Alice Éclair, Spy Extraordinaire! A Sprinkling of Danger

This is the third book in this series about Alice Éclair, she’s a baker and a spy. It’s a great children’s book that’s full of mystery and great adventures. This book is set in Paris in a palace where Alice finds herself a job as a baker for a film set, but she’s also on a mission. Will see succeed?

This book is engaging and will keep a child’s interest as it’s fun and exciting. Alice is great to read about as are the other characters. The cat is also a fun addition.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

the third in this fantastic series is about to hit the bookshelves and it is brilliant. The series just keeps getting better as we get to know and understand our heroine. The author has really created the atmosphere of Paris in that period and makes the reader feel truly at home. I am totally hooked by Alice's adventures and look forward to many more of them; not forgetting the cakes.

The children have voted this book the best summer read. We have read a lot of books during the school holidays but this was definitely the one they got most excited over. We have read and very much enjoyed the previous books but this stands up well against the others previously read. An exciting and fun series.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Alice is once again on the case as a dangerous spy is believed to be hiding in plain sight amongst the cast and crew of a new movie being filmed at the Palace of Versailles. Paris is in the grips of winter as the young agent begins her new assignment. Once again, using her real-life persona to get where she needs to be Alice is making sweet treats for the leading lady as a way to get on set to investigate anyone behaving the least bit suspiciously.

With another spy seemingly out to discredit her, Alice needs to be on her guard as she snoops around, trying to discover who is giving away secrets and jeopardising the safety of her fellow agents. Her life is in danger from someone who is one step ahead of her at all times but with no idea who that is, has Alice finally bitten off more than she can chew?

This is the third book in Sarah Todd Taylor's wonderful series and is as good, if not better, than its predecessors. The location is full of wonderful snippets of information and the film set is awash with clues, red herrings, and interesting characters, none of whom I singled out as the culprit until far too late to claim any type of success in solving everything before Alice! With a tantalising hint about what might happen next at the end, I am already looking forward to Book four.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Nosy Crow, but the opinions expressed are my own. I happily recommend it to readers aged 8 and above.

Alice is an exceptionally skilled baker who turns pastries into intricate pieces of art. She is though first and foremost a spy and very passionate about protecting France from harm. The story is set in Paris between the two world wars. A map of the mountains has gone missing and the locations of secret agents and their radio equipment have been exposed. The suspects are believed to be linked to a film cast and crew filming at the Palace of Versailles.

The characters are carefully created and there is a range of suspects, red herrings and sub plots. There is growing tension in the plot as the story unfolds and Alice’s life is threatened. The pace of the story is excellent with a thrilling climax.

The descriptions of the Palace of Versailles and its grounds are delivered with great attention to detail as are the winter scenes in Paris. There are also some interesting snippets of information such as the language of flowers and the workings of a film set.

This is the third book in the series and there are hints as to the possible exciting story line in book four. I would highly recommend this book and this series to young readers.