Villains in Venice by Katherine Woodfine - Review and Summary

VILLAINS IN VENICE REVIEW AND PLOT SUMMARY 

5/5 stars

"A beautiful mystery story full of unexpected twists and turns."

I absolutely love these books, I have read every single one of these stories since they first came out. In fact, I admit I rushed to Waterstones to pick up a copy of this book on the day it was released (6th August 2020).

Katherine Woodfine is a great writer. I love her writing style and ability to describe scenery as if it is taking place right in front of your eyes. These books are always devoured by me in a few days - they are that gripping!

In Villains and Venice, Sophie and Lil are once again separated. When the Chief decides to send her to Venice to locate the final dragon painting, Lil does not come with her. Joe is still missing, making Lil dedicate a lot of time trying to find him. There is also the added weight of a double agent, someone who is secretly a member of the Fraternitas Draconum. All she knows was that Joe saw them deliver information to a reporter, and decides that finding a way into the offices of the Daily Picture.

I liked how this book had several twists and turns - you never knew what was going to come next. It was nice that the suspected double agent, someone who was rather obvious, didn't actually turn out to be them, creating an added tension and excitement when reading.

I will definitely be back for the next book. I have a hunch that it will be another good one!

Would I recommend to a friend? / Yes! Read this book (and the whole series).

PLOT (contains some spoilers)

• Joe is still missing, and Sophie and Lil have an argument about it. Lil reckons that the best way to locate him is to somehow get inside the office where the reporter he saw worked. She comes up with a plan to be interviewed by a reporter named Miss Russell, but it takes her friends Billy and Mei to help her get into the office.
• The Chief from the Secret Service Bureau pretends to send Sophie off on a holiday, but really he is sending her there to locate the final dragon painting and complete the code so she can find the weapon. He does this to hopefully throw off the double agent her and Lil discovered. To make it appear like she is going on holiday, the chief encourages her to invite her friends Jack and Leo.
• When they arrive in Venice, they bump into a woman named Mrs Knight, who recognises Leo due to her father's position in society. Accompanying her is a girl named Ella (her great-niece) and a man named Dr Beagle, an art historian who Leo and Jack recognise. 
• Sophie comes up with a plan to get into the Palazzo Stella, where she believes the Black Dragon is kept. She uses the spyglass to find the last number, but is cornered by a cluster of men in masks.
• Back in London, Lil believes that she has tracked down the double agent, but is proved wrong. Following an SOS sent by Sophie, the double agent is sent to Venice.
• In Venice, the group use Dr Beagle to enter the state archives. They locate Marino's map, and find that the secret weapon they have been looking for is here in Venice.
• When they get back to the hotel, they find out that Mrs Knight has been murdered - poisoned by chocolates given by the mysterious Mrs Davenport who is to hold a party at the Palazzo Stella.
• Jack and Leo attend Davenport's party, getting invites from the artist Max Kamensky. Leo eavesdrops on a mysterious meeting and finds out a number of things. The party Davenport is holding is a cover for a Fratenitas meeting...but this is not all she discovers. Davenport is so mysterious because she doesn't want anyone to recognise her - she is actually Leo's godmother Lady Tramayne!
• Carruthers and Lil arrive in Venice and try to locate Sophie. They bump into Lil's friend Phyllis who give the two of them invitations to the party.
• Meanwhile, Sophie uses her gondolier friend Paolo to take her to Casselli's tomb, where she believes the secret weapon is. She locates an old book, but is found by the double agent. Almost at once, she realises who it is.
• After speaking to their associates, Carruthers and Lil turn up and help Sophie. The girls decide the best thing is to destroy the book, letting the canals of Venice take care of it. But when they're not looking, Carruthers recovers it. They manage to get away, leaving the double agent to either be saved by the Fraternitas or taken by the authorities.
• After arriving back in London (and reading Russell's article), they find a letter from the Black Dragon, aka Lady Tramayne. It turns out that Joe is still alive - but they have to deliver the book to her to get him back.