It's been a long time since I read a YA book . I loved our FMC and her ambition and courage to save her father.
I highly recommend it for your child and you too if you want something to talk about with your children in common.
Huge thanks to NetGalley for an early copy.

Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed by Eve Wersocki Morris – Book Review

In an early 50s London, Clem Fatale, the city's youngest criminal, is determined to find her missing father, Jimmy Fatale, the infamous jewel thief and leader of the Spider Gang. Not only has he disappeared, so has the Fool's Canary, London's greatest treasure. Clem, along with her accidental captive Gilbert, embarks on a thrilling chase through the London’s hidden criminal underbelly. From shady dive bars to glamorous manors, Clem and Gilbert find themselves pursued, but the question is, who is ally and who is enemy? Will Clem succeed in rescuing her father, or will her plans be thwarted?

Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed by Eve Wersocki Morris is released on 3rd April 2025 by Little Tiger Books.

Clem is a marvellously witty, sassy, daring, big-hearted protagonist and I love her so much. She’s exactly the type of character you need to lead a series like this. There are so many facets to her and her character that she fascinated from page 1 to the end of this novel. I could read about her on a million adventures, and I find it hard to imagine a time where I’d get bored. She’s meticulously well-rounded and I commend Eve Wersocki Morris on this highly because I just keep saying ‘Oh she’s brilliant!’.

2025 may be shaping up to be the year of expert pacing as, like another book I reviewed this year, I read this book in 1 sitting because I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. Like any true mystery fan, I wanted to see where the next clue was or if I could start to piece together my own conclusions so there was never a point where I thought I could put this down and step away. It’s brilliant snappy in its adventure and yet, on the other hand, I think it’s also one you could read in chunks to allow yourself the time to hypothesise your own ‘A-HA!’ moments. So whatever type of reader you are, this book will be wonderful for you.

Gilbert, Winnie, the Spider Gang, Norman Han, and all the secondary characters in this novel were exceptional additions, also. Are they somewhat characters you would expect to see in a 50s Noir-esque mystery adventure? Yes. Has Eve Wersocki Morris modernised them to a point where they all feel fresh? YES! Whilst I felt that some of these characters at first instance were those I’d seen before in books of yesteryear, there was a new take to them, which made it feel like the first time I’d met them. Another massive testament to Wersocki Morris’ fantastic ability as a storyteller.

Without giving too much of the narrative away (You know, I will always keep these reviews Spoiler Free if the book’s not on public release yet), I think humanity and community are at the heart of this novel and the 50s film noir, mystery aesthetic does everything to help that sparkle in dazzling technicolour. I was emotionally invested in not only Clem’s journey, but the journey of everyone she met (even a waitress in a greasy spoon).

With Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed, Eve Wersocki Morris has gained herself a fan in myself and will gain thousands more on publication date. Clem is a protagonist who shines bright against a dark world and is EXACTLY the protagonist children need right now. I look forward to her second adventure in January 2026 and cannot wait to have more people to discuss the mystery with in April!

Yet another fabulous book by this author. Aimed at younger confident readers it is about Clem, the daughter of a notorious thief, and her search for her father, after he goes missing, when a heist goes wrong. With the help of Gilbert, the on of the burglary victim, she begins the search for her father, the missing jewel and the real villains behind the theft. Definitely a new twist on a crime story, where motive is a very important consideration. There are also some important thoughts about the attitudes toward immigrants after World War 2.