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Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed
London, 1951: Clem Fatale, the youngest crook in the city, is on a mission to find her dad. Jimmy Fatale, notorious jewel thief and leader of the Spider Gang, has gone missing and with him the greatest prize in London: the Fool’s Canary.
Along with her prisoner and/or sidekick Gilbert (depends who you’re asking), Clem sets off on a rip-roaring chase through the London underworld. Racing through dodgy dives, glamorous nightclubs, greasy spoons and secret alleyways, Clem and Gilbert are soon pursued by a host of friends and foes.
Will Clem find her father in time? Or will the most sinister villain this side of the river put a stop to all her plans?
A rollicking middle grade series full of madcap escapades, fast-talking dames and unlikely heroes, perfect for fans of MURDER MOST UNLADYLIKE, ENOLA HOLMES, ADVENTURES ON TRAINS and Katherine Woodfine.
Along with her prisoner and/or sidekick Gilbert (depends who you’re asking), Clem sets off on a rip-roaring chase through the London underworld. Racing through dodgy dives, glamorous nightclubs, greasy spoons and secret alleyways, Clem and Gilbert are soon pursued by a host of friends and foes.
Will Clem find her father in time? Or will the most sinister villain this side of the river put a stop to all her plans?
A rollicking middle grade series full of madcap escapades, fast-talking dames and unlikely heroes, perfect for fans of MURDER MOST UNLADYLIKE, ENOLA HOLMES, ADVENTURES ON TRAINS and Katherine Woodfine.
- GenresMiddle GradeHistorical
240 pages, Paperback
Published April 3, 2025
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 24, 2025
This is a brilliant mystery! Clem is a gorgeous main character, who stands up for what’s right. There’s gangsters, thieving, missing dads and precious gems in this! I loved Clem’s friends - they were a brill gang. I loved the illustrations too. This made me smile a lot. And the promise of a second book?! Yes please!
January 11, 2026
JAN2026
Re-read the first book before the second book will arrive and I loved it so much! Ofcourse after reading it already I knew the plot, but it didn’t matter, the story and the adventure is just so good oh and I LOVE CLEM and GILBERT💛
July2025
Absolutely loved this adventuresome book!
Re-read the first book before the second book will arrive and I loved it so much! Ofcourse after reading it already I knew the plot, but it didn’t matter, the story and the adventure is just so good oh and I LOVE CLEM and GILBERT💛
July2025
Absolutely loved this adventuresome book!
April 26, 2025
Clem is a marvellously witty, sassy, daring, big-hearted protagonist and I love her so much. She’s exactly the type of character you need to lead a series like this. There are so many facets to her and her character that she fascinated from page 1 to the end of this novel. I could read about her on a million adventures, and I find it hard to imagine a time where I’d get bored. She’s meticulously well-rounded and I commend Eve Wersocki Morris on this highly because I just keep saying ‘Oh she’s brilliant!’.
2025 may be shaping up to be the year of expert pacing as, like another book I reviewed this year, I read this book in 1 sitting because I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. Like any true mystery fan, I wanted to see where the next clue was or if I could start to piece together my own conclusions so there was never a point where I thought I could put this down and step away. It’s brilliant snappy in its adventure and yet, on the other hand, I think it’s also one you could read in chunks to allow yourself the time to hypothesise your own ‘A-HA!’ moments. So whatever type of reader you are, this book will be wonderful for you.
Gilbert, Winnie, the Spider Gang, Norman Han, and all the secondary characters in this novel were exceptional additions, also. Are they somewhat characters you would expect to see in a 50s Noir-esque mystery adventure? Yes. Has Eve Wersocki Morris modernised them to a point where they all feel fresh? YES! Whilst I felt that some of these characters at first instance were those I’d seen before in books of yesteryear, there was a new take to them, which made it feel like the first time I’d met them. Another massive testament to Wersocki Morris’ fantastic ability as a storyteller.
Without giving too much of the narrative away (You know, I will always keep these reviews Spoiler Free if the book’s not on public release yet), I think humanity and community are at the heart of this novel and the 50s film noir, mystery aesthetic does everything to help that sparkle in dazzling technicolour. I was emotionally invested in not only Clem’s journey, but the journey of everyone she met (even a waitress in a greasy spoon).
With Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed, Eve Wersocki Morris has gained herself a fan in myself and will gain thousands more on publication date. Clem is a protagonist who shines bright against a dark world and is EXACTLY the protagonist children need right now. I look forward to her second adventure in January 2026 and cannot wait to have more people to discuss the mystery with in April!
2025 may be shaping up to be the year of expert pacing as, like another book I reviewed this year, I read this book in 1 sitting because I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. Like any true mystery fan, I wanted to see where the next clue was or if I could start to piece together my own conclusions so there was never a point where I thought I could put this down and step away. It’s brilliant snappy in its adventure and yet, on the other hand, I think it’s also one you could read in chunks to allow yourself the time to hypothesise your own ‘A-HA!’ moments. So whatever type of reader you are, this book will be wonderful for you.
Gilbert, Winnie, the Spider Gang, Norman Han, and all the secondary characters in this novel were exceptional additions, also. Are they somewhat characters you would expect to see in a 50s Noir-esque mystery adventure? Yes. Has Eve Wersocki Morris modernised them to a point where they all feel fresh? YES! Whilst I felt that some of these characters at first instance were those I’d seen before in books of yesteryear, there was a new take to them, which made it feel like the first time I’d met them. Another massive testament to Wersocki Morris’ fantastic ability as a storyteller.
Without giving too much of the narrative away (You know, I will always keep these reviews Spoiler Free if the book’s not on public release yet), I think humanity and community are at the heart of this novel and the 50s film noir, mystery aesthetic does everything to help that sparkle in dazzling technicolour. I was emotionally invested in not only Clem’s journey, but the journey of everyone she met (even a waitress in a greasy spoon).
With Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed, Eve Wersocki Morris has gained herself a fan in myself and will gain thousands more on publication date. Clem is a protagonist who shines bright against a dark world and is EXACTLY the protagonist children need right now. I look forward to her second adventure in January 2026 and cannot wait to have more people to discuss the mystery with in April!
May 10, 2025
Meet Clem. She's a feisty young thing, and skilled enough to follow her father into his gang of crooks, reacting to the social class situation post-WWII and robbing all the big-wigs of their gems, gold and money. But not on this night – for it's gone wrong, and the father has vanished. Sneaking away from the gang, with the burglary victim's kind-of-kidnapped son, she is determined to know what is the status of her dad, and the gemstone target of the exercise, and who betrayed them all to make the robbery come a cropper. Not an easy task for any girl, pitching her brains against that of the criminal underworld...
This is a pretty fast-paced series-launching novel, doing it if not superbly, then pretty competently. It takes a long time for the 'napped boy to succeed as comedy character, and by then he's needed to be something else, anyway – this doesn't have the humour of, say, Montgomery Bonbon, but then little does. I think though that the crime scene plays out a bit more realistically than one might fear – it's actually other details that raised eyebrows with me (in-car radios – definitely a thing; seatbelts – potentially a goof; a sunrise hitting the ground before the heights of a building's side – only in the mind of a flat-earther).
The book doesn't fuss over telling us all about the world, meaning we don't get lumbered with exposition and researched detail. It can plough on with its own crime drama, with good levels of mild peril and not too much of a drop in realism. Clem is a likeable character, for a housebreaking criminal, and while some twists aren't as surprising as they think they are for the adult reader, this is fine for the nine-to-twelves. It's a healthy four star start to this franchise.
This is a pretty fast-paced series-launching novel, doing it if not superbly, then pretty competently. It takes a long time for the 'napped boy to succeed as comedy character, and by then he's needed to be something else, anyway – this doesn't have the humour of, say, Montgomery Bonbon, but then little does. I think though that the crime scene plays out a bit more realistically than one might fear – it's actually other details that raised eyebrows with me (in-car radios – definitely a thing; seatbelts – potentially a goof; a sunrise hitting the ground before the heights of a building's side – only in the mind of a flat-earther).
The book doesn't fuss over telling us all about the world, meaning we don't get lumbered with exposition and researched detail. It can plough on with its own crime drama, with good levels of mild peril and not too much of a drop in realism. Clem is a likeable character, for a housebreaking criminal, and while some twists aren't as surprising as they think they are for the adult reader, this is fine for the nine-to-twelves. It's a healthy four star start to this franchise.
April 10, 2025
It was absolutlely wonderful to meet Clem Fatale, a young crook in 1950's London. As I was reading this all I could think about was how I wished the book had been around when I was at school, and also how the children at school were going to love this book.The author has cleverly made a past verison of London, full of creepy night clubs where crooks hang out. Added to this is the fact that London is still reovering from the war.This is a fast paced mystery full of clues and red herrings, we as a reader find ourselves facing rival gangs, and not very nice people. I do think the readers will total engage with them the characters and they will find themselves laughing out loud.With the brilliant illustrations doted about the book this is a must have for any school library
July 4, 2025
Clem Fatale is on the hunt for her Dad after he disappears during a heist. Along the way she makes some friends and enemies. Can she really trust all the members of The Spiders?
I borrowed this book from my daughter and it's a great spy novel for her age group. I really liked Clem - she was very brave and just wanted to do what was right and find her Dad. Her unlikely friendship with Gilbert was fun and they made me laugh at times.
The story was easy to follow and there were lots of London crooks, which is how I imagine it would have been in 1951. There were a few times when I thought Clem was going to get seriously hurt.
The teaser of a 2nd book at the end? A big yes please 😊
I borrowed this book from my daughter and it's a great spy novel for her age group. I really liked Clem - she was very brave and just wanted to do what was right and find her Dad. Her unlikely friendship with Gilbert was fun and they made me laugh at times.
The story was easy to follow and there were lots of London crooks, which is how I imagine it would have been in 1951. There were a few times when I thought Clem was going to get seriously hurt.
The teaser of a 2nd book at the end? A big yes please 😊
February 23, 2025
It’s a fast-paced, quick-witted adventure that will keep you engaged from start to finish, featuring clever dames, unexpected heroes, gleaming jewels, backstabbing crooks, and devious villains.
Young crook, Clem Fatale and her kidnap victim, Gilbert, navigate the gritty streets of 1950s London, darting from shady bars to glamorous nightclubs, diners to dark alleys, all while being pursued by a dangerous group of villains.
Clem is a character you’ll want to follow through every unpredictable turn and I can't wait for the next installment!
Young crook, Clem Fatale and her kidnap victim, Gilbert, navigate the gritty streets of 1950s London, darting from shady bars to glamorous nightclubs, diners to dark alleys, all while being pursued by a dangerous group of villains.
Clem is a character you’ll want to follow through every unpredictable turn and I can't wait for the next installment!
April 7, 2025
Fabulous crime caper for readers aged 9+
My full review is here: http://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home....
My full review is here: http://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home....
May 8, 2025
Good story. Well plotted with a great cast of characters. I enjoyed the subtle discussions of immigration and racism post WWII in England. Would definitely tune in for the next adventure. Solid mystery read.
July 11, 2025
Feisty, adventurous Clem is a fantastic protagonist. Gilbert a great contrast and the 2 make a fab duo.
Quick paced, plenty of drama, multiple plans and lots of baddies. Loved it, can’t wait to share in school.
Quick paced, plenty of drama, multiple plans and lots of baddies. Loved it, can’t wait to share in school.
May 15, 2025
Spiffing! Loved it!
July 25, 2025
Clem Fatale is an amazing book full of friendships, spies and mystery. If you have read the Murder Most Unladylike series you would totally enjoy this book. I also recommend this book to murder mystery and spy lovers. This book has totally changed my life.
December 12, 2025
Amazing book! A great page-turner. Can’t wait to read the next one
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews