Synopses & Reviews
andlt;b andgt;Travel to criminal underworld of eighteenth-century London in this start to a trilogy that andlt;i andgt;Entertainment Weeklyandlt;/iandgt; calls and#8220;a rollicking historical adventure.and#8221;andlt;/bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The year is 1763. Gideon Seymour, thief and gentleman, is hiding from the villainous Tar Man. Suddenly the sky peels away like fabric, and from the gaping hole fall two curious-looking children. Peter Schock and Kate Dyer have fallen straight from the twenty-first century, thanks to a faulty experiment with an antigravity machine. Before Gideon and the children have a chance to gather their wits, the Tar Man takes off with the machineand#8212;and Peter and Kateand#8217;s only chance of getting home. Soon Gideon, Peter, and Kate are swept into a journey through the dangerous underworld of eighteenth-century London, traveling the routes of notorious highwaymen and even entering King Georgeand#8217;s palace. And along they way they form a bond that, they hope, will stand strong in the face of unfathomable treachery.andlt;BRandgt;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Filled with adventure, intrigue, and plenty of twists and turns, this start to a trilogy is written by a history scholar and wordsmith who makes the extraordinary believable, and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Review
"So convincing a picture of the 18th century that we feel transported ourselves, this first book of a planned trilogy of time-travel adventures is skilled, engrossing and irresistible. The reader, like the protagonists, will find it hard to return to the present." -- Nicolette Jones, The Sunday Times, Children's Book of the Week
Review
"A time-slip novel, deftly handled. The year 1763 is beautifully evoked, as is the present day...Hard to imagine it being done better. A real find, leaving you hungry for more." -- Philip Ardagh, The Guardian
Review
"The novel abounds with period detail, effortlessly woven into the plot...Tanglewreck, like Gideon the Cutpurse...is partly a satire on our current perception that we all have too little time to change the nature of reality, rather than our own greed and impatience. Neither should be missed." -- Amanda Craig, The Times
Review
"The cliff-hanger ending leaves you longing for the next book." -- The Independent, 10 Best Books for ages 8-12
Review
"Great fun and a really good adventure..." -- Kate Scarborough, The Guardian
Review
"A thrilling time-slip story." -- Funday Times
Review
"...a wonderful time-travelling tale...a brilliant introduction to this period of history, evoked with gorgeous attention to detail and language." -- The Book Magazine
Review
"...a thrilling tale of dashing highwaymen and sinister villains. Full of flavour and witty flourishes, this should be a huge summer favourite." -- The Bookseller, Bookseller's Choice
Review
"There is much to recommend in this book. The 18th century is vividly and lovingly brought to life...There are many excellent characters (among them a truly repellent villain called The Tar Man), a swift pace and an absorbing plot. It's convincing and exciting and I loved it." -- Publishing News, Bookseller's Choice
Review
"Buckley-Archer may very well give J. K. Rowling a run for her money. This wonderfully rich and complex novel, written in lyrical and vivid language, is destined to be a classic. History interweaves with science, social issues in both centuries are thrown in; yet what readers will remember most is a fast-paced plot with a cliff-hanger ending and multi-dimensional characters who continue to inhabit their thoughts long after the book is closed. With appeal for reluctant and advanced readers, this novel is a rare gem." -- School Library Journal, Starred Choice
Synopsis
Travel to criminal underworld of eighteenth-century London in this start to a trilogy that Entertainment Weekly calls "a rollicking historical adventure."
The year is 1763. Gideon Seymour, thief and gentleman, is hiding from the villainous Tar Man. Suddenly the sky peels away like fabric, and from the gaping hole fall two curious-looking children. Peter Schock and Kate Dyer have fallen straight from the twenty-first century, thanks to a faulty experiment with an antigravity machine. Before Gideon and the children have a chance to gather their wits, the Tar Man takes off with the machine--and Peter and Kate's only chance of getting home. Soon Gideon, Peter, and Kate are swept into a journey through the dangerous underworld of eighteenth-century London, traveling the routes of notorious highwaymen and even entering King George's palace. And along they way they form a bond that, they hope, will stand strong in the face of unfathomable treachery.
Filled with adventure, intrigue, and plenty of twists and turns, this start to a trilogy is written by a history scholar and wordsmith who makes the extraordinary believable, and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Synopsis
1763. Gideon Seymour, cutpurse and gentleman, hides from the villainous Tar Man. Suddenly the sky peels away like fabric and from the gaping hole fall two curious-looking children. Peter Schock and Kate Dyer have fallen straight from the twenty-first century, thanks to an experiment with an antigravity machine. Before Gideon and the children have a chance to gather their wits, the Tar Man takes off with the machine -- and Kate and Peter's only chance of getting home. Soon Gideon, Kate, and Peter are swept into a journey through eighteenth-century London and form a bond that, they hope, will stand strong in the face of unfathomable treachery.
About the Author
Linda Buckley-Archer is the author of the critically acclaimed Gideon trilogy. Originally trained as a linguist, she is now a full-time novelist and scriptwriter. She has written a television drama for the BBC and several radio dramas, as well as various journalistic pieces for papers like the andlt;iandgt;Independentandlt;/iandgt;. The Gideon Trilogy was inspired by the criminal underworld of eighteenth-century London.