I am a huge fan of Sam Sedgman’s writing and simply adore The Adventures On Trains series, co-written with M. G. Leonard. When I saw that Sam was releasing his debut solo middle-grade novel with the show-stopping title, The Clockwork Conspiracy, I knew I would love it!
I have written before about my love of middle-grade mystery books. I find it’s such a powerful way of getting children invested in a story. How many 9 year olds wouldn’t love to solve a mystery that completely baffles the adults?!
Keen inventor, Isaac Turner, is the son of Diggory Turner, the horologist in charge of Big Ben. Isaac and his father are working on Big Ben the night the clocks go back, when Diggory mysteriously vanishes from the belfry. The only clue to his father’s disappearance is a smashed pocket watch and a cryptic message. Along with the help of his new friend, Hattie, Isaac follows a trail of clues across London’s landmarks to try to find his father.
These clues lead Isaac and Hattie into a complicated world of secret societies and plots. The pair will have a fight on their hands to find Diggory and save time as we know it. Or will the interesting characters that they meet along the way put a stop to their search?
Why we love it here at TBD
I love to recommend a mystery book to middle-grade readers and right now The Clockwork Conspiracy is top of my list. It is fast-paced, beautifully written, and characters, Isaac and Hattie, are perfect rule-breaking detectives. It is a locked-room mystery packed with facts and fascinating information, which is sure to have middle-grade readers turning page after page!
Another element that I loved was the hunt for clues around some of London’s amazing landmark. How exciting to read this as a class text whilst working on a London project? Or before a visit to London, as I intend to do with my boys this summer. The map of the Parliamentary Estate and the cross-section drawing of Big Ben are stunning additions that I referred to as Isaac and Hattie were exploring.
Whilst searching for clues Isaac and Hattie find themselves at The National Physical Laboratory in South-West London, which is a 2-minute walk from where I used to live. The work they did and the building itself always fascinated me, so it was a lovely piece of nostalgia to be reminded of.
The Clockwork Conspiracy is Book 1 in the Isaac Turner Investigates series. I was thrilled to find that Book 2, The Forbidden Atlas, is due to be published in February 2025.
I would recommend this book for children aged 8-12 years. The chapters are a manageable length and perfect to read/share a chapter a night. If reading this in the classroom, I would suggest it as a shared class text for Years 4-6.
The Clockwork Conspiracy, 333 pages. Format: paperback
Written by Sam Sedgman
Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
I adored The Clockwork Conspiracy so much that I have stocked it in my bookshop. I am currently offering 15% off using the code SPRING15.
What to read next?
Check out The Winter Case where I have included Danger At Dead Man’s Pass.
Or why not try Little Horror, I love this punchy read and it makes a great gift.