Simone LaFray and the Bishop of Mumbai - (Simone LaFray Mysteries) by S P O'Farrell

About the Book

French spy phenom Simone LaFray is back in the field-and this time, her mission's taking her to Mumbai to compete in the Junior World Chess Championships!

Book Synopsis

Simone captures Mumbai

In this third installment of the award-winning series, junior spy Simone LaFray returns to Paris after recovering the legendary OmniKey on her mission in London. Unfortunately, her opportunity for rest is short-lived. Now thirteen, Simone finds her life accelerating (much to her displeasure): The V has a boyfriend, a new baby brother has joined the LaFray family, and relics of the Red Wolf cryptically surface as the specter of an old enemy rises from its grave.

Worst of all, the OmniKey's operation remains a mystery, even to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Their only lead is the elusive Bishop of Mumbai, a fifteen-year-old prodigy whose talents for chess and technological wizardry are equally extraordinary. To learn the OmniKey's secrets, Simone must face him in a prestigious chess tournament in his own home country of India-but this time, she won't be working alone.

As queens, pawns, and brazen knights of unknown intent take the board, sides are chosen, and nothing is as it seems. Right and wrong blur as Simone teeters on the edge of a new world. Will she make the right move?

Review Quotes

"With an impressive balance of action and drama, S.P. O'Farrell captures the essence of preteen girlhood with flair and expert espionage. It's what preteen dreams are made of. . . . A winning combination of the Spy Kids series and The Queen's Gambit. You'll be all in by the time you finish the first chapter. . . . I can't think of a single preteen

girl who won't want to be in Simone LaFray's shoes."

"Young readers who enjoy spy stories, chess, international adventures, or strong female protagonists will find much to love in this intricately plotted mystery. . . . Simone LaFray and the Bishop of Mumbai presents high stakes, complex moral questions, and sophisticated character development. While it maintains the charm and accessibility of middle-grade fiction, it doesn't shy away from challenging its readers with questions about loyalty, truth, and standing up for what's right even when institutions fail. O'Farrell balances Simone's growth as a spy with her ordinary teenage concerns-her internal struggles with confidence, belonging, and finding her place in the chess and spy worlds make her victories all the more satisfying. . . . Highly recommended for ages 9-14."