4.5 stars = I loved it! Would re-read.
Excellent mystery for older middle grade readers! (10+) I loved Myrtle, and the full ensemble was a delight, too. I know the second book is releasing next week, too, and I'd love to read it right away. This is everything I want in a middle grade mystery - a bright investigator, a twisty mystery with plenty of suspects, and a chance to figure out whodunit for myself (and I did). Includes an investigation into a mysterious death/murder and a kidnapping. I highly recommend this one!

Premediated Myrtle follows the story of a murder that happens under the nose of 12 year old Myrtle, who loves mysteries and crime. Her love of mystery and crime comes from her late mother who was a medical student and her father who is a prosecutor. Due to this upbringing, she wants to be an investigator when she grows up. So when Mrs Wodehouse passes away and Myrtle picks up clues one morning, which are out of the ordinary for the Redgraves house, she knows something has happened to Mrs Wodehouse. Myrtle being the keen investigator, she can’t leave this job to the police and wants to find her own clues and figure out who the murderer is. But how can she do this when she is supposed to be a Proper Young Lady according to her father and her aunt. She continues with the help of her governess Miss Judson and her personal assistant, Peony the cat.
I was truly shocked at how much I loved this book. I did struggle initially, but I put that down to my own reading slump and life struggles, but once I got into it fully, I struggled to put it down! There are so many things I loved about this book. From the excerpts from “Principles of Detection” by H.M. Hardcastle, which as I learnt more I may have realised who this fictional character is supposed to be. They were a fabulous inclusion at the beginning of the chapter. It truly gave me a feel about what the following chapter would be about. The addition of the footnotes were great, and definitely suitable for the intended audience. They would definitely be suited better for a physical copy of the book, which was mentioned in the disclaimer at the beginning, which I was incredibly thankful for!

The character development was some of the best I’ve read this year. I loved reading Myrtle grow, even as a 12 year old. She definitely seemed a lot older than 12. The writing style of Bunce was so descriptive, yet not overly descriptive and so very engaging. I loved reading how Myrtle interacted with all the adults within the book. Her relationship with her father and also Miss Judson were so incredibly well done. I loved that these two relationships with Myrtle weren’t always smooth sailing. I love reading about arguments in families as they feel so much more real.

I normally struggle with background characters sometimes, and the background characters within this book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I went from hating some to loving them, and vice versa. It was such great writing, I’m still in shock at how Bunce took me on this rollercoaster ride.

As I said, once I was hooked in this book, I couldn’t put this book down because I just loved reading about the new clues and trying to figure out who the murderer was. The murderer who I thought it was changed about 5 times. So I definitely didn’t pick it until the scene where it was revealed. I loved this, because I don’t think I would have loved Premediated Myrtle as much as I did if the plot and the murderer was so obvious and easy to pick.

Thank you very much to the Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review and allowing me to participate in the blog tour.

3.75 stars

The perfect mystery series for the young Sherlock Holmes in your life—or for anyone who enjoys historical mysteries with a modern sense of humor. Myrtle was a HOOT!

Characters: ★★★★
Pacing: ★★ 1/2
Dialogue/Humor: ★★★★
Mystery: ★★★ 1/2

Myrtle Hardcastle has an Unconventional Obsession with crime. Unlike other Proper Young Ladies during these olden times, Myrtle doesn't like tea time, dresses, or spending time sitting still. She likes to investigate. And what's better to investigate than murders and crimes?

One morning, Myrtle is observing her neighbor's estate through her telescope and she notices something odd. Something is afoot at Redgraves, and the mistress of the house hasn't gotten up yet. As this highly irregular behavior, Myrtle calls it in to the police.

Turns out, her wealthy spinster neighbor has been murdered.

Myrtle Hardcastle is on the case. With her sharp-witted governess in tow and her prosecutor father in the background, Myrtle is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery—no matter what is at stake.

What a clever, funny, and engaging middle grade mystery novel. As someone who enjoys Sherlock Holmes-inspired tales and has a soft spot for plucky historical female characters, this was a win-win for me. While this series IS meant for a middle grade audience—and it is an excellent novel for that group—I would also highly recommend it to adults who love Deanna Raybourn and other such historical mystery writers as the tone and feel is quite similar.

A fun-filled ride from start to finish! Looking forward to catching more of Myrtle's antics in the sequel, How to Get Away with Myrtle.

Thank you to Algonquin for my copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Myrtle loves everything about solving crimes. So much so that she decides to get involved when her next-door neighbor dies unexpectedly. With her governess’s aid, Myrtle convinces the police and her father that her neighbor did not die of natural causes; instead, she was murdered. While investigating this case, Myrtle quickly learns that in a murder case, it is always important to follow the clues to ensure that the proper man or woman gets caught. Premeditated Myrtle was an excellently crafted mystery novel. It allowed the reader to slowly piece together the story along with Myrtle without any of the reveals being so shocking that I couldn’t see them coming. Myrtle is a strong and spunky girl who knows who she is and how she wants to interact with proper society. Her governess, Miss Judson, ensures that Myrtle doesn’t get in too much trouble and she reminded me a bit of Mary Poppins, just without the magic. The only criticism that I have for this book is that it gets a little slow in the middle. This makes me concerned that young readers may put it down in the middle. However, despite this, I would recommend this to any young reader who enjoys reading historical fiction and murder mysteries.⁠

[partner post: @algonquinyr]. ❤️Twelve-year-old Myrtle Hardcastle has a passion for justice and she has a mission. When her neighbor Miss Wodehouse dies under suspicious circumstances, Myrtle decides to take the case! With her father's law books, mum's microscope, passion for criminal science, and her governess Miss Ada Judson by her side, she wants to prove it was murder - even if no one believes her. This was such a clever and smart book (rec: ages 10 and up) - and my kids really liked it - my daughter especially loved the strong-willed Myrtle who wouldn't take no for an answer. It also sparked the "investigative" side of both my 8- and 10- year olds who now keep asking me for "mysteries" to solve! 🕵️‍♀️

Thanks again to @elizabethcbunce and Algonquin Young Readers @algonquinyr for these books and introducing us all to Myrtle! Happy publication day! 📖

Myrtle has a new fan!! I loved this book and I am excited to let my friends who have middle grade readers know about this book.
Twelve year old Myrtle loves to solve mysteries and in doing so, she gets herself into some tight spots. The characters and setting are great and not only will you enjoy the story, you might learn some new things too!! I'm looking forward to the next book in this new series.

I received a galley of this book through NetGalley.

<i>Premeditated Myrtle</i> is a middle grade mystery that abounds with wit, mayhem, and murder, the kind of book I would have loved as a kid and still adore at age 40.

Myrtle is the 12-year-old daughter of a British prosecutor who doesn't quite know what to do with a girl inclined toward morbid interests. Her medically-trained mother is dead. Her dearest friend and comrade is her governess Miss Judson. Myrtle is a but of a snoop, a girl who can hardly contain her glee when the mean girls try to pull a cruel prank by locking her in the town morgue.

I LOVE Myrtle. She is flawed and real, smart and sweet. She's the perfect lead for a mystery series like this.

The central plot is around the murder of her next-door-neighbor, an elderly woman obsessed with flowers. There are conniving heirs, not-so-helpful police, a false confession to murder, a cat who knows everything but can only meow--really, this is a not-short MG book packed with twists and turns. It's the perfect cozy read for MG readers and parents AND grandparents alike. For a comparative book (set in the same Victorian time frame in a small British town), look up the delightful <i>The Body Under the Piano</i> Aggie Morton mystery by Marthe Jocelyn.

If I had to sum up “Premeditated Myrtle” in one word it would be: delightful. Elizabeth C. Bunce has created a perfect heroine for middle grade readers with Myrtle Hardcastle. Set in 19th century England, Myrtle is a 12-year-old who is fascinated with solving crimes (partly because of her father being a prosecutor). She’s spunky, precocious, and incredibly smart. With her attention to detail and powers of deduction, Myrtle makes for a wunderkind detective a la a young Sherlock Holmes.

Readers get to see Myrtle’s detective skills in action when her elderly neighbor turns up dead under unusual circumstances. Myrtle begins investigating the death (even while her father expressly forbids it). I was so pleased that Myrtle was given a true mystery to solve (rather than some of the lamer Nancy Drew ones like missing clocks and so forth). I also loved how principled Myrtle is – she has a clear sense of wrong and right and feels she must correct every misjustice she comes across (especially if she feels she’s at the root of it). This makes her a moral figure that kids can really look up to (and that imbues a sense of drama into all of Myrtle’s actions).

Of course, the mystery follows a predictable formula – a few red herrings before the big reveal of the actual culprit. But I think kids who haven’t read a ton of formulaic mysteries will be eager to read the twists that come up in the plot. My favorite part of the novel is the humor. Myrtle is being coached to be a “Young Woman of Quality” as was befitting the time period. But she just can’t seem to avoid getting into trouble (which usually looks like her speaking up when she should be quiet or disobeying her father’s wishes). All of this is told with such heartwarming humor that I felt myself smile so many times while reading it.

I’m so glad Bunce decided to create a series around Myrtle – she’s one of the best young, female protagonists I’ve read in quite some time. And I think she exhibits qualities that are not only fun to read about, but could also serve as a good role model for young readers. I can’t wait to see what adventures Myrtle gets into next!

I love a new series! I especially love when I can introduce one to my students. I doubly especially love when I can introduce one to my students and it has a strong girl as the lead. I always hope I can inspire a lifelong love of reading by getting them hooked into a world they want to reenter again and again. A good kids' series can do that. This one is often to a good start.

Myrtle reminded me of the characters in books I loved so long ago. She is a throw back to smart, curious children who are strong but not obnoxious. She does her thing and she pushes the limits, as kids are supposed to do, but she is never cruel or horrible. A kid detective with a conscience. Maybe it is old fashioned, but that is what I liked most about it. And about her. I think my student will love to dive into the world of Myrtle, her governess, her father, and her notebook. Maybe some will be inspired, like I was as a child, to be curious and to want more.

I received an advance reader copy of this book via Algonquin Young Readers to read on a book tour in exchange for an honest review.

Premeditated Myrtle is the first book in a new mystery book series for YA that takes you back in time ( historical fiction) and introduces you to an amazing young female want to be detective who's clever sleuthing takes you on a fantastic mystery tour.

Myrtle is an amazing young lady and a strong, likeable character who's a great role model to children too.
This book is very well scripted and has funny moments too.

All the characters are likeable and diverse and this book is truly unique. I loved the small paragraphs explaining words in relation to detective and legal work too.

I'm going on to read book two now and am so excited to find out what Myrtle uncovers next.

I enjoyed this young adult mystery novel featuring Myrtle Hardcastle an inquisitive young girl who loves to learn and grow and solve mysteries. I loved Myrtle's governess Miss Ada Judson and all of the adventures Myrtle and Ada got into together.

This book has murder, intrigue, romance, and friendship. A really fun read.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Myrtle Hardcastle is 12 going on 21. Her late mother was a medical student and her father is a prosecutor. Myrtle wants to be an investigator -- combining the gifts of both her parents into her future profession. What I loved about this book: 1) Peony, the cat, assistant to Myrtle 2) The excerpts from 'Principles of Detection' by H.M. Hardcastle at the beginning of each chapter. 3) The collaboration between Myrtle and the adults in her life -- especially her governess. It is a wonderful thing when a child is encouraged to pursue their unique gifts and not expected to conform. Myrtle is even able to win over a neighborhood mean girl. The book itself is on the long side for middle grade. I would recommend it for confident readers 11 & up. Finally, hurray for local authors! I did not realize until reading the acknowledgements that Bunce wrote this book just across the state line from me in Johnson County.

Thank you to Alonquin and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Today, I am going to feature a book genre I don't usually choose, and that is mystery.

I wanted to experience another genre and, when Algonquin publishers emailed me about a series, I decided I wanted to experience the books they were offering.

Those books are book 1 and 2 in the Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries by Elizabeth C. Bunce.

This review is for Premeditated Myrtle, Book 1 in the series.

Myrtle Hardcastle is 12 years old, but she is not any 12 year old. No dolls and childs play for her. Myrtle has a very curious mind and loves anything law and justice-related. These things run in the family as her father is Crown Prosecutor.

The town where she lives is a traditional English town and it is a pretty quiet, uneventful place to be. That is, until an elderly neighbour passes away in what Mrytle knows are suspicious circumstances.

She is very concerned about what happened to the neighbour and why and she wants to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Her father is busy in the courtroom and the housekeeper is nice enough to Myrtle but has all the housework to do.

Who will solve the mystery? Myrtle thinks she is the best person for the task. But she cannot do it alone. Together with an eccentric mix of characters, she sets to work.

Will she do it in time? Join Myrtle and friends as they fight to solve their first mystery. There are ups and downs, challenges aplenty and many obstacles along the way. And there's another mystery-where IS Peony the cat?

Premeditated Myrtle is the first of a 2-book series and many people liken it to Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. I cannot comment on that as I haven't got a copy of the book. Nancy Drew is another book series it is likened to but I don't have those either. I did get some insight into the Nancy Drew series through the character of Claudia in The Babysitter's Club novels by Ann M. Martin as she was the character hooked on the mysteries.

Overall, a fun start to the series. Myrtle is a passionate main character and all the others complement her well. The pace and writing style are perfect for the type of book it is.

Thanks to Elizabeth C. Bunce and Algonquin for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4 stars.

Looking forward to book 2.

I did not finish this book. I didn’t find the voice or mystery particularly engaging, which was disappointing because I was looking forward to a new middle grade mystery series fronted by a headstrong, science-minded girl. I do think it might appeal to fans of the Enola Holmes series. though.

There is a new detective on the block! She is inquisitive, impulsive, and so much fun! What a great book! I will continue to look for more! I can't wait to see what happens next!

I really love cozy mysteries and this really seemed like one aimed at children. It was okay, nothing too impressive and didn't have me excited to turn the page. It was slow but without the nice build up that comes. This is for middle grade so it definitely could have been a case of that.

Thanks very much for this opportunity.

A delightful little Middle Grade crime novel featuring a twelve-year-old girl named Myrtle Hardcastle who is extremely interested in criminal science!

When her neighbor was unexpectedly found dead, Myrtle immediately suspects it as murder. Upon investigation, she realizes the evidence do not add up! Through many mistakes and incorrect suspects, Myrtle grows closer to the truth.

I loved this books so much because I thought it was very clever! I enjoyed the narration from a twelve-year-old and the humor that came with it. It was a fun read, full of suspense that caused me to bury my head in this book (not that I could literally do it as I was reading an ebook).

I enjoyed the plot and the characters immensely! They were so much fun! Besides that, the ending was so clever! It was an interesting way to end it dropping a hint to readers of a possible new adventure in a form of a sequel.

I would highly recommend this fun read to everyone especially to those who enjoy Middle Grade books.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Algonquin Young Readers through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I don't read young adult novels a lot, but I've challenged myself to do so for my Little Free Library. I'm glad this is a series, because I honestly can't get enough of this world. I'll be reading every one.

"Introducing Myrtle Hardcastle, your favorite new amateur detective: a wickedly smart twelve-year-old with a keen interest in criminology and a nose for murder.

Twelve-year-old Myrtle Hardcastle 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.

When her next-door neighbor, a wealthy spinster and eccentric breeder of rare flowers, dies under Mysterious Circumstances, Myrtle seizes her chance. With her unflappable governess, Miss Ada Judson, by her side, Myrtle takes it upon herself to prove Miss Wodehouse was murdered and find the killer, even if nobody else believes her - not even her father, the town prosecutor.

With sparkling wit and a tight, twisty plot, Premeditated Myrtle, the first in a series from an award-winning author, introduces a brilliant young investigator ready to take on hard cases and maddening Victorian rules for Young Ladies of Quality in order to earn her place among the most daring and acclaimed amateur detectives of her time or any other."

Ten year old me is wondering why this book wasn't in my life when I was ten! The first two books are available NOW!

I was extremely excited about this when I saw it on here - I've been in a bit of a reading funk lately and the thought of a Victorian Nancy Drew, struggling not only with the standard "nobody listens to children" issues of a young detective but also the strictures against women of the time period, really drew me in. I expected a fun quick cozy mystery. The book was a little more complicated than that, and while on one hand I think that's a cool thing, on the other it made for a much slower-going read than I expected and I'm worried about how middle grade readers will approach it as a result.

I work part-time in a library with some voracious young readers, so I'm always eager to recommend a strong female protagonist, particularly in a historical fiction context they might not stumble upon or select on their own. While this book delivers the attitudes that will appeal to them in Spades, I felt like the pacing was slower than I wanted from a book like this, and it was also longer than it needed to be. As a result I struggled to find my way into it more than I expected and on the whole liked it but didn't love it...