Well written with a great main character/hero - Myrtle Hardcastle. The story begins with a murder in a neighbor's garden - the murder of an elderly woman with tons of money, prize winning lilies and very few friends. When Myrtle's friend - Mr. Hamm, the gardener - is arrested for the murder things just don't add up in Myrtle's inquisitive mind and the hunt is on for the real murderer.
The cast of characters is well designed - Myrtle's father - a solicitor, and Ms. Judkins - the clever and charming nanny and companion to Myrtle who keeps an eye on Myrtle as she dives into solving the crime. Some of the content may be hard for younger readers to follow but overall it is a fun and suspenseful little trip into mysteries for young readers.

If you have been missing Flavia de Luce, I have the book for you. Myrtle Hardcastle is as precocious and perceptive as Alan Bradley's heroine and she will charm you as you delve into the mystery of her neighbor's untimely death.

Myrtle Hardcastle, a twelve year old was blessed with a sharp mind and a passion for justice . After reporting the death of her neighbour, Ms. Woodhouse to the police, she became suspicious that it wasn't a natural death. She was sure of her murder but no one believed the 12 year old, not even her own father. So she along with her governess, went on the mission to uncover the mystery behind Ms. Woodhouse's murder with the help of her partner PEONY, Ms. Woodhouse’s cat!

Will she be able to prove her stand?

Written beautifully, I loved how the author entwined everything. I loved her writing style, it really made me suspicious of almost every character until I finished the book.The principles of Investigation were like a cherry on the top. With the twists and turns, the book kept me hooked till the end and the climax was something unpredictable.

I really loved this clever tale. I think it’s got the right amount of drama for MG readers, with enough to keep it really interesting. I truly enjoyed it even if it was a bit infuriating when I knew who the killer was.

Myrtle Hardcastle is a perfectly sophisticated detective for readers who love historical mysteries. The setting is strong and well-drawn, the mystery is subtle and not too obvious, and readers will love the strong female characters.

Myrtle is convinced her neighbor has been murdered, and she is determined to prove it. Such a bright, fun character! Looking forward to reading the next one!

I really liked this story and the way the plot progressed. Myrtle is such a smart character and I love her characteristics. This is a great book!

A clever middle grade detective story filled with witty dialogue, fun character interactions, and a main character named Myrtle. Adults might describe her as "precocious, curious, and irrepressible" - all words she does not believe are a compliment. Instead, she sees herself as an up and coming detective/investigator.

Our story starts one morning with a police wagon showing up at the neighbors house. Twelve-year-old Myrtle had been spying on her neighbor with her telescope and noticed that it had been a bit too quiet at the house. Routines that were always precisely followed weren't occurring that day. So much to the chagrin of her governess, Miss Judson, Myrtle calls for the police before even checking on her neighbor herself or bringing to an adults attention. It turns out, however, that Myrtle was right - her neighbor had been murdered!

No better words describe this than cute, clever, and engaging. Set in 1893 where children (especially girls) should be seen and not heard, Myrtle is not one to be ignored. She's a heroine that kids of all ages can appreciate and the story comes with a cast of characters that play off of her personality well, including a cat named Peony. The story is filled with detective work, but also light-hearted moments. One of favorites was toward the beginning when Myrtle shouts in a court room "it was murder!" Of course, the court room she was in was not pertaining to her neighbors trial in the slightest, but made for a very good end of one chapter and beginning of another as she had to quickly explain her unexpected outburst.

Overall, a fun new detective series for middle grade kids (and maybe some adults too).

Thanks to Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the advanced reader copy and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Myrtle, the main character, is a 12 year old interested in criminal science in England. She is precocious and interesting. I know a few readers who would fall in love with her. In this book, Myrtle tries to prove her neighbor was murdered.

I tried reading the NetGalley copy several times but the footnotes and such threw me off terribly. I decided to listen to the audiobook and it was a tad better but not much.

Please give this a try if you love mysteries. I know it is loved as there are two Published and 3rd to be published in October. It just was not for me.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

3.5 stars

The author sent me both this book and the second to review. They are wonderful additions to my shelves and I have since gifted a set to a girl I know.

Premeditated Myrtle is a charming and clever middle grade detective story. The star of the show is the smart, witty and curious girl named Myrtle. As a child I was a huge fan of the Trixie Belden mysteries, and if these had been available then I would have3 inhaled them.

Myrtle thinks of herself as a burgeoning detective, so when the police wagon arrives at the home of her neighbors one morning, she begins spying on them with her telescope. She quickly notices that things are different, and calls the police. They quickly learn that Myrtle was right when they find the body!

Set in 1893, this is the best combination of fun, sass and victorian history.

This is a delightful book. It has a mystery, It has a good deal of volence, both murderous and slapstick, but it never gets inappropriate for the age this book is intended. Myrtle''s disike of not being able to do what she wants will resonate with the kids. I am so looking forward to the next book.

Great mystery! I love the character and her preoccupation with morbid things. I have been recommending the book to others and can't wait to listen to the next in the series.

An excellent mystery fiction for middle grade readers and anyone who loves a good amateur detective story. For those who enjoyed the series with the character of Enola Holmes, introducing the very smart twelve-year old Myrtle Hardcastle, "who has a passion for justice and a Highly Unconventional obsession with criminal science. Armed with her father’s law books and her mum’s microscope, Myrtle studies toxicology, keeps abreast of the latest developments in crime scene analysis, and observes her neighbors in the quiet village of Swinburne, England." Also recommended to readers of the Alan Bradley's series with Flavia de Luce. Enjoyed the audiobook version as well.

Premeditated Myrtle is the first book in a British, middle-grade detective series starring a very witty 12-year-old girl who solves the murder of her elderly neighbor. There's secret passageways, cats that seem to say "no," and flowers that may or may not be real.

I was a little unimpressed with the beginning of this book because it seemed to jump into the mystery in an abrupt and slightly uninteresting way, but everything after Chapter 1 made up for the lackluster start. This is everything you want in a murder mystery, plus the point of view is from a 12-year-old girl which makes it that much more interesting. Myrtle is also a great detective and main character – she's witty and awkward around other girls her age and I'm all here for it.

As for the mystery of who did it, I actually did realize pretty quickly who must have killed Myrtle's elderly neighbor – and then I was completely wrong - although I still believe the person I was suspicious of will eventually be revealed to be a morally-dubious character. I just know it! I'll definitely be reading the rest of this series... mostly because I own the next two books in the series.

I recommend Premeditated Myrtle to any middle-grade or mystery fan who appreciates smart girls that (mostly) know what they're doing.

This was an interesting middle grade mystery mystery featuring a charming amateur detective, Myrtle. Set in the 1890s, Myrtle uses her investigative skills to solve the murder of her elderly neighbour. This story is perfect for curious children and they will be inspired to pursue their passions after reading about such a feisty and intelligent young girl.

RATING: 4 STARS
2020; Algonquin Young Readers/Recorded Books

Myrtle Hardcastle is not Flavia de Luce, just in case you were wondering. This novel is meant for young readers, so I am reviewing it based on that. I love the Flavia series as an adult, but as a kid I read Cam Jenson, Encyclopedia Brown, and of course Nancy Drew. So, of course, I was drawn to this book. The cover art is beautiful as well. Myrtle is twelve years old, in Victorian England. She has a passion for justice and science and the combination of the two. She uses her late mother's science tools with her father's law books, and build a fascination in criminal justice. When their neighbour passes away mysteriously, Myrtle knows this is her time to solve the case. It is a cute fun story - great for young readers, and something adults would like to read with their kids. The audio is well done and recommend this for family car trips.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook and audiobook from the publishers through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

Mystery is really my comfort genre and Premeditated Myrtle brings me back (emotionally) to a time when I was devouring mystery novels from my middle school library. Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Boxcar Children, and (years later) the Bobbsey Twins, Myrtle Hardcastle is the ace child detective no one believes but who solves it anyways. Extra joy for being set in the late-1800s.

This is a super fun historical mystery with a quirky, precocious female protagonist. Myrtle reminds me of Flavia De Luce. I loved Nancy Drew growing up and this has a very similar feel but I like Myrtle even more than Nancy, especially Nancy from the original novels. Myrtle is resourceful, clever and funny. This is a perfect read for fans of Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, The Mysteries of Maisie Hitchens, The Wollstoncraft Detective Agency or Sherlock, Lupin and Me.

LOVVEEEEEED This book!!!!!! There's something about the sweetness and quirkiness of Middle Grade books that I can't get over no matter how old I get. I love the way they keep the reader interested in a different way other than a romance, or a thriller... There's something to be said about the innocence of pure mystery. The catch of a who-done-it! I felt that this book was an excellent example of not being able to stop reading once you've caught the investigator bug! Myrtle is a mini sherlock in her own way and I loved every bit of her smarts and drive to bring justice where it is lost. She was such a fun character to read about. She doesn't care if she's different from the other "respectable young ladies". She knows exactly what she likes and Morbid Myrtle or not, she could care less.. She has her governess Miss Judson and her intelligent Father to keep her company and the rest of the house staff who love her just the way she is.

My only complaint would be that they footnotes were all over the place in the ebook arc version and the chapter titles were a mess too... I feel like had this not been so frustrating this book would have been perfect! I'm not a huge fan of footnotes to begin with, I've read a few middle grade books that do this actually and I'm not entirely sure why this is a thing, just put it in parenthesis after the sentence if its that important it needs to be included. But to have to stop midsentence and search for some side thought and ruin the reading flow is a pet peeve of mine while I'm reading. Granted, they are pretty funny at times, but I still think that they could just be included in the paragraph instead of at the end of a page (or in this case, half way through the chapter in the middle of another sentence that has nothing to do with the original footnote) Half the time I couldn't even figure out where they were originally supposed to refer back to. It was sooooo confusing. I wish that it could have been a little better put together but I guess thats the downside of an arc vs a finished copy of a book.

Still, I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone who loves a good mystery. Myrtle the mini sherlock is a pleasure to read about and I had a great time going along for this journey with her. Definitely put this on your TBR if you enjoy books meant for a younger audience but still entertaining enough to be enjoyable for readers of all ages :) !

As a result of my various committee appointments and commitments I am unable to disclose my personal thoughts on this title at this time. Please see my star rating for a general overview of how I felt about this title. Additionally, you may check my GoodReads for additional information on what thoughts I’m able to share publicly. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this and any other titles you are in charge of.