The Clockwork Girl

Get in the xigxag app
Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book. Pre-order Buy Now £{{ price }} Send as a gift
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

'Historical fiction with a fantastical twist, done with verve and skill' IAN RANKIN
'An atmospheric and constantly surprising thriller' SUNDAY TIMES
'Kept me guessing until the end. An absolute masterpiece' JENNIFER SAINT
'A deliciously dark historical novel of thrilling originality' ESSIE FOX
'Spellbinding, gripping, immersive and deliciously gothic' ERIN KELLY
'Evocative, chilling, compelling' TAMMY COHEN
'Breathtakingly good' ABIR MUKHERJEE

Paris, 1750.



In the midst of an icy winter, as birds fall frozen from the sky, chambermaid Madeleine Chastel arrives at the home of the city's celebrated clockmaker and his clever, unworldly daughter.

Madeleine is hiding a dark past, and a dangerous purpose: to discover the truth of the clockmaker's experiments and record his every move, in exchange for her own chance of freedom.

For as children quietly vanish from the Parisian streets, rumours are swirling that the clockmaker's intricate mechanical creations, bejewelled birds and silver spiders, are more than they seem.

And soon Madeleine fears that she has stumbled upon an even greater conspiracy. One which might reach to the very heart of Versailles...

A intoxicating story of obsession, illusion and the price of freedom.

Critics Review

It's rarely I come across a book that astounds me. The Clockwork Girl byAnna Mazzola is one such book. Engrossing plot, vivid characters, attention to historical detail, and above all the beauty of its prose. It is breathtakingly good
Abir Mukherjee
This book has everything I love. A deliciously dark historical novel of thrilling originality. Immensely clever and entertaining, this is a dazzling gothic novel where science, sin and subterfuge are as intricately rendered as the workings of a clock
Essie Fox
Evocative, chilling, compelling. Anna Mazzola brings 18th Century Paris vividly to life in all its stinking, disease-ridden brutality. Tremendous
Rachel Rhys/Tammy Cohen
The Clockwork Girl instantly draws you in, immersing the reader in a Paris of filth and greed, money and sin. Madeleine is a clever, captivating guide to this world, her story dark and bewitching. I loved it
Rarely have I been so utterly swept away by the opening pages of a novel as I was with The Clockwork Girl by Anna Mazzola - this book hooked me in and didn't let go. 1750 Paris was exquisitely wrought, from the freezing and fetid underbelly of the back streets and brothels to the glittering decadence of Versailles. This intricate and twisting story kept me guessing until the end. An absolute masterpiece!
Jennifer Saint
Unbelievably immersive - from the first page you are plunged into 18th century Paris and you won't want to leave. It is a gripping, gothic tale... three unforgettable women caught in a web of intrigue and murders. You really won't want to miss this.
Elodie Harper
Deliciously creepy, alive with the rustling silks, rotten smells and lethal egos of a divided Paris. Loved it
Sarah Hilary
'Anna Mazzola's new novel is a macabre tale of social upheaval and aristocratic skullduggery set against a beautifully evoked 1750s Paris. Mazzola immerses us in the political intrigues of the period, weaving a dark tale of vanished children, an obsessive genius, and courtly machinations. Told through the voices of three very differing women this is another accomplished slice of historical noir from a sure-footed exponent of the genre
Vaseem Khan
A superb historical novel set in a brilliantly evoked 18th century Paris, The Clockwork Girl will delight and enthral and leave you wanting more
William Ryan
Drawing you into 18th century Paris from the very first page, this book is a dark delight. Anna is uniquely amazing at letting you into her characters' heads & hearts, so you carry on thinking about them long after you stop reading... A Gothic gem
Beth Underdown
A treat in store for lovers of historical fiction next March. The Clockwork Girl is vivid & meticulously detailed. From the filth of Paris to the surprisingly squalid salons of Versailles in 1750, Anna Mazzola has crafted this dark jewel of a novel with the precision of a watchmaker...Glittering macabre
Kate Griffin
Spellbinding, gripping, immersive and deliciously gothic, I was happy to lose a whole weekend to THE CLOCKWORK GIRL. Beautiful prose brings the smells of 18th century Paris to life so vividly that you almost read the book with a scented handkerchief under your nose. No one gets under history's skin like Anna Mazzola.
ERIN KELLY
A chilling tale
WOMAN & HOME
Chilling and compelling, this is a gothic masterpiece that fans of historical fiction will love
S MAGAZINE, SUNDAY EXPRESS
Conjuring up a world of sin and danger, this intoxicating historical mystery is brilliantly original
HEAT
An inventive historical mystery. Gloriously gothic.
BEST
Captivating
THE I

More from the same

Author

Narrator

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.