Apologies for the very late review, I thought I had posted my review but it is only upon checking my netgalley account that I realised it never sent.


I absolutely adored this mystery! It was incredibly well written with likeable characters and a well-paced story. I will definitely be reading more from Katherine Woodfine

Review:

From the very first book, I fell in love with the Sinclair’s mysteries. Now The Midnight Peacock brings the series to an epic conclusion, leaving just enough intrigue to insure I’ll be picking up Katherine Woodfine’s spinoff, “The Taylor and Rose Secret Agents.”

As the year 1910 comes to a close, this fourth book sees Sophie and Lil set up their own detective agency within Sinclair’s. Yet suspicions of a ghostly haunting take them out of the department store, to their friends fancy country manor. But is it a ghost stealing the valuables, or something even more sinister?

Meanwhile back in London, Billy and Joe stumble across signs that the brotherhood of the dragon - led by the ever slippery Baron - are active once more. But just how are the two cases connected? And what do they have to do with Sinclair’s Midnight Peacock Ball? Crack open the pages and venture into a world of ghosts, assassinations, secret Societies, and two very brave detectives….

What I loved about this series was how independent & individual each book was. Despite not reading the books in the right order (I accidentally started with book 3!) I had no trouble following the stories. While they do all interconnect, each volume tells its own mystery, and it’s not until this last book that everything clicks together. However now up to date with all four books, I can say with confidence that The Midnight Peacock is the best one yet.

It brings together characters from across every book and through a clever and tricksy plot-line, unites their story threads in a delicious tangle of intrigue. They will leave you open-mouthed at the cunning complexity of it all. I can’t help but applaud Katherine Woodfine for all the hard-thinking and preplanning that must have gone into this series! It’s simply a gorgeous read!

I also like that this story took us outside London and Sinclair’s department store - as wondrous as that setting is - it was nice to see Sophie and Lil’s world grow. Especially as they found themselves in a country mansion, once belonging to Lord Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth I spymaster. Full of secret passages, it was the perfect place for strange things to be happening.

Each character has also gone through some serious growth and development, although it is a little sad to see them all diverging onto separate paths. Lil as an actress, Billy as a clerk and Joe, still the same loveable stable boy. However I’m curious to see what will be next for Sophie, especially as this book finally see’s her solve the biggest mystery of all - her fathers death (and yes, the unveiling is as emotional and epic as you all imagined).

However all the plot lines in this book were a real puzzle and while I worked out some elements (yay me!) so much remained a surprise. Otherwise I adored how Katherine Woodfine worked the suffragettes into the story, even going so far as having Mr Lim teach them KungFu (a handy skill for Sophie and Lil in their line of work, don’t you think?).

All in all though, I loved this book, and can’t help but gush about this series as a whole. I can’t wait for the spin off series releasing in August 2018, and if you haven't already, I urge you to go pick up the first book - A Clockwork Sparrow.

A five star book, with a five star ending to a five star series! :)

I've loved all the Sinclair mysteries and this one was no different.
Sophie and Lil are such liable characters, and I love watching the gang solve the mystery!
I will definitely be recommending to all my friends!

Katherine Woodfine writes some of the best mystery stories for children and this conclusion to the Sinclair Mysteries stories is her best. Set in Edwardian London at Christmastime, Sophie and Lil are running their detective agency ‘Taylor and Rose’ from Sinclair’s Department store. As usual they find themselves caught up in an exciting plot and once again facing the mysterious Baron who has caused them no end of trouble in the previous books. There are so many wonderful characters in this book but the setting is the true star. It’s so well reasearched and so well written that you can’t help being transported back a century. A gripping read that makes a fitting conclusion to the series, will definitely be adding this to the ‘must read books’ for children at my school.

I have absolutely adored this four-book series from Katherine Woodfine. Sophie and Lil and their capable band of associates are all great, well-developed characters and I loved the way they kept popping up throughout the various adventures. The descriptions of Edwardian London and a country house - the food, the clothes, the luxuries - are all rich and vivid in detail. The story is incredibly exciting and I was absolutely racing through the last few chapters to find out what happened at the end.

I was really impressed with how cleverly the whole series had been plotted. The structure reminded me a little of the Harry Potter books: each one on its own was a good story, but there were elements in each book that came together at the end to explain some of the wider mysteries. I would definitely recommend reading these books in order.

I know some of the wider story arcs have been wrapped up now but there are still questions outstanding so I hope this is not the last we see of Sohpie and Lil as I have really enjoyed my time at Sinclair's! There is potential here for many more adventures and I certainly look forward to reading them.

With thanks to NetGalley and Egmont Publishing for the ARC of The Midnight Peacock.

The Mystery of the Midnight Peacock is book 4 in the Sinclair's Mysteries and sees the return of Sophie, Lil and friends, who work in the grand Sinclair's department store. The first book in the series, The Mystery of a Clockwork Sparrow reminded me of Phillip Pullman's Sally Lockhart meets Mr Selfridges meets Enid Blyton. And this is no different. In fact I probably love it even more now! Especially because this series has shown the progression of backstories and character development.

Sometimes series involve characters who face a mystery, deal with the mystery by the end of the book and see this formula work again for the next book without any character progression or development. I love that since book one there's been an element of mystery regarding Sophie, who at the beginning of book one finds herself alone after her father dies and there's complications in the will. Sophie was forced to work at Sinclairs and this is where our series begins. But through all four books is this thread of mystery is woven and slowly we learn more about the story along with Sophie as she ravels the story. This is what has made me go back to these books and continue reading!

It's also great to see the main characters and their relationships develop and to see new characters make a return in newer books. I think these are great books for all ages, especially if you love any off the books or shows mentioned above. For young readers, I'd recommend from the ages of 8-14. Looking forward to book 5!

Another wonderful story of action and intrigue -this fourth offering does not disappoint as the glorious band of friends are again thrust into another dark mystery. Evocative and thrilling.

I haven't read the other Sinclair's Mysteries books but I didn't find that affected my enjoying this particularly, but I'm sure I will seek them out now because I absolutely loved The Midnight Peacock! I love that we seem to be in an age of children's books with fierce and strong girl characters, and this book is bursting with a whole diverse cast of them. I loved the positioning of the twisting mystery in a glamorous London department store and a lavish country home. All in all, it was a fantastic read and I will definitely be passing it onto any and all girls and boys I encounter this Christmas.

A fabulous finale to such a brilliant series. The Sinclair's Mysteries are crammed full of incredibly likeable characters, beautiful historical details and fast-paced action, and The Mystery of the Midnight Peacock was no different. This may be my favourite one yet!

It is suspenseful and intriguing, completely pulling me in to the plot - even as a grown adult. This book would be a delight to read with your children or class as I guarantee you'll both be hooked. If you've read and enjoyed the other books in this series, you will not be disappointed. It wraps everything together in a dramatic but satisfying way, with a healthy dose of twists and turns!

Recommended to older children, young teens and families alike.

3 stars for this quick, fun read.

The Mystery of the Midnight Peacock is light entertainment that can be read quite well as a standalone or enjoyed as the latest instalment of the Sinclair Mysteries, in which loose ends are tied up. My favourite aspect of the book is the setting, in Edwardian England, in a dazzling department store, and in a country house for Christmas - it is all very nicely done. The characters are lightly sketched, the plot is dastardly fun, and overall this series is enjoyable reading for children.

I received this ebook free from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A fabulous end to the series. This has another interesting mystery that neatly pulls together all the threads that have been bubbling under through the other books and reveals all the answers. And its so cleverly done that I think it would still work for you if you haven't read all the other books. The extended gang is all here with a new addition, there's a new setting and environment as well as the department store and the girls do the solving in a believable manner. Great fun. I'm sorry that it's over, but I look forward to seeing what Katherine Woodfine writes next.

Although this was part of a series, I was still totally hooked as a stand alone book. Lots of plot twists and great characters make this a really enjoyable read!

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m a huge fan of Katherine Woodfine’s The Sinclair’s Mysteries (and I’m so pleased that I got a chance to tell her that in person at YALC), so when I realised the latest (and final) book was available on Netgalley, I absolutely had to request it immediately. The Midnight Peacock is a fitting finale to the series. It ties up a lot of loose ends and brings back the secondary characters we’ve met over the course of the previous three books. I was particularly glad to see the Lims return and I hope that at some point in the future Woodfine fully explores the links between Grandfather Lim and Sophie’s father. (There are hints that while this might be the last Sinclair’s Mystery, it’s not going to be the last we see of this universe.) Also, I absolutely adore the idea of Sewing Club, and I love Song and Mei as characters. Song especially is very sweet and I hope that at some point, Sophie realises the same.

This book is perhaps more reliant on a knowledge of the previous books than the rest of the series, and therefore I’d recommend you don’t start with this one. However, it’s still a self-contained plot which rollicks along at a great pace, while still giving us ample time to reacquaint ourselves with Sophie and Lil, now established as a detective agency. I must admit that I worked out who the secondary bad guy was fairly early on, but there were enough red herrings strewn about to make me second guess myself, and the joy of a good mystery book is trying to play along! I also found myself thinking about the characters and wondering how they were getting on, long after I’d finished the book

As is usual with mystery books, it’s hard to talk about The Midnight Peacock without spoiling it or the previous books in the series. Rest assured that if you’ve enjoyed the other Sinclair’s Mysteries, you’ll enjoy The Midnight Peacock just as much. If you haven’t read the rest of the series then you need to go and read The Clockwork Sparrow right now. This is a great middle grade mystery series, and I’m sad that it’s finished – but looking forward to whatever comes next!

This was a satisfying end to a story arc and while at times the plot did seem far fetched it was so well written and paced that the extreme excitement seemed just right.

This is a fourth book in a mystery series, set at department store in Edwardian England. I have read and loved each of its predecessors, so when I saw Midnight Peacock go up on NetGalley, I requested it immediately. 
The Mystery of the Midnight Peacock is a tightly plotted mystery that is utterly charming, twisty-turny in the best way & gloriously Christmas-y! I could not put this book down. I also adored the Christmas setting--there's something so utterly cosy about a mystery book set during the festive period.
Our main characters, Sophie and Lil, are back and at their detecting best. Sophie's growth over the four books in the Sinclair Mysteries is just lovely, and her confidence in herself and her abilities is great to see. I also loved that my fav character, Leo was back. One of the elements I like most about this series is the friendship between the characters, and I really enjoyed seeing characters from books past pop up and offer a helping hand in this one. I enjoyed seeing the tension and camaraderie between the gang develop throughout the story.  
Katherine Woodfine's writing is gorgeous. Nuff said. 
I don't want to say too much more because, ya know, fourth book in a series AND it's a mystery, but this book was a gloriously satisfying finale. If you like mysteries and history, than the Sinclair Series is for you.

Because this gorgeous purple book is the last book in The Sinclair’s Mysteries series, I don’t want to say too much about what goes on. Instead, I thought I’d give you five reasons to read the series if you haven’t already so you can get to this glorious finale that really delivers on everything you want from a mystery and conclusion. Historical Setting

1. Historical Setting!

The Sinclair’s Mysteries all take place in the 20th century, and while 1910 may not sound that long ago, it’s been over 100 years since departments stores like Sinclair’s first opened. It’s the time of the suffragette movement, the attitude of which definitely plays into our main female characters. It’s a time of fancy, where going to the shops was an event and there’s something so pleasant about the luxury of it all that makes me want to just fall through the pages. If you’ve got a soft spot for atmospheric setting, this series is perfect. (The Midnight Peacock also takes place around Christmas and New Year, so the setting is ten times more delightful and festive than usual!)

2. Female Friendship!

The story is mostly routed in the relationship between Sophie and Lil. They have entirely different personalities, Sophie being from a slightly poorer background and more reserved, Lil being a gorgeous model who oozes confidence. The girls work together at the store (and at solving mysteries) and always have each other’s backs. I can’t wait for their spin off!

3. Diversity!

While Sophie and Lil, along with Billy and Joe, make up the core members of the mystery solving crew, but as the books go on more secondary characters get added (my fave being Leo from The Painted Dragon). They have repeated appearances and are never forgotten about. There’s representation of the Chinese community in Mei and Song, and Leo is disabled. It’s the perfect example of what all middle grade stories should be striving for.

4. Mysteries!

Why is this only number 4 when it’s the most important part of the plot? Well, I’m so jazzed about everything else, the actual body of the books slipped my mind…I’d read about these characters if they were just baking cakes, let alone solving crime. I’m a sucker for a good mystery, especially ones that play across a whole series. It makes the finishing of each book feel so rewarding.

5. The covers + extras!

I know that you should never judge a book by its cover, (it’s the inside that counts!) but aren’t these covers gorgeous? The jewel tones work perfectly together and with each silhouette, you get a real sense of what’s going on in each book. There are also some really beautiful end papers and illustrations at the beginning of each part which I love, love, love. Additionally, there are always letters and invitations inserted into the narrative to keep things interesting.

I hope I’ve convinced you enough to read The Sinclair’s Mysteries, especially The Midnight Peacock because the pay off is just SO great. The world expands as Sophie learns more about what happened to her parents and how the Baron might not be the only suspicious member of the secret society. It’s no doubt my favourite in the series, earning 4 stars. I can’t wait to see what Katherine Woodfine does with these characters next!

As the Ibizan sun beat down, there was only one way to cool off; with Katherine Woodfine’s latest spine chilling instalment of The Sinclair Mysteries: The Midnight Peacock.

With Christmas and New Year approaching fast, Taylor & Rose Private Detective Agency is now well established within Sinclairs Department Store in London. A new fragrance is due to be launched amid New Year celebrations that are set to eclipse any seen before in Edwardian London.

An invite to spend Christmas with Leo’s family at Winter Hall gives Sophie the opportunity to look up one of her fathers old friends, and a chance to solve the mysterious sightings scaring the maids in the East Wing. They rapidly discover their ‘ghost’ is none other than The Baron, but who is his accomplice? Can Sophie, Lil and the rest of the gang get to the bottom of his most deadly plot yet and survive to see 1910 dawn?

With plentiful plot twists and a villain with nothing left to lose, The Midnight Peacock is a thrilling mystery that keeps you guessing until the end, and in my opinion, the best of The Sinclair Mysteries. Katherine Woodfine brings Edwardian Society Christmas to life, transporting us effortlessly back in time with an eclectic mix of characters who have grown to be a family of friends throughout their adventures.

Great for fans of Rose Campion, Murder Most Unladylike, Black Cats & Butlers and Gaslight.

Ebook proof courtesy of Egmont Publishing via Netgalley.

Another fantastic story with the heroines (and heroes) from Sinclair's Department Store. Everything comes to a climax in this exciting and thrilling tale, the fourth in the series. I was dreading the fact that this could be the end of their adventures but the author gives us a glimmer of hope that they may be back - we can only hope this is the case.

These books are just excellent. I'm a little confused that this is the "last" of the Sinclair's Mysteries but there's a "Coming Soon" page - I can only hope there's more to tell of their adventures. There's no individual mystery here as much as the final showdown with The Baron and I liked that the ending wasn't TOO happy. All the old characters make an appearance and we get confirmation that is really is set on the site of Piccadilly Waterstones which cheered me greatly. I love how each character has multiple facets to make them self, them self. It shows off the Edwardian era excellently with it's contrast between the modern youth and Victorian previous generation. Outstanding.

This fourth book in the Sinclair Mysteries series does not disappoint. Although references to previous books are peppered through it, this book could be enjoyed as a stand alone. The storyline quickly draws you in to find out what evil plan the Baron is up to this time and how (not if) the detective agency will thwart him. Think of it as an Enid Blyton Secret Seven novel without any of the tweeness.