Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed - Eve Wersocki Morris

Set in London in 1951, Clem works with her father, a jewel thief, as part of the notorious Spider Gang.  But when a mission to steal the Fool's Canary, one of the most prized jewels in London, goes wrong and Clem's dad goes missing, she is determined to find him.  With only Gilbert to help, can she get to the bottom of things before it's too late?

Clem was my lunch date on Friday and she made the most excellent company!  From the very beginning, the book is a rip-roaring adventure with twists and turns that are guaranteed to keep you reading (I genuinely couldn't put the book down and had finished it by Friday evening!). It's a fast-paced plot with giggles along the way and there are a heap of brilliant characters that you will love (with the odd one you'll love to hate!).  The illustrations by Honie Beam enhance the story-line perfectly and I can't wait to see them in the book (I've read an early digital copy).

Clem is fiercely determined to save her dad and will stop at nothing. She's head-strong and loyal with a big heart and readers will adore her from the start.  I loved the idea of the main character being a villain - so many detective/mysteries are told from the point of view of the victims so this was a refreshing change, especially as Clem is so likeable.

Much as I love Clem, for me Gilbert took the crown my absolute favourite character.  His role as kidnapee/partner in crime (it depends on who you talk to!) was wonderful, and his chatter-box way and polite manner made him a rather funny chap that I couldn't help bit warm to (especially in his pyjamas!).

Without giving the plot away, I loved the 1950s setting and the insight some of the characters gave to attitudes at the time (Winnie in particular).  The book will make the perfect class read and I can already imagine some interesting discussions coming from the plot (and also some brilliant accents for teachers to tackle!).

Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed is publishing on the 3rd April and I'm already excited to see what this brilliant duo get up to next.