SECRETS OF THE SNAKESTONE

Two young sleuths brave danger and villainy to find a cursed gemstone and a missing father.

Sent from Calcutta to work as a gentlewoman’s maid in 1895 Paris, 12-year-old Zélie Dutta worries when her father’s regular letters suddenly stop arriving from India. Her fears deepen when Jules Dubois—a red-haired sewer-sweeper about her own age—appears with the locket that once hung from Baba’s neck. Determined to uncover the truth and find her beloved Baba, Zélie plunges into a mystery that leads to the legendary Snakestone, a jewel said to grant its bearer immunity from harm but that brings “death and misfortune to anybody whom its owner holds dear.” Together, in the shadowy streets and sewers of belle epoque Paris, Zélie and Jules confront the sinister Brotherhood of Blood, rescue a baby sloth, and encounter both menace and comfort from a fortuneteller, a fire-breather, and a contortionist from Le Cirque Fantastique. This period adventure weaves together fact and fiction for a bright glimpse into Parisian history, keeping readers on their toes with a whirlwind plot and larger-than-life characters, although the ending may feel a bit too neat. An entertaining debut with strong international appeal, the story ends on a note that leaves things open for a sequel.

Lively and sure to please fans of history, adventure, and mystery.