- If you love a good mystery set in Victorian London wrapped in steampunk you will enjoy this tale. Charlotte lives at Buckingham Palace with the Queen of London. Her father is Queen Victoria’s private physician.
- The plot is engaging. Unbeknownst to the Queen and her father, Charlotte is the thief they are looking to hang. Medical supplies are missing, but Charlotte had good reason for taking them. Call her “Robin Hood” for she uses them to help the poor. Poor Charlotte longs to be a Doctor, a feminist before her time; she is a clever girl and creates some of the coolest gadgets. When someone steals the Queen’s prized horses Scotland Yard and Charlotte’s father assume it is in same daring thief. Together with her maid and friends, Charlotte sets out to find the culprit.
- There is a forbidden romance, which began, in the first novel. It is sweet and clean but complicated by an arranged engagement. This is a clean romance and will work for advanced Middle Grade readers. I liken it to a Nancy Drew novel with the added bonus of geeky gadgets. Peter is a wonderful, and sweet. He tries to do the right thing, and accepts his place but cannot help stealing a few kisses.
- The steampunk elements are unique from message sending devices, a robot, mechanical owls and a time traveling device. I loved how clever and resourceful these little detectives were, and how they used these gadgets to assist in solving the case.
- Twists and turns as Charlotte and her friends work to solve the case, and escape danger will keep the reader entertained. The case wrapped up nicely, while Charlotte and Peter’s fate remains unclear. It will be interesting to see what case they stumble upon next.
Copy provided by author, full review on blog.This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer