From best-selling author Holly Webb comes a brand new series full of mystery and intrigue following the adventures of a very determined heroine and her dog! Holly Webb fans will be thrilled to pieces to discover the adventures of Maisie Hitchins, the pluckiest little detective in Victorian London. Maisie Hitchins lives in her grandmother's boarding house, longing for adventure. She idolizes the famous detective, Gilbert Carrington, and follows his every case. But Maisie is about to be given the opportunity of a lifetime: her own mystery to solve! In the first book in this fantastic new series, Maisie rescues a puppy in peril whilst running an errand, and adopts him. She decides to investigate the puppy's original cruel owner, but instead gets tangled up in an intriguing plot involving stolen sausages, pilfered halfpennies and a fast-paced bicycle chase. The streets of Victorian London are never safe, but Maisie's on the case!
From best-selling author Holly Webb comes a brand new series full of mystery and intrigue following the adventures of a very determined heroine and her dog! Holly Webb fans will be thrilled to pieces to discover the adventures of Maisie Hitchins, the pluckiest little detective in Victorian London. Maisie Hitchins lives in her grandmother's boarding house, longing for adventure. She idolizes the famous detective, Gilbert Carrington, and follows his every case. Together, with her faithful pup Eddie, Maisie is determined to follow even the slightest scent of a mystery - no matter what! Maisie can't help listening in when the famed star of the stage, Sarah Massey, visits a friend at the boarding house. Sarah is distraught - her beau, a mysterious young man, gave her a priceless emerald necklace, and it's now missing! Maisie is instantly intrigued, and decides to investigate the theatre. But nothing is what it seems in this world of make-believe...
This is a new series by top children's author Holly Webb. When I hear Holly Webb mentioned in terms of books, I immediately think of her popular books who's main characters are animals, usually cute puppies and kittens. This new series of books, the main character Maisie Hitchins, a young girl who lives with her grandmother and who has an interest in solving mysteries.
The stories are fantastic, they remind me of a little of Enid Blyton's Secret Seven and Famous Five, finding a mystery and being determined to solve it.
I also like the settings for the books, Victorian England, which would make them great books to read while doing school projects on life in Victorian England. It is obvious that Webb has done research into life at this time with the atmosphere being perfectly set within the story.
The story is also accompanied by the fantastic illustrations by Marion Lindsay, whose pencil drawings are great in bringing to life Webb's story. Before the story starts there is a cut through illustration of the house in which Maisie lives - along with notes about who lives where - a great idea.
I really enjoyed these books and notice that the next instalment is due in August 2013, and I am already looking forward to this.
I would recommend this as a great book for children aged 8 years - especially those with an inquisitive mind - will they be able to solve the mystery before Maisie?
Thank you to the publishers, Stripes Publishing, for sending me these books to review.
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