whodunit, inventions, investigation, 1950s, steampunk, clandestine-agency, London, locked-room-mystery, family-dynamics, friendship, murder, murder-investigation*****

Marion Lane is a new recruit in a clandestine under-the-ground investigation agency with a difficult task ahead (even more so than the usual). She has to solve the locked-room murder of an unpleasant co-worker and clear her friend of the deed. Marion is gifted but underestimated and the agency is reminiscent of Veronica Speedwell, The Chronicles of St Mary's, and even Inspector Gadget. There are lots of plot twists, mysterious maps, and peculiar clues. Some characters are drawn in depth, but there are others who seem to be waiting for a sequel. The publisher's blurb is a good hook, but the story has a bit of background to overcome, so don't expect it to hit the ground running.
I noticed some other reviewers had issues with the gadgets in a timeframe of the late 1950s, but as someone who was in grammar school at that time, I have no problem at all with it. I really loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from HARLEQUIN (U.S. & Canada)/Park Row Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

"Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder" is a mystery set in 1958 in an England filled with clockwork gadgets. The story started off with two characters who were not the main character, and I didn't find the story interesting until Marion became the point of view character. This happens quickly enough, but I think I would've liked it better if the story had just started with her. Anyway, Marion has been recruited because of her mechanical skills, but she spent most of her time investigating (so may end up as a detective). She worked with her friend and a detective who's investigating the murder. They listened to gossip, uncovered secrets (including doing things that could get them fired), spied on people, and put together clues to discover what's going on and whodunit.

The main characters were interesting and likable. It's more of a suspense than a puzzle-mystery, with physical danger to those investigating. Even Marion questioned why the World War II secret hadn't simply been destroyed (rather than hidden), and given the answer provided her, one has to question why it still hasn't been destroyed at the end. I also found it odd that these recruits--skilled professionals in their 20s--were being treated (and acted) like teenagers. However, the overall story was an enjoyable, lively mystery with some clockwork fantasy thrown in. There was no sex. There was a fair amount bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting story.

From just seeing the cover, I knew that Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Wilberg would be a much different mystery read, and I am thrilled that I was right.

The aspect I loved the most was the main character, Marion Lane. She is filled with intriguing nuances and complex layers. She is the kind of character I want to know better, and she is complicated enough that I learned more every time I encountered her. Marion is full of surprises, determination, and heart and is the most unlikely of investigators on the surface. Once you start peeling back the layers, though, you realize she has the heart of a warrior, and nothing will stop her until she solves her case.

The world in this novel is so intriguing that I still think about it. From the secret passages and doors to the cool gadgets, they all enthralled me. I particularly loved the map that you needed a special monocle to see and the snake that had a camera that was activated by movement. But these are just two gadgets among many throughout the story.

The murder mystery is brilliant with a long, complicated history that spans a post-WWII world sublimely and mixes such traditions as alchemy and chemical warfare. It brought in the reason this secret compound existed for the equally secret investigative firm to use with a modern mystery story in a seamless telling that left no questions at the end. It has its moments of high suspense and action, but mostly this mystery is atmospheric.

Technically, the story checks all the boxes. The dialogue flows naturally and realistically. The exposition allows the reader to pull facts together to solve the murder mystery and solve the mystery of what makes each character tick. The third-person narration allows the reader to explore the world better than a more focused narrative would have, and there are so many cool things to explore, it would be a shame not to be able to do so.

If you are looking for a different kind of murder mystery – one with the most genuine main character I have ever read in the genre and with many cool gadgets, doorways, and tunnels – you will want to pick up Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder.

This book is a DNF (did not finish) for me.

I was anticipating a unique, immersive story. Unfortunately, this book and I turned out to be a bad match. Nothing worked for me.

There's no character development at all.

World-building is vague, as is the plot.

Pacing is extremely slow, cluttered with excess narration and exposition that doesn't lead the story anywhere.

Nothing of consequence happens until well after the one-quarter mark, and that happens to be something we already expected due to the book's description. At this point I still didn't have a firm grasp on the alternate London we inhabited, nor did I know much or care even the slightest about Marion Lane.

I persevered until about the 35% mark on my Kindle. When I realized I'd rather wash my floors than continue reading, I gave up.

This is just my opinion. You might love this story, so please do give it a try if the description appeals to you.

I admit that I was sold as soon as I read the blurb of Marion Lane And The Midnight Murder and saw that it was a historical mystery. Add the promise of a mysterous detective agency, secret tunnels and gadgets, and there was just no way I was going to be able to resist this story... And I'm glad I didn't, because I have just found myself a new favorite! The historical setting, the Inquirer world, the characters, the suspense, the murder mystery... I loved it all, and I really do hope T.A. Willberg will turn this is a series as I'm already craving for more. Fans of historical mysteries and detective thrillers alike will have a blast reading this debut!

There is a lot to love in this story, but I guess the first thing that stands out is the historical setting. Marion Lane And The Midnight Murder takes place in 1958 London, a city that still struggles with the aftermath of WWII and of course will always have crimes to solve. The author did a brilliant job developing the historical feel of this story, and it really felt like I was transported back to the 1950s along with the main characters. Connected to this is the development of the Miss Brickett's Investigations & Inquiries agency and the whole Inquirer world in general, which is once again brilliantly done and really took the story to the next level for me. I loved learning more about this mysterious agency and the inner workings of their organization and those who worked there... This is definitely a world I wouldn't mind revisiting in the future!

As for the characters... Marion Lane makes for a very strong main character and I was able to connect to her almost immediately. Her personality, her affinity to mechanics, her perseverance while hunting for the truth... There was just something about her that made me like her immediately, and I had a great time seeing her develop during the story. I also liked that she is an Inquirer-In-Training and not a full blown Inquirer, as this way we get to learn so much more about the organization and its training methods alone the way... Marion Lane And The Midnight Murder has a great cast of characters in general, and I had a wonderful time following them along the way.

I was a big fan of both the plot and the writing itself too. The writing style is fluid and super engaging, making me fly through those pages in record time. The plot and its twists did a brilliant job building up the suspense and the whole 'on the edge of my seat' cliche most definitely applies here. The investigation was fascinating to follow and I definitely didn't guess most of the twists either, which is always a bonus for me. And the ending most definitely left me wanting for more!

In short, I had a fantastic time with Marion Lane And The Midnight Murder and I can highly recommend this title to anyone who enjoys a well written detective thriller and/or historical mystery with a twist. It's a brilliant debut set in a world I wouldn't mind revisiting in the future! Fingers crossed this will actually become a series, as I'm already hungry for more.

London in the 1950's, plus a murder mystery? Yes, please! This premise was wild and fun, with aspects of secret societies, common rooms, and apprentices, that almost had the feel of Harry Potter (but a lot stabbier). I loved this book.

What I Liked:

Premise:

Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries is a secret society where Marion is an apprentice. The organization is one where crimes are investigated using fantastical gadgetry, and often less than legal tactics. I loved all the secrets and mysteries, and the 1950's London setting. I got a very Harry Potter vibe from this book as well. The apprentices have daily tasks, hang out in a common room, and form strong bonds.

Characters:

Marion, the main character, is a lonely young woman who lost her mother, and has no other relatives. But she does have a guardian angel looking out for her. Frank is a father figure (or is he actually her father?) and is one of the leaders at Miss Brickett's. He always seems to come through with hope for Marion. So when he is accused of murder, Marion has a fierce need to clear his name. Marion's loyalty, and ingenuity make her a character to root for.

The other apprentices, and investigators have secrets and it's hard for Marion to know who to trust. I enjoyed figuring out their hidden agendas.

Mystery:

The story revolves around the murder of one of the members of the agency. This might be considered a "locked door" mystery, meaning the circumstances of the murder make it hard to understand who could have murdered the woman, if Frank didn't do it. Solving the murder reveals uncomfortable truths about Miss Brickett's, and the level of commitment members really must pledge to the agency.

Website: https://tawillberg.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Marion-Lane-Inquirers-T-Willberg-ebook/dp/B082Q58TN7/ref=sr_1_1?adid=082VK13VJJCZTQYGWWCZ&campaign=211041&creative=374001&dchild=1&keywords=Marion+Lane+and+the+Midnight+Murder&qid=1607720458&s=books&sr=1-1&tag=x_gr_w_bb_sin-20
Title: Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder
Author: T.A. Willberg
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder plunges readers into the heart of London, to the secret tunnels that exist far beneath the city streets. There, a mysterious group of detectives recruited for Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries use their cunning and gadgets to solve crimes that have stumped Scotland Yard.

Late one night in April 1958, a filing assistant for Miss Brickett’s named Michelle White receives a letter warning her that a heinous act is about to occur. She goes to investigate but finds the room empty. At the stroke of midnight, she is murdered by a killer she can’t see—her death the only sign she wasn’t alone. It becomes chillingly clear that the person responsible must also work for Miss Brickett’s, making everyone a suspect.

Almost unwillingly, Marion Lane, a first-year Inquirer-in-training, finds herself being drawn ever deeper into the investigation. When her friend and mentor is framed for the crime, to clear his name she must sort through the hidden alliances at Miss Brickett’s and secrets dating back to WWII.

The premise of this novel was very intriguing—a mysterious group of hidden detectives? And they have a secret headquarters, like the wizards in Harry Potter? That sounded very cool and definitely caught my attention.

I found the execution to be slow and languid, and not equal to the promise of the story idea. Reading about a murder investigation in a secret organization of detectives, I expected a certain level of tension and intrigue, but that isn’t what I got. There was a lot of gossiping, secrets, a fair amount of drinking, and really no curiosity about who the murderer was—or why Michelle White was even killed.

T.A. Willberg is from South Africa. Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Park Row in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 12/30.)

Just what I needed! Marion Lane is a delightful protagonist. The beginning page captured my attention and Willberg’s writing kept me turning the pages. Taking place in 1950’s London, Marion is recruited into a super-secret investigation group. Like all good fantasy, magical devices are in plentiful supply and there is a powerful evildoer among the group. Marion, while only an apprentice shows her mettle in bringing the dastard to his demise. Interesting characters, adventure, and an intelligent female protagonist make me hope for more books in this series.

Twenty-three-year-old Marion Lane lives a rather ordinary, quiet life in 1958 London. The toughest part of her day is living with her mother.
Marion works as an Inquirer-in-Training ... a sort of detective intern at Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries.

When a filing clerk, Michelle White, receives a note that something terrible is about to happen and she goes off to investigate. She finds an empty room, but at the stroke of the hour when the note said something would occur, she is struck dead. All signs point to the murderer being someone familiar with Miss Brickett's ... most likely an employee. But when Marion Lane's mentor is accused, she knows she has to investigate.

I was attracted to the book by the hype that this mystery is solved using cunning and gadgets by a highly secretive, underground detective group. Ummm. Maybe. There is a highly secretive, underground (both literally and figuratively) group, but they aren't really as exciting as the hype implies. And the gadgetry? It sort of comes across as steampunk-ish. Or maybe not. Is it futuristic? Maybe. Maybe not. What era is this?

In fact, this is one of my biggest issues with the book ... the setting. The book seems to try to capture the mood and feel of a Victorian era novel, maybe the early 1920's mood. And occasionally, as I read, I would stop and think "Did they have that capability back then?" then remember that it was set in the late 1950's and not when it felt like it was set.

There are definitely moments that I really enjoyed. Marion's invitation to a job at a bookstore, which turns out to be a ruse and a test of her skills, was fun and I definitely wanted to get more of this sort of action which I felt was missing overall.

I like the idea of this story, but it only promises exciting fantastical elements and fails to deliver on that promise. Purely as a 'locked room' mystery, this stands tall and perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't gone in with some expectations based on PR.

Looking for a good book? Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg is a decent locked room mystery and has the potential to be a decent series, but this first volume is only just fine.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Deep below the streets of London lies a secretive detective agency called Miss Brickett's Investigations & Inquiries. The mysterious detectives of Miss Brickett's use their cunning, wiles, and secret gadgets to solve crimes that have stumped the likes of Scotland Yard. One night, a filing assistant receives a letter of warning and goes to investigate but finds only an empty room...or so she thought. When her body is found, it becomes clear that the culprit had to be someone else who works at Miss Brickett's, meaning everyone within its walls is a suspect.

Against her better wishes, first-year Inquirer-in-training, Marion Lane, finds herself being dragged into the murder investigation. When her friend and mentor is framed for the assistant's murder, Marion vows to clear his name. Her investigation takes her all over the winding tunnels of Miss Brickett's, into hidden rooms and secrets that have been buried since WWII. Without knowing who can be trusted, will Marion be able to ferret out the true murderer before it's too late?

The premise of this sounded very twisty and suspenseful, but it sadly fell flat for me. I like my mysteries to be quite fast-paced, and this was just too slow for my tastes. There was a ton of exposition which made it feel too long-winded, and I found myself skim reading for most just trying to get to some action. The actual mystery was fine, it wasn't the best I've ever read and it does get a little confusing at times due to so many moving parts. The characters were also just fine, but a bit underdeveloped and one-note. That was my biggest issue with this: it was just meh. It had such potential to be a cool atmospheric murder mystery, but it just stayed at one level and never peaked. All in all, this was just a bummer.

** “Vulnerability demonstrated courage, not weakness.” **

** “And maybe that spark of courage could now be coaxed into a flame.” **

“Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder” by T.A. Willberg is a delightfully fun new 1950s era detective story featuring a plucky heroine.

Marion Lane finds herself able to escape her humdrum life by becoming an apprentice at a secretive, underground detective agency in London — Miss Brickett’s Investigations and Inquiries. New employees learn the craft of detection, trained to “track suspects without being seen, listen to conversations without being noticed, enter buildings without invitation. They were expected to conceal the extraordinary behind a facade of mundane and austere,” all while using unique gadgets created by experts at the agency.

But when a crime strikes close to home at Miss Brickett’s, Marion secretly joins forces with some of her colleagues to save a friend from false conviction.

What follows is a fun, intriguing whodunnit filled with spy missions, murder, intriguing gadgets and seemingly impossible situations. Willberg does an incredible job of developing a twisty mystery while creating great and riveting characters. Readers will love the ‘50s spy mission vibe. Marion is like a Nancy Drew for adults, working in a literal underground lair to solve a mystery.

“Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder” is a fun whodunnit, but does offer a few lessons to ponder, like finding courage, even while being vulnerable; learning whom to trust; and believing in one’s own strengths and abilities.

One disclaimer: this book does feature some swearing. This book is due out Dec. 29.

Five stars out of five.

Park Row Books provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Original and fun! Was happy to highlight this title in Zoomer magazine’s Novel Encounters for December, my monthly look-ahead column of the forthcoming notable fiction books.

This debut feels a little bit Harry Potter, a little James Bond, and includes a whodunit that is tailor-made for Christie fans. A secret agency operates underground and independent from the London police force. When a murder occurs, the list of suspects is limited to those with access to the tunnels. There is a killer in their midst. Marion is an Apprentice and when family friend Frank is framed, she must act to defy direct orders and save him from banishment. A camaraderie is developing among the Apprentices and their actions may be gaining the respect of their superiors including a newly hired and good-looking American. The gadgets and boobytraps are inventive and at times inconvenient. Marion Lane, your story is far from over. I was betting on a sequel and the last few paragraphs confirm those suspicions. Looking forward to the next chapter in Marion's story.

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

I wasn't quite sure of this book's intentions. Not quite sci fi, not quite young adult, not quite historical fiction, not quite Harry Potter clone. The plot was semi-interesting because it was a bit different.

Young Marion Lane had a pretty dismal life. The book is set in post World War II England. Marion's father had died in the war and her mother just a couple years previously so Marion lives with her truly awful grandmother. Grandmother is cold and nagging, interested only in getting Marion married off so she doesn't have to deal with her anymore.

Marion is a different sort of young woman. Her interest and aptitude lies in mechanical objects and engineering. A family friend steers her toward a special clandestine group operating out of a used bookstore. In reality, the bookstore is a cover for a group of operatives who are based in the old underground tunnels of London. There is a strict hierarchy and code of secrecy. Their mission, though mostly unspecified, is vaguely humanitarian.

When Marion's grandmother sells her late mother's house from underneath her and moves to American, Marion takes up full time residence at the bookstore. One of the operatives is found murdered, and it's obvious it's an inside job. Cliques and factions at the spyworks form and no one is above suspicion. Marion and her friends and allies have to work to clear the name of the old family friend who recruited her.

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a gray and dreary story! The setting is London in 1958. The main character is Marion Lane. She worked for an auto repair shop and learned a lot about mechanics until a lack of business forced it to close. Now her grandmother, who moved in after her mother's suicide, is trying to pressure Marion to marry. She even goes so far as to sell her home out from under her.

Marion's mentor Frank who was a friend of her late mother's finds her a job with Miss Brickett's Investigations & Inquiry where she is currently an apprentice. Miss Brickett's is underground both literally and figuratively. One enters through a decrepit used book store and a hidden trapdoor. The business has taken over some World War II underground shelters which were built from older facilities that may stretch back to Alchemists in the 1300a. The facility comes complete with dangerous and shifting tunnels and booby traps. Miss Brickett's also works outside the law and with questionable ethical standards.

When Michelle White who works in the Filing Department is found dead in the Lock Room, the hidden camera indicates that only Marion's mentor Frank accessed the room during the relevant time. Marion is determined to clear his name and find the real murderer and unravel the mystery of how the murder was done. There isn't much desire to get justice for Michelle who wasn't a likeable character and who had a justly earned reputation for being a snitch. She alienated almost everyone who came into contact with her.

Marion teams up with fellow apprentice Bill and a new agent hired from the US named Kenny Hugo to solve the crime and clear her mentor's name. But the real killer has a much bigger and much more dangerous plot than they know about. He's determined to complete his dastardly plans no matter who stands in his way.

This book had shades of the MAN FROM UNCLE in the underground headquarters and even bits of HARRY POTTER in the map which illuminates the changing tunnel systems. But it is the MAN FROM UNCLE without the dashing heroes and humor and HARRY POTTER without the magic - though some of the gadgets in the story have a bit of a magical feel.

The characters were not very well-developed. I don't feel that I ever got to know anything about Marion and her goals other than that her mother committed suicide and she was now homeless. The other characters were all similarly one-dimensional.

All-in-all there were few bright spots mixed in with the dreary gray in this historical mystery for me. I did like some of the gadgets.

DNF. After reading the summary for this one, I was so sure I was going to like it. It sounded very interesting, especially the literally underground detective agency of sorts. Instead, it’s very boring. Even the scenes where things happened (trying to not give anything away) we’re just so lacking in description and emotion that I lost interest very quickly.

From the very start I was totally engaged in this slightly steampunk, slightly James Bond meets Miss Marple, twisty tale. This is a wonderful debut and I am so hoping that we will see more of Marion and the other inquirers soon.

Marion Lane is a character that I think many people will be able to relate too. She is at the point in her life, where she really isn’t sure of herself and what she wants to do. Even though she wants to be a part of Miss Brickett’s Investigations, she has her doubts that she will be good at it. But she keeps her head up and continues to carry on, even when things are not going her way. She is smart and handy with mechanical things, and even though she says she is bad at puzzles she is actually quite good at them. I think she will prove to be a great investigator.

There are many other people that Marion interacts with, but we don’t really get to know many of them well. There are two men, that she works with that might become love interests in future stories, but not in this one. I did like the relationship she had with Frank, the investigator that brings her into the company, he has a fatherly affection for her and they both care about each other very much. I hope that if there are future installments that we get to know some of the other characters better.

This is definitely a plot driven story. And it is quite the plot! Lots of twists and turns and mysterious maps and clues that will keep you on your toes. I loved the world the author has developed here. A sort of alternate London in the 1950’s. There are all sorts of James Bond like gadgets that are fun to read about and that prove helpful to Marion when she needs them.

The writing is solid, although things did get a little murky in the middle of the story. Some of the secondary characters could have used a bit more depth to them, but this is something that could be developed in later books.

Even though I keep mentioning later books, there are none on the horizon that I know about. This really feels like it needs to be a series though, such a fun character and a great setting. I hope to see more of Marion Lane in the future.

This is a historical mystery set in the time period after WWII where London has emerged from the destruction of the war but the memory of that time still haunts the survivors. Marion Lane works for Miss Brickett's Secondhand Books and Curiosities. it's not really a bookshop but there are curiosities: they are an agency that provides a service of a more clandestine nature. Marion is an apprentice. When a coworker is murdered, Marion is plunged deeper into a world of secrets, lies and murder. Not knowing who to trust Marion has to find a way to make her way around in this world or she might not survive the experience. This was such an engaging read and the lingering trauma of the war hangs over the book like a miasma. This books holds such a feeling of time and place it really made this work for me.

This was fun. Who knew that there was a group of Inquirers working literally underground London. I didn’t but now I can hardly wait to read more about them. In this volume we learn about this organization and their new recruits. Marion Lane is a new recruit. When her mentor is accused of murder she needs to prove his innocence even if it means breaking rules.

I enjoyed the plot development and the pacing of this book, but the protagonist, Marion, seemed too much like a "type"—the gifted but underestimated and mistreated heroine.