The Clockwork Conspiracy by Sam Sedgman

The 800th post on Scope for Imagination is a special one – The Clockwork Conspiracy by Sam Sedgman. After the brilliance of the Adventures on Trains series written in partnership with M.G. Leonard, The Clockwork Conspiracy promised to be fantastic – and it is! Combining mystery, adventure, peril and a unique take on STEM – the science of clocks – it is sure to captivate readers of all ages and interests across the middle grade range.

Set in October, the night the clocks go back, it was the perfect read for this weekend. Humans have created and controlled the concept of time or simply followed its demands for thousands of years. Now, the British government wants to take time into its own hands and change to “digital time”: 10 hours per day, 100 seconds in each minute. There are great debates in parliament. Some people believe the new time is dangerous. Others believe it’s the future with Britain leading the way.

Meet 13-year-old Isaac Turner, son of the Keeper of the Great Clock, Big Ben. They stop time and adjust the clock ready for the new season. But they aren’t alone in the tower. Someone is lurking in the shadows. Isaac’s father disappears leaving his pocket watch behind. Is it a clue or a message?

Isaac teams up with Hattie, the quick-witted, rebellious daughter of the Speaker of the House, to solve the mystery of the clock and his father’s disappearance. The duo charges across London to significant landmarks meeting important figures from the Palace of Westminster and around the world along the way.

The Clockwork Conspiracy engages readers with science, maths, geography, the value of democracy, and the history of time. Warnings of danger, real peril and heart-stopping excitement right to the final page make this an intensely thought-provoking read. Does the one who controls time have ultimate power?

A huge thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley UK for this thrilling book!

Follow these links to find out more or purchase on-line:

Bookshop: