Michelle Griep is a really great storyteller. Jackson is a baby constable, who can't seem to find favor with his superiors. In a last ditch effort to save his job, he meets up with Kit, a young woman who grew up in the streets of London. Ms Griep develops this story beautifully, and we have a tale of sadness, poverty, and hope. The characters are so real, and I found myself worrying about them till the very end!

Fearless and gutsy Kit Turner meets novice police constable Jackson Forge in a humorous police chase. A veritable Victorian-era Robin Hood, with benevolence on her mind despite her unconventional methods, Turner finds herself joining forces with Forge to solve the mystery of several missing men. Naturally, the primary cause is serious and for me, quite surprising.

It was so refreshing to have the hero end up with virtual egg on his face, and more than once! Generally it's the heroine who falls down, or off something, or IN something, so this was a delightful change.

However, this book is not generally lighthearted. Victorian London could be dark, depressing, and dirty. The literal underground plays a part, and I could feel the slime and smell all manner of things. The imagery is vivid. A secondary plot conclusion is unexpected until the very end and it's very satisfying.

This novel is well-written, clean, and full of interesting characters. With clever dialogue and a fast-paced plot, "The Thief of Blackfriars Lane" is sure to delight fans of the talented Michelle Griep. I found this author long ago and she has yet to disappoint.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this enjoyable novel.

When I read the author refer to the story as "Zootopia set in Victorian England minus the bunny and the fox", I wasn't sure what to expect, but I knew it would be good.

But it's not good, it's actually amazing. The setting is quintessentially Victorian in the atmosphere and details. These are expertly woven in as to give a clear picture but not a heavy one.

When Jackson meets Kit, he doesn't realize who she is. He's a new constable starting out and he thinks she's in need of a helping hand. Later, he discovers she's a boss-lady who makes sure the poor of Blackfriar's Lane have what they need.

Soon they find themselves working together to solve the mystery of a missing cab driver. The stakes are high for each one of them, and the suspense and intrigue are page-turning.

The writing is superb, as always, and I read it in one sitting.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Oh my goodness great read and a page turner! Michelle Griep really gives a vivid historical look of London and you almost feel like you are there! The love story is oh so sweet and you will find yourself wondering how it will possibly work out. You will LOVE this story of heroism and fate...and might get a history lesson in the process! I call that a win/win!, A must read!

i really enjoyed the use of victorian london, I enjoyed seeing the romance grow and I liked that the characters felt like real people.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinion was not affected by the free copy.

I'm rounding down my rating, as for me this is a 2.5 star but there are some problems I can't overlook. I always get the negatives out of the way first so I can end positively. The biggest problem for me was how cliché this book was. Maybe I've just read too many books like this and I'm getting jaded, but I'm getting tired of reading the same tropes and scenarios every time. Right from the very beginning we get one of the most annoying clichés: one romantic lead sees the other and instantly sees them as "special" or more interesting than any other character... for no reason and without any prompting.

I also cannot stand the "we got caught being somewhere we aren't supposed to be so let's kiss to distract" cliché. It drives me crazy every time I read it. And we also got the "misunderstanding to get the couple to hate each other", as well as the "woman who has been bad-ass the whole book still needs to be saved by the man". Which reminds me: Kit as the leader of a gang was very difficult for me to swallow. I admit I don't know a lot about Victorian London, but it was hard to suspend my disbelief that any man during that time period would take orders from a woman.

On the plus side, it was well-written. The mystery is pretty good, even if sometimes I had to wonder why the constable didn't have a partner or any sort of help from the force. I liked that it put a good emphasis on trusting God whatever your circumstances without coming off as too preachy. Things turned out a little too well in the end, but that just may be my cynical mind wanting something a little more grey.

This book is not bad; I've just read so many with similar scenarios and clichés that I was tired of it.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, Michelle Griep is a fabulous writer and if you like historical fiction with an inspirational message, this was a great book and I hope it’s the start of another series!

Jackson Forge is a “green” constable for the Met Police in Victorian-era London. After a series of mishaps his first few weeks, he had to find a missing hack drive, Joe, or else he’ll be fired. He teams up with a street thief Kit Turner and the story takes a lot of twists and turns from there involving a gun smuggling ring.

The details, both historical and character driven, and spot on and add depth to the story. There’s also a message oh hope and also how good things come to those who go through difficult situations.

I loved this and highly recommend it!

THE THIEF OF BLACKFRIARS LANE by MICHELLE GRIEP is a really great historical romance novel with a definite Dickensian flavour.
The story takes place in 1885 in the seedier parts of Victorian London, with unforgettable characters and a great deal of suspense.
Jackson forge is a very new constable at the Old Jewry, serving under Sergeant Graybone, who is always threatening to fire Jackson whose enthusiasm to set the world aright leads him to make some serious mistakes. When Jackson takes it upon himself to find the missing hackney driver, Joe Card, he and the feisty trickster, Kit Turner, join forces to find the man who took her in off the streets when she was a child.
I am not going to tell you any more except to say that the story gripped me from start to finish. There is also a good Christian message of hope and of trusting God to bring good out of even the worst situations.
I cannot recommend the book highly enough.
I was given a free copy by NetGalley from Barbour Pub.ishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I was sent this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It was only recently that I read my first historical romance. After reading the synopsis for this book I was thoroughly hooked. That was all it took, a synopsis. The first line had me wavering, the writing seemed so formal and I was unsure that I would be able to really enjoy the book whilst trying to decipher every line. I was wrong, so very wrong. The first line lead me down the path of the adventures of Jackson and Kit. The female protagonist of this story, Kit, was independent, fiery and boss in her own right, literally. The male protagonist, Jackson, was smart, bit green behind the ears but full of enthusiasm and love for his job as a constable.

Kit and Jacksons relationship was slow going at first, which is to be expected when you first meet someone new, especially when there is such a difference in class between the two. But, as their story and adventure developed the bond between the two grew and a great story unfolded, one of the devious mystery happening in London that Jackson is tasked to solve and the other, well.... that's up to the reader to find out.

Overall the writing in this book was brilliant and the attention to detail (but not overtly so) was spot on. I would suggest this read to those who love a good mystery mixed in with a little romance.