Alice Éclair, Spy Extraordinaire: A Spoonful of Spying

I’m a massive fan of Sarah
Todd Taylor’s writing. I’ve read all of her books. Each one just gets better and better. This latest series, Alice Eclair Spy Extraordinaire, is brilliant! Alice is definitely a heroine for modern readers. She’s brave, intelligent, and talented, yet she’s also vulnerable. In this latest adventure, she must try to find out who is the spy passing on government secrets while trying to prove her abilities as a spy herself. The characters are just outstanding and the story is pacy. I absolutely loved it! Sarah’s talent knows no end! 5 stars!

Alice Éclair is a young but very successful baker at her mother's patisserie in Paris, she is also a successful, if unorthodox, spy! Now working with her new partner Claude and, on this mission, alongside her totally unsuspecting mother, Alice finds herself at the Paris World Fair trying to unmask an enemy agent intent on snatching the plans for a groundbreaking new plane. Once again she uses her bakery skills to close in on her quarry but as trouble seems to follow her everywhere even Alice herself knows it won't all be plain sailing!

This is book two in Sarah Todd Taylor's new series and I loved it. The first book set the stage for an original set of stories and this is a brilliant sequel. It is filled with what I call 'oh' moments when supposedly inconsequential happenings take on a greater significance and Alice herself is a great main protagonist for the 9+ age group this is aimed at.

The storyline is fast flowing and written in an informative and engaging way.  The only negative has nothing to do with the story itself but instead with the acknowledgements at the end of the book. Personally I wish the included part about the Paris World Fair had been placed at the beginning of the book as I would have liked to read that first. The gentle way serious and world-changing events are explained opens up the possibility of discussion without scaring anyone and I enjoyed taking the opportunities offered.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is an excellent second book which compliments the first and entertains throughout. Highly recommended for those aged 9 and above.

A warm, sweet-filled , Parisian adventure. Alice Eclair: Spy Extraordinaire is an incredibly fun read, with brilliant characters and a compelling twist. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this stunning ARC.

My 8-year-old read this over two nights last week, reading much too late on a school night, she loved it. She loved Alice, really enjoyed the twists and loved the Parisian setting. She loved the message of trust your gut instinct and be willing to try new things and would love to read more of Alice Eclair. A resounding 5 stars from her.

This was a delightful, fast-paced adventure perfect for young readers! It lightly touches on some 1930's historical context, but these details flow easily around the main focus on Alice Eclair, a youthful spy who finds herself in Paris at the World's Fair. As she dips into the worlds of fashion, gourmet foods, and aviation, the narrative beautifully conveys a sense of wonder and fascination. Alice is relatable and easy to like, and so are the friends she makes along the way. I highly recommend it!

A SPOONFUL OF SPYING is Alice's second adventure. She's a proper spy this time, part of an existing network and has official missions with them. It was nice to have her in a team, rather than on her own. Yes, she's dealing with being looked down on for being a child by some of them, but it means she can call on back up, intel from others, and have someone to talk things over with.

The world fair is such a great setting - so many people coming in and out, so many inventions on display. There is plenty of chance for spies to pass notes or gather secrets from the new machines. Plus there's all the rivalry over the fashion shows, which means this book has a mix of yummy food, beautiful dressing, and thrilling planes.

I loved the inclusion of the planes, and the fact it meant there were a few aerial scenes (including a chase!) I'm a physicist so anything with STEM is a big draw for me, and planes are great examples of engineering (and the fact that the main engineer we spend time with is a girl! Please more girls in STEM in books!))

It is never quite said who is after the new plane information, but it's guessable from some historical knowledge. The absence of that fact lets the book focus on the adventure side of the spying more, the hunt for clues and the uncertainty of who the investigation should focus on.

This is turning into a great UKMG series and I look forward to more instalments.

After Alice's first adventure, A Recipe for Trouble, I wondered if and how Sarah could pull off another spectacular tale.
I am delighted that she has far exceeded my hopes and expectations. 

This is an adventure packed with unashamed panache, gusto, bravery and adventure worthy of famed Belgians, Tintin and Hergé. 

But this is by no means a copy. It stands tall and proud like one of Alice Éclair's own culinary creations, with layers of mystery to unravel and countless textures and flavours. All this amidst a Parisian backdrop of high fashion, aviation, and a world fair. Truly the only thing Sarah hasn't provided is the smells and tastes of Alices cooking. For that, the only solution is to buy your own cakes and pastries to eat along with the adventure!

It doesn't shy away from failure and the lessons and costs it brings. The cast is engaging and highlights that women of the era in real life were also at the forefront of engineering and flight. I am so pleased that we see this in writing, as it is often assumed quite wrongly that women were nothing but models, cooks and housewives.

So, for me, this is a MUST-READ. It hits all the right notes in all the right places to make it a firm favourite for adventure-loving kids. It also sets another high bar for Sarah to clear for the next book. 

Sit back and enjoy a rollercoaster of a ride that takes the reader from the glam of the catwalk, up into the skies and along the crowded streets and waterways of Paris.

My 8 year old daughter read this book in 24 hours which is high praise indeed! The plot was very exciting and the richness of the language really appealed as well as the plot twist at the end. Alice foils Victor and Paul's plans to steal the design for Sophie's glider, good wins out!

Perfect for competent middle-grade readers who love both spying and baking, this series is pure class. Packed with action and French panache, it is sublimely plotted, superbly written and has the effortless air of chic sophistication about it.

With the world's best inventors and artists descending on Paris for a World Fair, Alice is assigned to a dangerous undercover spying mission: to find out the identity of the enemy spies who are trying to steal the secrets behind a new aeroplane invention whilst also dazzling the fair with her baking talents.

But when agents start disappearing and her new friend is put in danger, Alice has to forget the baking and cook up a plan to save them all. Can she prove herself to the other far more experienced French spies?

With an excellent plot and lots of pacy and dynamic action, this is an engaging and mouth-watering read. As well as whipping up the genius combination of spying and patisserie, Sarah Todd Taylor has also included trains and planes within the first two books, making it comparable to the epic Adventures on Trains series. Stories set in Paris always seem to prove pretty special and the fact Alice's adventures are dated just before the World War II, gives the story a really authentic feel.

As if that isn't enough, Alice's spying adventure also takes her into the world of fashion, prompting a very clever plot twist. Although Alice comes across as a rather grown-up character for her age, I particularly love how she embraces her mistakes and her personality and determination is endearing. She's definitely a female Bond in the making - quick-witted, personable and charming. The world is definitely as elegant as Bond's with super high stakes. Wrapped up in a front cover by Beatriz Castro, which is as pretty as pink icing, DO NOT underestimate the power of this 'cosy' read - it seriously packs a punch!

The second in the very exciting new series about Alice Eclair. This is a worthy successor to the first in the series and adds the author to the list of excellent crime writers for young people, who are writing at the moment. There is intrigue, fashion, Paris and above all there is cake!!

The second book in this series is just as well written (and as exciting) as the first book was. Alice is very accomplished, a star baker and now a spy (probably a better baker). The children were very excited to hear that I had the second book and badgered me till we started reading it. Very satisfying adventure.

Alice Éclair is a baker by day and a spy at night or when the time arises. She meets up with Claude another spy to go on the next mission, but they lose track of a piece of the puzzle. When her mother gets a spot at The Taste of the World pavilion, she now knows why they are front and center. She can see everything.

This is a lovely spy book, it’s a quick read with loads of interesting settings and items. It is full of detail which kept me engaged and I’m sure will do the same with a younger audience. Alice is a great character and you need to read to find out what she’s up to. Looking forward to more on this series by Sarah Todd Taylor.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Nosy Cow for a copy for an honest review.

Alice Eclair - A spoonful of spying
By Sarah Todd Taylor
Published by Nosy Crow

Alice Éclair leads an exciting double life! Baker, cake maker, icing sugar decorator!!Then her super spy sense of curiosity kicks in & she is on the hunt to save the day!!

Inventors and artists have gathered in Paris for the World Fair. Creativity is at its best.
But Alice Éclair has two roles to play; keeping her mum sweet creating the most beautiful cakes whilst keeping her eyes peeled after a kidnapping centred around aviation.
Alice suspects that someone or something is in terrible danger, but no one will believe her. Is it her young age or her lack of experience? So she takes it upon herself to make enquiries, collect her evidence & take things to new heights!

Surrounded by enemy spies in not one but two venues, Alice needs to use every trick in her recipe book! Brave, determined and with her friends safety at the top of her list, Alice and her super spy charm have a job to do.

Will she keep her promise to stop the most beautiful gowns being copied?
Will she stop France's greatest invention from falling into the wrong hands?

Pick yourself up a copy of this superb second adventure to discover how Alice Éclair by Sarah Todd Taylor solves her second secret mission!

Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of children’s literature.

#Netgallery
#Aliceeclaire
#nosycrow
#sarahtoddtaylor

A SPOONFUL OF SPYING is the second book in featuring Alice Éclair, Spy Extraordinaire. I haven’t read the first instalment, A RECIPE FOR TROUBLE, but it was easy to find myself wrapped up in Alice’s story.

A SPOONFUL OF SPYING is a fast-paced espionage escapade full of glamourous high-fashion and delicious description of Alice’s mouth-watering bakes. The story is set during the Paris World Fair, with dangerous villains trying to steal aviation secrets, a kidnapping, and secrets at a runway show.

Alice is spunky and determined, a great protagonist who sticks to her guns and puzzles out solutions to the challenges the case throws her way. I really liked the variety of interests show between Alice and the two other prominent female characters. Alice has her very serious, important role as a spy, but she’s also a brilliant baker, and delighted by the gorgeous dresses at the fashion show. One of side characters is a runway model, while the other is an aeroplane engineer.

A SPOONFUL OF SPYING is an exciting adventure, with a captivating mystery, and a cast of really charming characters.

I really enjoyed A SPOONFUL OF SPYING, and I look forward to going back to read A RECIPE FOR TROUBLE, and to finding more of Alice’s future adventures.

From the opening boat ride on the Seine to the daring high-flying climax, this is a fantastic spy novel by an measure.

Alice is a fantastic protagonist, curious and open, and not afraid to make mistakes. I just wish I could have eaten some of her cakes!

With a satisfying mystery at its heart and a fun cast of characters, this is a brilliant middle grade read perfect for fans of Robin Stevens.

This is such a fun book! Alice is a young and very talented baker who is also a novice spy. She and her mother are exhibiting at the World Fair in Paris where there are fashion shows, a food hall and an engineering hall amongst the showcase that Paris has for the rest of the world.
Alice is also an apprentice spy and her mentor Claude has a serious task for her to carry out whilst at the World Fair. Alice has to juggle her cooker commitments and her spying mission in order to save her two new friends.
We need more books about Alice!

This was my first children’s book of the year and I really enjoyed it - combining bakery, fashion, engineering and spying, it was packed full of adventures on the streets of 1920s Paris. I hadn’t read the previous one in the series but that didn’t matter - there were occasional references to previous events and characters that I didn’t know about but that didn’t disrupt my enjoyment of the story at all.

Definitely a book that can be enjoyed by lots of readers. Will be going back to read the previous one in the series.

Thank you to @nosycrow and @netgalley for the digital copy to read.

What a fun, fast-paced adventure story with a relatable, brave heroine at the centre! I haven't read the first book, but this second story can definitely be read as a standalone (although I will be going back to read the first, having enjoyed this so much).
I loved that Alice was living a double life - one as a very talented patisserie chef and the second as a child spy in the run up to world war two. There was the undercurrent of historical events - such as the large number of spying between countries in the development of aviation warfare -but none felt too threatening for this age group. Instead, there was a marvellous adventure filled with intricately iced biscuits, models on fashion shows and glider planes - and lots of strong female characters who were both beautiful and talented. Hurrah!

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **