Marion Lane is like Maggie Hope and the Parasol Protectorate had a baby. It’s a mid century, British, mystery in and alternate London secretly policed by an underground (literally) detective agency with James Bond gadgetry. Either that sounds fantastic to you or it sounds like an explosion in a genre factory. Separately I enjoy all of these elements, but together it was a bit much to take in. I found the beginning confusing because I was expecting a straight forward, Girl Friday type, murder mystery. Marion Lane is not that. But if steampunk gadgetry is your jam, or you want to break out of your historical mystery rut, this might be the book for you.

I'm sure there are many who will enjoy this book, but it was just not for me. There was so much world-building/background explaining going on that I could not keep anything straight and got bored. I really found myself bogged down by the details when I really just wanted to get involved in the story.

The year is 1958, Marion Lane lives in postwar London with her grandmother. A time when women are expected to marry and have a family, this is the roll her grandmother expects her to follow. Marion however has a job in a bookstore, which serves as a clever cover for an underground spy organization, Miss Brickett's Investigations and Inquiries where Marion is a first year inquirer. She was recruited a few months prior and cannot think of anything else she would like to do. She notices a difference in the air on Monday morning, there has been a murder over the weekend and Marion's beloved mentor is accused as the only suspect. Marion along with her best friend and a new comer to the agency race to find the real killer before it is too late. I enjoyed this story, it reminded me of a classic spy movie, something you would watch in black and white. Even though some of the gadgets seemed almost futuristic the description of dress and atmosphere really gave it the vibe of classic times. The pace of the book at times was a bit slow as the author was building the characters and creating the world, but that is usually normal when setting up a book for a series. As Marion uncovers secrets that leads to her solving the crime, she shows a maturity that makes her character likable. The author created a young woman who doesn't want to be part of the normal dregs of society and the roles that were prevalent during these times. The mystery and the why of the crime brings out a lot of confusion for Marion, she starts to question her career path and what other secrets and truths there can be at Miss Brickett's. The other characters, although not as deeply explored as Marion are also enjoyable,
they are explained more from their interactions with Marion. Highly enjoyable story with intrigue, espionage, murder, mystery, and a bit of innocent romance. Thank you #NetGalley and #Harlequin for providing a copy of this book prior to it's publish date in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.

In this story, Marion Lane has been recruited by a secret investigative organization under the streets of London. At Miss Brickett's Investigation and Inquiry, Marion, an inquirer in training, finds herself in the middle of some unusual circumstances with a mystery that begs to be solved. I enjoyed this story and was drawn to it because I enjoy spy stories with secret gadgets and secret locations. While reading through the book, I found myself questioning the intended audience. The underground school, complete with secret passages and characters who could pass for Hogwarts students made me wonder if perhaps this was intended for a YA audience. All in all, I found the story of Marion Lane and her cohorts to be an entertaining read.

this was a really good start to a mystery series, it had a great beginning that really gets us hooked and kept me invested.

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder was such a fun read. I was instantly drawn into the underground world of Miss Brickett's and would have happily read more about Marion's everyday life as an apprentice. The mystery itself was good, but not my favorite part about reading this book. It was interesting enough but unexceptional. What I really loved was the atmosphere, and I'll happily read more about Miss Brickett's in the future.

Wow! All of my favorite themes in one fantastic book. Historical mystery with a bit of fantasy, some family drama and the possibility of a future live story. Everyone should join Marion as she seems out a killer while trying to make her own way in the late 1950s.

It's 1958, and 23 year old Marion, who lives with her abrasive grandmother in London, is invited to apply for a job at a small bookstore. It turns out that this is a cover for a group called the Inquirers, mysterious detectives who operate beneath the city of London. When her friend is arrested for murder, Marion is determined to find the answers, even risking both her job and her life. This book is described as appealing to fans of the Harry Potter universe. It had some fantasy elements, but I found the plot a bit confusing and meandering--it ultimately disappointed this big fan of Harry Potter and urban fantasy. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Marion Lane is not only a fun read, but one I hope will be the first of a series!

Marion has a unique job for a secret detective agency, housed underground in London, and accessed by going through an old bookshop. Marion has been living with her grandmother, who wants her to get married and doesn't understand why she behaves the way she does. But Marion wants more, wants to have purpose and challenge her brain. Lucky for her, one of her mother's friends, sets up an appointment for her with Miss Brickett's Detective Agency, and Marion passes the tests needed to become a first-year intern.

But strange things are happening at Miss Brickett's, and Marion finds herself trying to solve the mystery of who killed one of the employees, and clearing the name of her friend who has been accused of the crime. Not to mention, she has to complete her tasks so she will be kept on as an intern, and hopefully, offered a position as an Inquirer after her three years.

Marion is a spunky woman, and her rebellion of the "typical" avenues open to women in the 1940s/1950s feels all too real. It is refreshing to see a detective agency run by and populated with both women and men. You will cheer for Marion and her friends to succeed, and for her to find her place in the world.

This was just what I wanted! A smart, quirky mystery set in late 1950s London. I really liked the protagonist (the titular Marion Lane) and the setting - a clandestine London private investigative agency working literally underground in a massive series of tunnels underneath a bookshop. Right at the start, an employee of the agency is murdered, and Marion (a first-year apprentice with a gift for gadgetry) gets pulled into the investigation and discovers all manner of secrets about the agency (Miss Brickett’s). I very much hope this is the start of a series!

Really wanted to like this one a lot more than I did... The concept, the characters, the setting- who wouldn't want to read about an underground detective agency in 1950s London filled with mysterious gadgets and secrets galore?? It was a fabulous idea, but the execution fell a little flat for me... The pacing was uneven at best, with great swathes moving glacially slow and a broad cast of characters that were just similar enough that keeping all the relationships, positions, and intrigues straight felt like more work than it should have been... Ultimately this one just wasn't a good fit for me.

Received email from publisher, this book jumped out at me.

Take a trip back to the 1950s London Underground with a feisty female detective.
You will feel like you are in the secret tunnels beneath the city streets.

So gripping I could not stop reading. The descriptions had me seeing them.
Suspense had me trying to solve the mystery and glued to every clue.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book -- the author created a wonderful new setting that is believable. I can see young adults really enjoying it, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

A lot of fun! Classified as a historical mystery and not officially steampunk, it has that flavor, along with a traditional locked room crime to solve. While there were moments where the plot required me to suspend disbelief, the intriguing set-up, appealing characters and the non-stop action quickly smoothed those over. While officially an adult book, I can see this appealing to YA/new adult readers. I am definitely eager to read more adventures of Marion and friends.

Interesting premise but ultimately a bit boring. Mystery wasn't as interesting as the explanations about the underground detective agency,

This book introduces us to Marion Lane, a first year apprentice at an underground detective agency in 1958 London; located, literally, underground. The agency is organized like the Ministry of Magic from the world of Harry Potter, and James Bond’s Q would feel at home in the Gadgetry Department. It’s all very clever and a bit cute and cozy

And that’s the problem. This was almost a cozy mystery. I was expecting something more hardcore and dramatic. It also seemed like more time was spent in introducing characters and the agency and its setting than on the actual mystery. This is fine, if this is the first in a series. Although this was not the book I was expecting, I do think it’s quirkinesses will make it popular with many and a good series.

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

Marion Lane is as endearing as Harry Potter and as ingenious as James Bond's gadget man Q.

A 20-something orphan living with an overbearing grandmother intent on marrying her off in 1950s fashion, Marion is a beginning intern at a detective agency. The agency's headquarters are below the streets of London in chambers rumored to have been occupied by alchemists centuries ago.

Created right after World War 2 to work for the public good, the agency employs eccentric supervisors and an intriguing group of agents and agent-wannabes. The mystery is who killed a long-time employee and why.

Author T.A. Willberg is a born storyteller. Readers won't get lost in the plethora of characters or the long and winding trail that leads to the killer. Let's hope Willberg chooses to take Marion Lane on another adventure..

I hope this fabulous book is the beginning or lots more to come. This is mystery, with the feel of fantasy, set in a detailed new world beneath the streets of London. Very Harry Potter-esque.

My thoughts
Rating : 4
Would i recommend it? Yes
Would i read more by this author? Yes
First off a big thanks to the publisher Park Row - Harlequin -Trade Publishing ( U.S. & Canada) for inviting me to read and review it as well as NetGalley . Thanks to them i was introduced to a new author who style of writing kind of reminds me of Agatha Christie and who's characters i loved from the very start. As for the story its the prefect cozy mystery to read any giving time.As well as who done it and why. Plus this is the first cozy mystery i every read that has a secret mysteries group of detectives and after reading this i want more.

It is 1958 in London, and Marion Lane who thought she would never be happy is working at her dream job. Marion's father died when she was three, her mother is now deceased, and she lives with her grandmother Delores. Finding Marion a suitable husband is her grandmother's mission and she has little interest in what Marion wants.
Delores and most people believe Marion works at Miss Brickett’s Secondhand Books and Curiosities. This is in fact a cover for her real work as an apprentice investigator at Miss Brickett’s Investigations and Inquiries. Marion and all those who work there are forbidden from talking about their real work even to their families and friends. Her grandmother looks down at Marion's pitiful job as a bookseller, and no matter how much Marion wants to tell her the real nature of her employment, her hands are tied. You see Marion is actually working for a very secretive crime-solving agency.
When a murder occurs in the agency offices, only those with access can be suspects, and that means that one or more employees have gone rogue. Though Marion is only an apprentice, it becomes apparent that she will have to find the killer. A very good mystery that has series written all over this book. I liked Marion, Bill, and Frank, and loathed Delores. What is better than a good whodunnit with engaging characters and a perplexing locked-room mystery. Sign me up for Team Marion!