My first reaction to this book is to judge it harshly because of it's pun-based title. Too many mysteries rely on a pun. Knowing that I had that bias, it is noteworthy how much I enjoyed reading this book. Myrtle is a compelling protagonist. Flawed but well meaning. She jumps to a few conclusions but largely relies on facts and logic. She doesn't let others refusal to listen hold her back. She follows clues to their inevitable conclusion. And she's not the only complex character. Even the tertiary characters have a reasonable amount of complexity and development. The historical setting may be a barrier for some readers, but it's worth working through that. It's a mystery that mostly takes itself seriously but has it's share of light-hearted moments as well, little sparks of humor to keep it from becoming too dark. A solid read for budding detectives and historians alike.

PREMEDITATED MYRTLE: A cozy mystery for middle-grade readers

This book is like the younger readers version of Alan Bradley’s Flavia De Luce mysteries and Philip Pullman’s Sally Lockhart quartet. It features an unconventional, intelligent protagonist, with that arch tone commonly found in Victorian cozy mysteries.

Premeditated Myrtle is the first book in a new cozy mystery series by award-winning author, Elizabeth C Bunce. We meet twelve-year-old Myrtle, who notices things are amiss at her neighbour’s house. Myrtle is training herself to be very Observant (always capitalised in the text), so she can solve crimes. She is able to study her father’s legal books — he is the town prosecutor. She’s also well-versed in toxicology and other forensic sciences, thanks to her late mother’s medical textbooks. Myrtle does tend to see crime everywhere, but this time she happens to be right!

As we all know, in children’s books, the adults need to be out of the picture. This is so the child main character can star and lead the action. Bunce has put a neat spin on this trope by having Myrtle be much more comfortable in adult company than with people her own age. This is not just because she’s precocious, but because she struggles with social cues. The adults in her life are more forgiving of this than the “ideal” young ladies she socialises with.

Myrtle’s father’s work distracts him. Fortunately, Myrtle’s governess, Miss Judson, genuinely takes an interest in what Myrtle has to say. Importantly, she also has faith in her detection skills. Like Myrtle, Miss Judson is on the outer of things, being from French Guinea. Other adult characters involved in the detection business, including the police inspector and the local solicitor, are refreshingly respectful of Myrtle’s ideas.

If you enjoy hanging out with Nancy Springer’s Enola Holmes or Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong from Robin Stevens’ Murder Most Unladylike series, you’ll like Myrtle Hardcastle. The great news is that the second book in the series, How to Get Away with Myrtle, came out in October!

A Novel Prescription for:
Lovers of cozy mysteries and adventurous tales for girls.

Publication Details
Written by Elizabeth C Bunce
Published by Algonquin Young Readers 2020, ISBN: 1616209186

Thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for my e-ARC, in return for an honest review.

Myrtle Hardcastle, daughter of the town prosecutor, has a nose for mysteries. What luck that the house next door is in need of someone to solve the mystery of what happened to its elderly owner. Myrtle has an exhaustive list of suspects. Could it have been Priscilla, beloved niece of Ms. Wodehouse, or Mr. Northcutt the cigarillo smoking nephew, or was it the gardener, who actually confessed to the crime?

This book is perfect for every girl who doesn't want to take part in all the "proper" things, for every lover of a good mystery, and fans of historical fiction.

At 368 pages, this would probably be too daunting for my reluctant readers. It is jam packed with rich, verbose vocabulary that some would struggle with. However, my advanced, insatiable readers would enjoy it immensely.

In 1893, Myrtle Hardcastle is a twelve-year-old girl who loves to study crimes. Her father is a prosecutor and her mother studied medicine. One evening, she notices some strange activity at her neighbour’s house. She calls the police and they find that her elderly neighbour has died. They think it was natural causes but there are too many clues that suggest to Myrtle that this was murder. With the help of her governess, Miss Judson, Myrtle investigates the murder of her neighbour.

Myrtle is a clever young girl. She reminds me of Nancy Drew and Flavia de Luce. Her family life was also similar to those classic detectives, since she lived with her father and her mother died when she was a child.

This was a great mystery. It could be read by middle grade children or adults. It had some mature themes, with murder and poisoning, though nothing too graphic. One part that was disappointing was that one of the major clues was glossed over at the end. A character’s past wasn’t fully explained. I even went back to reread that section but I don’t think there was a clear answer to that clue.

This is a great start to a new mystery series!

Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Premeditated Myrtle is the first book in a new YA cozy mystery series. Set in an small English village in 1893, it follows Myrtle Hardcastle, the 12-year-old daughter of a prosecutor who solves mysteries with a little help from her governess Miss Judson and her cat Peony.

Let me just say that I thought Myrtle was absolutely adorable, and that Bunce deftly leans into her youth and consequent amateur-ness. Most of Myrtle’s (surprisingly vast) knowledge about crime and toxicology come from her father’s law books and her mother’s microscope, which I thought was realistic. As a kid who was raised on a steady diet of Nancy Drew, as a 12-year-old I would have loved to have access to law books to learn about crime.

In Premeditated Myrtle, Myrtle’s neighbor, a wealthy spinster, is found dead. Myrtle doesn’t agree with the ruling of her death as an accident, so she sets out to determine who may be the murderer. What follows is a lot of theories, some interviews, and some major secrets coming to light.

Even if the idea of a 12-year-old girl (almost) single-handedly solving a murder mystery is arguably a bit far-fetched, Myrtle goes about it the way an actual 12-year-old girl would. Bunce expounds upon the very best of adolescent impulsivity in Myrtle’s quest for the truth (think sneaking over fences and convincing her governess to flirt with someone who may have answers). I also like how Bunce tackles Myrtle’s frustration over not being taken seriously given her youth and gender. She is routinely dismissed by the adults in this story, which I think will endear her to readers. Many young girls are dismissed simply because they are young girls (I definitely was), so Myrtle’s plight will be relatable to many.

Overall, Premeditated Myrtle was a clever, sharp, fresh mystery story with a detective who has stolen my heart.

Thank you so much to #NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the arc of this adorable novel that kids are sure to love!
Great story and love the fact that you have to look for the cat throughout the stories!

Let's get right down to it: I adored this book. The main character Myrtle was funny and interesting to read. At one point near the start, she remarked, "Although arsenic murders had been on the rise again lately," and I knew I was hooked. What 12 year old keeps up so casually with murder trends? Apparently, the ones I like to read about do. That set the tone for what ended up being a very fun ride through a historical mystery.

The unexpected family dynamics may have been my favorite part. When I first started reading, I thought I was confusing the characters. Surely this governess Miss Judson wasn't interested in actually allowing this young girl to investigate a murder? But of course she was! It was very refreshing to see adults who-- at least up to a certain breaking point-- took a child character so seriously. Her family and those around her encouraged her passions, unseemly as they would have been in that time period. It was the perfect combination of a historical setting with a modernized twist on how they all respected and treated one another, and to me that's exactly what I love to see in literature today.

As for the mystery, it was excellently crafted with lots of clues, twists, and red-herrings. My only real criticism is that I felt certain aspects of the motive could have been explained a little more clearly. Overall, it was just a fun, well-plotted mystery that left me feeling curious and excited.

I look forward to reading on in this series and following Myrtle through all her crime-solving days.

The series starts with Premeditated Myrtle, which introduces us to the young curious soul and her family. Having grown up with her Prosecutor father and in the company of men from the criminology industry, Myrtle couldn’t have been more intrigued by murder and solving crime. So, when she notices events in her neighbour’s house that are out of place, she is quick to point out that something was wrong. And rightly so, a murder.

Premeditated Myrtle was so fun to read. I loved it for the fact that it didn’t have Myrtle playing detective right away, but her being a curious girl who wanted answers. We are thrust into the action right from the first line, and the story is rather fast paced. Moreover, I enjoyed Miss Judson’s character a lot too. Her constant encouragement for Myrtle was superb and she made a great companion. The duo totally stole the show with their wit and courage and observance.

Being the first in the series, we were given ample information but it wasn’t simply dumped upon us readers. There was a gradual increment of these details – like about her father’s job, about her mother, about her friends and her father’s friends. And the author uses a lot of small details to build up her story, details that play a huge role later in the story. So, I think, that was really clever.

However, there were certain parts that failed to hold my attention. I felt like, at times, there was so much going on in the story that I lost track. But at the same time, I think that made the mystery aspect of the story even more enjoyable and credible. I couldn’t help but suspect everyone, haha! But at the end, proud to say that I guessed the murderer and the actual culprit.

The relationship between Myrtle and her father was sweet. It was one where the love was not explicitly stated but rather, shown through actions. They didn’t have much screen-time together though, and I wished there was more of them. Myrtle’s father initially had harboured stereotypical thoughts surrounding Myrtle being a girl and then prompting her to engage in more ‘girly’ stuff.

Myrtle being a girl, and that too so young, plays a huge role in how the events turn out. For instance, she isn’t given much importance with evidences due to her age, and time and again she is dismissed on the account of her gender. Her father repeatedly hinders her from venturing into investigating the murder and encouraging her more to play with friends. This really goes on to show the image and attitude towards girls that society has as a whole, and it was a delight reading that. That was also why I loved Miss Judson so much, because she was simply so supportive and always encouraged Myrtle’s curiosity. Judson is definitely that friend we all need.

The whole mystery case in Premeditated Myrtle, however, did not excite me as much as I had hoped it would, as it dealt too much with flowers and property disputes. However, it was still one enjoyable read! 😍

I wish I had this book when I was younger, this book was full of amazing humor, support, family and also mystery. The death of a fellow older neighbor and she actually saw it happen?? That was such a great way to start the book. And how everything started to unravel? Like the mystery behind Mrs. Wodehouse’s lilies, her will and even her niece Priscilla even has secrets of her own. I decided to rate this book like if I was a middle schooler, and I loved it.

Thank you NetGalley, Algonquin YR and Elizabeth Bunce for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I'd give this book 3 stars for an adult and 4 stars for middle graders. I've read many middle grade books that are wonderful reads for all ages but I think this one is best suited for its middle-grade audience. This is largely due to the predictability and believability for an adult reader. Nevertheless, I still found it enjoyable and my 10 year old self would have been OBSESSED with this series!

I tore through Premeditated Myrtle in a day and got total Harriet the Spy vibes, especially once Myrtle broke out her detective kit! I love having a child sleuth in the Victorian detective story world and that she's a bold little feminist makes it even better.

Myrtle Hardcastle is a plucky young detective who prides herself on her logical reasoning. Nothing would offend her more than if someone described her as fanciful. Her eye for clues and pursuit of the truth would make Sherlock Holmes proud. When a neighbor dies Myrtle is convinced it’s murder and is determined to get to the bottom of it.

There’s a murder to solve but also several mini mysteries and various clues peppered throughout. The average adult reader will likely piece most of it together but I imagine it would be deliciously complex for the intended child sleuth in a way that’s exciting and fun rather than frustrating or confusing.

I also love how the book incorporates footnotes with a fun twist, teaching its readers historical words accompanied by delightful and witty commentary.

Recommend for: The middle-grader in your life who would love a good mystery or series to start.

Myrtle was an excellent protagonist, and I loved reading from her perspective. She was always curious, and always searching for an answer. The way that we followed her through her investigation in the book was interesting and easy enough to understand.

The first part of the book did start off a little slow, however. I wasn’t exactly sure what was going on, and what was happening. But once I was able to get to know the characters a little better, and to better grasp the setting and what was going on, the rest of the book flew by!

Well, sort of. Premeditated Myrtle actually took me longer than I expected to read, but I didn’t mind. I spend four or five days on this book, setting aside a fair amount of time every day. The mystery aspect of the books was so complex, that sometimes I had to go back and reread sections, just to make sure I didn’t miss anything.

Throughout the book, I tried over and over to guess the murderer, but I never did. When at the end of the book everything was revealed, I was shocked. The ending was nothing like I expected, however, it all made so much sense.

This book was a middle grade murder mystery, and I thought that it was done quite well. The book had the right amount of well, murder, for a middle grade book. It was never too much, or too overwhelming, but it also didn’t soften the content so much.

Going back to characters, Myrtle was not the only interesting one. I was actually fascinated by Miss Judson, her governess, and fellow investigator. I did want a little more information on her though. What is her backstory? I know that Myrtle’s aunt Helena hired her, but nothing more. And she is a talented artist. Did she go to art school?

I also really enjoyed the historical setting. The book takes place in the late 1800s England, and I thought that the author did a really wonderful job with that. The writing also feels like it really reflects the time period.

I love middle grade, I love historical novels, and I love mysteries, (although I don’t read many) and this book puts all three genres into a complex murder mystery perfect for younger readers.

My rating:
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Recommendable: Yes

To who? Younger readers looking for an interesting mystery will have fun with this book, and older readers will enjoy it and appreciate the complexity of the plot and the historical aspects.

Myrtle Hardcastle is a bright 12-year-old girl whose primary interest is murder, solving them that is. Her father is the village prosecutor, and her mother died when she was still little, so that is when her father's aunt Helena came to stay with them for a spell. Helena hires Ms. Ada Judson as Myrtle's governess to encourage her to grow into a fine young lady. Myrtle is extremely observant and, rather than being a lady, she's much keener to become an investigator. She reads her father's law books for fun and she loves having conversations about her father's cases, much to his chagrin. Her old neighbor Ms. Wodehouse suddenly dies, and that is when Myrtle seizes the opportunity, because surely her neighbor did not pass quietly in the night, and foul play is involved! All she has to do is convince the authorities that she has valuable contributions to the case, even as her father and Helena attempt to stifle her macabre sense of justice.

I think it was extremely refreshing to read a book about a girl with no love interest, focusing entirely on her own drive and personal passion. Myrtle is the sort of girl who cares about principles, doing the right thing, and finding the truth even when others are more interested in a conclusion rather than the facts. Myrtle of course is my favorite, but she is shaped very much by the people around her, particularly her father. Myrtle's father wants her to be "clever and curious and study hard," but when she shows him how smart she is, Myrtle gets the impression that her father is embarrassed by her, and that he thinks of her as "morbid" with too much interest in murder. Myrtle is the first to deduce that something must have happened to her next-door neighbor when Ms. Wodehouse fails to go about her normal morning routine, something that Myrtle has witnessed countless times.

I loved the themes of familial love, not just with Myrtle's father, but her governess too, who becomes a surrogate mother to Myrtle. I love how Ms. Judson encourages her intelligence and doesn't try to beat the precociousness and intelligence out of her. Myrtle is stubborn in a good way, and never gives up on her dreams no matter how times she is told that "proper" young ladies should be more focused on tea time and needle work. She has a deep sense of justice and freely admits when she has made a mistake, willingly taking the necessary steps to right her wrongs. I love the science and logic involved with solving the case, and Myrtle being a young girl lends itself to situations that showcase gender inequality, age discrimination, and intelligence being dismissed just because Myrtle is female. Part of this is the time period the story plays out in, but girls today can also expect that men will interrupt them, dismiss their observations, or try to cow them into accepting the male viewpoint. Myrtle is a brilliant, principled, admirable young girl who strikes out for justice of her own accord and her own passion for what is right. Girls and boys everywhere should read Premeditated Myrtle, and adults will also enjoy her candor, humor, and intelligence, right until the case is closed.

BOOK ONE: Premeditated Myrtle
Welcome to the quaint English Victorian village of Swineburne where 12 year old Myrtle lives with her widowed prosecutor father and her governess Miss Judson. Myrtle is obsessed with being a detective. She uses her telescope not for the stars but to snoop on her neighbors. When she notices strange happenings at her elderly neighbor's house, including that her cat Peony missing, and then the woman is found dead, Myrtle is on the case!

BOOK TWO: How To Get Away With Myrtle
Myrtle is on a train with her Aunt Helena, her governess and her reliable cat Peony when she discovers a dead body. Of course, Myrtle can't help but investigate which of her fellow travelers is the guilty party!

Both these books, despite the subject matter, are a pure joy to read. Myrtle is precocious, smart and dedicated to the rules of detective work. Even though the book is geared toward young readers there is mystery, twists and surprises. Much like Harry Potter it is true entertainment for all ages. The author lets us know how young ladies are strong beings who have power and brains to figure out mysteries and be strong characters. There is a wink to the audience with funny scenes and the knowledge that Myrtle is much smarter than the adults in her world much like Harriet the Spy and Encyclopedia Brown.

I loved the footnotes explaining certain words and events. I actually learned from them. This series should be on every mystery readers shelves regardless of age. Perfect escape for an afternoon rain or shine!

I received a free copy of these books from the publishers for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

My initial reaction on reading Premeditated Myrtle is that this just couldn’t be a children’s book… it is too good! Of course, this is exactly the standard children’s books should be, but I can definitely confirm that adults will thoroughly love Myrtle Hardcastle’s adventures too.

Myrtle, the main character, obviously, is a precocious twelve year old, obsessed with the details of criminal investigation and detection and determined to do her prosecutor father (and deceased, medical mother) proud. I was reminded very much of both Harriet the Spy and Flavia de Luce (firm favourites of mine), but Elizabeth C. Bunce has added some extra layers of humour to her intrepid junior detective’s story (and just a hint of romance among the older characters).

Myrtle’s partner in crime-solving is her governess, Miss Judson, who – far from discouraging Myrtle’s extracurricular activities – actively participates in them. This is one of the lovely aspects about the story: that no matter how suspicious, aggravated or amused other adults might be (and even Myrtle’s father has his reservations about some of her activities) by Myrtle’s investigatory skills, Miss Judson takes her very seriously and encourages her young charge’s curiosity and helps to hone her skills of rational deduction.

The plot here follows traditional ‘golden age of detective fiction’ lines, with a dead neighbour and a cast of suspicious friends and family of the deceased, each with good reason to wish her ill. Myrtle is actually in the perfect position to investigate, as her age and sex cause adults to continually overlook and/or underestimate her, and allow her free access to places she has no business to be in.

Overall, this is a wonderful introduction to a brand new character and series – ideal for middle grade and adult mystery fans alike. I couldn’t wait to get stuck into Book 2, and luckily for you, you don’t have to either as my thoughts are just below!



“I cannot wait to learn what method you’ve devised for extracting the testimony of a cat.”
“Don’t make fun of me.”
“I would never,” she said. “But, Myrtle, you have to admit that even for you, collecting a cat as a witness is a bit fanciful.”
I hesitated. Adults tended to call me many things, the nicest being “precocious,” “curious,” and “irrepressible”—which I did not think was the compliment they pretended it to be—but compared to other children my age, I was not generally considered “fanciful.” Miss Judson was an excellent judge of character, however, so if she suggested I was being anything but strictly rational, it gave me pause.
“Very well,” I said carefully. “Perhaps we should go speak to Mr. Hamm. We’ll need to know what to do about my botany lessons, anyway.”

– Elizabeth C. Bunce, Premeditated Myrtle

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

I was excited to read these books because I grew up reading Nancy Drew. I was hoping that I could find a series featuring a strong female character that my daughter could be inspired by. Like Nancy Drew, Myrtle Hardcastle is quite the detective. But Myrtle has more obstacles to overcome. Her mother is deceased having succumbed to a disease. As the local prosecutor, her father’s job demands much of his time. Living in the late 19th century England she is expected to be a charming little lady honing her domestic skills. Because she is younger any pleas that she may have to discuss a case are often thwarted.

As I read the series I couldn’t help but be reminded of Harper Lee’s Scout. Both of these characters defied convention. Both have special relationships with their fathers where they know and love their daughter’s differences, even if at times their natures get them into trouble.

The Myrtle Hardcastle series is cleverly formatted. Myrtle is not just the narrator, but the writer of the story often taking time to address her dear readers personally. Throughout both books Bunce treats us to footnotes that serve as cute anecdotes and tidbits of trivia. Many of the chapters in this series also begin with blurbs from Myrtle’s books that sets the stage for that chapter. I feel that this format will make the Myrtle Hardcastle series more appealing to its target audience – middle grade readers. But I do feel that this cozy mystery series has something for adults too. Besides good characterization and an engaging style of writing each novel deals with issues of feminism and racial representation. The mysteries in and of themselves are craftily devised and have enough meat to sustain an adult’s attention.

What a fun middle-grade mystery! Quirky, curious, precocious Myrtle is supported in her dogged sleuthing by her governess and teacher, Miss Judson. Bunce writes each of her characters with love and a careful attention to the details that bring individuals to life. Add a plot with unexpected twists and some fun footnotes, and the Myrtle Hardcastle series is one I'll be recommending to preteens and picking up myself.

Ah. Myrtle Hardcastle. A young British girl with a nose for solving murder mysteries, it would seem.

Everything about Myrtle's life is all proper and quite British. But her brain is simply teeming with adventure and crime-solving. While she does everything that a Lady-in-training is supposed to do, and does elegantly well for her dear father's sake, she also does plenty that a Lady shouldn't be caught dead doing. Like spying on the neighbors via telescope.

Miss Judson, Myrtle's governess, is a novelty! She makes me wish that adults could have a governess. While she expertly guides Myrtle on rights from wrongs, like her job requires, she also plainly loves participating in Myrtle's investigations, like her job does NOT require. What a pair these two are, in cahoots with each other!

"'Now. Tell me about your Harrowing Adventure.' She [Miss Judson] made it sound that way, capitalized, like a story in a penny dreadful."

There are no girls her own age that Myrtle can truly call a friend. The girls in her neighborhood are too fashionable, too consumed with their own selves to think twice about any intriguing topic that Myrtle is interested in, like the sciences, and Observing the world... and murder mysteries.
She may be just 12 years old in 1893, but Myrtle Hardcastle uses every modern convenience at her fingertips to piece together the clues of the puzzle. Her telescope is her inanimate best friend, with her microscope at a close second. Myrtle is a fellow fan of Mr. Sherlock Holmes (like me), and she follows his methods of deductive reasoning whenever she can. Just another reason why I love Myrtle.

There are many endearing and memorable characters among Myrtle's family, friends, and... enemies too. A surprise favorite of mine is Mr. Blakeney, a young solicitor-in-training, who meets Myrtle in her investigation and attempts to guide her along. He even has a pet name for her -- Stephen. As crazy as that seems, it's just a part of their semi-comedic friendship together.

Overall, this series opener is an intricately and masterfully-woven plot! It kept me guessing at every turn.

For fans of Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, and Flavia de Luce. Ages 9 to Adult (it has such an amazing and interesting plot, anyone could enjoy it.)

✨“An Investigator’s life will not be an easy one. Be prepared to deal with Obstructive Fellow Detectives, Reluctant Witnesses, all manner of the Criminal Classes, and Family Members with No Imagination.”✨
— Elizabeth C. Bunce, Premeditated Myrtle ~ A Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery

Are you thinking what to read after watching the wonderful Enola Holmes on Netflix? Well, Premeditated Myrtle is the perfect read for you then!🥰

🌷Young amateur detective, Myrtle Hardcastle, uses her curious mind to follow clues and use her skills of deduction to solve the ‘crime’ of her next-door neighbour’s murder… only no-one believes it WAS murder.

But Myrtle won’t let the ways of know-it-all adults stop her from investigating. No, she will take it upon herself, alongside her marvellous (and personally my favourite character) governess, to do anything necessary to get to the bottom of the crime.

Stolen lilies, lost relatives, and a heap of suspicion.

A must, and thrilling read! Highly recommend!

ALSO guys, this is a wonderful series if you’re looking to start getting into the murder-mystery genre and it is absolutely perfect for middle-grade readers. Oh, and there is a lovely message in this book: clever and smart little girls are dangerous— they will, no matter what, get the job done!👏🏻

Thank you so much @elizabethcbunce, @kellydoyle, @algonquinyr for sending me this early readers copy and for letting me be part of this blog tour!

Read. Be happy. Stay safe.

I loved Trixie Belden and Harriet the Spy when I was a kid and Premeditated Myrtle had me remembering so many of those fun sluething stories from my childhood! Talk about nostalgia!

The Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery series transports us back in time to a quaint Victorian village in England where we find
Myrtle, the precocious 12 year old daughter of the local prosecutor. Myrtle takes a keen interest in her Dad's cases and the goings on of her neighbors. When her elderly neighbor dies, she cries foul play and sets out with her unflappable governess, Miss Judson, and her new cat, Peony, to solve the murder.

I loved watching the characters grow and develop throughout the story. Myrtle is a strong, likeable female character who's a great role model.

There was a lot of humor throughout the book and footnotes explaining some of the legal and detective jargon (loved this!).

My 10 year old niece and I read this together via Skype, she loved it and is excited to started book 2! She had a blast following the clues and noticed that the book cover shows a lot of the neat stuff from the story, which I had totally overlooked somehow. She also said her thoughts on some people changed quite a bit throughout the story. This is such a fun mystery and introduction into historical fiction. There were some times my niece needed to look a few things up, so I loved that she was also learning while having fun.

This series is sure to be a hit with all young sleuths! And even for the grown ones who like the cozy mysteries.

Btw, after my niece pointed out the cover, I took a better look and realized it's illustrated by @bhelquist ,who illustrated A Series Of Unfortunate Events, another series I absolutely lovvvvve that has incredible illustrations. It all makes sense now lol!

Huge thanks to Algonquin Young Reafers and Elizabeth C. Bunce for my gifted copy and for including me in this super fun book tour!

This historical fiction mystery novel is clever and delightful, and I particularly appreciate the relationship between Myrtle and Miss Judson, her governess. When I went into this book with a basic knowledge of the premise, I assumed that the governess character was someone whom Myrtle would dislike, disobey, and try to avoid for most of the novel, and it was a delightful surprise to see that the governess is a fully developed, likable character who supports Myrtle and has adventures with her.

This book is full of interesting historical detail about the police force and legal system, and about the constraints that Young Ladies of Quality faced when pursuing interests outside of their socially coded roles. I just recently read the first Enola Holmes book, and this novel shares some similar social elements and humor. However, I enjoyed this book more, and thought that it was better-developed. This book has lots of engaging characters and unexpected twists, and I am excited to see how the author will continue to develop her cast in following installments.

My only complaint about this book is that the ending didn't seem entirely convincing to me. I think that it could have been set-up and foreshadowed better, but even though this isn't a perfectly clued detective story, it is totally satisfying as a historical mystery, and has lots of clever, unexpected elements. I enjoyed this very much, and would recommend it to the target middle grade audience, teenagers, and adults.