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About The Book

A teen girl unravels the mysteries of a secret society and their most dangerous invention in this adventure-swept romance set in Victorian London.

When a fire consumes Meg’s home, killing her parents and destroying both her fortune and her future, all she has left is the tarnished pocket watch she rescued from the ashes. But this is no ordinary timepiece. The clock turns out to be a mechanical key—a key that only Meg can use—which unlocks a series of deadly secrets and intricate clues that Meg has no choice but to follow.

She has uncovered evidence of an elite secret society and a dangerous invention that some will stop at nothing to protect, and that Meg alone can destroy. Together with the handsome stable hand she barely knows but hopes she can trust, Meg is swept into a hidden world of deception, betrayal, and revenge. The clockwork key has unlocked her destiny in this captivating start to a trilogy.

About The Author

Photograph by Katie Murphy

Kristin Bailey grew up in the middle of the San Joaquin Valley in California. In the course of her adventures, she has worked as a zookeeper, a balloon artist, and a substitute teacher. Now, in addition to an author, she is a military wife and the mother of two children and several very spoiled pets. Find out more at KristinBailey.com.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (March 5, 2013)
  • Length: 416 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781442440289
  • Grades: 9 and up
  • Ages: 14 - 99
  • Lexile ® HL720L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

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Awards and Honors

  • Keystone to Reading Book Award Reading List (PA)

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