✨”The first murder aboard an English railway occurred in 1864, when Franz Muller beat banker Thomas Briggs to death on a London commuter train, then accidentally took the victim’s hat by mistake. This also marked an early example of another common travel hazard: mixed-up luggage.”✨
— Elizabeth C. Bunce, How to Get Away with Myrtle (Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery 2)

🌷How to Get Away with Myrtle was such a great sequel! And can I just say that this book completely appeased my love for fictional trains!

In this Agatha Christie like book, there is a stolen priceless artefact and a murder on a train! It is a brilliant plot with multiple twists and turns that are AWESOME! And guess what guys, it’s up to Myrtle to find the killer and lost property!

An unfriendly town, a burnt down pier, a luxurious hotel and a heap full of trouble!

Highly recommend and to be honest, I think this book was BETTER than the first!

Read. Be happy. Stay safe.

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!

This is the second book in the Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery series. I recommend reading the first book in the series before this one. I loved the first book and loved this one just as much. Myrtle reminds me of a younger Nancy Drew set in a different time period. I highly recommend reading this series!!

Myrtle and Judson are sent away on a tour with her insufferable aunt, Myrtle’s namesake, in the second book of the Myrtle Mystery series – How to Get Away with Myrtle. This book gave off all the Murder on the Orient Express vibe and I totally loved it!
In the second book, the author doesn’t spend much time with details or character backgrounds but directly jumps into the plot. Myrtle, after successfully solving the murder mystery back home, is sent away for a holiday with Miss Judson and her aunt. But all Myrtle wished to do was spend time with her father and solve more mysteries, not wear hefty evening dresses and travel on a train. But when a priced jewel crown is stolen and soon after, a murder occurs on the train, Myrtle finds herself in a classic adventurous holiday!

Just like the first book, this too had a great storyline and fantastically executed! The best part about reading these two books was the fact that the author knows how to write a mystery that keeps a reader engaged. I was roped in from the first page, obsessively pinning my doubts on everyone, going on this fabulous journey with Myrtle. The wit and cleverness of Myrtle and the story totally surprised me.

How to Get Away with Myrtle had an ensemble cast of characters and hence, the stake of finding the culprit was even higher. I loved these new additions and how the author also touched upon various important social themes in these stories. Here too, we see how the constable and police casually ignored Myrtle’s words as she was a girl and young, on top of that, and how no one would believe her. At the same time, the author also touched upon the theme of privilege and politics of power in this book, I believe.

My favourite, apart from Miss Judson, has to be Mr. Blakeney. He was such a dear character in this book and I loved how much he supported and believed in Myrtle.

The stories both portray a commendable growth in characters, and that is very lovely. One can see how the characters grow in their relationships with each other as well as individually, and the author portrayed this very well. Aunt Helena’s change towards the end was simply fantastic and more so because it was so very gradual.

That was something very stunning about this book – although the story was fast paced, everything was much gradual in its unfolding. The author takes great care in developing the characters along with the plot, giving us not a straightforward mystery but one with ample twists and turns. The little footnotes and legal detective jargons made reading even more fun!

The Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery is one fun middle grade mystery series that I enjoyed reading thoroughly. It was exceptionally well-scripted with a bunch of fun characters. I will definitely be looking forward to the next book/s in the series!

The first Myrtle Hardcastle mystery started a bit slow, but I cannot say the same for the sequel. How to Get Away with Myrtle follows 12-year-old Myrtle once more as she again gets caught up in a murder; the very thing that her father was hoping she’d avoid.

In this book, Myrtle is sent on a vacation with her aunt Helena, who she is none too fond of. However, the vacation isn’t nearly as boring as she’d dreaded it would be. When there is a murder on the very train that she is taking, she immediately knows that to give the victim justice she will have to take matters into her own hands, and solve the case herself, with, of course, the help of Miss Judson and some old friends and new friends.

This mystery was even more breathtaking than the last. I did not see any of what happened coming, and I most definitely did not figure out who the murderer was.

I think that part of why I enjoyed this book more than the previous one in the series was that I already knew Myrtle and a lot of the other characters, and I already understood more of who Myrtle was, just more overall about her character.

I really liked getting to see more of Miss Judson in this book, however once again I was curious about her. I also wanted to know more about Myrtle’s aunt Helena. She was very funny to read about though!

I actually thought that the overall writing was better in this book, the second in the series. The descriptions of the characters and settings felt more real, and the events were more vivid and imaginable.

How to Get Away with Myrtle was a fast-paced, fun, and interesting read.

My rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.

Recommendable: Yes

To who? A sequel that surpasses the expectation from the book before it, How to Get Away with Myrtle is perfect for anyone who enjoyed Premeditated Myrtle. I think that older readers would enjoy this book even more than the first, and that anyone would have fun with this second installment about Myrtle Hardcastle.

Myrtle is vacationing by the sea with her aunt Helena and her governess Ms. Judson for the holidays. Myrtle doesn't care much for her aunt Helena because she can be harsh, and Myrtle believes this vacation is her father's way of punishing and distracting her because of her interest in solving murder cases. After embarking on the train to the sea, Myrtle meets many other passengers who are also on their way to the same seaside resort. She meets Mrs. Bloom, insurance investigator for Albion Casualty Insurance, who is protecting an expensive tiara as it travels to its destination. Later on, Myrtle is invited to a social gathering, and the lights suddenly go out. The tiara has disappeared! Mrs. Bloom invites Myrtle to help crack the case of the missing tiara, and Myrtle is only too happy to oblige, despite Aunt Helena's public threatening of Mrs. Bloom. The next day, Mrs. Bloom doesn't arrive for breakfast, and the train guests wonder what has happened to her. Not long after, Myrtle finds Mrs. Bloom with shears in her back, much like the shears that Aunt Helena threatened her with. Did Helena do this, or can Myrtle find the real killer and clear Helena's name before it's too late?

I liked Myrtle's second adventure even more than her first! I'm a sucker for a murder mystery on a train, and the humor and footnotes from Myrtle were more engaging than they were in Premeditated Myrtle. Myrtle has such a sharp intellect, and I love that the scientific aspects Myrtle brings to the table are actually legitimate and based in truth. Myrtle is stalwart and relentless in her pursuit of justice, even when others doubt her or try to raise obstacles just because of her age or her supposed place in society. Elizabeth Bunce does a really great job of writing the characters as if they are all legitimate suspects and interesting people, which kept me guessing about who the real culprit was until the big reveal, which not many books succeed with. This story also continues to showcase situations where women and girls are treated unfairly by men. In particular, there is a moment when the inspector for the railway police smacks Myrtle's hand and steals a notebook from Ms. Judson which made my blood boil! Ooooh no he didn't! How to Get Away with Myrtle is the second book in this excellent series that is being marketed for children, yet its mysteries are more solid than many adult mysteries I've read. I want the third one to be part of my collection already! The Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries are some of the finest literature that's approachable for young and old being written today, and I recommend them to all brave persons of intelligence and justice.

BOOK ONE: Premeditated Myrtle
Welcome to the quaint English Victorian village of Swinburne 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.

Myrtle returns for another adventure, and this time she is taking to the road… well, rail… with her beloved Miss Judson and less-beloved Aunt Helena. Can our young detective-in-training still practice her skills when she is out of her comfort zone, away from her resources, and under the disapproving eye of the family battleaxe?

Of course, she can… after all, Myrtle IS irrepressible!

In this story, she faces another classically-Christie style murder, whilst dodging responsible adult influences and making some new friends (and enemies!). As well as Harriet the Spy and Flavia de Luce, I got a distinct flavour of Amelia Peabody in Myrtle’s determined focus on finding the truth and fulfilling her ambitions, against the doubts and expectations of those around her. I could definitely see an adult Myrtle poking miscreants out of her way with a parasol!

It was lovely to see my own personal favourite character, Mr Blakeney, making a return this time around and I cheered his appearance as much as I booed Aunt Helena’s. But these are no pantomime characters, and Elizabeth C. Bunce develops even her side characters into more complex and nuanced individuals, subverting reader expectations delightfully.

This is another rippingly good adventure tale for young – and older – readers, and I am definitely adding copies of these books to my personal shelves. I love it when I find a new favourite author!

Fellow fans of classic mystery novels with unique characters, and a light, humorous style of writing, are sure to love these books as much as I do. I can’t wait to introduce Myrtle to Minishine!



I turned away and shoved the chemisettes into the trunk. If this were a proper holiday, Father would be coming with us, not separating us with a whole ocean.” On a Proper Holiday, Father and Miss Judson might even frolic on the beach together. They’d Promenade on the Pier together. We could be a Proper Family, just the three of us. Instead, Miss Judson and I were being Exiled to the seaside, while Father got as far away from us as possible.
Miss Judson turned me to face her. “You may not believe this, but your father just wants you to have a good time—”
“I’d have a good time in Paris. With him.”
“—doing something that does not involve murder.”
I glowered at her. “An ordinary holiday. Like an ordinary girl.”
“Exactly. I’m sure you can manage that. Rumor has it you’re clever and resourceful.”

– Elizabeth C. Bunce, How to Get Away with 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.

In Volume Two, what starts as Myrtle Hardcastle getting to assist "a real Investigator in the search for a jewel thief!" quickly escalates into Myrtle Hardcastle attempting to solve the crime of a murder!

In this story, Myrtle, Miss Judson (governess), and Aunt Helena are heading down the train tracks to go on holiday. Even Peony the cat has gotten packed into the luggage, ready for some relaxation and vacation. Suffice it to say, by chapter 5, the situation becomes Extremely Interesting. When the police handcuffs come out, they're being slapped onto the wrists of one of Myrtle's own inner circle. Gasp!

The larger-than-life settings and atmosphere, alongside the immensely colorful characters, make the story jump to life in my head like a movie. It will capture the attention of even the most reluctant readers out there.

Myrtle's life seems to me that it must be similar to a young Agatha Christie's (fictionalized) life. The other girls back home don't call her "Morbid Myrtle" for nothing.

Many times sprinkled throughout the book I'll just happen to find a wonderful turn of phrase that will make me simply stop and smile (both inwardly and outwardly) at the wittiness of it... and it keeps happening, extending my pleasure of the story itself.

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.)

In book #2 of this new middle grade mystery series, Myrtle and her governess set off on a trip with her aunt. Once again, Myrtle's curiosity leads to mystery and mayhem. I love this series and look forward to the next book.

4 stars

Oh Myrtle, Myrtle, Myrtle. She just keeps finding herself smack in the middle of a crime scene. What’s a smart, bored Young Lady of Quality stranded in a washed-up carnival town to do but follow the evidence to find out which of her fellow travelers is a thief and a murderer? This sequel was so much fun.

Writing/Humor: ★★★★
Pacing: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★★
Mystery: ★★★★

This sequel to the Myrtle Hardcastle mysteries was even more fun than the first one, and to be honest could be read first—up to you as the reader!

Myrtle is such a great character. Stuck in a time period where girls and women are usually confined to oppressive and restricted roles, Myrtle shucks tradition and decides to pursue her true passion: crime and science.

In this latest installment, things have seriously gone awry. Myrtle, her terrible Aunt Helena, her governess, and their cat, Peony, have all gone on a train trip to a far away seaside town. The last thing they expect to discover is a dead body on the train—pierced by Aunt Helena's own shears.

Can Myrtle solve the case and get to the bottom of it before it's too late?

Ah! There's something so special about discovering a middle grade series that holds up for us adults, too. Not that there is any expectation for a book to do so—if it's middle grade, the MOST important thing is that is should resonate with its young audience. But isn't it nice when a book crosses those age boundaries and becomes something for all?

That's what I would say this series excels at doing. Myrtle Hardcastle might be a 12 year old (with young moods and opinions) but her humor and situations appeal to all audiences. I loved watching Myrtle get to the bottom of the case in this one, too, and couldn't get enough of her adventures with Peony and the gang.

You go, Myrtle!

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

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Myrtle’s father has decided that she should go on a vacation because solving murders is a bit too morbid for a girl her age. So, Myrtle is packed up on a train with a ridiculous hat on holiday with her Aunt Helena, governess Miss Judson, and her cat Peony, whom she snuck on. While on the train, Myrtle meets Mrs. Bloom, an insurance inspector who is helping to safely transport a priceless tiara. When the tiara goes missing, Mrs. Bloom requires Myrtle’s help to figure out what happened. When a dead body also turns up, Myrtle will need all of her detective skills and scientific knowledge to figure out who killed someone with her aunt’s scissors. This second book follows in the footsteps of the first with a well-crafted mystery. I enjoyed all of the different characters that Myrtle meets and trying to figure out their secrets. Like the first book, the second does get a little slow in the middle. However, the way that this book packs so many mysteries that intertwine together to help solve the more prominent case makes it a worthwhile read.

[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! 📖

First off, these Myrtle Hardcastle books are wonderful to read one after the other – the two first books would create the perfect start to a series for any young reader. While “Premeditated Myrtle” had a Sherlock Holmes vibe, this book is all about the Agatha Christie inspiration.

The second book opens with Myrtle going on holiday with her aunt (whom she despises) and her beloved governess (a relationship that just warms my heart). Myrtle’s father suggests the trip in order to get away from the stress of the crime that Myrtle just got finished solving in the first book. The three of them begin their adventure with a train ride, and the very first night a famous tiara is stolen in the middle of the journey. At first, I was discouraged that this mystery wouldn’t have any real consequences or true drama, but then one of the train’s passengers ends up murdered, and Myrtle becomes determined to solve both of the cases. A murder (while a tad violent for a middle-grade book) actually makes the reader care more about the high stakes of the mystery. With so many passengers on the train, there are tons of suspects (much in the vein of Murder on the Orient Express).

It was a tad confusing in the beginning to keep the characters and their backstories straight but because we’re already familiar with Myrtle and a few other characters, there was still a great flow to the story. I also love how Myrtle tries so hard to be a “Young Lady of Quality” and avoid any unladylike detective work but the mysteries keep falling right in her lap!

Since Myrtle is such a fantastic, whip-smart heroine, I think young readers will really fall in love with her. Plus, it’s an added bonus that the book is set in the 19th century, so readers might end up learning some new things about the past.

I hope there are many other books to come in this series – I can’t wait to recommend these first two Myrtle books!

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

In How to get away with Myrtle (book 2 of the series), Myrtle and her governess and great aunt are going by train to a holiday destination by the sea. When on board the train a sudden disappearance of an expensive tiara sends Myrtle on another mystery. Not long after the tiara goes missing there is a murder and Myrtle gets thrust into discovering both crimes. When her aunt is arrested Myrtle knows she must do all she can to prove her innocence.

This book was yet again a book I couldn't put down. I did guess who the thief was about half way through but didn't piece other pieces of the puzzle together until the end.

This is a great adventure and mystery series that I cannot wait to read more of!

It isn't often that a wish comes true so quickly. But that is what this book is - the fulfillment of a wish, the answer to a prayer!

When I read Premeditated Myrtle, I had hoped that Ms. Bunch would write more Myrtle stories. It was one of the best books of it's kind I'd read in a long time. I was sorry that I couldn't give it 10 stars!

Now she has done it again! How to Get Away with Myrtle is another treasure. Myrtle is "getting away" on a holiday to the seashore with her governess/nanny Miss Judson and her Aunt Helena for whom she was named. It begins with a train trip on a private excursion. A priceless tiara is stolen! As it happens, there is a representative of the insurance company traveling with the group to make certain the tiara is properly guarded. Unpon arrival to the seashore town, the insurance company representative is found dead.

Where is the tiara? Who killed Mrs. Bloom? Why? As Myrtle considers all the facts, there are a number of possible answers to her many questions. Miss Judson, instead of being helpful and encouraging, tells Myrtle that she absolutely must not get involved in this investigation.

Although Myrtle's father is off at a conference so we don't see him this time, we are delighted to once again meet Mr. Blankeney who was in the previous book. Although I had read the first book about six weeks before, it took me a moment to remember him and the fact that he always called Myrtle "Stephen" I smiled every time there was a dialog between them.

Although the target audience for this book is middle school. I think adults will also fall in love with Myrtle and this series.

Oh, my heart. I wanted to know the ending, yet I hated to finish this book. I wonder if it is too much to wish for the same thing as my last review of an Elizabeth Bunch book: I hope she writes more - and SOON!

Another fun middle grade crime / mystery from the Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries. I enjoyed the humor and the suspense presented in the story very much.

To be honest, this book was not as exciting as the first book but it was still very fun reading how the truth in the investigation was discovered!

In this story, Myrtle is forced to go on a vacation with her insufferable aunt and her favorite governess, away from her father who is attending a conference and trial of Mr Ambrose (suspect in the first book). However, during their journey to Fairhaven, a jewel robbery and then a murder took place on the train. Despite being prohibited to investigate the case according to the instructions of her father, Myrtle once again was able to not just uncover the crime but also prevented another murder from happening.

The plot of this book started pretty slow. It was quite some time before something happened and the investigation had lots of dead ends. The plot twists only begin towards the end of the story where the truth started tumbling out one by one (aka the exciting part of the book).

Even so, the characters were most wonderful! They all fitted into the story perfectly, playing the role befitting a suspenseful plot while including humor. One of my favorite parts of this series is also the clever footnotes. They are always hilarious to read.

Looking forward to the next adventure in this series. And I’m hoping to see Myrtle’s investigative skills grow too.

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

Twelve year old Myrtle Hardcastle is sent to enjoy a seaside vacation by her father in an effort to ensure her safety while he is away. With her hyper critical and overbearing Aunt Helena as a travel companion, along with her near constant reminders pertaining to young ladies and decorum, Myrtle is sure their will be little enjoyment to be found. This however take an unexpected and quite exciting turn when soon into the train journey an expensive tiara is stolen. Myrtle, with the help of the intrepid Miss Judson, sets out to discover the location of the missing tiara and who is behind its sudden disappearance however before she can get too far into her investigation an inspector goes missing and a body is discovered in the baggage car. As Myrtle observes the police bumble their way through the case, and with nothing even remotely more engaging to occupy her mind and time, Myrtle decides she herself will investigate all three crimes. However she quickly learns that the seaside town has a dark past stemming from a tragic and mysterious pleasure boat fire and in order to fully understand the events taking place in the present she will first have to unravel the town's secrets from the past.
How to Get Away With Myrtle is the second book featuring the young, yet resourceful Myrtle Hardcastle. Myrtle makes for a truly fascinating main character with her precocious, sassy nature and her energetic yet determined spirit. The numerous secondary characters are equally as lively and well developed as Myrtle herself and each add a bit of flair to the story; from the local townspeople to each of the individuals Myrtle meets along her journey, including the crazy ducks that roam the streets. The mystery at the center of the story was complex and each of the seemingly incompatible clues came together nicely, culminating in a satisfyingly rational yet genuinely surprising ending. I highly recommend How to Get Away With Myrtle to mystery readers of all ages, especially those, like myself, who adore a mystery that takes place on a train.

Plot: Another great mystery in this series! I don't want to ruin the mystery for people, so I will just say that I thought the mystery was really well done, and while I guessed part of what had happened, I didn't figure it all out, which was nice. I always love when a mystery is able to surprise me!

Characters: I loved Myrtle, and Miss Judson again in this one! I also liked how we got a bunch of new characters, but characters from the first book were also part of it. (Sometimes in ways I didn't expect!) I liked how we got another side of Aunt Helena in this book.

The Cover: Another good cover!

Overall: This was a fantastic sequel, and I can't wait for another book in the series! (Which is mentioned at the end of the book.) Highly recommend these books if you're looking for a good mystery, no matter what age you are!