There is tension, intrigue and mystery which has already got me hooked and desperate to know what happens. It's wonderful to be reunited with Issac and Harriet in the fabulous city of Paris. I love Sam's ability to combine scientific fact with a glorious mystery/adventure which never pauses in its relentless pace. Highly recommended and I can't wait for the next one.

It was great to be back with Isaac as he tackles another mystery. It’s fraught with danger, trickery, overcoming and the strength of friendships as we travel to Paris and uncover the mystery of hidden treasure.

It was a well woven and written story and didn’t fail to entertain from the start. This series is definitely developing and building on itself from the first, it was great to get to know these characters more in this one. I can’t wait to see where it will lead next.

A super exciting and compelling mystery and one many young audiences will love.

Da Vinci Code for middle grades. I dipped into this for a quick half hour of reading before going for a swim and didn’t put it down again until I finished the whole book 4 hours later. The swim got delayed!
This is the second book in the series about Isaac Turner, the nerdy son of a clockmaker and his adventurous friend Hattie. However whilst the first book will introduce how they got together, these can be read out of order.
Isaac and Hattie are about to receive recognition for the results of their first adventure, when the ceremony is interrupted by a shooting and the theft of a letter that supposedly unlocks the mystery of hidden treasure rumoured to have been left by France’s last king Louis XVI. The children’s pursuit of a boy fleeing the crime scene gets them swept into the search of the Forbidden Atlas, the stolen letter and the treasure itself. There starts a whirlwind and daring adventure through and under the streets of Paris.

Highly recommended. Fab for book clubs as there is plenty to talk about.

One of those book I wished I could read when I was a child: fast paced, entertaining, and action packed.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Forbidden Atlas is the second installment in the Isaac Turner Investigates series and it's a brilliant fast-paced and informative mystery! Set in Paris, Isaac and Hattie are receiving an award to recognise their successes in their last adventure but suddenly shots are fired and they find themselves embroiled in yet another mystery. This time, they need to solve a centuries old puzzle of where a hoard of treasure has been hidden in the catacombs of Paris.

It's a great adventure story but also there is so much information included - both scientific facts (as Isaac loves science) and historical and geographical information about Paris. I loved reading it feeling as though I was reading a great adventure but also learning a lot at the same time. It also felt a little different from other mysteries in that Hattie and Isaac's parents were involved in trying to keep them safe and disapproved of their scrapes - so often in middle grade books the children go off without any supervision or rules that it can be hard to believe. Hattie's Mum Patricia was particularly funny and a really realistic mother character.

A great adventure and one that I think a lot of children will enjoy!

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury Children's Books for this eCopy to review

I just finished reading The Forbidden Atlas by Sam Sedgman, and I have to say, it was an thrilling sequel to The Clockwork Conspiracy! From the moment Isaac Turner and his friend Hattie found themselves in the midst of an assassination attempt at the French National Archives, I was hooked.

The story takes you on a thrilling chase through the rooftops and catacombs of Paris, hunting for an ancient treasure map that holds dangerous secrets. The way Sedgman describes the hidden parts of the city is so vivid, I felt like I was right there with Isaac and Hattie, uncovering clues and dodging ruthless treasure hunters.

What I loved most about this book was the blend of mystery, adventure, and historical intrigue. The characters are well-developed, and their friendship adds a heart warming touch to the high-stakes plot. I was kept on the edge of my seat!

Overall, The Forbidden Atlas is a fantastic read that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good adventure.

honestly, this is just incredible. It’s clever; it’s pacey; it’s got amazing characters. I loved the mystery - it feels so rich. I loved how Isaac and Hattie use their wiles about them. I love that they want to do good. I loved Leon. The bit at the end with the ‘what’s true and what’s fiction’ always brings me such joy. As a lover of As Above So Below, this felt like a kids version of that very adventure. AND I CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE

I was unsure whether to request this, as I had struggled a bit with the first novel, but I'm glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed this read as Isaac and Hattie adventure across Paris in search of the forbidden atlas.
A great read.

This gripping sequel from Sam Sedgman finds us once again following the adventures of Issac and Hattie as they try to get to the bottom of another mystery. Having been invited to an event at the French National Archives in Paris to celebrate their achievements, Issac is all ready to give his speech when the lights suddenly go out, there is a shout and then a gunshot. What follows is an adventure that leads them both through the streets and tunnels of Paris in search of lost treasure and a missing sister whilst trying to work out who they can really trust.

I absolutely love anything Sam Sedgman writes. I adore the Adventures on Trains series he wrote with M.G. Leonard so I was excited to read his solo books too. I devoured The Clockwork Conspiracy and the sequel did not disappoint. Sam is incredible at painting a picture with his words. It is so easy to imagine being down in the tunnels and catacombs, crawling through spaces and trying to find a way in the dark. The illustrations sprinkled throughout were great and definitely added to imagining the scene.

One of my favourite things about Sam’s books though are all the little facts woven into the storyline. The Clockwork Conspiracy is full of them and this book has even more. Did you know the first metre was made of platinum? That the Eiffel Tower grows a few centimetres in summer because the metal expands in hot temperatures? Maybe you did but I love learning things whilst reading fiction so thanks Sam!

If you’re looking for an immersive middle-grade mystery with loveable characters, I highly recommend The Forbidden Atlas - and indeed anything Sam writes 😉

Sam Sedgman is an absolute genius at captivating and enthralling children (and adults!) Plots full of
twists and turns, unexpected happenings and so much more. Every book he writes goes straight to the top of my TBR pile and never fail to impress. Great story teller.

I loved this so much. I'd devoured the first book in the series as well as Sedgman's other books with MG Leonard. This sequel is twistier and darker, with even higher stakes than before. Sam just knows how to write exciting, smart, emotional books for young readers. What a talent.

Something about the Isaac Turner Investigates series hits a reading spot within that puts Isaac’s and Hattie’s adventures in a special place for me. I couldn’t help but be absolutely ecstatic when I saw this was my next read from Bloomsbury. This is a wonderful series that showcases the magic of humans and children without using magic at all, and before I dive into the review, that had to be said.

After The Clockwork Chronicles, I have to be honest, I didn’t know where this series would head next. My mind, unimaginatively, drew the conclusion that the series would focus on clocks and the next adventure would be in Prague or Canada to fulfill this. However, from page one, I was wondrously surprised to find there is no common trope except Isaac and Hattie’s incredible minds. The narrative of this novel, while still threaded with the nerdy elements of Isaac’s interests and the power of Hattie’s character, is completely different, and I ADORED it!

The addition of new characters, like Leon, and the further dive into characters like the duo’s parents, makes for such a brilliantly full world, and there’s no cast of characters I would’ve rather explored Paris with. Each of them brought out the best in one another, and that’s one of the things that makes this series continually powerful to read. I have yet to meet one character that I have not enjoyed (even the baddies!).

Now, onto the setting, I LOVE PARIS! The city holds the memories of a few special occasions for me, so it was sensational getting to see it in a new light that didn’t purely rely on the tourist destinations. Even though children may not yet tire of novels set in Paris being set solely at the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, the parents supporting them with their reading may have, but Sam Sedgman has captured the flame of Paris so purely, I’d be almost 100% sure even a Parisian would adore it!

I thought this was even better than the first in this series The Clockwork Conspiracy. This time, Isaac and Hattie are in the beautiful city of Paris. Whilst attending a high-profile event where a theft and a shooting takes place, they end up on another action-packed adventure to find some long-lost treasure and make some new friends along the way.
Sam Sedgman cleverly uses history and places to bring this book to life!
I can see this being a hit in our library!
Thank you, @NetGalley_UK, for this advanced copy.

Sam Sedgman has proven himself to be a brilliant adventure writer first with his Adventures on Train series and now with his Clockwork Conspiracies series.

The Forbidden Atlas is the second in the series and is equally as brilliant as the first. Isaac and his dad love science, clocks and solving problems. Their first adventure had them embroiled in a major mystery and adventure in London involving Big Ben. This time, they are in Paris receiving an award for their bravery, along with Hattie, who is Isaac’s best friend and partner in crime.

When a gun goes off just before their presentation, Hattie and Isaac find themselves in the middle of a mystery involving a centuries old treasure hunt. While most would run away from the scene, Hattie and Isaac delve straight in and discover a boy running away, though when he is chased, he suddenly disappears. Those familiar with Paris know that deep under the city are the catacombs- a perfect place for hiding out.

Leon, the disappearing boy becomes integral to the treasure hunt and Isaac and Hattie work with him to discover who had the gun and what they want. It is surprising when you reach the end and realise just who the “baddie” is and what lengths they will go to in order to get their own way.

A fantastic adventure with some very suspenseful moments, tight spaces and two of the best characters out there! Love this series!

I so wanted to read this having loved The Clockwork Conspiracy which I read because I loved The Adventures on Trains books. Was I disappointed? No! Could it follow the Clockwork Conspiracy and keep up the adventure? Absolutely it could!

Isaac and Hattie are in Paris with Hattie's mum and Isaac's dad to collect an award for saving the world from those that wished to change time, by destroying the main clocks across the world.

But just as they are being introduced, a warning is heard and a shot rings out. The bodyguard (Omar) is shot supposedly protecting his boss Balthazar Blaise.
Diggory tells Isaac and Hattie to run. But they get out of the auditorium and see a boy running away...did he shoot Omar, they chase him but he gets away after a struggle. But Hattie has something he drops, can they find him from a receipt?
More importantly, why would a boy want to shoot Blaise?
They do find the boy, named Leon but his sister is missing which is why he was at the Archives that night but he swears he did not shoot, he was there for something else...something that could help him find Samira, his sister.
Follow the children on an adventure through Paris's catacombs on the search for a lost treasure connected to the item Leon stole. But they're not the only ones looking for it. When they find the 'key' they can find the treasure. But the treasure is housed in something which could cause problems across Paris. Samira knows this and so do those who are also looking for the treasure.
Flipping brilliant! Isaac and Hattie learn yet again how important friendship is, and so does Leon.
I so want these books in school! KS2 perfection.

THE FORBIDDEN ATLAS is another thrilling adventure full of intriguing facts and an exploration of systems that run the world that we often give little thought to.

THE CLOCKWORK CONSPIRACY was one of my favourite reads of 2024, a book I endlessly shoved at people since January of that year, so I was very much looking forward to the sequel. Luckily for me, it very much lived up to my expectations. I raced through this tale set across Paris.

Where THE CLOCKWORK CONSPIRACY looks at time and the standards around that, THE FORBIDDEN ATLAS explores the world of map making. From trap streets to how globes are made, this book is full of fascinating insights into maps and their history. I love how this series is focusing on the world around us, prompting readers to think about elements of everyday life that we might otherwise overlook.

I particularly enjoyed the cameos made by the Systeme Internationale (SI) in the form of the original metre and a fancy party at the BIPM (the body that oversees measurement science across the world.) They were very nice ways of linking the story to the exploration of measurement science in the first book.

Beyond the nerdery (which I adored), this book is also a thrilling adventure across Paris. Isaac and Hattie, along with new character Leon, are racing against an assassin to find a hidden map first - a map that leads to treasure and danger. There are so many puzzles layered into this book and plenty of puzzle solving from our intrepid heroes. It's a pacy tale full of action, with some heart stopping moments (as someone who's claustrophobic, the catacombs sequences were terrifying!) and a highly satisfying reveal about the hidden location.

I was so excited to see Hattie got to narrate this book alongside Isaac! It was so nice to see her thoughts and her grit, often literally pulling Isaac onwards when he started to overthink things. They're a very nicely balanced team.

There are some really nice visual touches to the book too. Each chapter starts with an illustration of a key scene and the chapter headers have little measurement scales on them that increase with each chapter (and yes, as soon as I get my hands on a physical copy, I will be measuring the scale to work out the increments.)

This book is exciting, thrilling, fast paced and has a hint of history. What better way to see Paris than through the eyes of Isaac and his friend as they try and solve a mystery in the catacombs under Paris.

The Forbidden Atlas is the thrilling sequel to Sam Sedgman’s The Clockwork Conspiracy – one of my favourite books published in 2024. Readers are transported to the intrigue and beauty of Paris as they race with Isaac, Hattie and Leon through dark streets and even darker catacombs in search of the key to an incredible mystery. Lives are at risk and time is short in this high-stakes, high-adrenaline adventure. Who can they trust? Only themselves.

The mesmerising opening sentences of the prologue portray a rare bookshop shining like a piece of amber. Immediately, I knew this was a story for me. The power of books, the wisdom of old booksellers, the fascination of an ancient map and the potential of hidden treasure grips readers from the very first pages. Questions of the identity of the villain and why they want the treasure snakes through the story allowing readers to search for clues and remain challenged until the end – the very elements of a book you can’t put down.

After saving ‘time’ in The Clockwork Conspiracy, Isaac and Hattie have been invited to a high-profile event at the French National Archives. As guests of honour, they are about to make a speech when the room is plummeted into darkness and a gunshot rings out. Not only has there been an assassination attempt but an important letter has been stolen – one written by King Louis XVI giving clues to the location of great treasure. To solve the mystery, they must navigate the catacombs of Paris – a complex network of underground tunnels. There is only one true map of the catacombs – The Forbidden Atlas.

The characters of Isaac and Leon are wonderfully unique with strength of voice. Isaac loves numbers and logic. He can solve almost any puzzle and is fascinated by facts. Hattie is overflowing with confidence, charm and intelligence. She has a style all her own and knows how to stand up for what is right. Their contrasting points of view develop the story from different angles providing depth and further intrigue. Leon is driven by loyalty and love for his sister. He knows Paris and its secrets. Together, this trio make a team that will be hard to beat – if only they can keep the interfering adults out of the way.

The Forbidden Atlas is a powerful sequel which leaves readers craving the next instalment. Isaac Turner is a brilliant hero and inspires young readers to use their minds to puzzle out any problem.

A huge thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s and NetGalleyUK for an early read of this amazing book!

The last thing you expect to happen at a celebratory event for high flyers is for the lights to go out. But that is just what happens when Hattie and Isaac's efforts are being recognised in France.

And while the sound of gunfire is understandably considered the result of a possible high profile assassination attempt, it turns out there is in fact something very different underway. And what that means is that Isaac and Hattie are off on an entire new adventure...

This is an excellent and lively sequel to the previous book and should be a great hit with the target readership. It gets 3.5 stars.

What a fantastic follow up to the first story. This one is set in France and is action packed and very fast paced. The children find themselves caught up in yet another crime, just when they were about to receive medals for their previous escapade in London. A really great new series that has already gained large numbers of fans.