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Alice Éclair #1
Alice Éclair, Spy Extraordinaire!: A Recipe for Trouble
Baker by day, spy by night – Alice Éclair leads an exciting double life!
A mysterious message sends Alice on a mission aboard France’s most glamorous train. She must uncover an enemy agent before they reach their final stop. But everyone on the train seems to be hiding something…
Armed with her whisk, her wits and her will to succeed, Alice has a spy to catch.
A mysterious message sends Alice on a mission aboard France’s most glamorous train. She must uncover an enemy agent before they reach their final stop. But everyone on the train seems to be hiding something…
Armed with her whisk, her wits and her will to succeed, Alice has a spy to catch.
272 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2022
4 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Todd Taylor
14 books22 followersSarah is a children's writer from Mid Wales. Her debut book, Arthur and Me, was published by Firefly Press in October 2014. She adores puzzles, codes and mysteries and is the author of the Max the Detective Cat series and the Alice Éclair : Spy Extraordinaire series, both published by Nosy Crow.
When not writing she can be found singing opera round mid Wales.
When not writing she can be found singing opera round mid Wales.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
November 21, 2025
Child me would have been OBSESSED. Adult me is only mildly less obsessed. 😉 Baking and espionage and justice and everything. 👏👏 I look forward to reading more in this series.
April 23, 2025
3.5 stars
13-year-old Alice has been receiving mysterious coded instructions to do some spy work. In 1930s Paris, Alice knows that spies are always at work to protect France and counteract other foreign spies. Her own uncle was a spy until his death, and he taught her all about codes and ciphers. Alice receives a mission to board the famous Sapphire Express and steal some papers from a foreign spy. She is hired as a pastry chef on the luxurious train and begins to observe all the wealthy first-class passengers very carefully, looking for any suspicious behavior. Everyone is a suspect, but after some strange clues are revealed, Alice begins to wonder what is really going on aboard the Sapphire Express.
I would have liked this book much better if Alice wasn't constantly lying. I mean, I know that a spy is obviously going to have to play a role and that includes lying to protect your secret identity or to gather information, etc... But she lies to her mother, lies to her friends, and is manipulative and deceptive without real reason. She lies when she could have told the truth and gotten better results. She manipulates people to get them to help her with her objective, when she could have just told the truth and asked them for help. There were a couple of places where she definitely needed to lie to protect herself as part of her spy work, but for the most part, all that deception was unnecessary. There was even a scene where Alice encourages her friend to lie to their parents. I would have liked this story much better if our heroine had a more strict moral code. Or at least don't lie to your own mother!!!
I really enjoyed the mystery and all the clues and codes. It's really fun to see how Alice's knowledge of pastry and confections helps her to solve the clues! I was delightfully surprised by the plot twists, and I was intrigued by all the different suspects. They are all hiding their own little secrets, and Alice has to figure out who is the actual spy, who might be a jewel thief, or who is just hiding a broken heart.
The writing is exciting, and the adventure has great pacing as we switch between cozy scenes in the kitchen and daring spy escapades. Overall, I really enjoyed this mystery!
To see all the instances of lying and the minor violence in this book, you can see details on the Screen It First website! https://screenitfirst.com/book/alice-...
13-year-old Alice has been receiving mysterious coded instructions to do some spy work. In 1930s Paris, Alice knows that spies are always at work to protect France and counteract other foreign spies. Her own uncle was a spy until his death, and he taught her all about codes and ciphers. Alice receives a mission to board the famous Sapphire Express and steal some papers from a foreign spy. She is hired as a pastry chef on the luxurious train and begins to observe all the wealthy first-class passengers very carefully, looking for any suspicious behavior. Everyone is a suspect, but after some strange clues are revealed, Alice begins to wonder what is really going on aboard the Sapphire Express.
I would have liked this book much better if Alice wasn't constantly lying. I mean, I know that a spy is obviously going to have to play a role and that includes lying to protect your secret identity or to gather information, etc... But she lies to her mother, lies to her friends, and is manipulative and deceptive without real reason. She lies when she could have told the truth and gotten better results. She manipulates people to get them to help her with her objective, when she could have just told the truth and asked them for help. There were a couple of places where she definitely needed to lie to protect herself as part of her spy work, but for the most part, all that deception was unnecessary. There was even a scene where Alice encourages her friend to lie to their parents. I would have liked this story much better if our heroine had a more strict moral code. Or at least don't lie to your own mother!!!
I really enjoyed the mystery and all the clues and codes. It's really fun to see how Alice's knowledge of pastry and confections helps her to solve the clues! I was delightfully surprised by the plot twists, and I was intrigued by all the different suspects. They are all hiding their own little secrets, and Alice has to figure out who is the actual spy, who might be a jewel thief, or who is just hiding a broken heart.
The writing is exciting, and the adventure has great pacing as we switch between cozy scenes in the kitchen and daring spy escapades. Overall, I really enjoyed this mystery!
To see all the instances of lying and the minor violence in this book, you can see details on the Screen It First website! https://screenitfirst.com/book/alice-...
July 25, 2022
A delicious treat of a story. So many twists and turns, so much drama, so much fun.
Looking forward to devouring more of Alice's adventures.
Looking forward to devouring more of Alice's adventures.
April 3, 2023
A delightful book full of baking, spying, and trains!
I came across this book thanks to Twitter and I just knew I had to get it! MG + mystery + trains + baking? Sign me up! Those are all things I just love!
😍 The baking! I just loved how awesome Alice was with baking, I would have so loved some illustrations to see her creations, though thanks to the great descriptions I could definitely imagine them and visualize them in my head!
😍 The spying! I just love how Alice found time in between all her baking and other things to do spying. And she was pretty awesome in it. Yes, she has many things to learn, but she is getting there and I just loved how smart she was and how quickly she solved ciphers and other things.
😍 I wasn’t at first sure what time-period this plays in, but apparently close to WWII given what we learn later on. I am definitely curious if we will see WWII develop more as the story continues or if it will always be on the fringes of that horrific event.
😍 Penelope! She was such a fun and sweet girl and really? I need a series with her as the MC. She was a delightful character and I love it that she loves sleuthing and solving mysteries.
😍 The train. I just love reading about trains, especially when a big mystery happens on it. That is just so much fun! And this one? I would just love being part of the first class and eat all those yummy foods, see the world pass by through the window, and more.
😍 The whodunnit. We get to see one at first, but is that really the big bad person? Or not? I won’t spoil it, but I was definitely very surprised!
😍 The cover! I just love love the cover, though I would have loved to see the cat some more as it seems the cat is not along with the mission.
😍 The mystery was great fun! And we even get another mystery in the mix which made me smile!
😍 That the chapters were separated by a special illustration page! It was the same page over and over, but I still liked it a lot.
😍 PARIS!!! France!! Still want to visit one day~
😶 I just would have liked a bit more natural feel between Alice in the kitchen and her spying. Now at times I wondered how no one was keeping an eye on Alice given how often she was able to sneak away and sometimes even disappear for hours at a time. I am sorry, but I just cannot imagine that is possible given how everything was in that time and how often we already saw hints to how strict everyone was.
😶 While I loved the ending, I would just have liked to see a bit more after that scene and before the epilogue. Now it felt like we were almost done and then BOOM epilogue. Done.
But all in all, I loved this book and I had tons of fun. I read it in one go, that is how much fun I had. I would recommend it and I will be getting book 2 soon (by the time this review comes up I will probably already have read it though, haha).
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I came across this book thanks to Twitter and I just knew I had to get it! MG + mystery + trains + baking? Sign me up! Those are all things I just love!
😍 The baking! I just loved how awesome Alice was with baking, I would have so loved some illustrations to see her creations, though thanks to the great descriptions I could definitely imagine them and visualize them in my head!
😍 The spying! I just love how Alice found time in between all her baking and other things to do spying. And she was pretty awesome in it. Yes, she has many things to learn, but she is getting there and I just loved how smart she was and how quickly she solved ciphers and other things.
😍 I wasn’t at first sure what time-period this plays in, but apparently close to WWII given what we learn later on. I am definitely curious if we will see WWII develop more as the story continues or if it will always be on the fringes of that horrific event.
😍 Penelope! She was such a fun and sweet girl and really? I need a series with her as the MC. She was a delightful character and I love it that she loves sleuthing and solving mysteries.
😍 The train. I just love reading about trains, especially when a big mystery happens on it. That is just so much fun! And this one? I would just love being part of the first class and eat all those yummy foods, see the world pass by through the window, and more.
😍 The whodunnit. We get to see one at first, but is that really the big bad person? Or not? I won’t spoil it, but I was definitely very surprised!
😍 The cover! I just love love the cover, though I would have loved to see the cat some more as it seems the cat is not along with the mission.
😍 The mystery was great fun! And we even get another mystery in the mix which made me smile!
😍 That the chapters were separated by a special illustration page! It was the same page over and over, but I still liked it a lot.
😍 PARIS!!! France!! Still want to visit one day~
😶 I just would have liked a bit more natural feel between Alice in the kitchen and her spying. Now at times I wondered how no one was keeping an eye on Alice given how often she was able to sneak away and sometimes even disappear for hours at a time. I am sorry, but I just cannot imagine that is possible given how everything was in that time and how often we already saw hints to how strict everyone was.
😶 While I loved the ending, I would just have liked to see a bit more after that scene and before the epilogue. Now it felt like we were almost done and then BOOM epilogue. Done.
But all in all, I loved this book and I had tons of fun. I read it in one go, that is how much fun I had. I would recommend it and I will be getting book 2 soon (by the time this review comes up I will probably already have read it though, haha).
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
July 8, 2022
Alice Éclair may only be thirteen but she is already an exceptional baker at the Parisian patisserie, Vive Comme L'Eclair, where she spends her days designing mouthwatering cakes and pastries to astound her mother’s customers. If that isn't enough, for the past year, she's been following secret instructions designed to train her as a spy to help serve France in any way she can.
Having been instructed to gain entry to a society gathering at the mayor's mansion, and secretly retrieve information from an enemy agent, Alice is confident she can complete her assignment and maybe even meet her mysterious secret agent colleague. When clues lead to the famous and luxurious Sapphire Express, Alice finds herself on board with limited time to discover everything she needs to complete her work successfully. Even the best laid plans can go awry however, and Alice realises there is far more at stake than she could ever have imagined.
This is the first in a new children's series by Sarah Todd Taylor and is fun throughout with just enough jeopardy to keep the breath baited! Aimed at children aged 10+ Alice is an excellent main protagonist, expert in something the readers won't be, as well as having every day problems they will be all too aware of. Set before the Second World War the historical aspects are dealt with in such a way that the horrors to come will be obvious to any adults reading along but not to the age group it is aimed at.
My only gripe is that there was nothing to indicate beforehand when it it was set and I would have liked to know in advance. I plan to read this with my granddaughter but as she’s only eight I may wait a while. I will, however look out for the next in the series as I think she will eventually love Alice and I hope all the main protagonists will return in her future adventures.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed reading this and think Alice will be a popular addition to pre-teen bookshelves very soon.
Having been instructed to gain entry to a society gathering at the mayor's mansion, and secretly retrieve information from an enemy agent, Alice is confident she can complete her assignment and maybe even meet her mysterious secret agent colleague. When clues lead to the famous and luxurious Sapphire Express, Alice finds herself on board with limited time to discover everything she needs to complete her work successfully. Even the best laid plans can go awry however, and Alice realises there is far more at stake than she could ever have imagined.
This is the first in a new children's series by Sarah Todd Taylor and is fun throughout with just enough jeopardy to keep the breath baited! Aimed at children aged 10+ Alice is an excellent main protagonist, expert in something the readers won't be, as well as having every day problems they will be all too aware of. Set before the Second World War the historical aspects are dealt with in such a way that the horrors to come will be obvious to any adults reading along but not to the age group it is aimed at.
My only gripe is that there was nothing to indicate beforehand when it it was set and I would have liked to know in advance. I plan to read this with my granddaughter but as she’s only eight I may wait a while. I will, however look out for the next in the series as I think she will eventually love Alice and I hope all the main protagonists will return in her future adventures.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed reading this and think Alice will be a popular addition to pre-teen bookshelves very soon.
August 29, 2022
This has been all over Twitter and I now know why!
Alice Éclair Spy Extraordinaire is another book set on a train - a steam one. There seems to be quite a theme in my summer reading for trains (posh ones) that are making me want to travel!
At the beginning of the book Alice is in her mother's pâtisserie, Vive Comme L'Éclair in Paris, working on a wedding cake, an intricate model of the Eiffel Tower complete with bride and groom and fireworks. But it's not what she is thinking about; she is thinking about a spy mission, she wasn't quite sure who wa giving her the mission but she had to retrieve a microfilm from La Renarde, who is described as France's most dangerous enemy. In order to distract her mother she gives her the new Agatha Christie book to read. (Christie also featured in the last train book I read!)
Alice slips out of the shop and makes it to the Mayor's house, following the other housemaids Alice perused the list of visitors finding the one she wants she enters the room. She almost gets caught! But she gets the microfilm and goes to meet the person giving her orders. And here she gets a big surprise. She has notebooks full of codes that she has learnt how to use because of this person!
Here she is told of an impossible mission, he can't go obviously - but it is too dangerous for a girl.....she falls for it instantly. She find a way to get herself on the Sapphire Express, convinces her mother it would be good for business if she could say she has worked on the famous train. Then she almost doesn't get on because she is late when she is sent flying across the platform by Penelope, who assumes Alice is travelling on the train not that she is staff. But Penelope covers up Alice's lateness saying it is because Alice helped her.
Once on board Alice sets about working out how to mix with the first class passengers, something staff aren't allowed to do. Again, she manages this! She's good at subterfuge! Penelope becomes an ally, and together they find that there is a jewel thief on board. But who is the spy smuggling France's secrets. Has Alice got this right? Is she being told the truth?
Alice's knowledge of baking amazingly comes in handy for lots of things - eggs and their suppliers are remarkably useful in the book!
I really liked this book, it lived up to the hype surrounding it on social media and I can't wait for the next instalment.
Alice Éclair Spy Extraordinaire is another book set on a train - a steam one. There seems to be quite a theme in my summer reading for trains (posh ones) that are making me want to travel!
At the beginning of the book Alice is in her mother's pâtisserie, Vive Comme L'Éclair in Paris, working on a wedding cake, an intricate model of the Eiffel Tower complete with bride and groom and fireworks. But it's not what she is thinking about; she is thinking about a spy mission, she wasn't quite sure who wa giving her the mission but she had to retrieve a microfilm from La Renarde, who is described as France's most dangerous enemy. In order to distract her mother she gives her the new Agatha Christie book to read. (Christie also featured in the last train book I read!)
Alice slips out of the shop and makes it to the Mayor's house, following the other housemaids Alice perused the list of visitors finding the one she wants she enters the room. She almost gets caught! But she gets the microfilm and goes to meet the person giving her orders. And here she gets a big surprise. She has notebooks full of codes that she has learnt how to use because of this person!
Here she is told of an impossible mission, he can't go obviously - but it is too dangerous for a girl.....she falls for it instantly. She find a way to get herself on the Sapphire Express, convinces her mother it would be good for business if she could say she has worked on the famous train. Then she almost doesn't get on because she is late when she is sent flying across the platform by Penelope, who assumes Alice is travelling on the train not that she is staff. But Penelope covers up Alice's lateness saying it is because Alice helped her.
Once on board Alice sets about working out how to mix with the first class passengers, something staff aren't allowed to do. Again, she manages this! She's good at subterfuge! Penelope becomes an ally, and together they find that there is a jewel thief on board. But who is the spy smuggling France's secrets. Has Alice got this right? Is she being told the truth?
Alice's knowledge of baking amazingly comes in handy for lots of things - eggs and their suppliers are remarkably useful in the book!
I really liked this book, it lived up to the hype surrounding it on social media and I can't wait for the next instalment.
January 25, 2024
Absolutely loved this book! The characters are well written, the mystery was detailed and surprisingly surprising. I was quite pleased with the intricacies and surprises, since I feel a lot of MG mystery books tend to shy away from mysteries that aren't fairly straight forward or relatively predictable. Yes, perhaps there are a few moments where the actions of the protagonist felt as though they should have been beyond what her training and skill would have allowed, but it was nothing too drastic and overall her skills and attempts seemed to fit her training and age.
I do love there is a historical aspect to this book as well. And while I was mildly surprised at some of the real peril mentioned in the book, nothing was ever too intense, instead more of a hint at what could be. In a way, it reminds me of a younger, tamer "Enola Holmes" type book. But if I'm honest I actually enjoyed this better and liked the characters overall a bit more.
I'm eager to read the next book and see where the characters, and the mysteries, go next! :D
I do love there is a historical aspect to this book as well. And while I was mildly surprised at some of the real peril mentioned in the book, nothing was ever too intense, instead more of a hint at what could be. In a way, it reminds me of a younger, tamer "Enola Holmes" type book. But if I'm honest I actually enjoyed this better and liked the characters overall a bit more.
I'm eager to read the next book and see where the characters, and the mysteries, go next! :D
November 11, 2024
Excitedly awaiting delivery of pre-order to GD in another state!
What a fun historical mystery story with sneaky ways for readers of any age to learn about STUFF!
Great for gifting to anyone, but especially to school library and your local public library. I feel that it is totally fun for ESL, too!
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected advance proof from Nosy Crow Inc via NetGalley. Thank you!
Avail Mar 18, 2025 #AliceÉclairSpyExtraordinaireARecipeforTrouble by Sarah Todd Taylor🕵️♀️
@scraphamster #AliceÉclairBk1 #NetGalley @NosyCrow #Mystery #MiddleGrades #FUN
What a fun historical mystery story with sneaky ways for readers of any age to learn about STUFF!
Great for gifting to anyone, but especially to school library and your local public library. I feel that it is totally fun for ESL, too!
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected advance proof from Nosy Crow Inc via NetGalley. Thank you!
Avail Mar 18, 2025 #AliceÉclairSpyExtraordinaireARecipeforTrouble by Sarah Todd Taylor🕵️♀️
@scraphamster #AliceÉclairBk1 #NetGalley @NosyCrow #Mystery #MiddleGrades #FUN
October 26, 2024
Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book follows Alice, a young girl who is a master baker and also a spy in training. She is sent on a mission on a train and things quickly unfold.
This was a fun story! I thought Alice was a great character and she was fun to follow. I love the food references throughout. It was also fast paced and just a fun book to read.
I would definitely recommend to middle grade readers!
This book follows Alice, a young girl who is a master baker and also a spy in training. She is sent on a mission on a train and things quickly unfold.
This was a fun story! I thought Alice was a great character and she was fun to follow. I love the food references throughout. It was also fast paced and just a fun book to read.
I would definitely recommend to middle grade readers!
July 13, 2022
I had this pegged as 5 star read as soon as Sarah shared the news of its coming. Presumptuous of me? Absolutely not.
Does this book live up to my expectations? Absolutely!
A wonderful confection of action, adventure and cake, that, like the train in the story – is NOT TO BE MISSED!
One slice will never be enough of Sarah's writing, and this series is a whole cake trolley worth of goodies waiting to find their way onto our plates.
Settle down with a cup of your favourite brew, and have cake on hand as this story really does whet the appetite.
Set in pre-WW2 France, the adventure introduces us to Alice Éclair, thirteen and already a highly skilled cake maker and decorator at Paris's famed pâtisserie, Vive Comme L'Éclair run by Alice's widowed mother.
By day Alice creates too-good-too-eat masterpieces, cakes for Paris's finest hotels and lucky customers. But in the last six months, she has led a double life. She has been training as a secret agent. Who the spymaster is, she isn't sure, but she has an idea.
Her latest training is an assignment to retrieve secrets stolen by a foreign spy and contained on microfilm. Secrets that she is told will jeopardise France's security! Why a girl for such an important task? Well, who really pays attention to a child?
Like her baking, Alice is a skilled agent and soon completes the task. But in so doing, she uncovers more than she could have dared possible. One thing leads to another, and her trusted spymaster seeds the idea of another mission. It is one Alice feels she can do, and wants to do, for France. But to complete the task she has to join France's most luxurious train, The Sapphire Express. But she can't go as a passenger, and enrols as a pastry chef!
From here on in, the chase is on, and in true Christie fashion, the plot, like a cake mix, thickens as the train speeds to its destination in Monte Carlo!
Whilst there are no herrings on the menu for Alice, there is certainly plenty of clues and false leads, assumptions that keep the plot bowling along and the mind engaged. I can't really say much more than this, but if you think of the very best adventures on trains, then you will not be far wrong.
As I said, 5 Star. Fans of Robin Stevens, Agatha Christie, and MG Leonard & Sam Sedgman will love this too.
Does this book live up to my expectations? Absolutely!
A wonderful confection of action, adventure and cake, that, like the train in the story – is NOT TO BE MISSED!
One slice will never be enough of Sarah's writing, and this series is a whole cake trolley worth of goodies waiting to find their way onto our plates.
Settle down with a cup of your favourite brew, and have cake on hand as this story really does whet the appetite.
Set in pre-WW2 France, the adventure introduces us to Alice Éclair, thirteen and already a highly skilled cake maker and decorator at Paris's famed pâtisserie, Vive Comme L'Éclair run by Alice's widowed mother.
By day Alice creates too-good-too-eat masterpieces, cakes for Paris's finest hotels and lucky customers. But in the last six months, she has led a double life. She has been training as a secret agent. Who the spymaster is, she isn't sure, but she has an idea.
Her latest training is an assignment to retrieve secrets stolen by a foreign spy and contained on microfilm. Secrets that she is told will jeopardise France's security! Why a girl for such an important task? Well, who really pays attention to a child?
Like her baking, Alice is a skilled agent and soon completes the task. But in so doing, she uncovers more than she could have dared possible. One thing leads to another, and her trusted spymaster seeds the idea of another mission. It is one Alice feels she can do, and wants to do, for France. But to complete the task she has to join France's most luxurious train, The Sapphire Express. But she can't go as a passenger, and enrols as a pastry chef!
From here on in, the chase is on, and in true Christie fashion, the plot, like a cake mix, thickens as the train speeds to its destination in Monte Carlo!
Whilst there are no herrings on the menu for Alice, there is certainly plenty of clues and false leads, assumptions that keep the plot bowling along and the mind engaged. I can't really say much more than this, but if you think of the very best adventures on trains, then you will not be far wrong.
As I said, 5 Star. Fans of Robin Stevens, Agatha Christie, and MG Leonard & Sam Sedgman will love this too.
November 29, 2022
Delectable pastries and high-stakes espionage are the perfect ingredients for a recipe for success in Sarah Todd Taylor’s newest series that introduces readers to the thrilling life of Alice Éclair, a spy extraordinaire.
Expert baker Alice Éclair is a whizz at whipping up the most delectable cakes and pastries at famous Parisian pâtisserie Vive Comme L’Éclair. But once the macarons and mille-feuille have been baked and another day in the kitchen comes to an end, Alice embraces her secret life as a spy. Racing around the streets of Paris following secret notes and ciphers from a mystery sender, Alice has been harnessing her spying skills. Now she is ready for her most important mission yet, track down a rogue agent aboard the opulent Sapphire Express. But will Alice be able to complete her mission or will secret papers fall into the wrong hands and put lives at great risk…
This is a step up from Todd Taylor’s other well-known super sleuth, Max the Detective Cat. Alice Éclair serves up more peril, more twists, more thrills, and it is spy-tacular. Set in France, just before the beginning of the Second World War - lots of period details and some historical context are neatly woven into the story - readers are thrust head-first into a fast-paced and intriguing mystery that seamlessly mixes baking and spying.
Stirred, whisked and baked to perfection, this is the kind of book I love to read; a journey on a train of grandeur, a scrumptious mystery, double crossings, a wonderful cast of characters - all of whom are potentially up to no good - and enough red-herrings to keep me guessing, I was gobbling up the pages as quickly as I would snaffle one of Alice’s mille-feuilles.
Brave, bold, resourceful and with a toolkit of spy skills hidden up the sleeves of her chef’s whites, Alice is one of my favourite detectives yet. She delicately creates cocktail biscuits one minute and is then spying on passengers and sneaking into locked rooms the next. Keeping her real reason for being aboard the train a secret, Alice ‘kneads’ all of her wits and spy craft if she is to accomplish her first mission.
Between having my taste-buds tantalised by an assortment of mouth-watering cakes, it is an immense amount of fun trying to piece together the clues alongside Alice. Like a good soufflé, the story rises to perfection and leaves the reader wanting more. And we won’t have to wait long with book two hitting the shelves in January 2023 (and I may have just been given an early look at it thanks to NetGalley and the lovely peeps at Nosy Crow).
With huge thanks to Allen & Unwin and Nosy Crow for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.
Recommended for 7+.
Expert baker Alice Éclair is a whizz at whipping up the most delectable cakes and pastries at famous Parisian pâtisserie Vive Comme L’Éclair. But once the macarons and mille-feuille have been baked and another day in the kitchen comes to an end, Alice embraces her secret life as a spy. Racing around the streets of Paris following secret notes and ciphers from a mystery sender, Alice has been harnessing her spying skills. Now she is ready for her most important mission yet, track down a rogue agent aboard the opulent Sapphire Express. But will Alice be able to complete her mission or will secret papers fall into the wrong hands and put lives at great risk…
This is a step up from Todd Taylor’s other well-known super sleuth, Max the Detective Cat. Alice Éclair serves up more peril, more twists, more thrills, and it is spy-tacular. Set in France, just before the beginning of the Second World War - lots of period details and some historical context are neatly woven into the story - readers are thrust head-first into a fast-paced and intriguing mystery that seamlessly mixes baking and spying.
Stirred, whisked and baked to perfection, this is the kind of book I love to read; a journey on a train of grandeur, a scrumptious mystery, double crossings, a wonderful cast of characters - all of whom are potentially up to no good - and enough red-herrings to keep me guessing, I was gobbling up the pages as quickly as I would snaffle one of Alice’s mille-feuilles.
Brave, bold, resourceful and with a toolkit of spy skills hidden up the sleeves of her chef’s whites, Alice is one of my favourite detectives yet. She delicately creates cocktail biscuits one minute and is then spying on passengers and sneaking into locked rooms the next. Keeping her real reason for being aboard the train a secret, Alice ‘kneads’ all of her wits and spy craft if she is to accomplish her first mission.
Between having my taste-buds tantalised by an assortment of mouth-watering cakes, it is an immense amount of fun trying to piece together the clues alongside Alice. Like a good soufflé, the story rises to perfection and leaves the reader wanting more. And we won’t have to wait long with book two hitting the shelves in January 2023 (and I may have just been given an early look at it thanks to NetGalley and the lovely peeps at Nosy Crow).
With huge thanks to Allen & Unwin and Nosy Crow for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.
Recommended for 7+.
April 18, 2025
What worked:
Readers must remember the story is set in the mid-1930s when Hitler and Germany became a growing threat to Europe. This is when spies pass secret, classified information to their governments using ciphers and hidden messages. The book opens with Alice retrieving some microfilm that was stolen from a French agent. Alice’s uncle was a spy who she thinks drowned two years ago. However, he’s still alive and has been training Alice to follow in his footsteps. She’s learned to read codes, follow maps, create detailed diagrams, and be more observant of people and her surroundings. These skills are useful as she tries to thwart a spy from sharing information that might lead to a German invasion of England.
Many young readers enjoy cooking with their parents, and Alice is a gifted pastry chef working in her mother’s bakery. She’s the greatest young baker in Paris, France, and maybe the most talented in the whole country. The first pages describe Alice artfully putting the finishing touches on a baked recreation of the Eiffel Tower with glittery fireworks as a highlight. Her talent opens the door for her to board an exclusive train, trying to stop the person working for the Nazis. There are descriptions of Alice mixing and baking different pastries to maintain her cover. She’s also able to apply her baking skills and knowledge in unexpected situations.
The story presents plenty of suspects for the unknown spy, and readers’ attention will fluctuate as more information is shared. Is it the singing/dancing twin brothers who’ve been performing in locations around Europe where previous incidents have occurred? Is it Stella, the reporter with notebooks written in strange language (code?), who has also been traveling around Europe? Maybe it’s the mysterious professor, who’s often poring through books rather than interacting with other guests. Or could the spy be someone else who Alice hasn’t noticed? The author saves a huge surprise as the story nears its climax and leaves the resolution open for the sequel.
What didn’t work as well:
This book is the first in the series, but it doesn’t feel like it. References are made to spy-like activities Alice has done that might have been in previous editions. This results in her backstory and character not being as developed as they might have been. We don’t know a lot about Alice beyond what happens in this book. Also, the plot isn’t overly suspenseful until the surprise mentioned above.
The final verdict:
This book is a nice introduction to a new spy-sleuth in pre-WWII France. Alice’s talents as a pastry chef and the surprise during the book’s climax add novelty and interest to this series. I recommend you give it a shot!
Readers must remember the story is set in the mid-1930s when Hitler and Germany became a growing threat to Europe. This is when spies pass secret, classified information to their governments using ciphers and hidden messages. The book opens with Alice retrieving some microfilm that was stolen from a French agent. Alice’s uncle was a spy who she thinks drowned two years ago. However, he’s still alive and has been training Alice to follow in his footsteps. She’s learned to read codes, follow maps, create detailed diagrams, and be more observant of people and her surroundings. These skills are useful as she tries to thwart a spy from sharing information that might lead to a German invasion of England.
Many young readers enjoy cooking with their parents, and Alice is a gifted pastry chef working in her mother’s bakery. She’s the greatest young baker in Paris, France, and maybe the most talented in the whole country. The first pages describe Alice artfully putting the finishing touches on a baked recreation of the Eiffel Tower with glittery fireworks as a highlight. Her talent opens the door for her to board an exclusive train, trying to stop the person working for the Nazis. There are descriptions of Alice mixing and baking different pastries to maintain her cover. She’s also able to apply her baking skills and knowledge in unexpected situations.
The story presents plenty of suspects for the unknown spy, and readers’ attention will fluctuate as more information is shared. Is it the singing/dancing twin brothers who’ve been performing in locations around Europe where previous incidents have occurred? Is it Stella, the reporter with notebooks written in strange language (code?), who has also been traveling around Europe? Maybe it’s the mysterious professor, who’s often poring through books rather than interacting with other guests. Or could the spy be someone else who Alice hasn’t noticed? The author saves a huge surprise as the story nears its climax and leaves the resolution open for the sequel.
What didn’t work as well:
This book is the first in the series, but it doesn’t feel like it. References are made to spy-like activities Alice has done that might have been in previous editions. This results in her backstory and character not being as developed as they might have been. We don’t know a lot about Alice beyond what happens in this book. Also, the plot isn’t overly suspenseful until the surprise mentioned above.
The final verdict:
This book is a nice introduction to a new spy-sleuth in pre-WWII France. Alice’s talents as a pastry chef and the surprise during the book’s climax add novelty and interest to this series. I recommend you give it a shot!
April 2, 2024
La narrativa per ragazzi si fa sempre più ricca di storie appassionanti e Garzanti, con la sua collana per ragazzi, sta pubblicando delle storie una più bella dell'altra.
Questa volta tocca all'autrice Sarah Todd Taylor che con la serie Alice Éclair ci racconta le avventure di una bambina di tredici anni, pasticcera come la mamma, che si ritrova ad essere una spia.
Alice è molto abile con i dolci e la sua pasticceria è la più famosa della città di Parigi. Negli ultimi tempi i dolci non sono la sua unica attività, infatti Alice riceve dei messaggi in codice per aiutare lo zio, una spia, a sventare i piani di alcune persone cattive. Il suo ultimo incarico prevede che Alice si impossessi di un fascicolo che contiene segreti trafugati da una spia straniera. Si ritroverà a bordo del lussuoso treno Sapphire Express come infiltrata per completare la sua missione. Ma il piano pensato dalla nostra protagonista non andrà come previsto e in gioco ci sarà qualcosa di molto grande e pericoloso.
Prende il via un elettrizzante inseguimento in vero stile spy story in cui la trama si infittisce, lievita, aumenta di volume, mentre il Sapphire Express corre verso la sua meta finale: Monte Carlo.
Miei cari lettori, che dire di questa spia in erba? Un vero giallo che ricorda le atmosfere di Agata Christie. Con l'amica Penelope a farle da spalla, la piccola spia si mescola tra i passeggeri, svela misteri, corre pericoli. Una protagonista piena di coraggio, audace e con una serie di doti nascoste che la rendono non solo una pasticcera perfetta, ma anche una spia abilissima.
Ricco di azione e mistero, con uno sguardo ad avvenimenti che hanno segnato la storia, Alice Éclair è stato capace di trascinarmi all'interno di una trama frenetica e intrigante, insieme ad una protagonista spettacolare, che è impossibile non amare.
Primo libro di una serie che mescola sapientemente pasticceria e spionaggio e Sarah Taylor Todd sa come far funzionare questi elementi che sembrerebbero impossibili da mettere insieme.
Alice è un'eroina moderna. In lei un giovane lettore può immedesimarsi e trarre da questa lettura non solo svago ma anche crescita. Un carosello di personaggi che fanno da perfetta cornice a una storia divertente, avvincente e unica. Superconsigliata!
https://ariaswild.blogspot.com/2024/0...
Questa volta tocca all'autrice Sarah Todd Taylor che con la serie Alice Éclair ci racconta le avventure di una bambina di tredici anni, pasticcera come la mamma, che si ritrova ad essere una spia.
Alice è molto abile con i dolci e la sua pasticceria è la più famosa della città di Parigi. Negli ultimi tempi i dolci non sono la sua unica attività, infatti Alice riceve dei messaggi in codice per aiutare lo zio, una spia, a sventare i piani di alcune persone cattive. Il suo ultimo incarico prevede che Alice si impossessi di un fascicolo che contiene segreti trafugati da una spia straniera. Si ritroverà a bordo del lussuoso treno Sapphire Express come infiltrata per completare la sua missione. Ma il piano pensato dalla nostra protagonista non andrà come previsto e in gioco ci sarà qualcosa di molto grande e pericoloso.
Prende il via un elettrizzante inseguimento in vero stile spy story in cui la trama si infittisce, lievita, aumenta di volume, mentre il Sapphire Express corre verso la sua meta finale: Monte Carlo.
Miei cari lettori, che dire di questa spia in erba? Un vero giallo che ricorda le atmosfere di Agata Christie. Con l'amica Penelope a farle da spalla, la piccola spia si mescola tra i passeggeri, svela misteri, corre pericoli. Una protagonista piena di coraggio, audace e con una serie di doti nascoste che la rendono non solo una pasticcera perfetta, ma anche una spia abilissima.
Ricco di azione e mistero, con uno sguardo ad avvenimenti che hanno segnato la storia, Alice Éclair è stato capace di trascinarmi all'interno di una trama frenetica e intrigante, insieme ad una protagonista spettacolare, che è impossibile non amare.
Primo libro di una serie che mescola sapientemente pasticceria e spionaggio e Sarah Taylor Todd sa come far funzionare questi elementi che sembrerebbero impossibili da mettere insieme.
Alice è un'eroina moderna. In lei un giovane lettore può immedesimarsi e trarre da questa lettura non solo svago ma anche crescita. Un carosello di personaggi che fanno da perfetta cornice a una storia divertente, avvincente e unica. Superconsigliata!
https://ariaswild.blogspot.com/2024/0...
August 22, 2022
I adored Alice Éclair, Spy Extraordinaire!
Alice is a young girl in a Parisian bakery, and from our first meeting her it is clear that she is incredibly talented at patisserie work. The descriptions of her creations are unbelievable and mouth-watering. But there's so much more to Alice than just incredibly elaborate cake and pastry baking. She's also a spy!
It's a weird combination of ideas, to be sure, but somehow Sarah Taylor Todd makes it work brilliantly and the whole thing just comes across as truly inspired. There are links built in throughout, from Alice mapping out a floorplan for a heist style mission in icing on her workbench to using her patisserie skills to secure access to suspects in a spy chase across France! These links feel natural and organic and just incredibly clever. Her knowledge of baking helps her to be a better spy in some often quite surprising ways.
The spy elements are thrilling too. Some real nail-biting escapes and a thoroughly intriguing mystery, as Alice is sent to track down a dangerous spy smuggling vital paperwork on a train. As with all good spy mysteries there are twists and shocks and double-crosses and surprises the whole way.
The train itself, the Sapphire Express, is just gorgeous. I love how sumptuously it is described to us, as Alice explores more of its extravagant luxury. It really helps evoke the atmosphere of that pre-war period in vivid detail.
Alice herself is a really endearing heroine, the cast of characters around her are vivid, well depicted and fun, and this whole book just works really well, taking an odd little idea and making something really fun and unique out of it.
Alice Éclair, Spy Extraordinaire est un triomphe! (does that make my early copy an arc de triomphe?)
Spies, mysteries and cake? A definite five moons!
Alice is a young girl in a Parisian bakery, and from our first meeting her it is clear that she is incredibly talented at patisserie work. The descriptions of her creations are unbelievable and mouth-watering. But there's so much more to Alice than just incredibly elaborate cake and pastry baking. She's also a spy!
It's a weird combination of ideas, to be sure, but somehow Sarah Taylor Todd makes it work brilliantly and the whole thing just comes across as truly inspired. There are links built in throughout, from Alice mapping out a floorplan for a heist style mission in icing on her workbench to using her patisserie skills to secure access to suspects in a spy chase across France! These links feel natural and organic and just incredibly clever. Her knowledge of baking helps her to be a better spy in some often quite surprising ways.
The spy elements are thrilling too. Some real nail-biting escapes and a thoroughly intriguing mystery, as Alice is sent to track down a dangerous spy smuggling vital paperwork on a train. As with all good spy mysteries there are twists and shocks and double-crosses and surprises the whole way.
The train itself, the Sapphire Express, is just gorgeous. I love how sumptuously it is described to us, as Alice explores more of its extravagant luxury. It really helps evoke the atmosphere of that pre-war period in vivid detail.
Alice herself is a really endearing heroine, the cast of characters around her are vivid, well depicted and fun, and this whole book just works really well, taking an odd little idea and making something really fun and unique out of it.
Alice Éclair, Spy Extraordinaire est un triomphe! (does that make my early copy an arc de triomphe?)
Spies, mysteries and cake? A definite five moons!
April 3, 2025
A truly extraordinary twelve-year-old, Alice Éclair excels at baking and code breaking, both of which she pursues avidly in 1930s Paris. At her mother’s successful patisserie Vive Comme l' Éclair (translation: “quick as lightning”), Alice creates one-of-a-kind treats. Meanwhile, for the past year, a mysterious correspondent has been sending her increasingly challenging cyphers. When it turns out that her previously “dead” uncle (a master spy) is behind the missives, Alice jumps at the chance to take on a mission that she believes will help France counter a looming German threat. To do so, she’ll have to go undercover on the luxurious Sapphire Express train that runs from Paris to Monte Carlo, creating jaw-dropping treats while figuring out which wealthy passenger is the mysterious spy L’Anguille (The Eel). Uncle Robert has warned her to trust no one, but Alice does make friends with Penelope, a rich American girl on her own hunt to expose a jewel thief. The book reads like a middle grade homage to Agatha Christie and even features a name drop of the famous author. Luckily for young readers, Alice leans more toward bold adventure than Hercule Poirot; there’s plenty of subterfuge, feats of strength, puzzle solving, and of course, narrowly missed baking disasters. By the end of the story, Alice must reconsider her loyalties and make a bold decision. This was a cute, funny, and occasionally surprising read, filled with beautifully detailed set pieces. Supplemental material includes a map of the train’s route and another of Paris, a glossary of French terms, and a bit of history in the acknowledgements. All characters presumed white. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
April 23, 2025
(3.5 Stars)
A Recipe for Trouble introduces burgeoning spy Alice Éclair. At 13, Alice is already known for her baking and decorating skills and the text is full of mouth-watering descriptions of her fanciful creations. For years she's also been training for another vocation—to become a spy. When her uncle, presumed to be dead, reaches out with a real mission, Alice is determined to make him proud. Her culinary skills land her a working role on the Sapphire Express, a luxury train carrying a supposed spy across France. The tale takes place in 1930s Paris, as the events leading to World War II are unfolding across Europe. As Alice works to carry out her mission, she comes face to face with the realities of Hitler's rise to power and learns she may be trusting the wrong people. Those who aren't knowledgeable about the time period will fail to understand the gravity of the situation Alice is in. Mystery readers will enjoy Alice's capers and sorting through the characters on the elegant train. The skills Alice possesses, as well as some of the situations she finds herself in, stretch the bounds of believability. Secondary characters are superficially developed. While the events of this installment wrap up neatly, it is clear another volume is to come. Resourceful, spirited Alice is easy to cheer for and readers who find a kindred spirit in her will look forward to further adventures. The book was originally published in the UK in 2022. The story is followed by a glossary of French terms used in the text, as well as an author's note about the time period.
Optional Purchase for readers in grades 3-6.
A Recipe for Trouble introduces burgeoning spy Alice Éclair. At 13, Alice is already known for her baking and decorating skills and the text is full of mouth-watering descriptions of her fanciful creations. For years she's also been training for another vocation—to become a spy. When her uncle, presumed to be dead, reaches out with a real mission, Alice is determined to make him proud. Her culinary skills land her a working role on the Sapphire Express, a luxury train carrying a supposed spy across France. The tale takes place in 1930s Paris, as the events leading to World War II are unfolding across Europe. As Alice works to carry out her mission, she comes face to face with the realities of Hitler's rise to power and learns she may be trusting the wrong people. Those who aren't knowledgeable about the time period will fail to understand the gravity of the situation Alice is in. Mystery readers will enjoy Alice's capers and sorting through the characters on the elegant train. The skills Alice possesses, as well as some of the situations she finds herself in, stretch the bounds of believability. Secondary characters are superficially developed. While the events of this installment wrap up neatly, it is clear another volume is to come. Resourceful, spirited Alice is easy to cheer for and readers who find a kindred spirit in her will look forward to further adventures. The book was originally published in the UK in 2022. The story is followed by a glossary of French terms used in the text, as well as an author's note about the time period.
Optional Purchase for readers in grades 3-6.
August 26, 2025
A Recipe for Trouble introduces burgeoning spy Alice Éclair.
At 13, Alice is already known for her baking and decorating skills and the text is full of mouth-watering descriptions of her fanciful creations. For years she's also been training for another vocation—to become a spy. When her uncle, presumed to be dead, reaches out with a real mission, Alice is determined to make him proud. Her culinary skills land her a working role on the Sapphire Express, a luxury train carrying a supposed spy across France. The tale takes place in 1930s Paris, as the events leading to World War II are unfolding across Europe. As Alice works to carry out her mission, she comes face to face with the realities of Hitler's rise to power and learns she may be trusting the wrong people. Those who aren't knowledgeable about the time period will fail to understand the gravity of the situation Alice is in.
Mystery readers will enjoy Alice's capers and sorting through the characters on the elegant train. The skills Alice possesses, as well as some of the situations she finds herself in, stretch the bounds of believability. Secondary characters are superficially developed. While the events of this installment wrap up neatly, it is clear another volume is to come. Resourceful, spirited Alice is easy to cheer for and readers who find a kindred spirit in her will look forward to further adventures.
The book was originally published in the UK in 2022. The story is followed by a glossary of French terms used in the text, as well as an author's note about the time period.
Optional Purchase for readers in grades 3-6.
K.M.
Multimedia Learning Center Coordinator
At 13, Alice is already known for her baking and decorating skills and the text is full of mouth-watering descriptions of her fanciful creations. For years she's also been training for another vocation—to become a spy. When her uncle, presumed to be dead, reaches out with a real mission, Alice is determined to make him proud. Her culinary skills land her a working role on the Sapphire Express, a luxury train carrying a supposed spy across France. The tale takes place in 1930s Paris, as the events leading to World War II are unfolding across Europe. As Alice works to carry out her mission, she comes face to face with the realities of Hitler's rise to power and learns she may be trusting the wrong people. Those who aren't knowledgeable about the time period will fail to understand the gravity of the situation Alice is in.
Mystery readers will enjoy Alice's capers and sorting through the characters on the elegant train. The skills Alice possesses, as well as some of the situations she finds herself in, stretch the bounds of believability. Secondary characters are superficially developed. While the events of this installment wrap up neatly, it is clear another volume is to come. Resourceful, spirited Alice is easy to cheer for and readers who find a kindred spirit in her will look forward to further adventures.
The book was originally published in the UK in 2022. The story is followed by a glossary of French terms used in the text, as well as an author's note about the time period.
Optional Purchase for readers in grades 3-6.
K.M.
Multimedia Learning Center Coordinator
March 14, 2025
Thirteen-year-old Alice Eclair is an accomplished pastry chef by day, working in her mother’s shop and creating delectable creations for Paris’ elite in the mid-1930s. Secretly, Alice is also a spy, working to solve clues and riddles that take her all around Paris. When her most complicated mission to date brings her face-to-face with the mysterious entity who has been leaving the clues, Alice is surprised to discover it is her beloved uncle, who was believed to have been dead for the past two years. Another mission is laid before Alice, and she must determine whether she has what it takes to retrieve the required documents before they can fall into the wrong hands. This fast-paced middle grade novel embraces the potential that can come from having a thirteen-year-old with enough tenacity to be an accomplished spy as well as the ability to diligently avoid the notice of adults in her environment. Alice is precocious, smart, and resourceful, knowing exactly what she wants and how to achieve her desires when people least expect her to do so. Red herrings are sprinkled throughout the novel, keeping readers engaged with each new development in the plot. French vocabulary and locations are abundant within the narrative, as well, immersing readers in Alice’s natural environment. The first in its series, this book is primed for subsequent stories, and readers will eagerly await the next installment. This book is best suited to confident middle grade readers who relish a touch of mystery and intrigue in the books they choose.
December 2, 2022
A RECIPE FOR TROUBLE is a thrilling 1930s spy novel set in Paris with a patisseries chef cum spy as the heroine.
As you might have guessed from my blog, I really like train-set mysteries. There is something about knowing that there is no way off until the next station, but also an awareness that the next station is coming. It puts a time pressure on the story which is compounded by the fact that Alice is staff on board and so stuck in the kitchen.
I really liked that angle on the book, making Alice a member of the kitchen team and not a passenger. It feels like a different take and means she has to try and fit her spying around her time in the kitchen - not to mention being kept to the "right" parts of the train. There are all sort of distractions thought up to get her into carriages and berths to snoop.
Having a chef as a main character also leads to lots of yummy food descriptions. I would really like to try all of Alice's creations - my mouth was frequently watering as I read. Definitely not one to read if dinner is a long way off!
The book is set in 1930s France, with hints at the things happening in Germany. It looks like that could become a bigger part of the coming books, helping to ratchet the tension and also explore the lead up to World War Two.
As you might have guessed from my blog, I really like train-set mysteries. There is something about knowing that there is no way off until the next station, but also an awareness that the next station is coming. It puts a time pressure on the story which is compounded by the fact that Alice is staff on board and so stuck in the kitchen.
I really liked that angle on the book, making Alice a member of the kitchen team and not a passenger. It feels like a different take and means she has to try and fit her spying around her time in the kitchen - not to mention being kept to the "right" parts of the train. There are all sort of distractions thought up to get her into carriages and berths to snoop.
Having a chef as a main character also leads to lots of yummy food descriptions. I would really like to try all of Alice's creations - my mouth was frequently watering as I read. Definitely not one to read if dinner is a long way off!
The book is set in 1930s France, with hints at the things happening in Germany. It looks like that could become a bigger part of the coming books, helping to ratchet the tension and also explore the lead up to World War Two.
May 19, 2023
once saw Sarah Todd Taylor do a talk about Max the Detective Cat and just knew it would be fantastic for children, so I was delighted to see I could review her latest book, also for middle-grade readers of 9 years plus - Alice Éclair, Spy Extraordinaire! A Recipe for Trouble.
Alice is in a perfect position to be trained as a spy, even though she is 13. She is astounding customers at a Parisian patisserie, so she certainly gets to see much of life as she creates and serves her delightful sweet treats of pastries and croissants.
Alice’s mission is to infiltrate a society gathering in a mansion to retrieve information. Clues then lead her to getting onboard a luxury train (all very Agatha Christie for kids and it works) to complete her mission.
There is the great setting for its pre-war time and enough jeopardy to keep young readers intrigued and to keep those pages turning, with the twists and turns.
It is great to enthral children as they embark on their own holidays and adventures.
Alice is in a perfect position to be trained as a spy, even though she is 13. She is astounding customers at a Parisian patisserie, so she certainly gets to see much of life as she creates and serves her delightful sweet treats of pastries and croissants.
Alice’s mission is to infiltrate a society gathering in a mansion to retrieve information. Clues then lead her to getting onboard a luxury train (all very Agatha Christie for kids and it works) to complete her mission.
There is the great setting for its pre-war time and enough jeopardy to keep young readers intrigued and to keep those pages turning, with the twists and turns.
It is great to enthral children as they embark on their own holidays and adventures.
July 27, 2022
Sarah Todd Taylor has done it again - another masterpiece of writing to inspire our young (and slightly older) readers.
Alice Éclair is not only the finest pastry chef in all of Paris but she’s also one of the finest spies.
A story full of adventure, mystery and hope. Alice has been training for her biggest mission yet but who is it that is sending her these messages and could it really be who she suspects?
When Alice sets out as an undercover spy on the Sapphire Express to uncover a spy who is threatening France she is confident that she is doing the right thing. But what happens when your reality starts to unravel and you realise that things aren’t what they seem.
For Alice the answer is clear - you put things right.
Alice is a strong character - talented, focused and determined. A strong role model for anyone.
I really enjoyed this book - it is well written, fast paced and draws you in so that you are solving the many mysteries within.
Alice Éclair is not only the finest pastry chef in all of Paris but she’s also one of the finest spies.
A story full of adventure, mystery and hope. Alice has been training for her biggest mission yet but who is it that is sending her these messages and could it really be who she suspects?
When Alice sets out as an undercover spy on the Sapphire Express to uncover a spy who is threatening France she is confident that she is doing the right thing. But what happens when your reality starts to unravel and you realise that things aren’t what they seem.
For Alice the answer is clear - you put things right.
Alice is a strong character - talented, focused and determined. A strong role model for anyone.
I really enjoyed this book - it is well written, fast paced and draws you in so that you are solving the many mysteries within.
July 26, 2025
The first in a new cute mystery series about French pastry chef and spy, Alice Eclair! Alice is a 13 year old in 1930s France when she is recruited to be a spy. She soon finds herself traveling on the luxurious Sapphire Express to try to retrieve documents from an unknown spy.
I thought this was a really cute mystery! I loved Alice as the main character and thought the pacing and chapter length were perfect for the targeted age group. Alice was also a great protagonist! I do wish there had been something about the time period early on because it took me a little bit to figure out when the time period was. Even like a year at the start of the first chapter would've been helpful! But that was such a minor thing, and I overall just had a good time reading this. I'm definitely going to read the next ones in this series!
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this was a really cute mystery! I loved Alice as the main character and thought the pacing and chapter length were perfect for the targeted age group. Alice was also a great protagonist! I do wish there had been something about the time period early on because it took me a little bit to figure out when the time period was. Even like a year at the start of the first chapter would've been helpful! But that was such a minor thing, and I overall just had a good time reading this. I'm definitely going to read the next ones in this series!
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2025
I honestly thought this would be a much lighter read than it ended up being. It's good, it's just very heavy.
Alice, a 13-year-old, is an accomplished baker and helps her mother run a bakery in 1930s Paris. One day, a series of messages lead her to accept a spy assignment from someone she thought dead. Her mission takes her to the Sapphire Express, a luxury train where she can work in the kitchen while spying on the passengers to retrieve a microfilm.
I loved the scenes where Alice bakes and the descriptions of 1930s Paris. I also enjoyed her friendship with Penelope, a girl about her age. The setting is a bit of a blur until the very end which took me by surprise. The identity of the culprit and the conclusion were just so dark. It was just too intense for me.
My endless thanks to NetGalley and Nosy Crow for this ARC!
Alice, a 13-year-old, is an accomplished baker and helps her mother run a bakery in 1930s Paris. One day, a series of messages lead her to accept a spy assignment from someone she thought dead. Her mission takes her to the Sapphire Express, a luxury train where she can work in the kitchen while spying on the passengers to retrieve a microfilm.
I loved the scenes where Alice bakes and the descriptions of 1930s Paris. I also enjoyed her friendship with Penelope, a girl about her age. The setting is a bit of a blur until the very end which took me by surprise. The identity of the culprit and the conclusion were just so dark. It was just too intense for me.
My endless thanks to NetGalley and Nosy Crow for this ARC!
July 26, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for an e-book copy of this ARC.
What a fantastic start to what I’m sure will be a thrilling series. Filled with delightful descriptions, wonderful puzzle solving, and a good few action scenes. Alice felt like a well rounded character (clever and endearing but not without flaws) and I loved the inclusion of her mother’s sayings - allowing the reader to better understand this character without her needing to be present.
The only improvement that could be made would have been for this to be longer! More focus on Alice’s first introduction to spying and more time spent on Uncle Robert so that the reader could have got to know him more would have really elevated the end to a 5 stat read. The stakes would have been higher.
What a fantastic start to what I’m sure will be a thrilling series. Filled with delightful descriptions, wonderful puzzle solving, and a good few action scenes. Alice felt like a well rounded character (clever and endearing but not without flaws) and I loved the inclusion of her mother’s sayings - allowing the reader to better understand this character without her needing to be present.
The only improvement that could be made would have been for this to be longer! More focus on Alice’s first introduction to spying and more time spent on Uncle Robert so that the reader could have got to know him more would have really elevated the end to a 5 stat read. The stakes would have been higher.
August 2, 2022
Full review to come but this deliciously twisty, terrifically tasty spy story is bursting with fun, food & a tightly plotted mystery that’s sure to keep readers of all ages guessing. The codes & ciphers are sure to intrigue & delight, and Alice’s sweet creations will have reader’s tummy’s grumbling for pastries & cakes to devour along with the book. A proper treat to read - and an instant classic to be reread over and over by kids everywhere. Can we have an Alice Éclair spin-off recipe book soon?
August 4, 2022
A delightful start to new series featuring Alice Eclair, the 13 year old patisserie genius, who is also being trained to be a spy by her uncle. When she sets out on a mission to catch another spy she has still to understand what her uncle means when he says "trust no one". This is an exciting mix of "adventures on trains" and "murder most unladylike" and is going to appeal to fans of both series, as well as creating its own fan base for the future. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2025
Delightfully Entertaining Twists and Turns
Alice, an extremely talented French baker, has to figure out who to trust as she works frantically to solve a mystery before it’s too late. I really enjoyed this story because it is a fast-paced, edge-of-your seat pure delight. The only downside for me what that I didn’t study French, which was sprinkled throughout the first portion of the book. But no worries – I just kept the google translate page open in my browser.
This ARC was provided to me by NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
Alice, an extremely talented French baker, has to figure out who to trust as she works frantically to solve a mystery before it’s too late. I really enjoyed this story because it is a fast-paced, edge-of-your seat pure delight. The only downside for me what that I didn’t study French, which was sprinkled throughout the first portion of the book. But no worries – I just kept the google translate page open in my browser.
This ARC was provided to me by NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
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April 12, 2025A dash of mid-1930s history, a strong heaping of adventure, and a touch of baking are all stirred into this fast paced mystery. Alice is an amazing baker, especially for a 13 year old, but she might be an even better code breaker and spy. Being both a history fan and an avid baker, I loved all of the layers. In her riskiest assignment to date, Alice boards the glamorous Sapphire Express train to find an enemy agent. With a cast full of colorful characters abroad and plenty of twists all the way to the very end, this is a fun read for middle grade mystery fans.
May 20, 2025
It was a good kid spy/mystery book, but took just a few too many extraordinary feats by Alice to make this unbelievable to me. Yes, I'm an adult and the target audience is kids. But I'm not sure how many kids are going to believe that Alice survives being on the outside of a moving train TWICE, including once while fighting a grown up. There were quite a few delicious sounding recipes in the book and I think young readers (and me) would have loved to see a few of them written out in the back of the book so we could give them a try.
July 29, 2022
The children loved this, but the adults loved it just as much. The story of a talented girl trying to do her best but deceived into unknowingly doing the wrong thing. A tale of daring and bravery. A great female lead backed up by a handful of also great female characters. It was so good that the boys really didn't notice the lack of leading good male roles till we told them. A bit like murder on the orient express for kids ( without the murder)
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