A great story for children, this adult didn’t mind it too!
Well written, believable characters and obviously a good amount of appropriate research done. Both girl and boy characters so both should enjoy it.
I hadn’t read the previous books and could pick up the sense of it quite easily - each story seems to be complete although reading to the end of the series would clear up a few background matters.

Another stunning Sinclair mystery just as illustrious as The Clockwork Sparrow complete with impeccable period detail and adventure!

This is the first book of Katherine's I have read and I'm glad I did read it as it is an excellent story set in Victorian London.

The storyline itself is really well written and the characters are well developed

The Painted Dragon just wasn't for me, and I really struggled to get into the story or care enough about the characters or plot. That said, I know it will appeal to some of my younger students, and the writing is good enough for me to recommend it to students who enjoy mysteries and adventures.

Loved the period detail and a great plot, well suited for its target age range / audience. I think the author will gradually build a following if the next novels follow this strong start.

This is a children's detective series, set in an Edwardian department store in London, so I should have felt enchanted reading it...but I wasn't. It felt a bit light - which is a strange thing to say about a children's book...it is well written and I loved some of the characters, it just, for me, lacked that certain something that makes a book stand out.
However, I'm not the target audience and I will happily recommend this to readers 9+ looking for a follow-on to the Murder Most Unladylike series.

I haven't read the previous two books in this series, but The Mystery of the Painted Dragon has ensured I will be picking them up at the first opportunity. This Middle Grade novel was utterly compelling and I throughly enjoyed both the characters and mystery it provided.

When a famous painting is stolen from Sinclair’s department store, Sophie and Lil find themselves drawn into a mystery that leads them through doors of forgery, secret societies, and into the arms of old enemies. It’s their biggest mystery yet…

Despite starting with the third book in the series, I had no trouble following this story. Not only was the mystery unique to this book, but the bigger picture elements were easy enough to follow since just the right amount of backstory was offered.

The first thing that struck me about this series though was the historical setting of 20th century London. Theatre was a massive thing, motor cars were relatively new and I adored the inclusion of the suffragettes as they fought to give women the vote. Combined with lovely descriptions, interesting facts and fitting dialog, Katherine Woodfine has done an exceptional job of bringing this world to life.

The main characters, Lil and Sophie are strong heroines and I like how despite the odds, they always look out for each other, even when they aren't in agreement. In fact, the relationships between all the characters are really enjoyable, and I also liked the introduction of Leo — an antisocial artist with a bad leg — who added an element of compassion to the story, especially as nothing about her fitted the social conformities of the time.

As for the mystery, following the clues was interesting although I actually worked out straight away who the culprit was. Having said that, despite having guessed the bad guy, this didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book. In fact it enhanced it, and I felt all smug when it was revealed I was right. Not that I had any doubts.

With lots of intrigue and nefarious deeds, all delivered inside a fast paced plot, I can’t help but give this book 4 stars! A most enjoyable read!

What a fun read, Sally Lockhart times two! A good plot, villains, clever and courageous young people solving a rather complicated crime. The setting in the tumultuous London in the early 20th century adds highly to the fun factor. Read it, for young and not so young!

I really enjoyed this book. It's a fun, children's mystery, but it isn't condescending to its readership. As an adult, I was able to work out the culprit, but I suspect the age group it's aimed at would find it more difficult, and, more importantly, doing so didn't impair my enjoyment of the story. Having read the first two books, it was also a pleasure to get know Sophie, Lil and the others more, and see them growing up, and I loved Leo and hope she sticks around in the future, along with Jack.

This book was such a refreshing change.

I often read children's/YA books as I find them a shot in the arm, as they aren't all sex violence and bad language (not that I don't enjoy those too!). Because these type of books are aimed at a younger market they have to be so much more skilled in characterisation and plot,.

This was definitely the case with this book. It was not the first book in the series, but that didn't matter as the story stood well on it's own. I found the book interesting and engaging. Apart from a really interesting and fun plot, the thing I enjoyed most about this book, is that it didn't dumb down it's dialogue and vocabulary for a younger reader, some books can be extremely patronising that way - this one wasn't.

I would recommend this for children from 8 to 88!

This third book in the series is fab, just as good, if not better than the rest as the reader is more invested and more fond of all the main characters.

This is a lovely story, full of Edwardian period detail, endearing characters and a thrilling mystery. The book really captures a sense of the time and place - London, 1909, the arts scene and the suffragette movement, the glamour of Sinclair's department store and the excitement of the Cafe Royal. The mystery of the stolen painting was well plotted and there is a rousing conclusion full of intrigue, daring and bravery. My only minor issues are that I wish I'd read the earlier books in the series first, as there appear to be possible spoilers for at least one of the earlier cases; and that, by the end of the book, I was getting a bit tired of the phrase "All at once"! Minor gripe aside, I thought this was a great story and will definitely be reading more from Sophie and Lil, et al.

With thanks to NetGalley and Egmont Publishing for the ARC of The Mystery of the Painted Dragon.

The Sinclair's Mysteries is turning out to be an absolute gem of a series. Intriguing mysteries, clever historical details and fast-paced action all intertwined. It's a great read for older children and young teens. There's so much going on that with the beautiful setting and varied characters there's enough to keep any adult hooked as well.

I would very strongly recommend it as a class or parent-child read as it opens up so much opportunity for discussion; the characters with their range of backgrounds and jobs, the expectations and attitudes of the time. The Suffragettes even make an appearance!

Although this story is the third in the series, it can be read alone. The main mystery revolves around new characters, but readers of the other books will be happy to see the return of our favourite amateur detectives. The ending hints at so much more to come and I am so pleased to know this series is continuing.

This author can write, it's as simple as that. Her writing flows so easily and her scene setting is superb. I felt myself transported back to 1909 London without a hiccup. 

This is a story that I loved. The strong female lead characters appealed to me as they will to girls aged 9+ and even young teenagers. Another element of the story that may appeal to specific girls is the focus on art. A few of the main characters, namely Leo and Jack, meet at a prestigious art school. Furthermore, the crime that is committed in this story is the theft of a priceless piece of art. So, middle graders with a flair for art or who love painting and drawing will especially like this book, although I'm not saying that its appeal is limited to only those readers with a particular interest in the arts. 

This is a story about a couple of female detectives who need to crack the case of a stolen painting which has been stolen from the exhibition hall at a large department store. The writing and story is reminiscent of Enid Blyton and this author definitely knows how to set up a mystery. I loved some of the characters, especially Leo who was so interesting and sweet. I also thought that Lil was great and her brother Jack. One thing I didn't like was how obsessed Sophie was with the Baron. The whole Baron thing I found a little boring but it wasn't bad enough to detract seriously from the story. I hadn't read the first few books in the series and this didn't turn out to be a problem and so it is possible to read this book as a standalone. Overall, a lovely read.

My rating: * * * * 

Many thanks to the author, Katherine Woodfine, the publishers Egmont Publishing and NetGalley for my review copy.

What a way to end the year, I love these books so much! In this book the cast is again expanded and the famous five feeling returns a bit which was crucial to my enjoyment of the first book. There's an excellent red herring in the painting theft, we expect forgery but don't get it. By introducing a disabled character Woodfine has nearly ticked every box which normally irritates me but it was relevant to the plot enough and there was enough time given to explore the impact of being of limited mobility in Edwardian times to make it a definite feature of this book. Class is explored much more overtly in this book and this was probably the most interesting aspect of this third novel for me, subtly introduced Like this I think there's a lot for kids to consider. And the Baron returned!!

I already have a waiting list for the third in the clockwork sparrow series. I love this series- historical but with a thoroughly modern protagonist. I would love to visit Sinclair's and every time I am in Fortnum and Mason I imagine that this is what Sophie must have experienced.

I like bed this book, it is the third in a series yet it worked completely as a standalone story. I did guess who done it but that because I am considerably older than the target one. The writing was tight and the plot moved along well.
My only quibble is the ages of the characters, they are actually in their late teens (as they have to be to have this much freedom in the era the book is set) yet they are portrayed as being the same age as the implied reader. Thus though only occurred after I finished the book so isn't a major criticism in any way - I'm now off to find the rest of the books!

I like this series so much. If these had been about when I was young I would have eaten them up with a spoon - fast-paced historical mystery stories with lots of historical detail and a gang of boys and girls working together to solve mysteries. The Edwardian setting and the mix of backgrounds of the characters means that the teenagers are doing plenty of interesting things with their lives - some are holding down jobs, some are studying - which makes for a change from posh kids racketing around the countryside which is pretty much what you got when I was younger.

Sophie and Lil are an engaging duo who get to do just as many exciting and adventurous things as the boys - if not more. The mystery is interesting with a good sense of peril without too much gore or death. I can't wait for book 4.

Love this series and was worried that this would be the end, so thrilled that this is not the case.

I was sent a copy of this children's book for my independent honest review. This is the third in the series and although I hadn't read the first two, I didn't feel lost in anyway. Lovely cosy crime romp through Edwardian England.As well as been an adventure,it was informative too. Loved the art theme, loved the characterisations.
I become so involved in the writing that I forgot I was an adult and it took me right back to my childhood where I would prevend to be an adventurer solving crimes like Lil and Soph.
I want to go back and read the back catalogue of this series now. Great for children age 9 and above and adults too.