What do you think?
Rate this book
Taylor & Rose, Secret Agents #4
Nightfall in New York
The fourth and final adventure in the brilliant Taylor & Rose series by bestselling author, Katherine Woodfine.
Top secret agents, Sophie Taylor and Lil Rose have set sail to New York City on an elegant ocean liner, ready to face their enemies and settle old scores. These two brave friends will need all of their detective skills, courage and derring-do as they race against time to rescue a beloved friend and save the city – and its inhabitants – from destruction and certain death …
Top secret agents, Sophie Taylor and Lil Rose have set sail to New York City on an elegant ocean liner, ready to face their enemies and settle old scores. These two brave friends will need all of their detective skills, courage and derring-do as they race against time to rescue a beloved friend and save the city – and its inhabitants – from destruction and certain death …
368 pages, Paperback
First published July 8, 2021
12 people are currently reading
430 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 29, 2025
3.5 stars ⭐️ Clean Fiction - Middle Grade Historical Mystery
Oh this was so bittersweet to read! I quickly started it after finishing the third book with its horrible cliffhanger ending, but yet I also wanted to savor this final book because it’s the final book. It’s left open ended enough that the author could come back and write more, but at the same time, it’s a great ending. The case is solved. Reunions have happened. Our main characters are growing up and able to have their own adventures without danger following them. It’s an ending that makes me feel like these characters are still going about their lives even though the book has ended.
Truly, I found this series to be overall delightful in many ways! A few things here and there that I didn’t care for and I have mixed feelings about murder being talked about in a middle-grade series, but overall I greatly enjoyed it. Every book had a charm to it and engaging mysteries that instantly had me pulled into the story with these lovable characters. I’m glad I still have the bonus companion story to read (which I technically should have read in between books 2 & 3 of this series, but I couldn’t wait to see what was happening so I pushed it off) because I don’t want to say goodbye to them all yet. I would say the first series was better, but this spin-off series was still solid in my opinion and great for fans of the first series, mysteries, or those that want a fun middle-grade series. I’ve only heard a few people talk about it (despite the fact that when I added these to my Goodreads I received multiple comments about how good the series was), so I would say it’s a hidden gem and it’s one I’ll be sharing about quite often now.
As a note, a villain does say “dammit” once in this book in both the American paperback and the audiobook that is based off of the British edition, it seems. Certain words like “gaol” was used instead of “jail” in the American paperback, but the latter was said in the audiobook.
🚨 Spoilers for the prior books throughout this content section:
Main Content-
The Draco Almanac book was created by alchemists who were a “cross between early chemists and magicians” and tried to turn ordinary metals like lead into gold and make an elixir of life that would “enable them to live forever” (a couple mentions of this elixir); Someone says that the Almanac is really more like a “spell-book than a science book” because of all the things mixed it in like “myths and legends, astrology, [and] magic”; Sophie does not believe in alchemy or magic spells, but when she looks at the Almanac, she thinks it has a power; Sophie feels as if the book gives off a “bad feeling” and has “something dark and sinister seemed to seep from its pages”; Sophie wears her mother’s green necklace “like a talisman”; A man says he is “working like the devil”, but corrects himself to say “awfully hard” instead because of young ladies being present.
An amusement park has a ride called “Hell-Gate” that is supposed to be like a ride to hell, there are mentions of people being excited to ride it, it being one of the most popular attractions at the park on opening day, a huge figure of a demon with “eyes blazing [and] leered ominously down at them” outside of it, and the actual ride containing horrifying groans, unearthly sounds screaming, ghoulish figures, and ghastly red lights (the team also traps a villain in this ride and says it’s the best place for them in that character’s opinion).
Mentions of luck & being lucky/unlucky; A couple mentions of the ‘Hand of Fate’ dream book (a young man says he dreamed of a bridge and that means success in business according to that book but another character calls dream books a “lot of nonsense”); A mention of a heavenly smell.
Fighting, being held hostage and tied-up, pain, a bomb and trying to stop it, & a near miss with an iceberg (up to a few sentences); Stopping a child who near fell into the water.
With their work as spies and being undercover, Lil and Sophie and the others lie (including while undercover or working on a case about their identities), break into a room by picking a lock, and lock someone in a basement; A character works as a bartender and the other characters go to a bar a few times (for information).
*Spoilers for prior books* *Spoilers for this book*
The Brotherhood of Dragons society are called “agents of chaos” and want wars to start so they can profit from the misfortune of others by making and selling weapons, including a very powerful one; *Spoilers* ; One member comments that the group is dong what they think is right, which Sophie doesn’t understand how they can think that (the person adds that war is inevitable and the goal is to put their society in the best place to profit).
The powerful weapon is “sky fire” which will rain chemical fire bombs on battlefields, military targets, cities, and civilians by their enemies (there are a few mentions of the illustrations of this that show screaming people with their hair on fire).
Sophie is concerned if her own government will use the powerful weapon for their own benefit and she wants to destroy the book that has the information about how to make it (*Spoiler* ); Sophie thinks about her father telling her to do the right thing, but she wonders what to do when there wasn’t one simple right thing to do; Sophie wonders if doing the right thing really meant to keep the people she loved “safe and happy”; *Spoilers* ; *Major Spoiler*.
A few nods and mentions of racism (such as 1- the USA having the Chinese Exclusion Act and is explained as “The American government thought there were too many Chinese immigrants coming to American” which Sophie calling it a “perfectly horrid law” and thinking she knew that “the Chinese community in London had to put up with people spreading idiotic stores about nefarious goings-on in sinister opium dens, which bore no resemblance whatsoever to the real East End Chinatown she knew. That was bad enough, but actually being banned from a country simply because of where you came from seemed extraordinary.” 2- Sophie also remarks about facing difficulties as a female detective but she was always learning of the many more that Tilly and Mei had to deal with, and 3- Mei finding it hard to forget that she’s traveled to a place (America) where people like her were unwelcome and finding comfort by going to a Chinese Tea House).
A few prejudice comments from the wealthy towards the lower-class (such as a bellboy implying that a First Class passenger would find it revolting to catch the sight of a Second or Third Class passenger, the wealthy upper class ignoring staff members of a department store or ocean liner, and two ladies looking disapprovingly at two girls she thinks are actresses).
Some gender comments about girls and having untraditional roles or attitudes (such as the detective agency receiving disapproving letters that it’s improper for young ladies to run a detective agency, a headmistress not wanting her female pupils to read a boy’s story magazine and a student hiding that she is reading it, a female reporter looks down on writing and reading about fashions but Sophie says there’s nothing wrong with reading it and the financial parts as well, Anna knows that a diplomatic marriage is expected of a princess like her, an older man at a dinner make negative comments about a female reporter and women expecting to be able to vote, Sophie finding it irritating that “just because she was young and female, people assumed she was helpless, when in fact she could manage perfectly well by herself” (though a voice in her head reminds her that she didn’t managed something by herself and is in trouble now because of it), people not expecting a young woman to understand codes and deciphering alchemical symbols, women not being allowed to join a group of men (the Brotherhood of Dragons), and a man thinking he would never answer to a woman but is currently doing that).
Language: “Dammit” is said by a villain (pg.283); Other words like ‘gosh’, ‘golly’, ‘idiot’, ‘dumb’, ‘darn’, and ‘stupid’ are said up to eight times each; The British exclamations ‘juggins, ‘bother you/bother’, ‘muck things up’, and ‘rot’ are said up to twice times each; Religious exclamations like ‘heavens’, ‘good heavens’, ‘heaven’s sake’, ‘who/what the devil’, are said up to twice each; A bit of sarcasm & eye rolling; A friend tells Anna that she is a goody-two-shoes about being okay with different plans that she finds boring, but Anna thinks her friend doesn’t understand how the special the freedom Anna has in New York is compared to her normal princess life.
All about many mentions of a looming war, spies and double agents, a powerful weapon that could cause massive damage, violence, & group wanting to profit off of a war that will harm many people and stir up fear about a possible war coming; Mentions of deaths, possible deaths, & grief (including Sophie’s parents); Mentions of an ordered/planned murder, an assassination plot, & an assassin; Mentions of prior books (bodies in rivers, murders, ordered/planned murders, a poisoning, shootings, kidnappings, attempted kidnappings and assassinations, stolen items, thefts, being left in an underground tomb, and almost drownings); Mentions of a planted bomb & a plans to sink a ship; Mentions of almost drownings; Mentions of threats, blackmail, kidnappings, injuries, being shot and being stabbed, bullets, beatings, blood/bleeding, pain (up to a couple sentences); Mentions of shooting someone, someone being shot, wanting to shoot someone, & bullets; Mentions of fires, arson, injuries and possible deaths, & creating bombs to start fires; Mentions of corruption & double agents; Mentions of criminals & crime rings; Mentions of gangs. gangsters, thugs, & bullies; Mentions of arrests & jails; Mentions of thieves & being robbed; Mentions of a sleeping draught & tricking someone to drink it; Mentions of nightmares (including the Almanac having rituals that could give someone nightmares if they read about it); Mentions of illegal gambling/numbers games; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, & a bar; Mentions of cigarettes, cigars, a pipe, smoking, & tobacco; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of women suffrage; A few mentions of eavesdropping; A couple mentions of conmen; A couple mentions of corrupt police officers & being bribed by gangs; A couple mentions of opium dens; A mention of kids working in a sweatshop; A mention of jealousy.
A bit of hand holding and squeezes.
Sophie thinks that Joe and Lil’s friendship was starting to turn into more; When Lil thinks of Joe, her heart skips a beat and “pirouette in the air”; Lil thinks about when she thought for a moment that Joe was going to kiss her (Book 2); Joe wonders if Lil still thinks about him.
Sophie thinks that Jack is probably inviting his new friend to do things with him now (like going out just the two of them like he used to want to do with her) and the thought makes her feel rather sad; A young man says that Sophie is special and to “her enormous annoyance” she blushes.
Oh this was so bittersweet to read! I quickly started it after finishing the third book with its horrible cliffhanger ending, but yet I also wanted to savor this final book because it’s the final book. It’s left open ended enough that the author could come back and write more, but at the same time, it’s a great ending. The case is solved. Reunions have happened. Our main characters are growing up and able to have their own adventures without danger following them. It’s an ending that makes me feel like these characters are still going about their lives even though the book has ended.
Truly, I found this series to be overall delightful in many ways! A few things here and there that I didn’t care for and I have mixed feelings about murder being talked about in a middle-grade series, but overall I greatly enjoyed it. Every book had a charm to it and engaging mysteries that instantly had me pulled into the story with these lovable characters. I’m glad I still have the bonus companion story to read (which I technically should have read in between books 2 & 3 of this series, but I couldn’t wait to see what was happening so I pushed it off) because I don’t want to say goodbye to them all yet. I would say the first series was better, but this spin-off series was still solid in my opinion and great for fans of the first series, mysteries, or those that want a fun middle-grade series. I’ve only heard a few people talk about it (despite the fact that when I added these to my Goodreads I received multiple comments about how good the series was), so I would say it’s a hidden gem and it’s one I’ll be sharing about quite often now.
As a note, a villain does say “dammit” once in this book in both the American paperback and the audiobook that is based off of the British edition, it seems. Certain words like “gaol” was used instead of “jail” in the American paperback, but the latter was said in the audiobook.
🚨 Spoilers for the prior books throughout this content section:
Main Content-
The Draco Almanac book was created by alchemists who were a “cross between early chemists and magicians” and tried to turn ordinary metals like lead into gold and make an elixir of life that would “enable them to live forever” (a couple mentions of this elixir); Someone says that the Almanac is really more like a “spell-book than a science book” because of all the things mixed it in like “myths and legends, astrology, [and] magic”; Sophie does not believe in alchemy or magic spells, but when she looks at the Almanac, she thinks it has a power; Sophie feels as if the book gives off a “bad feeling” and has “something dark and sinister seemed to seep from its pages”; Sophie wears her mother’s green necklace “like a talisman”; A man says he is “working like the devil”, but corrects himself to say “awfully hard” instead because of young ladies being present.
An amusement park has a ride called “Hell-Gate” that is supposed to be like a ride to hell, there are mentions of people being excited to ride it, it being one of the most popular attractions at the park on opening day, a huge figure of a demon with “eyes blazing [and] leered ominously down at them” outside of it, and the actual ride containing horrifying groans, unearthly sounds screaming, ghoulish figures, and ghastly red lights (the team also traps a villain in this ride and says it’s the best place for them in that character’s opinion).
Mentions of luck & being lucky/unlucky; A couple mentions of the ‘Hand of Fate’ dream book (a young man says he dreamed of a bridge and that means success in business according to that book but another character calls dream books a “lot of nonsense”); A mention of a heavenly smell.
Fighting, being held hostage and tied-up, pain, a bomb and trying to stop it, & a near miss with an iceberg (up to a few sentences); Stopping a child who near fell into the water.
With their work as spies and being undercover, Lil and Sophie and the others lie (including while undercover or working on a case about their identities), break into a room by picking a lock, and lock someone in a basement; A character works as a bartender and the other characters go to a bar a few times (for information).
*Spoilers for prior books* *Spoilers for this book*
The Brotherhood of Dragons society are called “agents of chaos” and want wars to start so they can profit from the misfortune of others by making and selling weapons, including a very powerful one; *Spoilers* ; One member comments that the group is dong what they think is right, which Sophie doesn’t understand how they can think that (the person adds that war is inevitable and the goal is to put their society in the best place to profit).
The powerful weapon is “sky fire” which will rain chemical fire bombs on battlefields, military targets, cities, and civilians by their enemies (there are a few mentions of the illustrations of this that show screaming people with their hair on fire).
Sophie is concerned if her own government will use the powerful weapon for their own benefit and she wants to destroy the book that has the information about how to make it (*Spoiler* ); Sophie thinks about her father telling her to do the right thing, but she wonders what to do when there wasn’t one simple right thing to do; Sophie wonders if doing the right thing really meant to keep the people she loved “safe and happy”; *Spoilers* ; *Major Spoiler*.
A few nods and mentions of racism (such as 1- the USA having the Chinese Exclusion Act and is explained as “The American government thought there were too many Chinese immigrants coming to American” which Sophie calling it a “perfectly horrid law” and thinking she knew that “the Chinese community in London had to put up with people spreading idiotic stores about nefarious goings-on in sinister opium dens, which bore no resemblance whatsoever to the real East End Chinatown she knew. That was bad enough, but actually being banned from a country simply because of where you came from seemed extraordinary.” 2- Sophie also remarks about facing difficulties as a female detective but she was always learning of the many more that Tilly and Mei had to deal with, and 3- Mei finding it hard to forget that she’s traveled to a place (America) where people like her were unwelcome and finding comfort by going to a Chinese Tea House).
A few prejudice comments from the wealthy towards the lower-class (such as a bellboy implying that a First Class passenger would find it revolting to catch the sight of a Second or Third Class passenger, the wealthy upper class ignoring staff members of a department store or ocean liner, and two ladies looking disapprovingly at two girls she thinks are actresses).
Some gender comments about girls and having untraditional roles or attitudes (such as the detective agency receiving disapproving letters that it’s improper for young ladies to run a detective agency, a headmistress not wanting her female pupils to read a boy’s story magazine and a student hiding that she is reading it, a female reporter looks down on writing and reading about fashions but Sophie says there’s nothing wrong with reading it and the financial parts as well, Anna knows that a diplomatic marriage is expected of a princess like her, an older man at a dinner make negative comments about a female reporter and women expecting to be able to vote, Sophie finding it irritating that “just because she was young and female, people assumed she was helpless, when in fact she could manage perfectly well by herself” (though a voice in her head reminds her that she didn’t managed something by herself and is in trouble now because of it), people not expecting a young woman to understand codes and deciphering alchemical symbols, women not being allowed to join a group of men (the Brotherhood of Dragons), and a man thinking he would never answer to a woman but is currently doing that).
Language: “Dammit” is said by a villain (pg.283); Other words like ‘gosh’, ‘golly’, ‘idiot’, ‘dumb’, ‘darn’, and ‘stupid’ are said up to eight times each; The British exclamations ‘juggins, ‘bother you/bother’, ‘muck things up’, and ‘rot’ are said up to twice times each; Religious exclamations like ‘heavens’, ‘good heavens’, ‘heaven’s sake’, ‘who/what the devil’, are said up to twice each; A bit of sarcasm & eye rolling; A friend tells Anna that she is a goody-two-shoes about being okay with different plans that she finds boring, but Anna thinks her friend doesn’t understand how the special the freedom Anna has in New York is compared to her normal princess life.
All about many mentions of a looming war, spies and double agents, a powerful weapon that could cause massive damage, violence, & group wanting to profit off of a war that will harm many people and stir up fear about a possible war coming; Mentions of deaths, possible deaths, & grief (including Sophie’s parents); Mentions of an ordered/planned murder, an assassination plot, & an assassin; Mentions of prior books (bodies in rivers, murders, ordered/planned murders, a poisoning, shootings, kidnappings, attempted kidnappings and assassinations, stolen items, thefts, being left in an underground tomb, and almost drownings); Mentions of a planted bomb & a plans to sink a ship; Mentions of almost drownings; Mentions of threats, blackmail, kidnappings, injuries, being shot and being stabbed, bullets, beatings, blood/bleeding, pain (up to a couple sentences); Mentions of shooting someone, someone being shot, wanting to shoot someone, & bullets; Mentions of fires, arson, injuries and possible deaths, & creating bombs to start fires; Mentions of corruption & double agents; Mentions of criminals & crime rings; Mentions of gangs. gangsters, thugs, & bullies; Mentions of arrests & jails; Mentions of thieves & being robbed; Mentions of a sleeping draught & tricking someone to drink it; Mentions of nightmares (including the Almanac having rituals that could give someone nightmares if they read about it); Mentions of illegal gambling/numbers games; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, & a bar; Mentions of cigarettes, cigars, a pipe, smoking, & tobacco; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of women suffrage; A few mentions of eavesdropping; A couple mentions of conmen; A couple mentions of corrupt police officers & being bribed by gangs; A couple mentions of opium dens; A mention of kids working in a sweatshop; A mention of jealousy.
A bit of hand holding and squeezes.
Sophie thinks that Joe and Lil’s friendship was starting to turn into more; When Lil thinks of Joe, her heart skips a beat and “pirouette in the air”; Lil thinks about when she thought for a moment that Joe was going to kiss her (Book 2); Joe wonders if Lil still thinks about him.
Sophie thinks that Jack is probably inviting his new friend to do things with him now (like going out just the two of them like he used to want to do with her) and the thought makes her feel rather sad; A young man says that Sophie is special and to “her enormous annoyance” she blushes.
July 22, 2025
'He knows that I'm capable of more.'
If you've read my review of Villains in Venice, you'll know that I had my suspicions of what was going to happen in this book. It would be set in New York, it would probably feature the Titanic or some equivalent thereof, and I thought I'd figured out who the Gold Dragon was.
Turns out, I was right on all accounts.
But that's not really important, of course. What is important, is the fact that this book is 350 pages long and is action-packed from start to finish. The book features some very distinctive settings: aboard the enormous transatlantic steamer Thalassa, and some places in and around New York City. As usual, there are a lot of wonderfully dreamy descriptions of the places Sophie, Lil and their friends visit. These books make you long for travelling around the world.
There is a lot happening over the course of the book, as well. It doesn't take long before everyone's off to NYC, but it takes a while to get there - even on-board the ocean liner there is so much going on: intrigues, spies, secret codes... You name it, it's in there! And yes, there are , too. Even before the group has reached the New World, they have once again saved the world, and have you sitting there in your chair open-mouthed as you read what happens, and how it's all connected.
And that just continues in New York, of course. Slowly, all the bits and pieces of the jigsaw start to come together, until - at last - the final plan is made up and carried out, and the reveals are made. You can almost feel your own heart beating so hard it jumps out of your chest as the story reaches its ultimate climax. Let me tell you: You don't come across books like this one quite a lot, with an intricate plot that has been figured out right up to the smallest details you can imagine. And it all fits together perfectly. An amazing feat, simply astounding.
There is some serious character development going on as well, here. Of course, it was (as usual) marvellous to read more about Sophie and Lil - they're always stealing the show: brave, intelligent, funny, full of perseverance - and the others, but all other characters are fleshed out so well, too. I also love Roberta Russell, and I wish she'd even had a bit more of a main role. The scenes she and Sophie share are such a pleasure to read, they make an amazing couple. It was fun to see again, too, because he's always such an interesting person too.
Ah, well, I could go on and on, really. Let me just wrap this up by saying that I had kind of an inkling of how Sophie and Lil's story would end, and it looks like I was correct. It leaves you wanting more, so much more, because their story - - clearly does not necessarily need to be over yet. Who knows what else might happen? The final words on Miss Russell also seem to imply that she and Sophie have become good friends and , which, on a personal note, is something I would love to read about as well.
Most of the time, I'm not someone who's begging authors to continue their series when it's finished, but every once in a while I do make an exception, for a very exceptional series. Michelle Paver was another rare example of that - and look at that: Eleven years after Ghost Hunter, she did continue with Chronicles of Ancient Darkness (review in Dutch). So, Ms Woodfine, I know it's not very likely, but I will keep on hoping that, later, we will once again have the opportunity to read more about Sophie, Lil and everyone else. They deserve it. This truly is an exceptional series - one of the best I've ever read.
10+/10
Average rating for all Taylor and Rose books: 10+/10
If you've read my review of Villains in Venice, you'll know that I had my suspicions of what was going to happen in this book. It would be set in New York, it would probably feature the Titanic or some equivalent thereof, and I thought I'd figured out who the Gold Dragon was.
Turns out, I was right on all accounts.
But that's not really important, of course. What is important, is the fact that this book is 350 pages long and is action-packed from start to finish. The book features some very distinctive settings: aboard the enormous transatlantic steamer Thalassa, and some places in and around New York City. As usual, there are a lot of wonderfully dreamy descriptions of the places Sophie, Lil and their friends visit. These books make you long for travelling around the world.
There is a lot happening over the course of the book, as well. It doesn't take long before everyone's off to NYC, but it takes a while to get there - even on-board the ocean liner there is so much going on: intrigues, spies, secret codes... You name it, it's in there! And yes, there are , too. Even before the group has reached the New World, they have once again saved the world, and have you sitting there in your chair open-mouthed as you read what happens, and how it's all connected.
And that just continues in New York, of course. Slowly, all the bits and pieces of the jigsaw start to come together, until - at last - the final plan is made up and carried out, and the reveals are made. You can almost feel your own heart beating so hard it jumps out of your chest as the story reaches its ultimate climax. Let me tell you: You don't come across books like this one quite a lot, with an intricate plot that has been figured out right up to the smallest details you can imagine. And it all fits together perfectly. An amazing feat, simply astounding.
There is some serious character development going on as well, here. Of course, it was (as usual) marvellous to read more about Sophie and Lil - they're always stealing the show: brave, intelligent, funny, full of perseverance - and the others, but all other characters are fleshed out so well, too. I also love Roberta Russell, and I wish she'd even had a bit more of a main role. The scenes she and Sophie share are such a pleasure to read, they make an amazing couple. It was fun to see again, too, because he's always such an interesting person too.
Ah, well, I could go on and on, really. Let me just wrap this up by saying that I had kind of an inkling of how Sophie and Lil's story would end, and it looks like I was correct. It leaves you wanting more, so much more, because their story - - clearly does not necessarily need to be over yet. Who knows what else might happen? The final words on Miss Russell also seem to imply that she and Sophie have become good friends and , which, on a personal note, is something I would love to read about as well.
Most of the time, I'm not someone who's begging authors to continue their series when it's finished, but every once in a while I do make an exception, for a very exceptional series. Michelle Paver was another rare example of that - and look at that: Eleven years after Ghost Hunter, she did continue with Chronicles of Ancient Darkness (review in Dutch). So, Ms Woodfine, I know it's not very likely, but I will keep on hoping that, later, we will once again have the opportunity to read more about Sophie, Lil and everyone else. They deserve it. This truly is an exceptional series - one of the best I've ever read.
10+/10
Average rating for all Taylor and Rose books: 10+/10
June 12, 2024
Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lilian Rose are young lady detectives solving strange crimes. When the ring of mysterious Fraterntias Draconum settles in New York, Sophie, Lil and the rest of the crew set off on a voyage of a lifetime on RMS Thalassa. I would recommend this book to fans of Murder most Unladylike and children age 9+.
August 31, 2021
Ahh, I'm so sad that this series is over, though Nightfall in New York was a great ending. It (mostly) wrapped things up and I love how many of the characters that we met in all the books in this world got to shine.
The author left a few things open at the end, which makes me hope there will be more in the future for Sophie and Lil.
The mystery was well done and I liked all the twists. I loved the atmosphere too, which has always been my favorite part of these books. It was nice to see how far Sophie has come and how much she has grown, especially over the course of the two series she has been in. I was also glad Sophie and Lil were actually in the same place for much of this story, it seemed like they were separated a lot in the other books.
Solid 4 stars!
The author left a few things open at the end, which makes me hope there will be more in the future for Sophie and Lil.
The mystery was well done and I liked all the twists. I loved the atmosphere too, which has always been my favorite part of these books. It was nice to see how far Sophie has come and how much she has grown, especially over the course of the two series she has been in. I was also glad Sophie and Lil were actually in the same place for much of this story, it seemed like they were separated a lot in the other books.
Solid 4 stars!
April 8, 2025
This was such a bittersweet way to end the series. I found myself not wanting to finish, but the ending surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. the only thing I will say I hated was
I would totally read another 4 book series about these characters. even if their wemons suffrage, and civil rights speeches got a bit old, the characters and the plots were awesome.
I still prefer the first 4 books, simply because they were happier.
I would totally read another 4 book series about these characters. even if their wemons suffrage, and civil rights speeches got a bit old, the characters and the plots were awesome.
I still prefer the first 4 books, simply because they were happier.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2024
I dreaded the end of this series from the moment that I began this book. The friendship and found family in these books was so heartfelt and beautiful. I very much loved the Sinclairs mysteries as well and recommend you read those. I will forever love this series and never stop missing the characters. I don’t think any other book series will make me feel this way again. So excited to read these to my kids when I grow up! 10/10! Thank you Kathrine Woodfine, for these amazing books!
September 18, 2021
This was the perfect end to one of my all-time favourite book-series! It all came together so nicely, and I'm so happy everyone from Taylor&Rose got involved in the action! I do wish there was more after this, but I'm also glad it ended on such a high note. I can see myself revisiting the whole series very soon 💕
July 30, 2021
Ik ben doorgaans geen fan van reeksen. Geef mij maar een stand alone. Uitzondering op de regel was deze reeks: eerst de Sinclair Mysteries en daarna Taylor and Rose Secret Agents. Het ging zelfs zo ver dat wanneer ik zag dat er een nieuw boek ging verschijnen in deze reeks, ik het gewoon pre-orderde en het meteen las zodra het uitkwam. Jawel.
Om maar te zeggen: ik vind het jammer dat er een einde komt aan deze reeks. De locaties, de personages, de avonturen,... Het plaatje klopte. Maar wat voor een einde! Eéntje boordevol avontuur en actie. Eéntje vol vriendschap. Eéntje waarbij je je geen seconde verveelt.
En nu ben ik benieuwd wat Katherine Woodfine nog meer uit haar pen gaat toveren.
Om maar te zeggen: ik vind het jammer dat er een einde komt aan deze reeks. De locaties, de personages, de avonturen,... Het plaatje klopte. Maar wat voor een einde! Eéntje boordevol avontuur en actie. Eéntje vol vriendschap. Eéntje waarbij je je geen seconde verveelt.
En nu ben ik benieuwd wat Katherine Woodfine nog meer uit haar pen gaat toveren.
November 27, 2022
"Zmierzch w Nowym Jorku" to bardzo dobre zakończenie młodzieżowej serii o tajnych agentkach.
Katherine Woodfine sprawnie zamknęła poruszane wcześniej wątki i wyjaśniła niejasne kwestie z poprzednich części. Autorka po raz kolejny rzuciła swoich młodych bohaterów na głęboką wodę, dzięki czemu książkę czytało się z zapartym tchem.
Taylor i Rose to agentki, którym się kibicuje. Dziewczyny stworzyły wokół siebie tak przyjemną atmosferę, że jako dorosła czytelniczka zdarzy mi się pewnie zatęsknić za tym literackim światem pełnym akcji, przyjaźni i skomplikowanych zagadek do rozwiązania.
Katherine Woodfine sprawnie zamknęła poruszane wcześniej wątki i wyjaśniła niejasne kwestie z poprzednich części. Autorka po raz kolejny rzuciła swoich młodych bohaterów na głęboką wodę, dzięki czemu książkę czytało się z zapartym tchem.
Taylor i Rose to agentki, którym się kibicuje. Dziewczyny stworzyły wokół siebie tak przyjemną atmosferę, że jako dorosła czytelniczka zdarzy mi się pewnie zatęsknić za tym literackim światem pełnym akcji, przyjaźni i skomplikowanych zagadek do rozwiązania.
August 1, 2021
Brilliant end to one of my favourite series!
August 6, 2023
A great ending to this series. Very enjoyable read
July 14, 2021
What a splendid end to the series! Marvelous tying up of so many plot points. And yet I’m sad because I don’t want the stories to end!! These characters are just wonderful, and I loved how many threads and characters from previous books came back again here. It was very satisfying, and I know I will enjoy reading the series again with great relish and pick up on all the clues I missed.
I am proud of one plot point I guessed because I was wrong about several others. There were several wonderful twists that had me laughing out loud in relief and astonishment at the cleverness. Also there were some serious Girl Power moments. Gotta love that! Thank you Katherine Woodfine for a wonderful eight-book series! A joy from start to finish!
I am proud of one plot point I guessed because I was wrong about several others. There were several wonderful twists that had me laughing out loud in relief and astonishment at the cleverness. Also there were some serious Girl Power moments. Gotta love that! Thank you Katherine Woodfine for a wonderful eight-book series! A joy from start to finish!
July 12, 2021
A fitting close to this wonderful series of tales. I will miss these characters!
December 22, 2021
Read- December 2021
- For me this was a bit of a disappointing ending to this series but I still really enjoyed this series as a whole and I think I will always pick up Katherine Woodfine's books.
- For me this was a bit of a disappointing ending to this series but I still really enjoyed this series as a whole and I think I will always pick up Katherine Woodfine's books.
April 28, 2022
I loved the Sinclair Mysteries series, but Taylor & Rose has left me a little cold. One example is how much Sophie and Lil are separated in the books. So at least Woodfine tries to correct some of the issues in this book, but then the ending just pissed me off and is making me question even liking this series. Which is a bummer because I own three books and a short story.
By the end of this book, I realized the problem with this whole series is, to quote Alan from "Cinema Therapy," that Woodfine has thrown teenagers at the problem.
Let me explain. (Spoilers)
Sophie and Lil start out as young detectives trying to stop crime in the Sinclar Mysteries series. It's fun. There's a London crime lord, the need to avenge a death, etc. And, importantly, ADULTS around to help.
At the beginning of Nightfall in New York, the freaking Chief of the SS sends Sophie and Lil off to New York on their own with a book that very dangerous, very grownup, bad guys want to bring about great destruction and war. No offense, Chief, but maybe you want to send some adults along with the 16 year-olds.
Also the ship they are on is obviously a Titanic stand-in and having it not sink (no iceberg here, but a bomb! Defused by the intrepid heroes!) seemed a bit tasteless.
Anyway, our heroes band together, sans any adult supervision or help, and manage to foil a terrorist plot, defeat a New York gangster, and then defeat the head of the American Illuminati (it's not the Illuminati, but it's an evil global org)... all by themselves!
And then the adults suddenly show up at the celebration dinner, having been no help whatsoever. Also, no mention is made of the Lion Order, which was supposed to be opposed to the Dragon Illuminati. Even though the charter was all signed by teenagers (the adults that signed it haven't been seen this entire series).
Which is fine. World is saved.
And then Woodfine splits up the group.
The entire series is Sophie and Lil talking about how they can't wait until they're back at the detective agency. Back having buns and tea together at the local tea shop.
And how does the book end? Billy, Mei, and Tilly all head back to London, but Joe and Lil have decided to head out West so Lil can be a film star. Did you forget about your dog, Joe? The one that's been waiting for you for months?!
And Sophie decides to stay in New York to train with a Pickering detective and for a boy she's met twice. Yep. They shared a cab ride and he showed up at the celebration dinner. It must be love.
I am so mad.
Because they kind of have a business and actual jobs waiting and did they just quit being spies for the SS? I just... gah.
Why go through all that to just split them up? Also, how is Sophie going to make a living?
This is why I like Nancy Drew. She solves the case, she moves on. So much entertainment today is about this: the big main villain. You know what would be nice? Letting them solve crimes that aren't linked together by a criminal mastermind!
Anyway, I may return to these later, but I was so disappointed by the ending that I'll need some time.
By the end of this book, I realized the problem with this whole series is, to quote Alan from "Cinema Therapy," that Woodfine has thrown teenagers at the problem.
Let me explain. (Spoilers)
Sophie and Lil start out as young detectives trying to stop crime in the Sinclar Mysteries series. It's fun. There's a London crime lord, the need to avenge a death, etc. And, importantly, ADULTS around to help.
At the beginning of Nightfall in New York, the freaking Chief of the SS sends Sophie and Lil off to New York on their own with a book that very dangerous, very grownup, bad guys want to bring about great destruction and war. No offense, Chief, but maybe you want to send some adults along with the 16 year-olds.
Also the ship they are on is obviously a Titanic stand-in and having it not sink (no iceberg here, but a bomb! Defused by the intrepid heroes!) seemed a bit tasteless.
Anyway, our heroes band together, sans any adult supervision or help, and manage to foil a terrorist plot, defeat a New York gangster, and then defeat the head of the American Illuminati (it's not the Illuminati, but it's an evil global org)... all by themselves!
And then the adults suddenly show up at the celebration dinner, having been no help whatsoever. Also, no mention is made of the Lion Order, which was supposed to be opposed to the Dragon Illuminati. Even though the charter was all signed by teenagers (the adults that signed it haven't been seen this entire series).
Which is fine. World is saved.
And then Woodfine splits up the group.
The entire series is Sophie and Lil talking about how they can't wait until they're back at the detective agency. Back having buns and tea together at the local tea shop.
And how does the book end? Billy, Mei, and Tilly all head back to London, but Joe and Lil have decided to head out West so Lil can be a film star. Did you forget about your dog, Joe? The one that's been waiting for you for months?!
And Sophie decides to stay in New York to train with a Pickering detective and for a boy she's met twice. Yep. They shared a cab ride and he showed up at the celebration dinner. It must be love.
I am so mad.
Because they kind of have a business and actual jobs waiting and did they just quit being spies for the SS? I just... gah.
Why go through all that to just split them up? Also, how is Sophie going to make a living?
This is why I like Nancy Drew. She solves the case, she moves on. So much entertainment today is about this: the big main villain. You know what would be nice? Letting them solve crimes that aren't linked together by a criminal mastermind!
Anyway, I may return to these later, but I was so disappointed by the ending that I'll need some time.
June 1, 2022
An absolutely brilliant (yet bittersweet!) ending to Sophie Taylor and Lilian Rose’s adventures, first as detectives operating from their agency in Sinclair’s London department store, and then as secret agents working for the British Government.
‘Nightfall in New York’ follows Sophie and Lil, along with the rest of their team, as they travel aboard the RMS Thalassa from Southampton to New York in pursuit of the Fraternitas. This time however, they do not have the protection of the SSB behind them. Sophie and Lil have the chance to get Joe back, but only if they hand over the almanac, and the deadly secrets hidden within, to the formidable Black Dragon. It’s an operation the government cannot support, but for Sophie and Lil going after their friend is a no-brainer. They’ll do all they can to get Joe back.
From the minute they set foot on the boat, treachery is afoot! Woodfine’s final instalment is utterly satisfying yet completely unexpected, and once again she has intertwined those real-life historical events into her fiction. She doesn’t treat her audience like idiots, and they are privy to some heavier hitting topics told in the most effective way.
‘Nightfall in New York’ follows Sophie and Lil, along with the rest of their team, as they travel aboard the RMS Thalassa from Southampton to New York in pursuit of the Fraternitas. This time however, they do not have the protection of the SSB behind them. Sophie and Lil have the chance to get Joe back, but only if they hand over the almanac, and the deadly secrets hidden within, to the formidable Black Dragon. It’s an operation the government cannot support, but for Sophie and Lil going after their friend is a no-brainer. They’ll do all they can to get Joe back.
From the minute they set foot on the boat, treachery is afoot! Woodfine’s final instalment is utterly satisfying yet completely unexpected, and once again she has intertwined those real-life historical events into her fiction. She doesn’t treat her audience like idiots, and they are privy to some heavier hitting topics told in the most effective way.
August 10, 2021
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
I LOVE this series. Love. Love. Love.
And out of 10, I’d give this 7.5.
Its fantastic. The whole vibe of these characters and the settings always hit the spot.
The boat segment was wonderful - I have to say that.
Overall a good book because of the rest of the series but as a stand alone, it missed some huge key moments as a finale.
Joe and Lil. I mean where was the kiss where was the final admission of their feelings? When Joe was finally found, we didn’t see how they reacted, only cut to some time later - I am so sorry to say that this disappointed me soo much 💔
Also, I just felt like the ending was a miss for me. They seemed content to stay in New York at least for sometime and that just didn’t work for me - I understand its all opinion, and that’s fine. But I just ahhh I wanted more emotion.
Katherine Woodfine will forever have my love and appreciation and I will read anything she goes on to write in this age category and despite my feelings on this final instalment, she has done an incredible job.
I LOVE this series. Love. Love. Love.
And out of 10, I’d give this 7.5.
Its fantastic. The whole vibe of these characters and the settings always hit the spot.
The boat segment was wonderful - I have to say that.
Overall a good book because of the rest of the series but as a stand alone, it missed some huge key moments as a finale.
Joe and Lil. I mean where was the kiss where was the final admission of their feelings? When Joe was finally found, we didn’t see how they reacted, only cut to some time later - I am so sorry to say that this disappointed me soo much 💔
Also, I just felt like the ending was a miss for me. They seemed content to stay in New York at least for sometime and that just didn’t work for me - I understand its all opinion, and that’s fine. But I just ahhh I wanted more emotion.
Katherine Woodfine will forever have my love and appreciation and I will read anything she goes on to write in this age category and despite my feelings on this final instalment, she has done an incredible job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2025
A threatening message, a dangerous weapon, a missing friend, an amusement park, a sky fire, a black dragon, a clever shopgirl, a determined actor, an ingenious scientist, a simple towns-girl, a willy writer, and a small black pug.
A day doesn’t go by that isnt full of adventure when you are working at Taylor and Rose. This time, a message has been sent to 17 year old Sophie Taylor and 19 year old Lilian Rose, demanding the notebook they fought so hard to get and threatening Joe, who until recent events, was thought to be dead. Does anyone even dare to hope that he is alive? Can they trust the evasive Black Dragon? Is Joe truly alive? And will they give the Draco Almanac up to their enemies in return for their best friend?
This book series is now my favorite! Katherine Woodfine has outdone herself again!!!!!
There was so much to this book and so many questions asked and answered!
This book is the best book ever. It was absolutely everything everyone requested and more! Somehow, Katherine Woodfine took all the reviews, good and bad, and made fulfilled every single request.
OMGOODNESS!!!!!!! HOW DID SHE DO IT!!!!!???? I have absolutely no idea!
This book is a perfect read for 12+ though it is appropriate for kids from 10 and up.
I loved this book so much! It is super appropriate!
No……..
.cussing
.kissing
.religion
—SPOILERRRRRRRRRRRRR ALERT!!!!!!!
There are mentions of Lil and Joe liking one another but the biggest act to show it is this they hold hands in the end and say they’ll never leave one another again. But everyone thinks Joe’s dead soooo……..
—SPOILERRRRRRRRRRRR OVERRRRRRRR!!!
A day doesn’t go by that isnt full of adventure when you are working at Taylor and Rose. This time, a message has been sent to 17 year old Sophie Taylor and 19 year old Lilian Rose, demanding the notebook they fought so hard to get and threatening Joe, who until recent events, was thought to be dead. Does anyone even dare to hope that he is alive? Can they trust the evasive Black Dragon? Is Joe truly alive? And will they give the Draco Almanac up to their enemies in return for their best friend?
This book series is now my favorite! Katherine Woodfine has outdone herself again!!!!!
There was so much to this book and so many questions asked and answered!
This book is the best book ever. It was absolutely everything everyone requested and more! Somehow, Katherine Woodfine took all the reviews, good and bad, and made fulfilled every single request.
OMGOODNESS!!!!!!! HOW DID SHE DO IT!!!!!???? I have absolutely no idea!
This book is a perfect read for 12+ though it is appropriate for kids from 10 and up.
I loved this book so much! It is super appropriate!
No……..
.cussing
.kissing
.religion
—SPOILERRRRRRRRRRRRR ALERT!!!!!!!
There are mentions of Lil and Joe liking one another but the biggest act to show it is this they hold hands in the end and say they’ll never leave one another again. But everyone thinks Joe’s dead soooo……..
—SPOILERRRRRRRRRRRR OVERRRRRRRR!!!
November 17, 2025
A lovely ending for a very enjoyable series. All of the Taylor & Rose characters have a happy ending, even if it a bit ambiguous for some of them. Sophie recognizes that although things are changing, they are her found family and they will always have each other’s backs. The main mystery/adventure was resolved, but not all the culprits/Dragons were caught—the Lions will certainly be keeping an eye on the remaining Dragons.
September 14, 2022
Another very well done book by Woodfine! I have to question if she is truly done writing about Soohie and Lil since she left it wide open. However, whatever she chooses, I believe it will end well. This book is certainly another of her masterpieces. As I read, I had no idea that she never visited New York, as she had with locations from previous books.
December 13, 2022
Sad to be done with this series. All I have left is the non-audio short story Secrets on the Short, which will take me longer to get to since I almost always listen to books.
I think this series (and the related Sinclair's mysteries) might be good for fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place or even Truly Devious.
I think this series (and the related Sinclair's mysteries) might be good for fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place or even Truly Devious.
May 17, 2024
What an amazing finish to an amazing series!! I can genuinely say there has not been one part I haven’t enjoyed. This final book was as always packed with so much adventure. So many twists. It was lovely having some familiar characters back again. I thought it was perfect to have all of the investigators back together for this final mission. Perfection!!
May 25, 2025
nice book, good plot twists. I like the idea of young detectives helping their friend. The plot is really good, as we get to delve into the lives of detectives. all the clues and stuff were planned really well. The villains and their characteristics were really clear throughout the book However, to me, the ending was a little unclear. However, overall the book was pretty good.
August 19, 2021
I’ve been reading about Sophie and Lil’s adventures since I was 13, from the year the Sinclair’s series was first released, and over the years and as the new Taylor and Rose spinoff series began, I’ve grown to love them more and more. This final installment of this quartet sees the whole Taylor and Rose team travelling to New York to negotiate with the dangerous Fraternitas Draconum society, as both sides have something the other desperately wants. They travel on a ship inspired by the Titanic, and all the references and tributes to the real history of the ship were one of my favourite parts of the book. It was also wonderful to learn more about the history of New York in this era once the team arrived there. On a similar note, I’m absolutely in awe of the way Katherine Woodfine writes settings; her writing really made me feel like I was on a luxury ship or investigating in Coney Island or visiting an incredible hotel. I love each and every member of the agency so much, but especially Sophie and Lil, and I feel like I’ve basically grown up with them so it feels really weird that this might be the last time I read about them. I loved how every single one of them had a part to play in this final adventure, especially Tilly, Billy and Mei’s contributions, and I got rather tearful with all the lovely references and nods to the others books in both quartets. I honestly can’t believe that this story is coming to an end, but I love Katherine’s writing and I’m very excited to see what she brings out next.
September 5, 2021
Aww, het is gedaan. Opnieuw super hard genoten van dit avontuur. Een fantastisch, bitterzoet einde, want ik vermoed dat de auteur niet meer terug zal keren naar deze personages. Wel super benieuwd naar wat ze nu uit haar pen zal toveren!
December 9, 2024
I'm quite sad this series is complete! A door is open... but it certainly ended with finality and characters going their separate ways. 😭 So happy to have had this, and the previous, series to read to my kiddos these last 10 years. 💕
July 31, 2021
What a final adventure! Best one of all 8 books. Brilliant pacing, tying up of threads from the whole series and wonderfully written. Loved it.
August 16, 2021
joe and lil deserve a better ending !!
I'm so glad sophie didn't go off with a man, she's probably maybe going to college!!
I'm so glad sophie didn't go off with a man, she's probably maybe going to college!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2021
Nearly a five but I just felt like I wanted slightly more somehow.
November 9, 2021
Really good
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews