May 2015 Book of the Month Young readers who like their mystery stories tinged with a bit of Victorian gothic are going to love this new detective series. Twelve year old Lizzie finally has enough of living with her brutish father and runs away. She’s lucky to fall in with Fitzy’s, a travelling circus, and immediately feels at home with its stars; in fact, she’s soon performing herself as the circus fortune teller, for Lizzie it seems, might have psychic abilities. Can Lizzie use these to discover the identity of the Phantom, a violent burglar terrorizing London? The circus provides a great background for this satisfying mystery, while Lizzie is a clever, feisty heroine: fans of Holmes (Conan Doyle’s or Cumberbatch’s) will particularly enjoy this. ~Andrea Reece
The Magnificent Lizzie Brown and the Mysterious Phantom Synopsis
Lizzie Brown has escaped the slums of Victorian London and joined Fitzy's Travelling Circus. By accident, she discovers that she has an amazing ability: in a world of charlatans and tricksters, Lizzie may be the only truly clairvoyant palm reader in existence! While reading a client's palm, she sees shocking images of a masked man taking part in a violent robbery. Lizzie musters together her gang of circus children – the Penny Gaff Gang, all with their own amazing talents – to reveal the true identity of The Phantom robber.
“Lockwood’s spirited tale is filled with colourful characters, beginning with determined Lizzie herself, and a steady sense of suspense and mystery pushes the story forward.” Publishers Weekly
“A cast of likeable circus people, a spunky heroine and a twisty mystery that will keep pages turning until the book’s finale.” Kirkus Reviews
