What do you think?
Rate this book
Darcie Lock: Girl on the Run #2
Empty Quarter
What if the right man for the job is actually a girl? Meet MI6's new recruit. Stuck aboard a cruise ship filled with problem rich kids, Darcie Lock is about to embark on her next exciting adventure. But it could turn out to be a bumpy ride because the US President's daughter has a reputation for being out-of-control. In a boot camp for the elite, Darcie must keep her wits about her as things are about to get interesting. Finding herself embroiled in a kidnapping plot that will take her from Naples, via Cyprus, to Egypt and on a terrifying journey through the desert Empty Quarter, Britain's youngest intelligence officer has a lot resting on her slim shoulders. This is the perfect action thriller for girls who don't want to let boys have all the fun.
- GenresYoung AdultMysteryAction
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
9 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Julia Golding
88 books860 followersMy journey to becoming an author has been a roundabout one, taking in many other careers. I grew up on the edge of Epping Forest and was that dreamy kind of child who was always writing stories. After reading English at Cambridge, I decided to find out as much as I could about the wider world so joined the Foreign Office and served in Poland. My work as a diplomat took me from the high point of town twinning in the Tatra Mountains to the low of inspecting the bottom of a Silesian coal mine.
On leaving Poland, I exchanged diplomacy for academia and took a doctorate in the literature of the English Romantic Period at Oxford. I then joined Oxfam as a lobbyist on conflict issues, campaigning at the UN and with governments to lessen the impact of conflict on civilians living in war zones - a cause about which I still feel very passionate.
Married with three children, I now live in Oxford between two rivers, surrounded by gargoyles, beautiful sandstone buildings and ancient trees.
My first novel, 'The Diamond of Drury Lane', won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2006 and the Nestle Children's Book Prize 2006 (formerly known as the Smarties Prize). I was also chosen by Waterstone's in 2007 as one of their 'Twenty-five authors for the future'. In the US, 'Secret of the Sirens' won the honor book medal of the Green Earth Book Award.
My latest series, which starts with Mel Foster and the Demon Butler, about an intrepid Victorian orphan who lives in a household of monsters, won Bronze in the Primary Teacher awards in 2015. The next part, Mel Foster and the Time Machine, has set the time-dial to arrive in 2016.
On leaving Poland, I exchanged diplomacy for academia and took a doctorate in the literature of the English Romantic Period at Oxford. I then joined Oxfam as a lobbyist on conflict issues, campaigning at the UN and with governments to lessen the impact of conflict on civilians living in war zones - a cause about which I still feel very passionate.
Married with three children, I now live in Oxford between two rivers, surrounded by gargoyles, beautiful sandstone buildings and ancient trees.
My first novel, 'The Diamond of Drury Lane', won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2006 and the Nestle Children's Book Prize 2006 (formerly known as the Smarties Prize). I was also chosen by Waterstone's in 2007 as one of their 'Twenty-five authors for the future'. In the US, 'Secret of the Sirens' won the honor book medal of the Green Earth Book Award.
My latest series, which starts with Mel Foster and the Demon Butler, about an intrepid Victorian orphan who lives in a household of monsters, won Bronze in the Primary Teacher awards in 2015. The next part, Mel Foster and the Time Machine, has set the time-dial to arrive in 2016.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 3, 2022
What an exhilarating ride from front to back. Golding improved this book massively over the former, improving Darcie's character to be a lot more believable as a 14 year old, exploring her relationship more with her parents and her grandfather, and giving her friends that feel much more rounded than in the first book. And of course, it wouldn't be fair not to mention Stingo and his crew's unfaltering relationship with Darcie, it felt like such a genuine connection between them all, and really gives the book a unique pop on the child spy genre. Great book, shows exactly what Golding and Darcie Lock can do.
March 2, 2020
Intense...yet cheering Darcie on as she gets herself (unknowingly) involved in a kidnapping and rescue mission. Her character is only 14, but written with so much good sense and skills, although not completely trained that way. Really enjoyed how the other characters were brought forward and written! And Stingo!! Protective older brother to the rescue!
May 19, 2021
Love, Love, Love
I started reading books by Julia Golding when I was in high school. I read this book just now as a 26 year old and I am thrilled that even as an adult I can still read these books find myself lost in Darcie’s world. Stingo is the bomb.
I started reading books by Julia Golding when I was in high school. I read this book just now as a 26 year old and I am thrilled that even as an adult I can still read these books find myself lost in Darcie’s world. Stingo is the bomb.
May 24, 2025
read as a child - approx '09-'12
August 5, 2022
Complete review available: Empty Quarter
Whilst still an enjoyable read, I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as the first, finding it a little more predictable and a little less distinct from other similar stories. Above all, I think the characterisation let this one down, with protagonist Darcie not feeling her age and many of the side characters playing into standard stereotypes and tropes. That being said, I definitely appreciated the reappearance of familiar favourites from book one (and hope for something similar in book three as well!)
Whilst still an enjoyable read, I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as the first, finding it a little more predictable and a little less distinct from other similar stories. Above all, I think the characterisation let this one down, with protagonist Darcie not feeling her age and many of the side characters playing into standard stereotypes and tropes. That being said, I definitely appreciated the reappearance of familiar favourites from book one (and hope for something similar in book three as well!)
February 11, 2012
This is a great follow on from the last book.It's as good as the first book and kept you guessing the end till the last page. I loved watching Darcie grow in herself and also liked the way some of the people from the first book are brought into this book amd also it's a conpletly new story.
November 23, 2010
This is a great second book for Darcie Lock. She continues to be ever resourceful. Now I can't wait for Deadlock to come out this next summer!
Read
July 15, 2012It's funny how similar this is to point blank (Alex rider book 2) 14 year old recruit of MI6 sent to spy in a place for bad kids
August 10, 2016
A great sequel I couldn't put down. It had me hooked from the first page and I think I have fallen more in love with Stingo- if that was possible that is.
August 15, 2015
I forgot that I'd read this before. I'm putting my rating down because of all the stereotypes!
April 30 2014
3.5 stars
April 30 2014
3.5 stars
June 29, 2015
A wonderful read. Waiting to read the others.
http://www.varshaseshan.com/blog/empt...
http://www.varshaseshan.com/blog/empt...
April 3, 2010
Great plot. Great characters. Great suspence. Overall is GREAT!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews