Thank you to NetGalley and Sapere books for this E-copy.
Perfect for gloomy days. An atmospheric read to curl up with.

The Montgomery Murder by Cora Harrison is a YA crime, set in Victorian London, and feels in the vein of The Baker Street Irregulars from Sherlock Holmes books.

Alfie is the leader, and he's the one who comes up with the plans for how they're going to pay the rent.  When a vicious murder happens close to their home, and Alfie gets dragged into the police station, he soon strikes a deal to look into the murder, and to feed back what he finds!

This is very much a YA book, and so is a fun introduction to historical books for that young person you know!

The Montgomery Murder by Cora Harrison was published on 4th March 2019 and is available from Amazon and Waterstones.

 You can follow Cora Harrison on her  website .

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to  Sapere Books.

My three-word description of The Montgomery Murder by Cora Harrison is suspenseful, entertaining and intriguing.

Book Synopsis:
In the mean streets of Victorian London lies the body of wealthy Mr Montgomery.

The police must move fast to catch his killer. They need an insider, someone streetwise, cunning, bold . . . someone like Alfie.

When Inspector Denham makes him an offer he can’t refuse, it’s up to Alfie and his gang to sift clues, shadow suspects and negotiate a sinister world of double-dealing and danger – until the shocking truth is revealed...

My Musings:
I found this a compelling and hugely entertaining story. A group of four boys, one girl and a loyal dog embark upon an adventure to solve a murder mystery, out-witting adults in the process. Set in 1858, in Victorian London, the vivid descriptions of the sounds and smells of that era really bring this story to life. In this young adult mystery, the harsh realities for the poverty-stricken are skilfully woven throughout the story: the begging, stealing, selling and entertaining to raise money.

There are a number of people who might have wanted to murder the victim, Mr Montgomery, and each have their own reasons. The Montgomery Murder is a fabulous, action-packed tale of suspense, which, though it is aimed at young readers, has plenty to offer older readers as well. I liked that Cora Harrison delivered very strong characters in this novel, all of whom were portrayed realistically and were very engaging.

Verdict:
Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable historical mystery. Would I read the next book in the series? For sure, I would and I have already requested a copy of The Deadly Fire (The London Murder Mysteries #2).

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Sapere Books via NetGalley at my request, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Cora Harrison gives us the Monmouth Strangler as murderer in her latest novella Montgomery Murder. Clever street children clear themselves of criminal charges and find out who stole a diamond mine and murdered the owner. Clever Mutsu the dog is a sympathetic character. Enjoy this fast read.

This was an ok book, though I would have placed the writing in the middle-grade level. There was s lot of dialogue and it seemed to slow things down. But overall I liked the atmosphere and enjoyed the murder mystery.

I was surprised to find this book was already a decade old. It also seems to be labeled as a young adult mystery, when it reads more like something meant for middle-grade children. With that in mind, I thought the book was well written and at a good length for kids ages 9-14. The plot was okay, but it wasn't thrilling and the mystery wasn't very captivating.

*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

The author wrote a thriller that started with a bang and just kept going! The twists kept coming, so I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

Archie, his blind brother Sammy, his two cousins and a large dog all live in Dickensian London cellar. They earn money for rent any way they can but mostly through begging with Sammy's angelic singing and the antics of the dog.
On one such escapade they try to steal some bread and Archie is caught by the police. While in custody, a detective picks his brains about a recent murder and what the word on the street is about it. There is a reward offered and so Archie decides to try and earn the reward after the detective lets him go.

Lots of twists and turns in this mystery with fairly believable characters that I quite warmed to and made me want to read another in the same series. For fans of Sherlock Holmes and other mysteries as set in similar time.

‘It was a foggy evening in late November.’

A man lies dead in a Victorian London street. A young lad, Alfie, is apprehended stealing a loaf of bread. Who killed the man? What will happen to the lad?

The dead man is Mr Montgomery, a wealthy man. He’s been garrotted, and Inspector Denham of the Bow Street Police Station is keen to find out why and by whom as quickly as possible. He sees Alfie, as he’s taken to the Bow Street Police Station and thinks that (perhaps) Alfie can help. He quickly establishes that Alfie is both local and streetwise and knows the St Giles district where Mr Montgomery’s body was found. The police need someone who can easily (and not obviously) access the slums of St Giles and Alfie fits the bill perfectly.

And so begins an action-packed story which, while it is aimed at young readers, has plenty to offer to older readers as well.

Alfie is a survivor. He looks after his brother Sammy, their cousins Jack and Tom, and their faithful dog Mutsy, trying hard to keep a roof over their heads and food in their mouths. Ms Harrison depicts Victorian London vividly: the sights, sounds and smells as well as the hardships for the poor.

‘Usually, if you took a chance, something turned up.’

But there’s danger ahead for Alfie and his gang. There are several people who may have wanted to murder Mr Montgomery, and others who might be convenient scapegoats. And there are those who would murder anyone who gets in their way. Sarah (who works as a scullery maid in the Montgomery house) is another wonderful character.

Ms Harrison provides plenty of detail about the squalid conditions in which the poor lived and reminds us that the poor did not enjoy the luxury of childhood. There are a few twists in the tale, and quite a bit of suspense, as Alfie and his gang try to identify the murderer.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

An enjoyable and entertaining book even if a bit slow at times.
The mystery is solid, the plot is engaging, the characters are well written.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Sapere Books and Netgalley for this ARC.

I didn't really find this interesting at all, which was so disappointing. I mean, who doesn't love a good murder mystery? I just found their to be TOO much character dialogue, and it didn't feel very important when the characters would speak. I felt more interested in actually discovering things, not being told everything step by step. Pacing was good, but the dialogue really bogs everything down. I don't think this is my type of book, as it didn't really meet the standards I have for mystery novels. I feel like this also isn't very YA. It's in this weird gray area between MG and YA in my opinion. This may just mmbe me though.