If you follow me on social media, you might have spotted something exciting I shared back in August. Earlier this year I was one of the guests on Stephen Fry’s brand new podcast for Audible, Edwardian Secrets!
Here’s a bit more about the series:
Powered flight. Votes for women. Human sexuality. Mass migration. The psychology of dreams. The magic of the movies. Spies and detectives. Welcome to Stephen Fry’s Edwardian Secrets.
Perhaps thanks to TV period dramas, the popular imagination may picture the Edwardian era as an idyllic window between the wars, a time of manners and tea on the lawn. But below the surface lies a frenetic and often bizarre age where scientific leaps forward went hand in hand with belief in fairies, and secrets of sex, lies and murder simmered.
Across 12 episodes, in this sequel to his Victorian Secrets, Stephen Fry uncovers some of the startling and unexpected hidden histories of the Edwardians.
It was so much fun to be involved, and to put some of the endless research I did for the Sinclair’s Mysteries and Taylor & Rose Secret Agents to good use, talking about everything from the fascinating world of 1900s children’s literature to (of course) Edwardian lady detectives.
If you’d like to have a listen, check it out on Audible here.
I’m delighted to share the news that the fourth and final Taylor & Rose Secret Agents book has now been announced! NIGHTFALL IN NEW YORK illustrated by Karl James Mountford will be published on 8th July 2021.
This will be the eighth full length book about Sophie and Lil and it’s strange to think that it’s almost time to bring their adventures to an end. But I feel like this is the right time to bid them a fond farewell – and what better place to end the series than New York City?
I think I say this every single time but I really think this absolutely stunning cover is my favourite yet. Considering I was still writing the first draft of the book when Karl was working on it, I’m amazed by how brilliantly he’s managed to create a perfect cover for Sophie and Lil’s last adventure together…
I know lots of readers are eagerly waiting for this final book, and you can pre-order your copy now from Waterstones. Stay tuned to find out more about Nightfall in New York soon!
It’s been a while since I had time to post properly here on the blog! Writing the first draft of Taylor & Rose Book 4 is keeping me very busy at the moment, but I wanted to drop in to share a quick autumn update with a few new things that you can now watch or listen to online.
First up, I was delighted to talk to Lucas Maxwell of Glenthorne Library for the brilliant Booklings Chat podcast . We had a lovely conversation about Villains in Venice and more:
Next, I was very pleased to have the chance to interview fellow mystery writers Sharna Jackson, Robin Stevens and Serena Patel for the Make Your Own Mysteries event which was part of the brilliant Reading is Magic festival. You can catch up with the video here.
Finally, I chatted to Sarah Tyson of Books up North for her new podcast Books for your Library. We talked about A Dancer’s Dream, Christmas reading, and lots more. Have a listen here:
That’s all for now but I’ll be back again soon to celebrate the publication of A Dancer’s Dream... until then, happy reading!
To celebrate the publication of Villains in Venice, I thought I’d share some recommendations of other children’s books set in the city. Reading other works of fiction set in a particular place is one of my favourite ways to research the settings for my books – so whether you’re planning a trip to Venice and want the perfect reading material to take along, or simply plan to travel there in your imagination, here are a few suggestions:
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
In modern-day Venice, brothers Prosper and Boniface are on the run. There’s a detective on their tail, and they’re hiding among the canals and alleyways of the city. Soon they are taken in by a gang of street children and their leader, the mysterious Thief Lord, and find shelter in an old, abandoned cinema.But that’s just the beginning of an extrordinary adventure involving a beautiful merry-go-round with magical powers… This enchanting Venetian fantasy is perfect for readers looking for a story of mystery and magic.
Unveiling Venus by Sophia Bennett
In the sequel to Following Ophelia, a historical YA novel inspired by the Pre-Raphealite painters, we rejoin heroine Mary, formerly a maid, now reinvented as glamorous artist’s model Persephone Lavelle. Setting out from Victorian London to Venice with her friend Kitty, she hopes to escape scandal and gossip. But when she encounters a mysterious masked young man on the Grand Canal, there’s trouble in store… Complete with bohemian artists, Venetian masked balls, and of course, plenty of romance, this is a delightful young adult novel, which will transport you back in time to 19th century Venice.
The Undrowned Child by Michelle Lovric
Author Michelle Lovric has written several books set in Venice, but I’d especially recommend this unusual critically-acclaimed fantasy, which takes place in the same period as Villains in Venice. This is the story of Teo, a young girl who has always longed to visit Venice. But when she finally gets her wish, all kinds of strange things begin to happen to her. Teo is quickly subsumed into a remarkable secret world of ghosts, talking statues, librarians that turn into cats, mermaids that run underground printing presses… and terrible danger. With the help of a Venetian boy, Renzo, and a mysterious book entitled The Key to the Secret City, she soon discovers that she alone has the power to save the floating city from the sinister ‘Traitor’.
Stravagaza: City of Masks by Mary Hoffman
The first book in Mary Hoffman’s Stravaganza series introduces us to Lucien – a teenage boy who is dealing with a serious illness. Lucien’s life takes an unexpected turn when an old Italian notebook transports him from his sick-bed to Belezza – a city rather like the Venice of the 16th Century. There he meets Arianna, a girl dressed as a boy who is risking everything in the hope of being chosen as one of the Duchessa’s ‘mandoliers’ and learns that he has become a stravagante – a kind of time traveller. He is soon immersed in the intriguing world of Belezza, becoming a mandolier himself and even saving the Duchessa from an assassination attempt. But what will be the consequences of his remarkable adventures for his life back home? Whilst it isn’t set in Venice itself but an ‘alternate’ version, this engaging fantasy story is full of fascinating detail inspired by the city’s real history.
The Mask of Aribella by Anna Hoghton
In this charming magical adventure for young readers, Aribella is the daughter of a lace-maker, growing up on the island of Burano in the Venice lagoon. But Aribella has a deadly and dangerous secret – when she gets angry, sparks shoot from her fingertips! She knows she mustn’t let anyone know about her strange magical powers, yet when dark spectres rise from the lagoon, her abilities save her life. Soon, she has been discovered by the Cannovaci – a society of masked, magical warriors, who have sworn to protect Venice against the dark spirits that menace the city.
Finally, of course, I have to mention Villains in Venice itself!
Set in 1912, the third book in the Taylor & Rose Secret Agents series follows intrepid young secret agents Sophie Taylor and Lil Rose to Venice on a new mission for the British Secret Service Bureau. But there are villains lurking amongst the city’s piazzas, canals and crumbling palaces, and in the shadows an old enemy lies in wait…
What are your favourite children’s books set in Venice? I’d love to hear any other suggestions in the comments!
If you enjoyed this list then do also check out my other Taylor & Rose inspired booklists:
I know it’s been a long wait but the third book in the Taylor & Rose Secret Agents series is finally here… and readers can find out what happened after the big cliffhanger at the end of Spies in St Petersburg!
I’m very excited that Villains in Venice is now out in the world! I celebrated in the garden with a Venetian-inspired feast, including this very sparkly golden bottle of prosecco. Here’s a little more about the book, which once again is illustrated by the brilliant Karl James Mountford:
Get set for another incredible adventure with secret agents extraordinaire, Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lilian Rose!
After the dramatic events of their mission to St Petersburg, Sophie and Lil know the truth – there’s a double-agent at work at the Secret Service Bureau. Whilst Lil pursues a dangerous line of enquiry in London, Sophie must set out on a new mission to Venice, following a twisted trail to discover long-buried secrets. But there are villains lurking amongst the city’s piazzas, canals and crumbling palaces, and in the shadows an old enemy lies in wait…
If you’re in the UK you can buy the book from Waterstones, The Hive , Blackwells, Foyles or Amazon — or of course your favourite local independent bookshop. It’s been a really tough few months for bookshops, so it’s a great time to support your local bookseller and help keep them on our high streets (if you want to find out more about independent bookshops in your area, have a look here).
To celebrate Villains in Venice a blog tour took place throughout publication week – check out the links to catch up below.
Thank you so much to the brilliant bloggers who took part in the tour!
If you’d like to find out more about the book, you can also have a listen to my chat with Lucas Maxwell over at the Booklings Chat podcast; or catch up on my Instagram Stories where you’ll find a special photo tour of Venice, which I shared on publication day.
There’s also this wonderful thread on Twitter in which illustrator Karl J Mountford talks about the artwork he created for Villains in Venice and the other Taylor & Rose Secret Agents books. Of course you can also check out my Villains in Venice Pinterest board for lots more sources of visual inspiration for the book – and stay tuned for a post on the historical background to the book, coming here soon.
