A Sprinkling of Danger (Alice Éclair, Spy Extraordinaire, #3)

What worked:
The book is set in Paris, right before the start of World War II. Alice works her way onto the movie set by baking cakes and pastries for different scenes. Readers will know from the previous books that Alice is an expert chef, so she can whip up delicious, decorative, and detailed pastries at a moment’s notice. She is tasked with locating the map that reveals French agents secretly working throughout Europe, and identifying the spy sharing information with the Germans. The story presents several suspects, ranging from the movie’s star, Catrine, to movie employees and the hotel’s staff. Readers know Alice’s life is in constant danger after there are multiple events when she could have been killed. The lives of French agents are in immediate peril, so there is pressure for Alice to complete her mission as quickly as possible.
A different twist in this third book is that Alice is supposed to train a new agent. Readers know immediately that it will add a complication, since Pierre doesn’t want anything to do with her. He says he won’t listen to anything she has to say and that he works alone. He finagles himself onto the movie set and sneers every time he looks her way. However, Alice notices him passing secret messages to Catrine, and it crosses her mind that he might be a double agent. She also spots a man passing a package to an unknown accomplice, so readers will wonder if it’s one of the missing hotel artifacts.
Many young readers enjoy cooking and baking, so they’ll appreciate Alice’s talent and the products she creates. She works at her mother’s famous French bakery, but her mother is unaware of her daughter’s life as a secret agent. Alice bakes multi-tiered cakes, decorated like objects found in the hotel and on the movie set. She adds special effects that amaze everyone, although her plan for sparklers is disrupted by the sun. Luckily, the mishap explains one of the attempts on her life. It also helps Alice realize the identity of the traitor working with the movie production.
What didn’t work as well:
Readers may wonder about Pierre, since the story doesn’t give any information about him. He appears in the second chapter but goes on his own right away. If Alice is supposed to train him, how does he know what to do without her help? What is in his background that makes him totally reject Alice without even speaking to her?
The final verdict:
Lovers of mystery and adventure will enjoy this latest installment of Alice Éclair’s secret missions. She is in more danger than in the previous books, but that makes it more dramatic and exciting. I recommend you give this book a shot.

A SPRINKLING OF DANGER is a charming and engaging mystery/spy story. This latest installment takes the reader to Paris, where a movie is being filmed. Someone on set is leaking information about France's secret agents, so Alice goes undercover to help track down who it is. As part of her secret identity, she acts as a pastry chef on the set. As she investigates, things are becoming more dangerous and she'll need to figure it out before she is also in danger!

What I loved: This is an engaging series with a solid mystery and just the right stakes to provide tension without being too scary for middle grade readers. The setting is lush and well-developed with information about Paris and movies coming through the plot. The case develops well with little twists and turns as well as clues Alice discovers along the way.

Alice is a compelling character that feels relatable to middle grade readers. She doesn't know everything, but she is figuring it out all the same. The story is told in third person limited perspective that works well to convey the information and keep her as the main character. The reader feels for her as she becomes a target and must sleuth her way through the events.

The ending was satisfying with good resolution for the main story, and a backmatter glossary helps to define new words. The book features larger, clear text that is great for younger middle grade readers.

Final verdict: A SPRINKLING OF DANGER is a delightful and consuming middle grade mystery in a strong series, great for reader who enjoy intrigue, spies, and figuring things out!