Readers must remember the story is set in the mid-1930s when
Hitler and Germany became a growing threat to Europe. This is when spies
pass secret, classified information to their governments using ciphers and
hidden messages. The book opens with Alice retrieving some microfilm that was
stolen from a French agent. Alice’s uncle was a spy who she thinks drowned two
years ago. However, he’s still alive and has been training Alice to follow in
his footsteps. She’s learned to read codes, follow maps, create detailed
diagrams, and be more observant of people and her surroundings. These skills
are useful as she tries to thwart a spy from sharing information that might
lead to a German invasion of England.
Many young readers enjoy cooking with their parents, and
Alice is a gifted pastry chef working in her mother’s bakery. She’s the
greatest young baker in Paris, France, and maybe the most talented in the whole
country. The first pages describe Alice artfully putting the finishing touches
on a baked recreation of the Eiffel Tower with glittery fireworks as a
highlight. Her talent opens the door for her to board an exclusive train,
trying to stop the person working for the Nazis. There are descriptions of Alice
mixing and baking different pastries to maintain her cover. She’s also able to
apply her baking skills and knowledge in unexpected situations.
The story presents plenty of suspects for the unknown spy,
and readers' attention will fluctuate as more information is shared. Is it the
singing/dancing twin brothers who’ve been performing in locations around Europe
where previous incidents have occurred? Is it Stella, the reporter with
notebooks written in strange language (code?), who has also been traveling
around Europe? Maybe it’s the mysterious professor, who’s often poring through
books rather than interacting with other guests. Or could the spy be someone else who Alice hasn’t noticed? The author saves a huge surprise as the story nears
its climax and leaves the resolution open for the sequel.
What didn’t work as well:
This book is the first in the series, but it doesn’t feel like it.
References are made to spy-like activities Alice has done that might have been
in previous editions. This results in her backstory and character not being as
developed as they might have been. We don’t know a lot about Alice beyond what
happens in this book. Also, the plot isn’t overly suspenseful until the
surprise mentioned above.
The final verdict:
This book is a nice introduction to a new spy-sleuth in pre-WWII
France. Alice’s talents as a pastry chef and the surprise during the book’s climax
add novelty and interest to this series. I recommend you give it a shot!