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Taylor & Rose, Secret Agents #2
Spies in St. Petersburg
With Sophie still missing in action after their explosive mission in Paris, Lil decides to take matters into her own hands. On a new mission for the Secret Service Bureau, can Lil find Sophie in misty, mysterious St Petersburg?
Can they uncover the identity of their true enemy and can they trust anyone – even the Bureau?
It's time for Sophie and Lil to put their spy skills to the test.
Read the first book in the TAYLOR AND ROSE SECRET AGENTS
PERIL IN PARIS
Don't miss The SINCLAIR'S MYSTERIES
THE CLOCKWORK SPARROWTHE JEWELLED MOTHTHE PAINTED DRAGONTHE MIDNIGHT PEACOCK
Perfect for fans of Robin Stevens' Murder Most Unladylike series, Katherine Rundell and Emma Carroll.
Can they uncover the identity of their true enemy and can they trust anyone – even the Bureau?
It's time for Sophie and Lil to put their spy skills to the test.
Read the first book in the TAYLOR AND ROSE SECRET AGENTS
PERIL IN PARIS
Don't miss The SINCLAIR'S MYSTERIES
THE CLOCKWORK SPARROWTHE JEWELLED MOTHTHE PAINTED DRAGONTHE MIDNIGHT PEACOCK
Perfect for fans of Robin Stevens' Murder Most Unladylike series, Katherine Rundell and Emma Carroll.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2019
30 people are currently reading
738 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Woodfine
33 books508 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 84 reviews
March 28, 2025
4 stars ⭐️ Clean Fiction - Middle Grade Historical Mystery
Hello, yes, it’s me. The girl who said she was going to savor this series and not read them quickly. That plan has obviously been dashed to pieces and even more so after that cliffhanger of an ending! Really, that was quite brutal of the author to do and I’m so glad I already have the third book!
I loved seeing more of Joe and Lil in this book! And honestly just more Joe and scenes in London in general as I thought that was sorely lacking in the first book of this spin-off series. It might be a little too much romance for some parents of middle grade readers, but I personally remember hearing about more romance in books like Anne of Green Gables or such when I was in that age range. I wasn’t personally bothered by it, but can understand why some families might not care for it. As always, it’s listed in the last section of this review.
The dangers are upping with Sophie and Lil’s missions and yet they somehow always are able to find good people to befriend and help them in their cases. One thing this series is highlighting for me is that I love learning and hearing about different countries in the early 1900s. I know my own American history well of what was happening before, during, and after that time frame, but it was neat to learn about Russia, Germany, and Japan within these first two books. It was really interesting to see a side of Russian politics that I’m not familiar with because most talk positively of Anastasia’s family in the majority of stories I’ve read. I foresee bunny trails of research in my future soon.
But first, I’m off to go read at least the first few chapters of the next book so I can at least sleep tonight after that cliffhanger!
Edit to add: the few first chapters were no help and I have to read other things now before I can get to reading it! 😫
Main Content-
Sophie feels plagued with a “superstitious anxiety” as if something was about to go terribly wrong; “God save the Tsar” is played at a circus (not written out, but mentioned twice); A case file shows that the primary religion in Russia is the Russia Orthodox Church; A snake charmer with the circus says that the snake is a “sacred creature”.
A few mentions of tourists visiting old churches & cathedrals (including a mention of the ‘Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood’); A couple mentions of other being the answer to another’s prayers; A mention of Russian Jews leaving Russia because it “wasn’t good for them out there”; A mention of the holy man, Rasputin (not positively).
Mentions of luck & being lucky; A few mentions of the magician in the circus; A mention of someone looking as pale and sickly as a ghost.
Being held at gun-point (x2), Being threatened with a gun (x2), Being chased, Gunshots, & Fighting/Self-defense (up to a few sentences); *Major Spoilers* .
With their work as spies and being undercover, Lil and Sophie steal important information and items, lie (including about their identities), eavesdrop, & cross a border illegally without proper papers; *Spoilers* .
*Spoiler, but about a weapon* .
*Spoilers, but planned violence/an attack* *Major Spoilers* .
Russia politics are discussed and overheard (with some saying the country ought to have a parliament and others who want a wise Tsar; This leads into a discussion about if violence is necessary for change to happen and when Sophie is asked her opinion on it, she thinks about if her military father would think that violence was justified and how she would have shot the Baron herself if she could have, but eventually answers that she doesn’t believe violence is the answer).
Joe doesn’t feel as if a place was meant for fellows like him, but then realizes how far he has come from his past and recalls the past troubles (like being injured by a knife wound) and bad people.
Some prejudice is shown by side characters (such as a young man saying negative things about the circus people, another man calling a young Chinese girl “miss” in an insolent tone which seemed to imply that the “polite address could not possibly be for someone like her”, another man not liking the idea of a strongwomen being stronger than him, and Sophie notices people staring at a Japanese man and when he doesn’t seemed bothered by it (Sophie asks him about it and he says he is used to it (she is also concerned that he may be viewed as an enemy in Russia due to a recent war ending between Russia and Japan.)).
Some gender comments about girls and boys and having untraditional roles (such as a man looking disapprovingly at Lil and her not caring a bit, Lil always playing characters who wept or faint at the first sign of excitement, a female owner and ring master of a circus and her wearing a black suit (who is also shown in an illustrated poster/ad of the circus), A man making a comment about the detective agency run by young ladies “if that’s what you call them” with a snort, a strongwoman at a circus. and an American man named Cecil who looks after the costumes with the circus and gets in a tizzy about the clothes being damaged or crushed).
No major language is said; Other words like ‘gosh’, ‘golly’, ‘idiot’, ‘shut up’, and ‘stupid’ are said up to five times each; The British exclamations ‘dashed/dash it all’, ‘bother you/bother it all’, and ‘lot of rot’ are said up to twice each; Religious exclamations like ‘good heavens’, ‘heavens above’, ‘for heaven’s sake’, ‘where in heaven’s name’, ‘who the devil’, and ‘what the devil’ are exclaimed up to thrice each and someone exclaims “Good lord!” when upset once (pg.49); A mention of curses (said, not written); Some Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Lil calls herself a donkey when frustrated with herself; Lil deals with an annoying young man & his sarcastic comments.
Many mentions of a looming war, a powerful weapon that could cause massive damage, violence, & revolutionary groups; Many mentions of wars, assassinations (by a bomb and shooting), political unrest in Russia, & political leaflets being shared; Mentions of deaths & grief (mainly Sophie with her parents and bring brought to tears at a memory & also a mother for her deceased daughter and how she could possibly lose her son as well); Mentions of prior books’ events (such as a kidnapping and kidnapping attempt & stolen items); Mentions of stealing & thieves; Mentions of a gang for a crime lord, when Joe used to be a member, & Joe having a knife wound and running away from them; Mentions of prisons, arrests, & armed guards/police officers; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of eavesdropping; Mentions of alcohol & drinking (including young adults at a ball/party & a Russian police officer being bribed with a shot of vodka to look the other way about something); A few mentions of bombings and deaths; A few mentions of illegal gun-running/smuggling & illegal guns; A few mentions of taverns & drunks; A couple mentions of workers in Russia being exploited & crushed by the Tsar; A couple mentions of a painting that depicts a dragon next to a pile of bones and “what looks like a human skull” (which someone thinks looks sinister); A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of the London suffragettes; A mention of policemen in Russia shooting anyone down to speaks up against them like “dogs in the street”; A mention of some other circuses having “awful things like bear fights, or tigers jumping through flaming hoops”; A mention of having a “wicked” idea; A mention of Lil’s parents who never know quite what to make of her.
More romance hints in this book than all the prior books with scenes of Joe and Lil:
1- Joe picks Lil up for what she thought was a casual arrangement between pals, but he comes with flowers and wearing his best suit.
2- When Lil is upset, Joe puts his arm around her shoulders, she is taken aback for a moment and the scene is described as “Joe had never really hugged her before - she hadn’t thought of him as the hugging kind. She knew he’d always been a bit sweet on her, but he’d never done anything about it - and besides, she’d never wanted anything more than just to be good chums. But now that Joe’s arm was around her, and her head was against his shoulder; now that his hand had closed over hers - warm and rather rough - her heart began to beat a little faster.” And a bit later, she springs up with a good idea and he looks “a little disappointed that Lil was no longer snuggled against his shoulder.”
3- When they say goodbye at the train station, he squeezes her hand and because of his warm hand and staring at her admiringly, she felt that she didn’t want to get on the train at all, rather wanting to “most of all to stay here, with Joe holding her hand and looking at her like that.” His voices gets husky when he tells her to be careful and she impulsively hugs him and it’s noted that it was a real hug and she “buried her face against the rough tweed of his jacket, breathing in the familiar scent of horses and hay. His arms tightened around her; she lifted her head, and for a brief moment their cheeks brushed together. - and then dimly she heard the train conductor blow a whistle.”
4- The next page has Lil trying to concentrate in the mission, but her mind keeps slipping back to Joe and wondering if Joe would have kissed her goodbye if they hadn’t been interrupted and “Had she wanted him to? Gazing down at the tossing waves, tipped with their frills of white foam, she admitted to herself that she had. When had that happened - and was it her that had changed, or was it partly Joe himself? He was certainly very different now from that awkward, uncertain fellow she’d first met - so much more sure of himself. And when he’d hugged her, she’d felt filled with a sort of warmth and lightness that she’d never experienced before. She’d known that he would always be there for her - no matter where she went or what wild plans she embarked on. If she was a boat in a stormy sea, he would be a lighthouse on a clifftop, she thought suddenly - always giving out a steadfast light.” But then Lil shakes herself “what was she thinking, dreaming about Joe in such a silly way? She was supposed to be making plans, not thinking about kissing boys. Sophie would think she was being quite ridiculous!”
5- Towards the end, Joe thinks about potential futures for him and “somehow, Lil had a habit of always popping up somewhere in this vision” but then “he’d always known that she could never really belong with a fellow like him. And yet…there’d been a moment on the station platform when they’d said goodbye - a split second, nothing more than that - when he’d almost thought that if he had kissed her, she might have kissed him back…”
6- Later, Joe thinks that maybe “just maybe” he had a chance with Lil after all.
7- Sophie teases Lil at the end about it being wonderful to see everyone back home when Lil’s has taken on an “uncharacteristically dreamy look - and could that be a faint blush on her cheeks?”
Carruthers makes a comment to Lil about her befriending young men and breaking Joe’s heart (she tells him to shut up); Some on the circus train assume that Lil and a young man are running off to elope and the girl finds it romantic; Lil makes a boy blush when she stares at him.
A few mentions of a young woman sighing over a handsome young man and the idea of romance; A mention of pictures of circus strongmen in skimpy outfits.
Hello, yes, it’s me. The girl who said she was going to savor this series and not read them quickly. That plan has obviously been dashed to pieces and even more so after that cliffhanger of an ending! Really, that was quite brutal of the author to do and I’m so glad I already have the third book!
I loved seeing more of Joe and Lil in this book! And honestly just more Joe and scenes in London in general as I thought that was sorely lacking in the first book of this spin-off series. It might be a little too much romance for some parents of middle grade readers, but I personally remember hearing about more romance in books like Anne of Green Gables or such when I was in that age range. I wasn’t personally bothered by it, but can understand why some families might not care for it. As always, it’s listed in the last section of this review.
The dangers are upping with Sophie and Lil’s missions and yet they somehow always are able to find good people to befriend and help them in their cases. One thing this series is highlighting for me is that I love learning and hearing about different countries in the early 1900s. I know my own American history well of what was happening before, during, and after that time frame, but it was neat to learn about Russia, Germany, and Japan within these first two books. It was really interesting to see a side of Russian politics that I’m not familiar with because most talk positively of Anastasia’s family in the majority of stories I’ve read. I foresee bunny trails of research in my future soon.
But first, I’m off to go read at least the first few chapters of the next book so I can at least sleep tonight after that cliffhanger!
Edit to add: the few first chapters were no help and I have to read other things now before I can get to reading it! 😫
Main Content-
Sophie feels plagued with a “superstitious anxiety” as if something was about to go terribly wrong; “God save the Tsar” is played at a circus (not written out, but mentioned twice); A case file shows that the primary religion in Russia is the Russia Orthodox Church; A snake charmer with the circus says that the snake is a “sacred creature”.
A few mentions of tourists visiting old churches & cathedrals (including a mention of the ‘Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood’); A couple mentions of other being the answer to another’s prayers; A mention of Russian Jews leaving Russia because it “wasn’t good for them out there”; A mention of the holy man, Rasputin (not positively).
Mentions of luck & being lucky; A few mentions of the magician in the circus; A mention of someone looking as pale and sickly as a ghost.
Being held at gun-point (x2), Being threatened with a gun (x2), Being chased, Gunshots, & Fighting/Self-defense (up to a few sentences); *Major Spoilers* .
With their work as spies and being undercover, Lil and Sophie steal important information and items, lie (including about their identities), eavesdrop, & cross a border illegally without proper papers; *Spoilers* .
*Spoiler, but about a weapon* .
*Spoilers, but planned violence/an attack* *Major Spoilers* .
Russia politics are discussed and overheard (with some saying the country ought to have a parliament and others who want a wise Tsar; This leads into a discussion about if violence is necessary for change to happen and when Sophie is asked her opinion on it, she thinks about if her military father would think that violence was justified and how she would have shot the Baron herself if she could have, but eventually answers that she doesn’t believe violence is the answer).
Joe doesn’t feel as if a place was meant for fellows like him, but then realizes how far he has come from his past and recalls the past troubles (like being injured by a knife wound) and bad people.
Some prejudice is shown by side characters (such as a young man saying negative things about the circus people, another man calling a young Chinese girl “miss” in an insolent tone which seemed to imply that the “polite address could not possibly be for someone like her”, another man not liking the idea of a strongwomen being stronger than him, and Sophie notices people staring at a Japanese man and when he doesn’t seemed bothered by it (Sophie asks him about it and he says he is used to it (she is also concerned that he may be viewed as an enemy in Russia due to a recent war ending between Russia and Japan.)).
Some gender comments about girls and boys and having untraditional roles (such as a man looking disapprovingly at Lil and her not caring a bit, Lil always playing characters who wept or faint at the first sign of excitement, a female owner and ring master of a circus and her wearing a black suit (who is also shown in an illustrated poster/ad of the circus), A man making a comment about the detective agency run by young ladies “if that’s what you call them” with a snort, a strongwoman at a circus. and an American man named Cecil who looks after the costumes with the circus and gets in a tizzy about the clothes being damaged or crushed).
No major language is said; Other words like ‘gosh’, ‘golly’, ‘idiot’, ‘shut up’, and ‘stupid’ are said up to five times each; The British exclamations ‘dashed/dash it all’, ‘bother you/bother it all’, and ‘lot of rot’ are said up to twice each; Religious exclamations like ‘good heavens’, ‘heavens above’, ‘for heaven’s sake’, ‘where in heaven’s name’, ‘who the devil’, and ‘what the devil’ are exclaimed up to thrice each and someone exclaims “Good lord!” when upset once (pg.49); A mention of curses (said, not written); Some Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Lil calls herself a donkey when frustrated with herself; Lil deals with an annoying young man & his sarcastic comments.
Many mentions of a looming war, a powerful weapon that could cause massive damage, violence, & revolutionary groups; Many mentions of wars, assassinations (by a bomb and shooting), political unrest in Russia, & political leaflets being shared; Mentions of deaths & grief (mainly Sophie with her parents and bring brought to tears at a memory & also a mother for her deceased daughter and how she could possibly lose her son as well); Mentions of prior books’ events (such as a kidnapping and kidnapping attempt & stolen items); Mentions of stealing & thieves; Mentions of a gang for a crime lord, when Joe used to be a member, & Joe having a knife wound and running away from them; Mentions of prisons, arrests, & armed guards/police officers; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of eavesdropping; Mentions of alcohol & drinking (including young adults at a ball/party & a Russian police officer being bribed with a shot of vodka to look the other way about something); A few mentions of bombings and deaths; A few mentions of illegal gun-running/smuggling & illegal guns; A few mentions of taverns & drunks; A couple mentions of workers in Russia being exploited & crushed by the Tsar; A couple mentions of a painting that depicts a dragon next to a pile of bones and “what looks like a human skull” (which someone thinks looks sinister); A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of the London suffragettes; A mention of policemen in Russia shooting anyone down to speaks up against them like “dogs in the street”; A mention of some other circuses having “awful things like bear fights, or tigers jumping through flaming hoops”; A mention of having a “wicked” idea; A mention of Lil’s parents who never know quite what to make of her.
More romance hints in this book than all the prior books with scenes of Joe and Lil:
1- Joe picks Lil up for what she thought was a casual arrangement between pals, but he comes with flowers and wearing his best suit.
2- When Lil is upset, Joe puts his arm around her shoulders, she is taken aback for a moment and the scene is described as “Joe had never really hugged her before - she hadn’t thought of him as the hugging kind. She knew he’d always been a bit sweet on her, but he’d never done anything about it - and besides, she’d never wanted anything more than just to be good chums. But now that Joe’s arm was around her, and her head was against his shoulder; now that his hand had closed over hers - warm and rather rough - her heart began to beat a little faster.” And a bit later, she springs up with a good idea and he looks “a little disappointed that Lil was no longer snuggled against his shoulder.”
3- When they say goodbye at the train station, he squeezes her hand and because of his warm hand and staring at her admiringly, she felt that she didn’t want to get on the train at all, rather wanting to “most of all to stay here, with Joe holding her hand and looking at her like that.” His voices gets husky when he tells her to be careful and she impulsively hugs him and it’s noted that it was a real hug and she “buried her face against the rough tweed of his jacket, breathing in the familiar scent of horses and hay. His arms tightened around her; she lifted her head, and for a brief moment their cheeks brushed together. - and then dimly she heard the train conductor blow a whistle.”
4- The next page has Lil trying to concentrate in the mission, but her mind keeps slipping back to Joe and wondering if Joe would have kissed her goodbye if they hadn’t been interrupted and “Had she wanted him to? Gazing down at the tossing waves, tipped with their frills of white foam, she admitted to herself that she had. When had that happened - and was it her that had changed, or was it partly Joe himself? He was certainly very different now from that awkward, uncertain fellow she’d first met - so much more sure of himself. And when he’d hugged her, she’d felt filled with a sort of warmth and lightness that she’d never experienced before. She’d known that he would always be there for her - no matter where she went or what wild plans she embarked on. If she was a boat in a stormy sea, he would be a lighthouse on a clifftop, she thought suddenly - always giving out a steadfast light.” But then Lil shakes herself “what was she thinking, dreaming about Joe in such a silly way? She was supposed to be making plans, not thinking about kissing boys. Sophie would think she was being quite ridiculous!”
5- Towards the end, Joe thinks about potential futures for him and “somehow, Lil had a habit of always popping up somewhere in this vision” but then “he’d always known that she could never really belong with a fellow like him. And yet…there’d been a moment on the station platform when they’d said goodbye - a split second, nothing more than that - when he’d almost thought that if he had kissed her, she might have kissed him back…”
6- Later, Joe thinks that maybe “just maybe” he had a chance with Lil after all.
7- Sophie teases Lil at the end about it being wonderful to see everyone back home when Lil’s has taken on an “uncharacteristically dreamy look - and could that be a faint blush on her cheeks?”
Carruthers makes a comment to Lil about her befriending young men and breaking Joe’s heart (she tells him to shut up); Some on the circus train assume that Lil and a young man are running off to elope and the girl finds it romantic; Lil makes a boy blush when she stares at him.
A few mentions of a young woman sighing over a handsome young man and the idea of romance; A mention of pictures of circus strongmen in skimpy outfits.
May 8, 2019
Completely charming and delightful, this is a fast-paced romp across Europe starring globetrotting detectives Lil and Sophie. (8+)
*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!*
June 18, 2019
Omg how could this end there???? Stressed now, I need book 3 pronto.
I massively enjoyed Spies, it feels more like the fun of the first series than Peril did. And we got more (a little) of Lil and Sophie together. Plus I love that it’s spiralling back round to the Fraternis. I thought this was well plotted and fast paced. And I adored what you can see about the start of both WW1 and the Russian Revolution. Very cleverly woven together.
While it feels like the fun of the Sinclairs series, it also shows Lil and Sophie (and Joe) a little bit more grown up, which also works for me. This is MG written with YA age characters, and I love that.
4.5 stars definitely, and just a good fun mystery series.
I massively enjoyed Spies, it feels more like the fun of the first series than Peril did. And we got more (a little) of Lil and Sophie together. Plus I love that it’s spiralling back round to the Fraternis. I thought this was well plotted and fast paced. And I adored what you can see about the start of both WW1 and the Russian Revolution. Very cleverly woven together.
While it feels like the fun of the Sinclairs series, it also shows Lil and Sophie (and Joe) a little bit more grown up, which also works for me. This is MG written with YA age characters, and I love that.
4.5 stars definitely, and just a good fun mystery series.
October 4, 2019
'I mean, Sophie and I are pretty good at some things. You know, for innocent, defenceless young ladies. I mean, flying across Europe in aeroplanes, and tailing wanted men, and getting hold of top-secret notebooks, for one thing'
***MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD***
Katherine Woodfine, how dare you leave me on that cliffhanger?!
I loved this book so much - I need the third book right now. Unfortunately, it doesn't exist yet.
I thought Peril in Paris was good, but I'll be damned if Spies in St Petersburg wasn't even better.
I just get so much joy from reading about Sophie and Lil and their adventures, and it takes me out of the real world for a bit, which I think should be any book's ultimate goal.
THE 7 THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
1. I've never been to St Petersburg. I've never even been to Russia, but Spies in St Petersburg made me want to get myself on a plane, and jet over there immediately.
The descriptions of the ice cream coloured townhouses, the frosty canal waters, the colourful palace that looks like a birthday cake, the Ciniselli Circus building, the ballet theatre, and Riviere's Jewellery Store, filled with all manner of ornate marvels, from opera glasses to music boxes.
Katherine Woodfine's descriptions are so lush, so rich. It makes the whole story even more captivating.
2. I liked how the story kept jumping from Sophie's perspective to Lil's, until they eventually met up at the end.
With Peril in Paris, I didn't feel like Lil got nearly enough page time, but here, we got to see just as much of Lil's adventure, traversing Europe in pursuit of her friend, as we did of Sophie's quest, trying to retrieve the notebook from the Count.
3. I adored the circus setting. It introduced a host of new characters, such as Miss Hercules the Strongwoman and Ravi, the snake charmer, and his python, Shesha.
Of course Lil stowed away in their costume carriage, and snuck into the circus disguised as a Firebird ballerina. That's such a gloriously Lil thing to do.
4. There were certain characters I just loved in Spies in St Petersburg.
We got to see more of Japanese pilot, Captain Nakamura, and how he helped Sophie on her quest.
I also liked seeing more of the Count's character, and how he turned out not to be such a bad guy, after all.
But the character I loved the most turned out to be Carruthers - he was so hilariously pompous, and added so much to Lil's side of the story.
5. Lil and Joe!!!
I have shipped this since The Mystery of The Clockwork Sparrow, and I never thought it would happen, because Lil never seemed overly interested, and I wasn't sure if there was that much time for romance in a fast-paced mystery novel.
But now it's happening!
They nearly kissed at the train station!
When Joe's in the face of danger, the last thing he sees in his mind is Lil!
Now I just need Joe not to die, so they can get together!
6. Spies in St Petersburg really kept me on my toes. There were twists and turns at every corner - there were subplots within subplots, double-crossing upon double-crossing, and now I have no idea who is on which side, and who might secretly be the enemy. And that ending....ugh. Yet another reason why I so much need the third book!
7. I love how Taylor & Rose: Secret Agents is slowly coming back around to The Sinclair's Mysteries. It's still possible to enjoy it without having read the previous series, but it's suddenly all coming together, linking back to the Fraternitas Draconum.
Katherine Woodfine is very skilfully weaving it all together.
OVERALL:
Words cannot express the love that I have for this franchise.
Spies in St Petersburg was the best yet. I really like how Lil and Sophie are growing up and maturing, and how that's starting to be reflected in the story.
I need Book 3! NOW!
Also, side note: I accidentally bent the beautiful Spies in St Petersburg cover back, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I - an adult woman - nearly cried.
***MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD***
Katherine Woodfine, how dare you leave me on that cliffhanger?!
I loved this book so much - I need the third book right now. Unfortunately, it doesn't exist yet.
I thought Peril in Paris was good, but I'll be damned if Spies in St Petersburg wasn't even better.
I just get so much joy from reading about Sophie and Lil and their adventures, and it takes me out of the real world for a bit, which I think should be any book's ultimate goal.
THE 7 THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
1. I've never been to St Petersburg. I've never even been to Russia, but Spies in St Petersburg made me want to get myself on a plane, and jet over there immediately.
The descriptions of the ice cream coloured townhouses, the frosty canal waters, the colourful palace that looks like a birthday cake, the Ciniselli Circus building, the ballet theatre, and Riviere's Jewellery Store, filled with all manner of ornate marvels, from opera glasses to music boxes.
Katherine Woodfine's descriptions are so lush, so rich. It makes the whole story even more captivating.
2. I liked how the story kept jumping from Sophie's perspective to Lil's, until they eventually met up at the end.
With Peril in Paris, I didn't feel like Lil got nearly enough page time, but here, we got to see just as much of Lil's adventure, traversing Europe in pursuit of her friend, as we did of Sophie's quest, trying to retrieve the notebook from the Count.
3. I adored the circus setting. It introduced a host of new characters, such as Miss Hercules the Strongwoman and Ravi, the snake charmer, and his python, Shesha.
Of course Lil stowed away in their costume carriage, and snuck into the circus disguised as a Firebird ballerina. That's such a gloriously Lil thing to do.
4. There were certain characters I just loved in Spies in St Petersburg.
We got to see more of Japanese pilot, Captain Nakamura, and how he helped Sophie on her quest.
I also liked seeing more of the Count's character, and how he turned out not to be such a bad guy, after all.
But the character I loved the most turned out to be Carruthers - he was so hilariously pompous, and added so much to Lil's side of the story.
5. Lil and Joe!!!
I have shipped this since The Mystery of The Clockwork Sparrow, and I never thought it would happen, because Lil never seemed overly interested, and I wasn't sure if there was that much time for romance in a fast-paced mystery novel.
But now it's happening!
They nearly kissed at the train station!
When Joe's in the face of danger, the last thing he sees in his mind is Lil!
Now I just need Joe not to die, so they can get together!
6. Spies in St Petersburg really kept me on my toes. There were twists and turns at every corner - there were subplots within subplots, double-crossing upon double-crossing, and now I have no idea who is on which side, and who might secretly be the enemy. And that ending....ugh. Yet another reason why I so much need the third book!
7. I love how Taylor & Rose: Secret Agents is slowly coming back around to The Sinclair's Mysteries. It's still possible to enjoy it without having read the previous series, but it's suddenly all coming together, linking back to the Fraternitas Draconum.
Katherine Woodfine is very skilfully weaving it all together.
OVERALL:
Words cannot express the love that I have for this franchise.
Spies in St Petersburg was the best yet. I really like how Lil and Sophie are growing up and maturing, and how that's starting to be reflected in the story.
I need Book 3! NOW!
Also, side note: I accidentally bent the beautiful Spies in St Petersburg cover back, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I - an adult woman - nearly cried.
July 2, 2021
So that ended on a cliffhanger... I want to jump right into Villains in Venice, but then I would have to wait a month to get the fourth book, so ack! I'm all of a doo-dah (as Lord Peter Wimsey would say).
With the Taylor & Rose series so far, I've enjoyed Lil's storylines more (though obviously Sophie's are fun too). I really enjoyed the relationship between her and Carruthers in this story and learning more about him. I could say a lot more about that, but want to keep this spoiler-free.
I loved the St. Petersburg setting, especially because I've been learning more about Russian history and culture recently, so I could understand the tensions in the book easily. I love how Katherine Woodfine weaves her story so closely with real historical events and people. Boris and Vera's family was one of the best parts of the book. I could easily have spent more time with them in their boarding house.
The Count and Nakamura were two other surprising and delightful characters in this, as were the members of the circus. I was a little wary of the circus plotline (it's not my thing, not sure why), but I actually really enjoyed it. It was the setup for many funny and tense moments in the story.
Katherine Woodfine does both plot and character so well. The plot threads that have continued from the very first book (Clockwork Sparrow) are masterful, and she is always introducing more complexity. I love the double agent theme that is emerging where there is a Fraternitas spy in the SSB. I'm looking forward to seeing how that plot point develops.
With the Taylor & Rose series so far, I've enjoyed Lil's storylines more (though obviously Sophie's are fun too). I really enjoyed the relationship between her and Carruthers in this story and learning more about him. I could say a lot more about that, but want to keep this spoiler-free.
I loved the St. Petersburg setting, especially because I've been learning more about Russian history and culture recently, so I could understand the tensions in the book easily. I love how Katherine Woodfine weaves her story so closely with real historical events and people. Boris and Vera's family was one of the best parts of the book. I could easily have spent more time with them in their boarding house.
The Count and Nakamura were two other surprising and delightful characters in this, as were the members of the circus. I was a little wary of the circus plotline (it's not my thing, not sure why), but I actually really enjoyed it. It was the setup for many funny and tense moments in the story.
Katherine Woodfine does both plot and character so well. The plot threads that have continued from the very first book (Clockwork Sparrow) are masterful, and she is always introducing more complexity. I love the double agent theme that is emerging where there is a Fraternitas spy in the SSB. I'm looking forward to seeing how that plot point develops.
April 9, 2021
Sophie is still missing in action after their explosive mission in Paris, Lil decides to take matters in her own hands. On a new mission for the Secret Service Bureau, Lil must find Sophie in a misty, mysterious St Petersburg.
It is time for Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lillian Rose to put their spy skills to the test.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and recommend it because of the natural gripping intentions and a knack for suspense and spying potential. If you haven't read it, go and read it now!!! 📚
It is time for Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lillian Rose to put their spy skills to the test.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and recommend it because of the natural gripping intentions and a knack for suspense and spying potential. If you haven't read it, go and read it now!!! 📚
March 25, 2021
Dreamy.
Just another brilliant instalment in the series of adventures of Sophie and Lil.
It was so beautifully written and the story was so enjoyable. I really felt like I was soaking up the magic of St Petersburg and feeling the danger of the mission/s. Probably my favourite so far!
Just another brilliant instalment in the series of adventures of Sophie and Lil.
It was so beautifully written and the story was so enjoyable. I really felt like I was soaking up the magic of St Petersburg and feeling the danger of the mission/s. Probably my favourite so far!
April 1, 2025
An awesome addition to the series! I am excited to read the next book!!
They are getting a little pushy about wemon not being in their typical roles, but I am willing to push through, because the characters are lovely.
They are getting a little pushy about wemon not being in their typical roles, but I am willing to push through, because the characters are lovely.
April 9, 2021
Very very very very good
May 10, 2024
Spies in St Petersburg is the thrilling sequel to Peril in Paris as we follow Sophie’s adventures in Russia, and Lil’s determined quest to find her.
Since flying off with Captain Nakamura at the airfield in Paris in search of the precious notebook believed to be owned by the Fraternitas Draconum, no one has seen Sophie since. No letters, no news about where she is. All the Secret Service Bureau know is she’s in St Petersburg. Angry at the Bureau’s lack of action to find Sophie, Lil usurps a Bureau mission so she can go on the hunt for her best friend Sophie. But all doesn’t go to plan when the surly Carruthers joins Lil on her trip. And back home, Billy and Joe are in a spot of bother when Bureau agents question them as to why Lil has deserted her mission. Danger lurks ahead as Joe takes on some surveillance of his own… Can these four friends be reunited?
As always with the Sinclair’s Mysteries/Taylor & Rose Secret Agents series, this was such a fun read packed full of adventure. I especially liked the new characters that Sophie and Lil encounter; they are fully-developed and offer a lot to the story. I also like the political setting of this book, set in a time of revolutions and assassinations in Russia. One thing to mention is the language used by the characters- it really transports you back to the 1910's. The beautiful illustrations really add to the story.
Overall, another brilliant read in the series. I’d recommend you reading at least Peril in Paris before this one, as Spies in St Petersburg picks off pretty much where Peril in Paris finished.
Since flying off with Captain Nakamura at the airfield in Paris in search of the precious notebook believed to be owned by the Fraternitas Draconum, no one has seen Sophie since. No letters, no news about where she is. All the Secret Service Bureau know is she’s in St Petersburg. Angry at the Bureau’s lack of action to find Sophie, Lil usurps a Bureau mission so she can go on the hunt for her best friend Sophie. But all doesn’t go to plan when the surly Carruthers joins Lil on her trip. And back home, Billy and Joe are in a spot of bother when Bureau agents question them as to why Lil has deserted her mission. Danger lurks ahead as Joe takes on some surveillance of his own… Can these four friends be reunited?
As always with the Sinclair’s Mysteries/Taylor & Rose Secret Agents series, this was such a fun read packed full of adventure. I especially liked the new characters that Sophie and Lil encounter; they are fully-developed and offer a lot to the story. I also like the political setting of this book, set in a time of revolutions and assassinations in Russia. One thing to mention is the language used by the characters- it really transports you back to the 1910's. The beautiful illustrations really add to the story.
Overall, another brilliant read in the series. I’d recommend you reading at least Peril in Paris before this one, as Spies in St Petersburg picks off pretty much where Peril in Paris finished.
June 19, 2019
Another good installment in this series.
Clearly an impressive amount of research has gone into the creation of St Petersburg in the early 20th century and there is a decent cliffhanger.
Clearly an impressive amount of research has gone into the creation of St Petersburg in the early 20th century and there is a decent cliffhanger.
September 25, 2023
Spies in St Petersburg was a good story, but this book didn’t seem that appealing I liked the first book, but the second book didn’t seem to interest me I love the daring heroics, but the subject matter was heavy to me.
December 30, 2021
I would rate this book 5 stars.
It is filled to the brim with mysteries, spies and detailed descriptions
It is filled to the brim with mysteries, spies and detailed descriptions
July 20, 2025
'I mean, Sophie and I are pretty good at some things. You know, for innocent, defenceless young ladies,' said Lil with a wink.
Aaah, Katherine Woodfine. She did it again.
I've always been rather partial about Russia, its culture, its history… Especially St Petersburg! So when I first find out that the second Taylor and Rose Secret Agents book was set in that city, I almost jumped through the roof, probably.
And it's worth it. There are some beautiful, dreamy descriptions of the city - though I wouldn't have minded there being more - and its attractions. The part where Lil is travelling from London to St Petersburg is very nice and detailed. In case you didn't know yet: I just love trains, and the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries were the haydays of train travel in Europe. I'm not saying it hasn't been romanticised over time, because it has, but it still seems wonderful to me. And those times on a whole - let's say 1880s up to 1910 - have always fascinated me, so reading about it like this is simply fantastic.
The main characters - Sophie and Lil, obviously - are still pleasant as ever, and I'm glad we've finally found out a bit more about Lil's story of how she actually came to be working at Sinclair's back in the beginning. It's short, but satisfying. Up to now, we've mostly seen the stories from Sophie's point of view, which now also means that Lil becomes the main main character, and we find out a bit more about her feelings towards her friends. Very nice!
Woodfine ends the book with a cliffhanger that you probably won't see coming, and with more questions than she ever did before. What's going on at the Secret Service Bureau? Something's fishy is definitely happening there... How is Roberta Russell - an interesting character even without all that -, connected to it all? I'm very curious to see what's going to happen next. But one thing's for certain: It's going to be awesome, even if it's just because it's set in Venice...
10/10
Aaah, Katherine Woodfine. She did it again.
I've always been rather partial about Russia, its culture, its history… Especially St Petersburg! So when I first find out that the second Taylor and Rose Secret Agents book was set in that city, I almost jumped through the roof, probably.
And it's worth it. There are some beautiful, dreamy descriptions of the city - though I wouldn't have minded there being more - and its attractions. The part where Lil is travelling from London to St Petersburg is very nice and detailed. In case you didn't know yet: I just love trains, and the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries were the haydays of train travel in Europe. I'm not saying it hasn't been romanticised over time, because it has, but it still seems wonderful to me. And those times on a whole - let's say 1880s up to 1910 - have always fascinated me, so reading about it like this is simply fantastic.
The main characters - Sophie and Lil, obviously - are still pleasant as ever, and I'm glad we've finally found out a bit more about Lil's story of how she actually came to be working at Sinclair's back in the beginning. It's short, but satisfying. Up to now, we've mostly seen the stories from Sophie's point of view, which now also means that Lil becomes the main main character, and we find out a bit more about her feelings towards her friends. Very nice!
Woodfine ends the book with a cliffhanger that you probably won't see coming, and with more questions than she ever did before. What's going on at the Secret Service Bureau? Something's fishy is definitely happening there... How is Roberta Russell - an interesting character even without all that -, connected to it all? I'm very curious to see what's going to happen next. But one thing's for certain: It's going to be awesome, even if it's just because it's set in Venice...
10/10
March 4, 2020
Incredible! I loved the detail of the book and the way it grabbed you. Once I started I couldn't put it down. It's wonderful. I want to read the next one so bad! 😁 5 stars.
April 22, 2019
I received a free e-copy of this book from #NetGalley to review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this pacy MG spy mystery - see my full review here: http://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home....
I thoroughly enjoyed this pacy MG spy mystery - see my full review here: http://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home....
June 17, 2019
There's nothing like kicking off a book with Lil doing a bit of light thieving, am I right!? Honestly I loved getting Ruperts POV at the start as you wondered who the girl was (or in my case screeched LIL excitedly over and over) before diving in to Lils POV. She gives us a quick refresher on what happened last book, before filling us in on what she's been up to since.
Lil's investigating the dragon paintings which we know allegedly lead to some kind of weapon. But she swiftly finds out that Sophie has gone missing in St. Petersburg and Lil isn't one to leave her friends in the lurch so she heads off to find her. Genuinely, I love Lil, but she and Joe were so cute together in this book and I was squealing so much but it had me nervous too because I felt like it's been building up to this and something was probably going to happen.
As you guys might remember in Peril in Paris, while Lil was off on her mission we had more of a focus on Sophie and her POV but this book has switched that round and we focus a little more on Lil. At least in the beginning anyway, before joining Sophie in St. Petersburg. I love this series, it gets better and better and as much as I loved the main series...I am loving getting to travel around historical Europe with Sophie and Lil, especially as it's an interesting time to do so.
Sophie's in St. Petersburg at a particularly interesting time, so not only do we get to see more of Nakamura which I was particularly happy about, and how they bonded on the rest of the race...but we get to see what it would have been like in St. Petersburg in 1911 and it adds a sense of tension to Sophie's POVs. There's growing unrest among the people about how they're treated and how little their Tsar cares about them. We get to explore the different view points people of the time had as the family Sophie is staying with have different stances. One's a traditionalist, another is more critical and yet another is in favour of the monarchy being abolished and setting up a peoples government. Revolution is coming and it's 6 years out in this book, I believe.
In short...I continue to love the historical accuracy and the historical tidbits Woodfine sprinkles her books with. She brings the time period to life and she brings the setting to life at the time with as much information as possible smoothly woven in. A little detail here or there, a historical tidbit smoothly slotted in there, all without making the prose too wordy.
Lil continues to be awesome and I love her but Sophie...I loved getting to see Sophie become even better as a character. She's conquered some fears and seems even stronger and bolder in this book! I think one of the biggest shocks for me this book though was learning Carruthers has a first name...Samuel. I spent most of the book wanting to give him a slap upside the head, or wring his neck. He's so hard to like usually but we get to see a lot more of him this book and while he seemed suspicious to me at a couple of different points, I did end up warming up to him as we spent more time with him in the book. Now I'm actually quite excited to see him more in the next book, hopefully!
I spent a lot of this book, however, being suspicious of the Chief and the SSB in general, they seemed less and less trustworthy and what's more, thanks to Nakamura, Sophie's eyes are opening a bit more to her own government and its intentions. Mainly that they may not seems as good intentioned as she thinks when it comes to the weapon.
I was also surprised by the Count and his little redemption in this...I ended up quite liking him to be honest! Our little stint with the Circus gave us new characters Hana and Ravi as well, and I loved them but they also made me sad because I figured they'd only be a one off for this book. I so wanted them to join the agency!
The only bad thing that I have to say about this book is that unfortunately we have to say goodbye to Nakamura, and I never thought I'd be sad to see the back of the Count but here we are. As is usual for this series, the pace builds up throughout the book, with clues and hints scattered throughout the newspaper covers and the narrative itself. The ending is explosive, we've had some interesting plot twists in this one particularly towards the end, but while everything is wrapped up nicely on Sophie and Lils side of things there is a horrifying cliffhanger back home in London and the article at the end of the book does nothing to alleviate my suspicions. Please Woodfine...say it ain't so otherwise we might have a falling out! Honestly I still can't believe that cliffhanger happened, it's too cruel!
Spies in St. Petersburg is another excellent instalment in this series, focusing mainly on Sophie and Lil with some assistance from everyone. We're introduced to new places and new characters, we get to bask in some more history and there's plenty of excitement and heart stopping moments! It's just so odd to finish a book thoroughly satisfied but also internally screaming and needing the next book ASAP!
Lil's investigating the dragon paintings which we know allegedly lead to some kind of weapon. But she swiftly finds out that Sophie has gone missing in St. Petersburg and Lil isn't one to leave her friends in the lurch so she heads off to find her. Genuinely, I love Lil, but she and Joe were so cute together in this book and I was squealing so much but it had me nervous too because I felt like it's been building up to this and something was probably going to happen.
As you guys might remember in Peril in Paris, while Lil was off on her mission we had more of a focus on Sophie and her POV but this book has switched that round and we focus a little more on Lil. At least in the beginning anyway, before joining Sophie in St. Petersburg. I love this series, it gets better and better and as much as I loved the main series...I am loving getting to travel around historical Europe with Sophie and Lil, especially as it's an interesting time to do so.
Sophie's in St. Petersburg at a particularly interesting time, so not only do we get to see more of Nakamura which I was particularly happy about, and how they bonded on the rest of the race...but we get to see what it would have been like in St. Petersburg in 1911 and it adds a sense of tension to Sophie's POVs. There's growing unrest among the people about how they're treated and how little their Tsar cares about them. We get to explore the different view points people of the time had as the family Sophie is staying with have different stances. One's a traditionalist, another is more critical and yet another is in favour of the monarchy being abolished and setting up a peoples government. Revolution is coming and it's 6 years out in this book, I believe.
In short...I continue to love the historical accuracy and the historical tidbits Woodfine sprinkles her books with. She brings the time period to life and she brings the setting to life at the time with as much information as possible smoothly woven in. A little detail here or there, a historical tidbit smoothly slotted in there, all without making the prose too wordy.
Lil continues to be awesome and I love her but Sophie...I loved getting to see Sophie become even better as a character. She's conquered some fears and seems even stronger and bolder in this book! I think one of the biggest shocks for me this book though was learning Carruthers has a first name...Samuel. I spent most of the book wanting to give him a slap upside the head, or wring his neck. He's so hard to like usually but we get to see a lot more of him this book and while he seemed suspicious to me at a couple of different points, I did end up warming up to him as we spent more time with him in the book. Now I'm actually quite excited to see him more in the next book, hopefully!
I spent a lot of this book, however, being suspicious of the Chief and the SSB in general, they seemed less and less trustworthy and what's more, thanks to Nakamura, Sophie's eyes are opening a bit more to her own government and its intentions. Mainly that they may not seems as good intentioned as she thinks when it comes to the weapon.
I was also surprised by the Count and his little redemption in this...I ended up quite liking him to be honest! Our little stint with the Circus gave us new characters Hana and Ravi as well, and I loved them but they also made me sad because I figured they'd only be a one off for this book. I so wanted them to join the agency!
The only bad thing that I have to say about this book is that unfortunately we have to say goodbye to Nakamura, and I never thought I'd be sad to see the back of the Count but here we are. As is usual for this series, the pace builds up throughout the book, with clues and hints scattered throughout the newspaper covers and the narrative itself. The ending is explosive, we've had some interesting plot twists in this one particularly towards the end, but while everything is wrapped up nicely on Sophie and Lils side of things there is a horrifying cliffhanger back home in London and the article at the end of the book does nothing to alleviate my suspicions. Please Woodfine...say it ain't so otherwise we might have a falling out! Honestly I still can't believe that cliffhanger happened, it's too cruel!
Spies in St. Petersburg is another excellent instalment in this series, focusing mainly on Sophie and Lil with some assistance from everyone. We're introduced to new places and new characters, we get to bask in some more history and there's plenty of excitement and heart stopping moments! It's just so odd to finish a book thoroughly satisfied but also internally screaming and needing the next book ASAP!
December 24, 2024
I literally finished this book in 2 hours!!!
Another day, another assignment, another trip, another disguise.
Sophie was last seen chasing the Count across Europe to take back the ‘notebook’, checking in with the Bureau weekly when suddenly Sophie’s letters stoped coming in once she passed the border to Russia. A month flies by and no one has heard from Sophie. It’s official. Sophie’s gone missing in St. Petersburg! On the other side of Europe, Lil is losing her mind after finding out her best friend is missing! And the Bureau dont care! So Lil makes a crazy plan to get to St. Petersburg but it takes the circus, elephants, guns, ballet dresses, and a python to pull it off. Back in London, Joe and Billy are figuring out what happened to Sophie and things are starting to get weird. Gunshots, the West End, blood, mysterious figures, and revolvers.
I literally wanted to cry! It was so good! Everything was so good and this book was so exhilarating and heartbreaking and breathtaking at the same time!!!!!
The secrets, codes, villains and mysteries were amazing! I wasn’t ready for the plot twist! I was blaming everyone except the real villain! And I wasn’t ready for the ending! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read and my heart leapt and dropped and my heart pricked and stopped every 5 seconds! I want to reread it! Literally finished it in 2 hours and I feel like I might cry again!!!!!!
VENTING:
WHY DID IT HAVE TO END THE WAY IT DID!!!!!!!? I NEARLY CRIED!!!!!!! WHY HIMMMMMMMMM!? PLEASE DONT LET HIM DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I THOUGHT OF IT ALL NIGHT!!! PLEASE LET IT BE HE GOT SHOT IN HIS ARM OR SOMETHING!!!!😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭PLEEEEEEEEASSSEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another day, another assignment, another trip, another disguise.
Sophie was last seen chasing the Count across Europe to take back the ‘notebook’, checking in with the Bureau weekly when suddenly Sophie’s letters stoped coming in once she passed the border to Russia. A month flies by and no one has heard from Sophie. It’s official. Sophie’s gone missing in St. Petersburg! On the other side of Europe, Lil is losing her mind after finding out her best friend is missing! And the Bureau dont care! So Lil makes a crazy plan to get to St. Petersburg but it takes the circus, elephants, guns, ballet dresses, and a python to pull it off. Back in London, Joe and Billy are figuring out what happened to Sophie and things are starting to get weird. Gunshots, the West End, blood, mysterious figures, and revolvers.
I literally wanted to cry! It was so good! Everything was so good and this book was so exhilarating and heartbreaking and breathtaking at the same time!!!!!
The secrets, codes, villains and mysteries were amazing! I wasn’t ready for the plot twist! I was blaming everyone except the real villain! And I wasn’t ready for the ending! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read and my heart leapt and dropped and my heart pricked and stopped every 5 seconds! I want to reread it! Literally finished it in 2 hours and I feel like I might cry again!!!!!!
VENTING:
WHY DID IT HAVE TO END THE WAY IT DID!!!!!!!? I NEARLY CRIED!!!!!!! WHY HIMMMMMMMMM!? PLEASE DONT LET HIM DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I THOUGHT OF IT ALL NIGHT!!! PLEASE LET IT BE HE GOT SHOT IN HIS ARM OR SOMETHING!!!!😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭PLEEEEEEEEASSSEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 8, 2019
I`ve been reading Sophie and Lil`s adventures since they were very first published in 2015, and they really do keep getting better each and every time I read one. This instalment sees the intrepid detectives on a mission for the Secret Service Bureau in St. Petersburg, and between their individual missions, mounting political tension in the city and the Fraternitas Draconum arc that runs throughout the whole series, the stakes have never been higher. As with all the other books I`ve read about them, I really loved Sophie and Lil- I think they`re superb detectives and the bond they share is so wonderful. Another particularly great character in this specific book was Carruthers- I most definitely didn`t expect to end this loving him, but yet I now adore him and he may be my favourite side character in the whole series to date. Also on the theme of side characters, I thought the way the circus characters was incorporated was so clever. The writing was also outstanding, on both a prose and plot level. I adore Katherine Woodfine`s elegant writing style that keeps action ticking along at the exact right pace whilst also allowing you to luxuriate in the fine detail of every setting, and the plot is so intricately weaved and devotes just the right amount of time to the individual mystery and the ongoing series narrative. By the time I reached the end I was already dying to read the next book in the series, but after such a major cliff-hanger was left open at the end. I am even more desperate to get my hands on the girls` next adventure. 5/5
April 26, 2020
The story picks up from the first book in the series and moves to St. Petersburg in Russia...
Sophie is determined to get hold of the notebook that hides the instructions to locate a dangerous weapon and thwart the plans to start a war in Europe... she finds the notebook, finds the design of an instrument needed to decode instructions, gets the instrument created but seemingly goes missing... Lilly starts off to look for her, hides in a train to enter into Russia, joins a circus...
Lilly finds Sophie at the circus, they caught in a plot against the Tsar, but manage to save the situation by revealing their association with the British government... but many questions are left unanswered like who is intercepting Sophie’s communication, is their a spy in the agency... the threat looms as they embark on their journey back...
Set against the political unrest in Russia, it captures the mood, the uncertainty, mistrust, and the great divide between the ruling rich and the working poor in the city of St Petersburg in 1911-1912, a few years from the Russian revolution...
The adventure in St. Petersburg, is a subplot in the overall fight against the secret society... and it brings new clues that will be followed up in the next book... leaving you waiting expectantly to see which direction the story moves...
Sophie is determined to get hold of the notebook that hides the instructions to locate a dangerous weapon and thwart the plans to start a war in Europe... she finds the notebook, finds the design of an instrument needed to decode instructions, gets the instrument created but seemingly goes missing... Lilly starts off to look for her, hides in a train to enter into Russia, joins a circus...
Lilly finds Sophie at the circus, they caught in a plot against the Tsar, but manage to save the situation by revealing their association with the British government... but many questions are left unanswered like who is intercepting Sophie’s communication, is their a spy in the agency... the threat looms as they embark on their journey back...
Set against the political unrest in Russia, it captures the mood, the uncertainty, mistrust, and the great divide between the ruling rich and the working poor in the city of St Petersburg in 1911-1912, a few years from the Russian revolution...
The adventure in St. Petersburg, is a subplot in the overall fight against the secret society... and it brings new clues that will be followed up in the next book... leaving you waiting expectantly to see which direction the story moves...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2021
Actually 4.5, because 5 stars I actually only give for books that blow me right away, but also, there was nothing in this book I could think of that "deserved" the deduction of a star.
It was very well written (as always); I just love Katherine Woodfine's way of describing everything, especially the scenery. She makes everything come to life, the glittering lights, the warm sunrays breaking through the clouds, the gay colours, the cold or warmth of the raindrops, windbreeze, whatsoever. It really feels as one would be walking through the streets, the shops, the houses and seeing and feeling everything.
I also very much enjoyed the plot. Fast-paced, thrilling, intriguing, intense and also slow at the right moments, where a moment was supposed to be relished.
I can't wait for the next book and already found myself starting to turn the pages. I really have to keep myself from jumping forward and revealing to myself what is happening.
Thankfully, there will also be another one after the following, but I think (and I am very much afraid so) that this then will be the last one. Hopefully, though, there are even more to come!
It was very well written (as always); I just love Katherine Woodfine's way of describing everything, especially the scenery. She makes everything come to life, the glittering lights, the warm sunrays breaking through the clouds, the gay colours, the cold or warmth of the raindrops, windbreeze, whatsoever. It really feels as one would be walking through the streets, the shops, the houses and seeing and feeling everything.
I also very much enjoyed the plot. Fast-paced, thrilling, intriguing, intense and also slow at the right moments, where a moment was supposed to be relished.
I can't wait for the next book and already found myself starting to turn the pages. I really have to keep myself from jumping forward and revealing to myself what is happening.
Thankfully, there will also be another one after the following, but I think (and I am very much afraid so) that this then will be the last one. Hopefully, though, there are even more to come!
September 9, 2024
Sophie Taylor is MIA In St. Petersburg after a spy mission, and her friend, Lillian Rose, is determined to find her. She sets off on a secret (and consequentially risky) journey to get her friend back, whilst uncovering tangled spy plots. Will the two friends reunite? And who can they trust?
I absolutely loved this book!
Getting to know all of the circus performers, especially Hanna and Ravi, was AMAZING! I love the new characters that Katherine Woodfine introduces throughout the series!
I thought the scenes with Joe and Lil were so sweet! But then JOE! Oh my goodness! That plot twist came out of nowhere!
I have read the rest of this series, so I know the outcome of the plot twist, but while I was reading, I was racing to flip the next page! It was so thrilling!
This series is a continuation of The Sinclair's Mysteries. - I had such a great time jumping back into Sophie and Lil's world, and seeing what my favorite characters were up to.
I hope you like this book as much as I do! Thank you for reading my review!
Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for fun book recommendations!
I absolutely loved this book!
Getting to know all of the circus performers, especially Hanna and Ravi, was AMAZING! I love the new characters that Katherine Woodfine introduces throughout the series!
I thought the scenes with Joe and Lil were so sweet! But then JOE! Oh my goodness! That plot twist came out of nowhere!
I have read the rest of this series, so I know the outcome of the plot twist, but while I was reading, I was racing to flip the next page! It was so thrilling!
This series is a continuation of The Sinclair's Mysteries. - I had such a great time jumping back into Sophie and Lil's world, and seeing what my favorite characters were up to.
I hope you like this book as much as I do! Thank you for reading my review!
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April 16, 2025
A fast-paced, fun thriller with unexpected twists and turns! This second book of the Taylor and Rose series follows the heroines Lil and Sophie through their latest assignment in Russia. Woodfine brings the magical St.Petersburg of the early 1900s to life with her detailed descriptions as well as details of history and culture sprinkled throughout the book.
I love the female characters of the series - they are brave, smart and independent, which is refreshing compared to most books set in the period. I enjoyed the circus scenes a lot, as well as the Lil-Joe moments. My only complaint is that there was not enough of Billy, Tilly, Mei and the other characters.
But the book ends in a steep cliffhanger, and I can't believe I have to wait for the next book to find out what happened... And of course, the cover art is beautiful. I've been a fan of Woodfine's book covers ever since the Sinclair's series.
I love the female characters of the series - they are brave, smart and independent, which is refreshing compared to most books set in the period. I enjoyed the circus scenes a lot, as well as the Lil-Joe moments. My only complaint is that there was not enough of Billy, Tilly, Mei and the other characters.
But the book ends in a steep cliffhanger, and I can't believe I have to wait for the next book to find out what happened... And of course, the cover art is beautiful. I've been a fan of Woodfine's book covers ever since the Sinclair's series.
May 10, 2023
It’s been a while since I read the first book, Peril in Paris, and I confess I hadn’t remembered the finer detail. That coupled with the fact the series is also interlinked with another set of books called the Sinclair’s Mysteries had me holding on by my fingertips at times to the plot. Woodfine sets a colourful scene however full of danger and expertly interlinked with real life events. There are so many kicking off points you could use in addition to just sitting back and enjoying the ride that it is the perfect book club choice. There is a also a bit of a cliff hanger which makes me excited to read book number 3, Villians in Venice. Set in Venice in case you couldn’t guess an idea I just love.
July 12, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed it, but now I’m desperate to know what happens next! This time, Sophie and Lil’s escapades converge in St. Petersburg as the chase for the notebook hots up, but with double-agents of both the British, Russians and the Fraternitas, who can Sophie and Lil really trust? This book combined great descriptions of the beauty of St. Petersburg, the classic entertainment of the time in the Circus of Marvels and factually accurate events of the occurrences in pre-WW1 Europe in a way that made it a great read. I was also glad to see more of Sophie and Lil working together in comparison to ‘Peril in Paris’. Bring on the next one!
August 13, 2019
I love Sophie, Lil, and the whole gang, but this entry was not as strong as some. | There was so much here that was obvious, which has not generally been the case with Woodfine's work, and so it was extra disappointing. I also put the book down for weeks when Carruthers was assigned to the mission, because I'm so bored with the trope of learning to appreciate the annoying guy who was so disrespectful to you, when you're forced to work closely with him. But the last quarter of the book picked up in pace and content, and I do enjoy the books. Unforgivable to leave Joe without resolution, though.
September 12, 2019
3.5/5
Ik denk dat jullie intussen wel weten dat ik keihard fan ben van de boeken van Katherine Woodfine waarin Lil & Sophie de hoofdrol spelen. Dit is het... zesde boek (denk ik) dat ik lees van haar en om eerlijk te zijn, was dit tot nu toe het deel dat me het minst kon bekoren. Ik kan er niet helemaal zeggen waar dat aan ligt, maar ik heb het gevoel dat het wat diepgang mist, dat de verschillende verhaallijnen niet zo mooi in elkaar vloeiden als bij de vorige delen.
Maar dat gezegd zijnde: ik ben nog altijd een grote fan van haar werk en van zodra het volgende deel in deze reeks gepubliceerd wordt, lees ik het. No matter what.
Ik denk dat jullie intussen wel weten dat ik keihard fan ben van de boeken van Katherine Woodfine waarin Lil & Sophie de hoofdrol spelen. Dit is het... zesde boek (denk ik) dat ik lees van haar en om eerlijk te zijn, was dit tot nu toe het deel dat me het minst kon bekoren. Ik kan er niet helemaal zeggen waar dat aan ligt, maar ik heb het gevoel dat het wat diepgang mist, dat de verschillende verhaallijnen niet zo mooi in elkaar vloeiden als bij de vorige delen.
Maar dat gezegd zijnde: ik ben nog altijd een grote fan van haar werk en van zodra het volgende deel in deze reeks gepubliceerd wordt, lees ik het. No matter what.
January 13, 2021
A fantastic race around St Petersburg with the perfect amount of suspense and drama Katherine Woodfine made St Petersburg so real it physically felt like I was there. It was a fabulous installment in the Taylor and Rose series. Each book just makes me want to read the next as I feel like Katherine Woodfine has a massive plot twist in store.
Spoiler but near the end Joe gets shot? I found it quite unbelievable as he's one of the main characters and was waiting till the end to find out what happened but the book didn't pick up on that and ended. I guess that's for the next book? I do wish it still explained though. Nice read. Would recommend.
Spoiler but near the end Joe gets shot? I found it quite unbelievable as he's one of the main characters and was waiting till the end to find out what happened but the book didn't pick up on that and ended. I guess that's for the next book? I do wish it still explained though. Nice read. Would recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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