This book started a bit slow, so after finishing a fast-paced one, I was wondering about this one. But my fear was baseless, because after a few chapters, it poked my curiosity. The story became fast-paced, thrilling, and I couldn't stop flip pages for more. What was unrelated made a beautiful design once connected little by little. I really enjoyed the book!

I think this might be my favorite yet of the books I've read by this author. My attention was grabbed from the first page, and I didn't want to put this book down until the end. I had to find out why Jackson was so driven to save people...where the missing men were disappearing to and why...and what made Kit tick! She was quite the enigma, and I quickly learned to love her. I couldn't believe the string of misfortunes Jackson ran into on his first day on the job; since it was fictitious, it was quite amusing, but wouldn't have been in real life! This author has done a superb job of making me feel, smell and hear everything that was happenig to Jackson and Kit. This was a great mystery, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the truth emerge.
I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

The Thief of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep is a stand-alone novel set in 1880’s London, England. Constable Jackson Forge is new to the constabulary but he has high hopes of making the streets a safer place for everyone. Kit Turner and her crew roam those streets looking for easy marks to swindle. When Jackson is tasked with finding a missing cabbie, he enlists Kits help. What they find could cost them both their lives. This story takes you on a journey through the streets of London during Victorian times. From ball rooms to prison cells, back alleys to grand avenues you get a feel for the time period. The drama between Jackson and Kit was quite entertaining. I liked Kit’s resourcefulness, her compassion and her ability to take care of herself. The suspense through-out kept you turning the page to find out what happened next. I would definitely recommend this book.



I received this book from Celebrate-Lit for my honest review.

The Thief of Blackfriars Lane is a convoluted and windy as a a slow moving river, with turns so big you don’t see the end until it’s upon you.

A sweet romance, but suspense-filled to the very end. Our protagonist has to find a missing person in order to keep his job. He enlists the help of the Thief of Blackfriars, Kit, who’s a girl btw, and they go tromping around London.

One negative about this book before we get to all the good stuff, is the story is so generic that it could take place in a different time and not change. Move it from Victorian London to 1960s New York and you’d have the same story. There isn’t any good reason to put it in Victorian London besides the author wanting it to take place then.

However I enjoyed this story a lot. I liked having the run around plot, the mixture of romance, mystery, and suspense, and believable character development, especially for our hero and heroine.
Our hero learns to be less straight laced and more accepting of “grey area” criminals.
Our heroine must start trusting people besides herself.

I enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to whatever else Griep has up her sleeve.

I received an ARC from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my personal opinion.

In this book Michelle Griep, take us to the year 1885 in London. We first meet Forge Jackson who is a newly constable and from chapter one the ride is surely a move one. Due to several mistakes, he almost lost his job, and to keep it he asks for the last chance to find a missing man. I have to say this story is like a big spider web, the details flow little by little giving in shape and color through each chapter. With an interesting historical background and characters, this book will keep you guessing right until the end. The unlikeliness, but the rightness is beautiful. Kit and Jackson are not the typical, common love story, but in them, we find two important aspects. In Jackson, we can see how the guilt can stop us from living a life of purpose, how God is a God of love, mercy, and a second chance, and with Kit who has a difficult life, we can see that on our owns we are left to be alone in this world. I like how Michelle Griep, take the time for the development not only the elements of the story but the characters and also their moment of redemption. We have action, mystery, and more. This book is a great choice if you want to read a great historical novel, well done to Michelle Griep.

The Thief of Blackfriars Lane
by Michelle Griep
Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Barbour Fiction
Christian | Historical Fiction | Romance
Pub Date 01 Jan 2021



I am reviewing a copy of The Thief of Blackfriars Lane through Barbour Fiction and Netgalley:




Jackson Forge is a constable who intends to make the world safer, or at least the streets of Victorian London. The problem is the streets of London is Kit Turner’s domain a swindler who runs a crew that acquires money the old-fashioned way, conning the rich to give to the poor. After a local cab driver goes missing Jackson is tasked with finding the man, and the only way to do that is by enlisting Kit’s help.




If Jackson cannot find the missing cabby, he will loose the job he desperately needs, and if Kit refuses to help him, he will arrest her for thievery. But neither of them realize they have far greater problems.



I give The Thief of Blackfriars Lane five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

You cannot go wrong with a Michelle Griep novel. I have always enjoyed her books and this is no exception although it did take me a few chapters to really enjoy it. I felt the first 3-4 chapters were a bit jumbled and confusing at first, but then upon reflection I see the point of them it's just the writing style was difficult to comprehend. Sweet blossoming romance, where two people will have to work together to accomplish a goal and come to find out that they have more in common than thought.
I do recommend this book and was given an ARC in exchange for a review

Intrigue, adventure, and of course, romance, abound in Michelle Griep’s latest release. It will take you to the less savoury streets of Victorian London, where you’ll meet a variety of quirky characters—ranging from the endearing to the despicable—that you won’t soon forget.

I absolutely loved the two main characters! Their interactions were so fun to read—both hilarious and adorable—and they both brought something fresh and new to tropes that could easily have fallen into being cliché.

The mystery was fun and light, but had enough layers and twists to keep me entertained the whole way though.

Overall, this book is perfect for anyone looking for a mystery full of humour, romance, and characters who will stay with them long after they read the last word.

I’d recommend it to fans of Jen Turano and Kristi Ann Hunter.

Note: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

"Like the sharp grinding of a pebble in one's shoe, it used to irritate Kit Turner when men discounted her intelligence. Ignored her as being of no consequence. Or worse, falsely scorned her as a woman of ill repute. But years of sweat and toil to make something of herself had softened that visceral response. Their stupidity was now her advantage, and she laughed."

Kit Turner makes her living off the streets. Almost like a Robin Hood figure, she convinces the rich to part with their money, then helps the poor. She has developed a network of loyal followers and contributors to her cause.

Constable Jackson Forge wants justice. He wants people to do the right thing, and he is frustrated when he sees someone going the wrong direction. This means that Kit Turner infuriates him. Well, at least at first.

Can Kit and Jackson discover their common ground? Can they work together to find a missing person? Will they be able to overcome and move on from some deep hurts in their pasts? Can Kit help others to see who she truly is?

Overall I thought this was a great book that is set in Victorian England. The author really did a lot of research regarding the setting and customs of the time. At the end of the book, she has a section of historical notes that explain certain components of the book.

Certain parts of the book are written using a particular dialect that would have reflected a poorer person's station. At times, those was hard to follow just because that is unfamiliar wording, yet she did a good job of providing definitions through other conversations. I do think that added a lot of authenticity to the story, so I definitely think it needed to be there.

This was a historical suspense book that contained several surprises that I did not see coming. There was a bit of romance, but that was definitely not the point of the plot. I loved the theme of looking out for others who could not help themselves.

Thank you to Barbour for letting me read a copy of this book through NetGalley. I was not required to write a review. All opinions are my own.

This is a very well written book! I enjoy historical fiction, Griep writes likable characters and plots that are well thought out. I was cheering for both characters!

This was such a good book. Kit and Jackson quickly became two of my favorite characters. While he is trying to figure her out, she is absolutely doing some of what he believes she is.

It was fun to join in the journey and excitement with these two. I loved seeing the ‘other’ side of London along with the flash and fancy. Overall it was a fun and exciting journey that I enjoyed immensely.

It was a 5/5 for me.

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via Celebrate Lit. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Despite the clever plot, I struggled with this one. Perhaps it was the themes, there is certainly a lot going on to keep track of, and normally I really love the uniqueness of Griep’s stories.

Considering the rich cockney slang, and the masterful grasp of the darker side of Victorian London, the occasional use of Americanisms threw me off kilter.

As the story draws towards the end, it certainly accelerates in an exciting pace, and I thought the conclusion very well put together.

Others will love this story, especially if you love a good crime & mystery set in this era.

Constable Jackson Forge must find a local cab driver who has gone missing or risk losing his new job. It seems like the only way he can find him is if he enlists Kit Turner's help. Kit is a little bit like Robin Hood. Kit and her crew find ways to con the rich, so they can give to the poor. Kit agrees to help Jackson if he returns a sentimental item that he has of hers in his possession.

This book started off good for me, but unfortunately, I started to lose interest as the plot line continued and became too fantastical for me to believe. I found the connections between characters at the end of the book also to be too farfetched to appear believable. I would have preferred more of a suspense tale without the romance squeezed into the story. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I absolutely loved this book. Love the characters, the story, and the history surrounding everything. Love the books that make you smile and teach you bits about the time. Especially loved the glossary at the end explaining the time.

The Thief of Blackfriars Lane. By Michelle Griep. 2021. Barbour Books (ARC eBooks).

Rookie constable Jackson Forge’s first assignment is finding a missing cabby. His investigation barely starts before he gets entangled with a street-smart swindling young lady, Kit Turner. Jackson must solve the case or risk dismissal. Kit must help Jackson or risk him arresting her as a thief. She also has a personal reason to learn the outcome of the cabby. Together the two come to support and encourage each other as they canvas London and take on all kinds of characters in the city’s underworld. The Thief of Blackfriars Lane is an entertaining Victorian mystery intertwined with sweet romance and elements of faith. And what a great cover!

Squeaky clean and will appeal to a broad audience. This book has danger, suspense, and even a budding romance in old-time England. Though the story would have been awesome as a victorian era steampunk novel, I don't think much else can be approved upon. AND if you don't like romance, or worried about a younger rabid reader holding it in their hands, don't worry, the romance is not front and center. NO swear words no nothing. I look forward to reading more by this author.

I loved how unique this historical fiction was! The heroine was something else, I love hoe Michelle made her character work! She's like a more modern Robin Hood. This is an excellent story to pick up and enjoy!

I've read 6 or 7 of this author's books and loved every one of them. When I first picked this one up, I was in one of those nothing-is-interesting-me modes. So I put it down for a couple weeks then gave it another go. I loved absolutely everything about it. Suspense, mystery, romance, lots of history about early London. Good guys, bad guys, double crossers, families doing what they needed to survive - It had a little of everything. It kept me reading long into the few nights it took me to finish it. This book lived up to all my expectations of Ms Griep's writing. I received a complementary copy of this book. I was not required to leave a review. This are my own thoughts and opinions.

“Will you trust him despite your circumstances? Will you depend on him rather than yourself? For in the end, everyone else will fail you—including yourself.” ~ Michelle Griep

The connection someone makes with a book is unbreakable. Absorbed into the storyline, a reader not only becomes one with the characters but dives into the pages, encompassing the new world around them. Though bookworms, such as myself, jump from book to book, our hearts hold onto the stories that make a lasting impact, forever changed by a plot or lesson learned through incredible works of fiction. The Thief of Blackfriar’s Lane was one of those books for me.

“Failure is fatal only to those who refuse to learn from it, for only One has lived who was perfect. The question is not if you will fail. Rather, will you let God redeem your failure for good, turning your end into His beginning?” ~ Michelle Griep

London, 1885. Jackson Forge has just arrived in the big city to report for duty for the very first time. Haunted by a horrific attack that took place when he was a boy, Jackson is determined to become a renowned constable, keeping the streets of London safe from danger. However, his first day on the job gets off to a rocky start, and it seems that Jackson is doomed to fail before he’s even begun. With men going missing by the day and his job hanging by a thread, Jackson jumps at the chance to locate a missing jarvey, hoping to prove his worth and secure his place on the force. Will Jackson be able to find the man in the allotted time? And, what of the bargain he made with the woman who swindled him days earlier? Has he made a deal with the devil, or has God guide them to one another?

"His blue eyes bored into hers. 'I am not certain, Miss Turner, if you and your skills are an answer to prayer, or if you are merely a temptress designed for my downfall.'" ~ Michelle Griep

Kit Turner is angry. At the world. At God. Abandoned as an infant, she had no choice but to fight for survival in the unforgiving streets of London. Becoming a Robin Hood-like figure, Kit is often falsely accused of thievery as she uses her deftness to provide for the poor living in Blackfriar’s Lane. All she yearns to do is the right thing, so when her friend goes missing, Kit will do whatever it takes to track him down — even if that means joining forces with a man of the navy blue cloth.

"Just as there were no angels on Angel Lane, neither did God visit this squalid corner of the earth, leaving Kit to do His work." ~ Michelle Griep

Embarking on a journey that will take them into the heart of the city, Jackson and Kit will need to work together to unravel the mysteries hidden in the darkest, often smelliest, parts of London. Throughout this perilous mission, the pair’s inner doubts and convictions will challenge their faith and allegiance, compelling them to decide whether or not they will embrace God’s purpose and love promised to all who trust in Him!

“Measuring God by how people—even godly people—have mistreated you is not a good measuring stick. Man will always betray, forget, malign, misjudge, abandon—but God remains steady and dependable. Of course that requires you depend upon Him to begin with. Do you?” ~ Michelle Griep

The Thief of Blackfriar’s Lane was riveting! My first 5-star novel of 2021, I found it engaging, thrilling, mysterious, and addictive! Every time I closed my Kindle, I wanted to reopen it, shrugging away the need to sleep for one more chapter (or maybe three)! The writing was extraordinary; each word perfectly describing every emotion, action, and scene! I could feel the grime on my skin and smell the filth as I walked with Jackson and Kit through sewers and docks. Their chemistry was electric, and the suspense kept me enthralled the entire way through!

As an introduction to Michelle Griep’s work, I must say that she has me hooked! The way she incorporated faith into the storyline allowed me to resonate with the characters and added an element to the story-telling most Christian authors miss. Reading The Thief of Blackfriar’s Lane reminded me why I write — for the glory of God — and the importance of openly speaking the truth rather than glazing over it. I couldn’t be more impressed with this thrilling tale and cannot wait to dive into Michelle Griep’s other work! Will there be a part two? Pray, tell me it is so!

Positive content: 5⭐️
Language: 1⭐️
Sexual content: 1.5⭐️
Violence: 2⭐️
Age: 14+

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a pre-release copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own!*

One of my favorites of the author, besides the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series. Of late, I have not appreciated the violence and graphic detail (and even heard of some cursing in a recent book), so I was a little apprehensive about starting this one. But there was very little blood in this one. I was pleasantly surprised.
The plot kept me guessing. I was able to guess the ultimate villain before it was revealed, but not before incorrectly guessing several times. And the revelation at the last chapter? Did not see that one coming.

At first, I didn't really relate to either the hero or the heroine. But as the story went on, I found out about their pasts, and I began to feel for them and with them. I eventually came to love both of them.

While I felt that a few of the scrapes they got into were a bit too dramatic and frequent to be believable, the history of the places was fascinating. I thought that the romance developed a little too quickly – although I guess some could argue that being in life-threatening situations would open hearts more quickly than normal. But the romance was sweet and thrilling.

I just am tired of both hero and heroine being so good-looking. I can't relate to that. And not all romances need to have physical attraction as the first thing that grabs their notice.

Favorite quotes:
“Jackson started … but he quickly schooled his face to a bored sort of distraction. That was how the rich appeared … didn't they?” (p. 117)

“'But by all means, let the chase begin.'” (p. 309)

(I received a copy for free from the publisher. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own, as was the decision to write this review.)