The Elemental Detectives: the first book in a cracking adventure series

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It explores themes of social injustice, such as slavery and poverty, with a clear eye, while the character twists and turns will keep the reader hooked. I think this book could have used some more rounds of edits for clarity and precision — it was confusing where characters were and how they got there sometimes. Author of the well-loved YA novel Eight Pieces of Silva (2021, Hachette) and Children’s and YA Jhalak Prize winner Patrice Lawrence offers readers a new, middle grade fiction series published by Scholastic UK– The Elemental Detectives. I really couldn’t put it down” Reya, The Week Junior’s Summer of Reading 2023 “I loved reading about a re-imagining of London with so much invention and energy. The idea that the four ‘elements’ – earth, water, air and fire – make up all matter was the cornerstone of philosophy, science and medicine for nearly 2,000 years.

A wonderfully busy cast of characters include the Cursing Boar of Fleet Ditch, versed in 83 languages (learn your London Horse! Patrice Lawrence is the multi-award-winning author of Orangeboy, which won the 2017 Waterstone’s Book Prize, the 2017 YA Book Prize and was shortlisted for the 2017 Costa Book Awards and the Carnegie Award.I didn't think I'd ever relive the first read experience of series like Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising, atmospheric, creepy, wonderful, and this book took me to a place I didn't think was possible as an adult reader. The world-building was a good idea – Georgian London, but with a whole host of elemental spirits filling the city. As with her other books, Lawrence has created caring, sensitive and self-aware protagonists of colour in the Elemental Detectives. This book is very similar to Lair of Dreams, so fans of that book should enjoy seeing the action moved across the Atlantic and further into the past.

Their differing perspectives, where both are black but only one was a slave, made for some really interesting character dynamics and explained a lot about their different world views. Step into a London lit up by the Elemental spirits: the fiery Dragons, the airy Fumis, the watery Chads and the earthbound Magogs. I will say that the book lost momentum in the final act, and the overall ending was a bit unsatisfying and sudden. A stunningly imagined, action-packed fantasy adventure for fans of Nevermoor, Neverwhere and Mortal Engines, from bestselling and award-winning author Patrice Lawrence.Plus, the 'finish' is wonderful: an illustrated map of London landmarks leads you in; backnotes include: factual sources; a breakdown of those Elements; a note on the real Jonathan Strong; a pickle of a riddle. One of those books that you can’t put down and need to know the end, but at the same time, you don’t want to finish it too soon. The different layers of history uncovered in this book are expertly handled and encourage the reader to think about what may have happened in an alternative universe or sphere if describing different causes for well-known historical events (such as the Great Fire of London).

Event when things go wrong for Marisee and Robert, hope springs forward in different forms, driving them forward. When he helps Marisee escape some attacking sleepers, he discovers a world of Elemental spirits, serpents in the Serpentine and ghosts in Hyde Park.

This book is a must read (or listen, I loved the audio book) and I'll be working my way through the author's cataloogue. When Zahra accidentally swaps suitcases with a witch, she experiences a weekend of magical surprises, helping her to overcome her fears and form new friendships. An investigation into everyday objects and the elements from which they are composed would be an interesting side-line study to accompany this book. Marisee and Robert are the Elemental Detectives chasing the clues to avoid catastrophe: they must face the ghosts of Hyde Park, the monstrous coiled snake of the Serpentine, and a whole host of other fantastical creatures in their mission to stop the Shepherdess and prevent London slumbering for all eternity… Big, bold, future classic storytelling for a new generation. The sleeping sickness affects poor people because they yearn for so much, yet rich people are not susceptible because they don’t face such struggles.

Marisee and Robert are the Elemental Detectives chasing the clues to avoid catastrophe: they must face the ghosts of Hyde Park, the monstrous coiled snake of the Serpentine, and a whole host of other fantastical creatures in their mission to stop the Shepherdess and prevent London slumbering for all eternity.

The characters were a compelling duo to carry the book – Marisee as the optimist and Robert as the jaded one. The Elemental Detectives is a rip roaring magical adventure… Patrice Lawrence has done a marvellous job of building an imaginative and creative mythology which lurks just under the city streets. The themes of race and class also weave through the novel providing stimulating points for discussion as the action unfolds from the perspective of the two young protagonists. The mystery of what’s going on and who’s behind the sleeping sickness was a good one, with a satisfying villain. Lawrence is passionate about bringing people of colour back into the history narrative and she has done so with flair and authority in this lively middle grade novel.