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The Clockwork Girl

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The Clockwork Girl

By: Anna Mazzola
Narrated by: Penelope Rawlins
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About this listen

Paris, 1750.

In the midst of an icy winter, as birds fall frozen from the sky, chambermaid Madeleine Chastel arrives at the home of the city's celebrated clockmaker and his clever, unworldly daughter.

Madeleine is hiding a dark past, and a dangerous purpose: to discover the truth of the clockmaker's experiments and record his every move, in exchange for her own chance of freedom.

For as children quietly vanish from the Parisian streets, rumours are swirling that the clockmaker's intricate mechanical creations, bejewelled birds and silver spiders, are more than they seem.

And soon Madeleine fears that she has stumbled upon an even greater conspiracy. One which might reach to the very heart of Versailles....

A intoxicating story of obsession, illusion and the price of freedom.

©2022 Anna Mazzola (P)2022 Orion Publishing Group Genre Fiction Gothic Historical Historical Fiction Horror Literary Fiction Romance Victorian Scary

Critic reviews

"Evocative, chilling, compelling." (Tammy Cohen)

"Breathtakingly good." (Abir Mukherjee)

"This intricate and twisting story kept me guessing until the end. An absolute masterpiece." (Jennifer Saint)
All stars
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I enjoyed this book but found it a bit predictable. Overall an entertaining read.

a bit predictable

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I enjoyed the narration as well as the story - this book works very well as an audiobook. The narrator does the novel proud.

An enjoyable tale

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The book is good. The setting is atmospheric in the 18th century Paris with streets and the king's palace reeking of detritus and danger. One learns to survive, though cost of that is high. The book is elevated to the exceptional by the great narration. Penelope Rawlins gives unique voices to all of the many characters with correct pronunciation.

Madam de Pompadour toys with the King.

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Great story an opening into Versailles and a different outlook of madam pompadour. Wonderful story.

Great listen

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Loved this book. It’s mysterious clever and confusing at the start But persevere and all is revealed and explained in the end. The narrator is good with different voices. Would recommend

Mysterious, unusual, intriguing to the end

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