Book Review of Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London
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The Children’s Book Review
Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London
Written by SP O’Farrell
Cover Art by Kelly O’Neill
Ages 8-13 | 180 Pages
Publisher: Brandylane Publishers | ISBN-13: 978-1-953021-35-9
What to Expect: Mystery, London Setting, Art, Music, and Confectionary
Perfectly plotted and triumphant! Your newest obsession is here. Readers who love bestselling books like Nevermoor, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the award-winning novel Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett will devour the Simone LaFray Mysteries.
As readers learned in Simone LaFray and the Chocolatiers’ Ball, Simone is a junior spy for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this exciting second installment of the mystery series, duty calls when Claire, a fellow junior spy, goes missing from the posh Claymoore School in London. Simone readily accepts the assignment to find Claire and uncover the hiding spot of the dangerously inexplicable omni-key, but her newfound popularity since her triumph at the Chocolatiers’ Ball provides some challenges for remaining undercover.
With so much at play for a young girl—including a new school, making new friends, navigating school rivalries, and a possible first crush—going undercover becomes complicated. Simone finds herself questioning loyalties and keeping secrets from those she values. Who can she trust? Herself? And who is in this vigilante group known as the Red Wolves of London that only comes out at nighttime? Could “la Volpe Rossa” (the Red Fox), the most well-known thief in the world, be involved in Claire’s disappearance? Is he after the omni-key, too? There’s also the opening of a new LaFray’s Patisserie in London to oversee!
Once again, intricately weaving mystery, art, music, and confectionary, SP O’Farrell’s masterful storytelling builds and builds for a spectacularly satisfying grand finale that unpacks the mystery neatly (while crucial characters find themselves in quite a tantalizing mess). Simone’s character is so well-developed that tween readers will be lured by the relatable friendship struggles and inspired by the way she steps up and out of her comfort zone.
Filled with stunning sentences that set every scene, everything about Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London has been created with care, and readers will be ravenous for the next Simone LaFray mystery.
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About the Author
S.P. O’Farrell is the award-winning author of the Simone LaFray Mysteries. When he isn’t writing, he is a champion for special education, the performing arts, and numerous environmental initiatives. He lives in western Maryland with his wife and two sons.
You can connect with him here:
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