ).
Sophie goes to a night club for her mission & there are descriptions of the ambiance and people there (some who are drinking, smoking, and gambling).
Sophie feels a flash of envy and also grief for what her life could have been had her parents still been alive (including imagining all the things she could have done on a trip with her mother).
A postcard of a lion holding a bleeding sun in it’s mouth is described and also shown in a black-and-white illustration (pg. 151-152).
A new character introduced in this book is thirteen-year-old Princess Anna of Arnovia, who does snoop, eavesdrop, and sneak around (the latter she finds excited to do even if it means breaking the rules; She thinks she has a talent for finding out things she’s not supposed to know, and pushes away the thought that this kind of sneaking is dishonorable; When upset, Anna sneaks out of the castle and is not caught; Her snooping comes in handy later and there are no punishments given for it; She tries to figure out why her new governess is strange by planning to steal something of her’s (she also witnesses the governess doing most of these things as well) and when Anna goes to tell an adult that she thinks the governess is a spy, the governess locks her in her room; *Spoilers* *Major Spoilers* .
Anna and Alex share some harsh words and Anna feels hurt; Anna is upset about the fact that her younger brother will be going to school and she will be left behind (adding that “a princess’s education was not considered to be very important”; She finds it horribly unfair that he doesn’t want to go when she would have given anything for the opportunity); *Spoiler* .
Some gender comments about girls and having untraditional roles (such as a mention of some people not caring for the idea of young ladies being detectives, a man not being delighted to meet an independent young lady despite saying so, a man commenting on not wanting to upset a woman’s “delicate…[nerves or sensibilities]”, Sophie being frustrated at others treating her like a fragile porcelain doll and being told what to do and think, Sophie being interested in hearing about other young women who earned their own living, a female journalist commenting on newspapers not hiring women journalists and if they do it’s only for fashions and society news (which she calls a “sort of rot”), and a male agent making a couple comments about female agents and thinking it’s idiotic for them to be agents which makes Lil want to throw something at him); Sophie and Tilly dress in boys’ clothes for a mission at night (including stuffing their hair in their caps).
Sophie and Lil both face an annoying young man (he gets under Sophie skin with his rude and sarcastic comments and Lil taunts him back).
No major language is said; Other words like ‘gosh’, ‘idiot’, ‘shut up’, and ‘stupid’ are said up to five times each; The British exclamation ‘dashed’ is said once; Religious exclamations like ‘good heavens’, ‘heavens knows’, ‘thank heavens’, and ‘who the devil’ are exclaimed once each and ‘for heavens sake’ is exclaimed twice; A couple mentions of adult cursing and another saying angry words in another language (said, but none of them are written out); A bit of eye rolling.
Many mentions of a looming war, threats from Germany, invasions, enemy spies trying to collect information, weapons, & smuggling; Mentions of deaths & grief (mainly Sophie and her grief for her parents and what could have been her life); Mentions of a death that seems like a murder during a burglary & if it was planned by the man’s enemy; Mentions of kidnapping plots & treason; Mentions of events in the prior books (an assassination plot, accused as a murderer, being kidnapped, & stolen items); Mentions of assassinations, possible assassinations, & Anna and her brother’s parents being assassinated when a bomb was thrown at their carriage by someone who opposed the monarchy (Anna and Alex don’t really miss their parents because they can’t remember them as they died when they were four and two); Mentions of Anna, Alex, and their governess playing a game called ‘Murder in the Dark’ (when it’s Anna’s turn to be ‘murdered’ she died with “such horrifying groans and moans that even Alex was impressed”); Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of illegal gambling at a night club & debts; Mentions of a night club with can-can girls; Mentions of alcohol/wine, drinks, & adults drinking; Mentions of cigars, cigarettes, & smoking; A couple mentions of envy; A mention of bombs; A mention of prison; A mention of a young woman being a support of the women’s suffrage and a man saying it with a sneer; A mention of a newspaper seller looking forward to having a glass of cold beer.
Sophie meets a man who she thinks can’t “resist the opportunity to try and charm any passing young lady”.
A mention of a secret love affair between a maid and a valet; A mention of a man enjoying the company of pretty maidens.
August 6, 2018
I adored Katherine Woodfine’s earlier series, THE SINCLAIR’S MYSTERIES, so I was over the moon to hear that she was continuing Sophie and Lil’s adventures. PERIL IN PARIS is definitely a shift from the earlier books, in the sense that espionage is at its forefront, but it still retains the charm and excitement of Katherine’s first four books.
The problem with reviewing a book that is a follow on from an earlier series is that there’s not a lot I can say without spoiling THE SINCLAIR’S MYSTERIES. What I can say is this: Katherine’s writing and world-building is OUTSTANDING. I think setting in a historical period is so hard to get right, and Katherine basically provides a masterclass in how its done. I study the Edwardian era as part of my PhD and this was spectacular.
Point number two: we get cameos of beloved characters, and meet some interesting new ones, but I adored the focus on Sophie and Lil. Sophie, in particular, really came into her own in this story, and the friendship between her and Lil is SO strong.
Thirdly, the plotting. This is MG mystery at its best. It twists and turns, and shocks and delights constantly. The balance between the physical action and the intellectual solving of the crime is perfect, and creates a story that feels well paced, but also lightning fast. I genuinely could not put this book down. Every chapter made me want to read on, and that is the mark of an A* mystery.
This book has left me with bated breath for the sequels, and an insatiable desire to time travel to Paris in the early twentieth century. Whilst I’ll always adore THE SINCLAIR’S MYSTERIES, I think PERIL IN PARIS might be my favourite Katherine Woodfine book yet. It is clever and charming and sets up a brilliant series.
This was one of my favourite books of the year, and it more than lived up to the hype.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided by Egmont*
The problem with reviewing a book that is a follow on from an earlier series is that there’s not a lot I can say without spoiling THE SINCLAIR’S MYSTERIES. What I can say is this: Katherine’s writing and world-building is OUTSTANDING. I think setting in a historical period is so hard to get right, and Katherine basically provides a masterclass in how its done. I study the Edwardian era as part of my PhD and this was spectacular.
Point number two: we get cameos of beloved characters, and meet some interesting new ones, but I adored the focus on Sophie and Lil. Sophie, in particular, really came into her own in this story, and the friendship between her and Lil is SO strong.
Thirdly, the plotting. This is MG mystery at its best. It twists and turns, and shocks and delights constantly. The balance between the physical action and the intellectual solving of the crime is perfect, and creates a story that feels well paced, but also lightning fast. I genuinely could not put this book down. Every chapter made me want to read on, and that is the mark of an A* mystery.
This book has left me with bated breath for the sequels, and an insatiable desire to time travel to Paris in the early twentieth century. Whilst I’ll always adore THE SINCLAIR’S MYSTERIES, I think PERIL IN PARIS might be my favourite Katherine Woodfine book yet. It is clever and charming and sets up a brilliant series.
This was one of my favourite books of the year, and it more than lived up to the hype.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided by Egmont*
August 18, 2018
Absolutely charming, exciting and wonderful, a fitting return for one of my favourite detective duos. This daring historical spy novel follows on from the Sinclair's Mysteries, but you could read this having never read another of Katherine's books, and still enjoy it very much. Hooray for Lil and Sophie, and I'm so glad that Katherine has started such a fun series! (10+)
*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. If you use it in any marketing material, online or anywhere on a published book without asking permission from me first, I will ask you to remove that use immediately. Thank you!*
*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. If you use it in any marketing material, online or anywhere on a published book without asking permission from me first, I will ask you to remove that use immediately. Thank you!*
May 31, 2020
This was closer to 3.5, but I've decided to round it up because I did enjoy the book.
Peril in Paris is the first book in a new series with the same main characters as the The Sinclair’s Mysteries book series, but with a different setting and them being a bit older. The characters are now seventeen and are secret agents, which takes their adventures further away from Sinclair's department store. I enjoyed the mystery and the new characters, as well as the two separate story lines. But I did miss a bit of the charm of the original books. I think it has more to do with me having to get used to a slightly new direction than the book doing anything wrong, though.
It was nice to see Sophie and Lil again, in this new capacity. I wish they had a bit more interaction together, though. I was also glad that the minor characters from the previous series hadn't been forgotten, even if the spotlight is firmly on the two main leads.
All in all, an enjoyable read. I'm curious to see where the next book will go, especially after the ending left some things open.
Peril in Paris is the first book in a new series with the same main characters as the The Sinclair’s Mysteries book series, but with a different setting and them being a bit older. The characters are now seventeen and are secret agents, which takes their adventures further away from Sinclair's department store. I enjoyed the mystery and the new characters, as well as the two separate story lines. But I did miss a bit of the charm of the original books. I think it has more to do with me having to get used to a slightly new direction than the book doing anything wrong, though.
It was nice to see Sophie and Lil again, in this new capacity. I wish they had a bit more interaction together, though. I was also glad that the minor characters from the previous series hadn't been forgotten, even if the spotlight is firmly on the two main leads.
All in all, an enjoyable read. I'm curious to see where the next book will go, especially after the ending left some things open.
March 23, 2021
This book is set 8n 1911 and the young detectives of Taylor & Rose are turning their talents to spying/espionage.
Lilian Rose is undercover at a palace in Arniovia. She has to try and uncover a plan and stop the Crown Prince and Princess get kidnapped and handed over to the enemy.
Sophie Taylor, on the other hand, has been sent on a mission to find out more about the murder of Professor Blaxland. Is it just a being - in - the- wrong- place- at- the -wrong -time sort of incident, or is it more complicated than that?
But danger lurks around every corner and beneath the bright lights of the city - and intrigue and murder lies in store. As aeroplanes soar into the skies overhead, our heroes will need to face the peril that awaits them.
I definitely recommend this book because it is very thrilling and exciting all at once. Detective Rosebis my favourite character because she is very calm under pressure. If you havent read it yet, I suggest you go and read it!!!
Lilian Rose is undercover at a palace in Arniovia. She has to try and uncover a plan and stop the Crown Prince and Princess get kidnapped and handed over to the enemy.
Sophie Taylor, on the other hand, has been sent on a mission to find out more about the murder of Professor Blaxland. Is it just a being - in - the- wrong- place- at- the -wrong -time sort of incident, or is it more complicated than that?
But danger lurks around every corner and beneath the bright lights of the city - and intrigue and murder lies in store. As aeroplanes soar into the skies overhead, our heroes will need to face the peril that awaits them.
I definitely recommend this book because it is very thrilling and exciting all at once. Detective Rosebis my favourite character because she is very calm under pressure. If you havent read it yet, I suggest you go and read it!!!
dnf
March 8, 2023I’ve started this one over twice, and I just don’t think I’m in the right mood for it
July 18, 2025
The only thing that was likely to cause her distress, thought Sophie in annoyance, was people's constant attempts to keep her wrapped up in cotton wool, as if she was not a real girl at all, but a fragile porcelain doll that could be shattered at any moment.
Comparing this book, the first of four in the second series about Sophie Taylor and Lil Rose, to the first series, I think it's even better than those first four. God knows how that's even possible. Sophie and Lil are very likeable and well-rounded characters. Woodfine has succeeded very well in capturing their essence, and the essence of the time period. All her books really make you feel as if you're living at the beginning of the twentieth century, right before the Great War started and everything went to hell. It's as if you're taking a stroll with an umbrella across Piccadilly together with the characters, or travelling to Paris in a very refined compartment of a train. You know, the kind of trains they don't have anymore but were running all over Europe back then, and everyone wants to travel in once more now because they were actually nice and comfortable. The Grand Aerial Tour of Europe in the book is like that too. It feels like an actual Grand Tour of Europe as the well-off Americans (and Europeans) did back. It's all there, and it's all in the details as well.
Anyway, I got carried away there. Sophie and Lil are amazing characters, they feel fantastically real. They're one of a kind, really, and in this book, all eyes are turned towards just the two of them. That's probably the most important reason why I love this book even more than the ones before. Although I liked Billy and Joe too, and they are featured very briefly in this book, I've always felt that Sophie and Lil are the two characters at the heart of the series. And somehow, Billy and Joe being there held them back from coming into their full potential. All spotlights are on the two young heroines now, though, which I felt was a wonderful thing to do.
If you hadn't guessed it yet, there's nothing negative about this book apart from the fact that's it not even 300 pages long. Why are the best books always the shortest ones too? Damn it. Thank the gods this is a series.
A little heads-up for any Dutch people out there reading this: Apparently, the author decided to have some fun with historical Europe... so the map doesn't look entire as it should, and the countries are divided in a slightly different way. Which means, among other things, that Belgium stretches out all the way to Southern Denmark. So, basically, the Netherlands don't exist. I thought you should know.
10+/10. It's jolly well amazing!
Comparing this book, the first of four in the second series about Sophie Taylor and Lil Rose, to the first series, I think it's even better than those first four. God knows how that's even possible. Sophie and Lil are very likeable and well-rounded characters. Woodfine has succeeded very well in capturing their essence, and the essence of the time period. All her books really make you feel as if you're living at the beginning of the twentieth century, right before the Great War started and everything went to hell. It's as if you're taking a stroll with an umbrella across Piccadilly together with the characters, or travelling to Paris in a very refined compartment of a train. You know, the kind of trains they don't have anymore but were running all over Europe back then, and everyone wants to travel in once more now because they were actually nice and comfortable. The Grand Aerial Tour of Europe in the book is like that too. It feels like an actual Grand Tour of Europe as the well-off Americans (and Europeans) did back. It's all there, and it's all in the details as well.
Anyway, I got carried away there. Sophie and Lil are amazing characters, they feel fantastically real. They're one of a kind, really, and in this book, all eyes are turned towards just the two of them. That's probably the most important reason why I love this book even more than the ones before. Although I liked Billy and Joe too, and they are featured very briefly in this book, I've always felt that Sophie and Lil are the two characters at the heart of the series. And somehow, Billy and Joe being there held them back from coming into their full potential. All spotlights are on the two young heroines now, though, which I felt was a wonderful thing to do.
If you hadn't guessed it yet, there's nothing negative about this book apart from the fact that's it not even 300 pages long. Why are the best books always the shortest ones too? Damn it. Thank the gods this is a series.
A little heads-up for any Dutch people out there reading this: Apparently, the author decided to have some fun with historical Europe... so the map doesn't look entire as it should, and the countries are divided in a slightly different way. Which means, among other things, that Belgium stretches out all the way to Southern Denmark. So, basically, the Netherlands don't exist. I thought you should know.
10+/10. It's jolly well amazing!
August 4, 2018
My favourite middle grade mystery series has been upgraded to a spy series!! Featuring awesome, smart, quick thinking and brave girls! Love it.
I really enjoyed the Sinclair’s mysteries book, and I think I’m going to enjoy the Taylor & Rose Secret Agent series even more, based on this book.
Fun, intrigue, assassination plots, political intrigue, aeroplanes... what more does a book need?? I loved getting to see Sophie and Lil more settled into their lives as detectives, and now secret agents. And I really enjoyed getting more Tilly. I missed Billy and Joe though, the team didn’t quite feel right without them in it much. Though it was nice to hear some of the wider cast names being dropped too :):)
My only criticism is really that we don’t see enough of Sophie and Lil together, and it seems that the next one will at least start with them apart again. However, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see them spread their wings :D
4.5 stars and can’t wait for the next one!
I really enjoyed the Sinclair’s mysteries book, and I think I’m going to enjoy the Taylor & Rose Secret Agent series even more, based on this book.
Fun, intrigue, assassination plots, political intrigue, aeroplanes... what more does a book need?? I loved getting to see Sophie and Lil more settled into their lives as detectives, and now secret agents. And I really enjoyed getting more Tilly. I missed Billy and Joe though, the team didn’t quite feel right without them in it much. Though it was nice to hear some of the wider cast names being dropped too :):)
My only criticism is really that we don’t see enough of Sophie and Lil together, and it seems that the next one will at least start with them apart again. However, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see them spread their wings :D
4.5 stars and can’t wait for the next one!
June 7, 2021
This was a really good book with drama and some comedy i loved it! On a case for the mysterious secret service bureau, the daring miss Sophie Taylor and Lilian Rose must leave London for the boulevards and grand hotels of Paris. But danger lurks beneath the bright lights of the City - and intrigue and murder lie in store. As aeroplanes soar in the skies overhead, our heroines will need to put all their spy skills to the test to face the peril that awaits them...
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes detective, spy stories and im sure you would love.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes detective, spy stories and im sure you would love.
January 14, 2023
I find it hard to describe how amazing this series is. It’s written for young kids (9-14) “Taylor & Rose Secret Agents Series 4 Books Collection Set By Katherine Woodfine - Ages 9-14 - Paperback. It's 1911, and the young detectives of TAYLOR & ROSE are turning their talents to ESPIONAGE.” But when I tell you I enjoy this book just as much as my daughter, it’s true! I LOVE reading them to her, thrilling!
August 12, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Loved being back in the world of Sophie and Lil
February 22, 2020
Wow. Thought provoking, interesting, full of twists and turns. Along with Sinclair's, these books are the best I've probably ever read. :D
May 31, 2024
3,25⭐/5
zaskakująco dobrze się bawiłam na tej kontynuacji zważywszy jak bardzo nie chciałam tej książki czytać. GRATKI dla redaktora, który w przepisach zwrócił uwagę na marię SKŁODOWSKĄ-curie, a nie jak to napisała autorka. mały gest, a cieszy. historia też była ciekawa - choć rozwiązanie bez zaskoczeń i na plus również umiejętność bohaterek do przyznawania się do błędów. było okej.
więcej jak uda mi się zaktualizować gr.
zaskakująco dobrze się bawiłam na tej kontynuacji zważywszy jak bardzo nie chciałam tej książki czytać. GRATKI dla redaktora, który w przepisach zwrócił uwagę na marię SKŁODOWSKĄ-curie, a nie jak to napisała autorka. mały gest, a cieszy. historia też była ciekawa - choć rozwiązanie bez zaskoczeń i na plus również umiejętność bohaterek do przyznawania się do błędów. było okej.
więcej jak uda mi się zaktualizować gr.
March 17, 2021
Love love love. I have to admit, the start was slow for me. I don’t know why, but after a while I persevered, because of my love for the Sinclair mysteries, and I am so glad I did. The story turned out to be awesome and the setting, beautiful.
September 23, 2019
'Of all the cities Papa and I have visited this year, it is Paris that still seems the most marvellous. Perhaps it is because it was there that Papa and I first began this great adventure'.
Last Christmas, I read the entire Sinclair's Mysteries series, and I ADORED it. Each and every book was packed with charm, twists, turns, and an abundance of beautiful writing.
When I'd finished The Mystery of The Midnight Peacock, I was desperate to pick up Peril in Paris, the first book in the spin-off series - Taylor & Rose: Secret Agents - straight away, but I made myself wait until summer, and the release of the second book, Spies in St Petersburg, before I got stuck in. And you'd better believe it was worth the wait.
THE 5 THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
1. The cover is absolutely stunning. It's a bright, royal blue, with a colourful illustration of our heroes racing through the streets of Paris - one of my favourite covers of the year.
And the illustrations on the inside of the book are just as glorious. I firmly believe more books should have pictures in them, and that belief is backed up by all the beautiful maps, newspaper clippings, and posters contained within Peril in Paris, all drawn by the wonderful Karl James Mountford.
2. Katherine Woodfine's writing is gorgeous - her descriptions and world-building are spot on. I've never been to 20th century Paris, but this book made me feel like I'd been suddenly transported.
I think it's clear that Katherine not only has a tremendous gift, but also that she's done plenty of research about the Edwardian time period she's writing about. The proof is in the details.
3. Taylor & Rose: Secret Agents is a series about espionage, so there's a definite shift from The Sinclair's Mysteries, which was really nice, because it felt like some extra dimensions had been added to the adventures of Sophie and Lil, and it wasn't just a rehash of the stories that had come before.
However, Peril in Paris managed to retain everything I loved about Katherine Woodfine's original series - all the heart, warmth, and wit - so it doesn't feel like anything has been lost in Sophie and Lil's latest chapter.
4. Just as with The Sinclair's Mysteries, I was impressed by the plot twists that were woven into this book, considering that it was written for children. A couple of them I managed to work out, but Peril in Paris honestly kept me guessing until the last page, and even then, I was still left with questions so I suppose that means there are more revelations to come in later instalments.
5. Like The Sinclair's Mysteries, Peril in Paris follows our heroines, Sophie and Lil, on a new adventure, and reading about their latest escapades felt like coming home. But at the same time, I really enjoyed the introduction of some new characters, in particular Princess Anna, Prince Alex, Captain Nakamura, and the grey man.
OVERALL:
I am so, so happy that Katherine Woodfine decided to continue the adventures of Sophie and Lil.
I've just started Spies in St Petersburg, and I'm LOVING it so far.
I also heard that Taylor & Rose: Secret Agents is going to be a four-book series, just like The Sinclair's Mysteries, which is honestly the best news I've heard all day.
Last Christmas, I read the entire Sinclair's Mysteries series, and I ADORED it. Each and every book was packed with charm, twists, turns, and an abundance of beautiful writing.
When I'd finished The Mystery of The Midnight Peacock, I was desperate to pick up Peril in Paris, the first book in the spin-off series - Taylor & Rose: Secret Agents - straight away, but I made myself wait until summer, and the release of the second book, Spies in St Petersburg, before I got stuck in. And you'd better believe it was worth the wait.
THE 5 THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
1. The cover is absolutely stunning. It's a bright, royal blue, with a colourful illustration of our heroes racing through the streets of Paris - one of my favourite covers of the year.
And the illustrations on the inside of the book are just as glorious. I firmly believe more books should have pictures in them, and that belief is backed up by all the beautiful maps, newspaper clippings, and posters contained within Peril in Paris, all drawn by the wonderful Karl James Mountford.
2. Katherine Woodfine's writing is gorgeous - her descriptions and world-building are spot on. I've never been to 20th century Paris, but this book made me feel like I'd been suddenly transported.
I think it's clear that Katherine not only has a tremendous gift, but also that she's done plenty of research about the Edwardian time period she's writing about. The proof is in the details.
3. Taylor & Rose: Secret Agents is a series about espionage, so there's a definite shift from The Sinclair's Mysteries, which was really nice, because it felt like some extra dimensions had been added to the adventures of Sophie and Lil, and it wasn't just a rehash of the stories that had come before.
However, Peril in Paris managed to retain everything I loved about Katherine Woodfine's original series - all the heart, warmth, and wit - so it doesn't feel like anything has been lost in Sophie and Lil's latest chapter.
4. Just as with The Sinclair's Mysteries, I was impressed by the plot twists that were woven into this book, considering that it was written for children. A couple of them I managed to work out, but Peril in Paris honestly kept me guessing until the last page, and even then, I was still left with questions so I suppose that means there are more revelations to come in later instalments.
5. Like The Sinclair's Mysteries, Peril in Paris follows our heroines, Sophie and Lil, on a new adventure, and reading about their latest escapades felt like coming home. But at the same time, I really enjoyed the introduction of some new characters, in particular Princess Anna, Prince Alex, Captain Nakamura, and the grey man.
OVERALL:
I am so, so happy that Katherine Woodfine decided to continue the adventures of Sophie and Lil.
I've just started Spies in St Petersburg, and I'm LOVING it so far.
I also heard that Taylor & Rose: Secret Agents is going to be a four-book series, just like The Sinclair's Mysteries, which is honestly the best news I've heard all day.
April 23, 2021
3,75/5⭐️
Bardzo mi się podobało, książka w swojej kategorii 9-12 lat jest naprawdę dobra! Cały czas działa się jakaś akcja i muszę przyznać że rozwiązania się totalnie nie spodziewałam😳Niedługo pewnie przeczytam kolejne części, bo końcówka mnie bardzo zaciekawiła. Polecam dla trochę młodszych czytelników, ale myśle że starszym też się spodoba!
Bardzo mi się podobało, książka w swojej kategorii 9-12 lat jest naprawdę dobra! Cały czas działa się jakaś akcja i muszę przyznać że rozwiązania się totalnie nie spodziewałam😳Niedługo pewnie przeczytam kolejne części, bo końcówka mnie bardzo zaciekawiła. Polecam dla trochę młodszych czytelników, ale myśle że starszym też się spodoba!
June 25, 2021
That was SO FUN! Katherine Woodfine does a marvelous job of weaving the plot threads and characters from the first four books into a new story with a new direction and new characters. I love the Arnovia plot thread in this and Anna and Alex. I can’t say much more without spoilers, so I’ll just say that I can’t wait to keep reading!
September 21, 2025
Jestem zdecydowanie za stara na tę serię, co nie zmienia faktu że ją skończę. Czemu? Jak ją czytam to wracam myślami do dzieciństwa i czuję nostalgię, trochę się odmóżdżam i odstresowuję, także pod tym względem polecam. Nie jestem przekonana tylko do stylu pisania autorki, ale myślę że to kwestia personalna.
September 2, 2022
A perfectly pleasant read.
August 2, 2023
This book was so good it was Enola Holmes meets James Bond I loved Sophie and Lil the time difference was really great and very interesting to read about Taylor and Rose is the perfect addition to the girl-detective cannon.
October 8, 2023
I was hoping this would be just as fun, cosy and addictive as the Murder Most Unladylike series but it missed the mark for me. It was okay, and it was fun to read this while living in Paris.
January 18, 2024
so fun!!!
September 1, 2022
I feel like at this point, I have to complete the whole series… and that couldn’t be better news!
August 4, 2024
⭐️3,5
September 5, 2021
Opnieuw een extreem sterk en spannend boek van Katherine Woodfine.
Ik ben echt dol op de atmosfeer die ze weet te creëren, een beetje zoals een Agatha Christie, maar voor een jonger publiek. Uiterst charmante personages, een intrigerende plot met verschillende perspectieven die heel bevredigend compleet in elkaar klikt op het einde.
Echt, deze moeten vertaald worden voor onze jeugd!
Ik ben echt dol op de atmosfeer die ze weet te creëren, een beetje zoals een Agatha Christie, maar voor een jonger publiek. Uiterst charmante personages, een intrigerende plot met verschillende perspectieven die heel bevredigend compleet in elkaar klikt op het einde.
Echt, deze moeten vertaald worden voor onze jeugd!
August 23, 2018
Peril in Paris is a wonderfully clever and perfectly charming historical mystery. It is a spin off of the amazing Sinclair's Mysteries series but works well as a standalone.
Sophie and Lil are such brilliant protagonists. They are clever, determined and adventurous, during a time period when that wasn't always appreciated in young women. The author does a great job showing some of the beliefs of the time, whilst letting Sophie and Lil prove them wrong with their actions!
The storyline is utterly engrossing. Chapters alternate between two mysteries, and I found myself hooked by both. It is well paced and full of enough twists and turns to keep me reading. The stories weave together by the end in a very satisfying way. I loved the Sinclair's Mysteries and think this has set the Secret Agents series up to be just as good, if not better. I hope to see many more!
Recommended to all MG/YA fans. This book combines the charms of a spy thriller with an action adventure, in a beautifully described historical setting.
I received an e-ARC of the book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, however I also purchased an early paperback copy of the book myself from YALC and read from both copies.
Sophie and Lil are such brilliant protagonists. They are clever, determined and adventurous, during a time period when that wasn't always appreciated in young women. The author does a great job showing some of the beliefs of the time, whilst letting Sophie and Lil prove them wrong with their actions!
The storyline is utterly engrossing. Chapters alternate between two mysteries, and I found myself hooked by both. It is well paced and full of enough twists and turns to keep me reading. The stories weave together by the end in a very satisfying way. I loved the Sinclair's Mysteries and think this has set the Secret Agents series up to be just as good, if not better. I hope to see many more!
Recommended to all MG/YA fans. This book combines the charms of a spy thriller with an action adventure, in a beautifully described historical setting.
I received an e-ARC of the book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, however I also purchased an early paperback copy of the book myself from YALC and read from both copies.
December 14, 2020
[Audiobook version]
I thought the Sinclair's Mysteries series was adorable, but turning the girls from amateur detectives into spies was just a stretch too far for me. Sophie was a bit of a drip -- she can't work out why on earth a fountain pen would contain a clear liquid instead of ink, and is "astonished" when Tilly suggests it might be invisible ink. Apparently you need to be studying chemistry at university, like Tilly was, to work that one out...
In general, the girls seemed rather underprepared for espionage. Lil is sent undercover as a governess in a German-speaking country even though she doesn't know more than a few words of German. Being bilingual is part of her cover story, so not only is she incapable of understanding any Secret Plots she might overhear, she's in constant danger of blowing her cover. Oh, and she's an actress famous enough to have her picture in magazines, which you'd think might be a problem. Someone at HQ really didn't think this one through...
Still, despite not being the most convincing spy, Lil was rather fabulous -- I loved the line about her hiking up her skirt to kick down a door -- and her scenes made the story a lot more fun.
I thought the Sinclair's Mysteries series was adorable, but turning the girls from amateur detectives into spies was just a stretch too far for me. Sophie was a bit of a drip -- she can't work out why on earth a fountain pen would contain a clear liquid instead of ink, and is "astonished" when Tilly suggests it might be invisible ink. Apparently you need to be studying chemistry at university, like Tilly was, to work that one out...
In general, the girls seemed rather underprepared for espionage. Lil is sent undercover as a governess in a German-speaking country even though she doesn't know more than a few words of German. Being bilingual is part of her cover story, so not only is she incapable of understanding any Secret Plots she might overhear, she's in constant danger of blowing her cover. Oh, and she's an actress famous enough to have her picture in magazines, which you'd think might be a problem. Someone at HQ really didn't think this one through...
Still, despite not being the most convincing spy, Lil was rather fabulous -- I loved the line about her hiking up her skirt to kick down a door -- and her scenes made the story a lot more fun.
January 22, 2021
Very good! I recommened this series to anyone who has read murder most unladylike by Robin Stevens or anyone who likes a good mystery!
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