The Case of the Chaos Monster

The Elemental Detectives #2

by Patrice Lawrence

 

A stunningly imagined, action-packed fantasy adventure for fans of Nevermoor, Neverwhere and Mortal Engines, from bestselling and award-winning author Patrice Lawrence. "A beautifully written book, bristling with magic, set in an ancient London filled with dragons, ghosts, water spirits, and a mysterious, creeping sleeping-sickness that must be fought by the brave young heroes. I loved it." Cressida Cowell, Children’s Laureate & author of How to Train Your Dragon.

Step into a London lit up by the Elemental the fiery Dragons, the airy Fumis, the watery Chads and the earthbound Magogs.

Marisee and Robert - the Elemental Detectives - are back to solve another mystery on the streets of eighteenth century London. An orchestra explodes in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens and suddenly the music of London disappears... and a terrifying monster stirs off the Greenwich peninsular, threatening to trample London underfoot.

The detectives must track down the thief behind the music's disappearance - via the Whispering Gallery of St Paul's Cathedral, a Windmill-with-teeth on the Isle of Dogs and the dark streets of Soho... where a shadowy villain and his mechanical animal spies live.

Big, bold, future classic storytelling for a new generation. A London where magic sparks just beneath the surface - this book is set to ignite young imaginations. The second book in a major new series.  

MORE PRAISE FOR ELEMENTAL DETECTIVES

"I loved reading about a re-imagining of London with so much invention and energy. The world-building is well...out of this world. Patrice Lawrence is amongst the greatest voices for young people writing today. I'm honoured to be a peer of hers." - Alex Wheatle, author of Cane Warriors

"BRILLIANT... history and fantasy woven magnificently into a thrilling, magical adventure" - Sophie Anderson, author of The House with the Chicken Legs

"A fantastic adventure, packed with rich world building and stunning elemental magic." - Peter Bunzl, author of Cogheart

"Wow - The Elemental Detectives is a cracking fantasy. Clever, inventive, and pacy, with wonderfully drawn characters and a breathless plot. I want to read more!" - Bali Rai, author of Mohinder's War

"The Elemental Detectives is a rip roaring magical adventure... Patrice Lawrence has done a marvellous job of building an imaginative and creative mythology which lurks just under the city streets." Catherine Johnson, author of Freedom

"The Elemental Detectives is a richly imagined, inventive and immersive fantasy adventure." - L. Norry, author of Son of the Circus

 

423 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 14, 2023

About the author

Patrice Lawrence is a British writer and journalist, who has published fiction both for adults and children. Her writing has won awards including the Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Older Children and The Bookseller YA Book Prize.

Reviews

[Teri B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a blast of a story as all of a sudden all the music of London disappears and a solution needs to be found before worse happens.

The story includes the wunderkinder from Salzburg, Nannerl and Wolfgang Mozart, as well as Marisee, Robert and the elemental spirits of London.

There is a lot of very much needed representation woven into the story as we meet with Robert again. I thought it to be very well done. As is a different view on what it means to be a Wunderkind, boy/girl genius. I'd rather stick with Marisee, her Gran, Robert and the Elementals.

I also loved the opening up of the senses, specially hearing to what is around me as I started pondering what the music of London was back in historical times, what it would be nowadays and what music the place holds I currently live in & around.

[Alice Nuttall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another high-stakes, fast-paced adventure from a brilliant author.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preferred the first one, but this was still a good read