My schemes to help the needy of Blackfriars may be unorthodox, Mr. Forge, but sometimes they have little else. - Kit

This author never disappoints! An action-packed adventure with a little romance on Blackfriars Lane, this story full of mystery and intrigue leading to danger will keep you awake far into the night. Kit, a young lady who grew up in the foundling home, hopes to make a difference in the lives of the needy and downtrodden in her part of London.

Jackson Forge is a newly hired constable, who wants to redeem what he sees as his failure from years earlier. His enthusiasm and Kit’s novel methods had me laughing until there were tears in my eyes. Can they or will they let God redeem their failures and turn them into something good? Will their search for one missing man be successful? What other information will they uncover?

This fabulous adventure that you don’t want to miss was received through Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. The impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.

Michelle Griep does it again with another great adventure! This book has something for everyone-mystery and crime, romance and is a historical Christian fiction. Constable Jackson Forge is tasked with finding a missing cab driver in order to save his job. Along the way he crosses paths with Kit Jackson who is also trying to find the missing cab driver. Lots of crazy antics result along the way and it was entertaining as the mystery of what happens is uncovered.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

#BookReview : THE THIEF OF BLACKFRIARS LANE by Michelle Griep

I can’t believe I haven’t read a Michelle Griep book before! Historical fiction, mystery, a bit of romance and with inspirational messages all in one book. I was treated to numerous adventures with Jackson and Kit. Jackson being a constable and Kit who grew up in Blackfriars Lane were both apprehensive about their deal to find Joe Card together. I was as relieved as them when they got out from the London underground railway alive.

I thought that was it but no. They discovered a dead body in the river that led to more near death experiences. I couldn’t put it down with all the suspense going on. I wanted to know who did it. I like how Jackson tried to keep his faith alive despite his hardships. I admire that he has shared with Kit to trust in God. The #romance just grew as they spent more time together and uplifting each other.

This is the perfect last book to read for 2020. Just like Jackson and Kit, we experienced a lot of unexpected obstacles this year but with God and our resilience, we will come out victorious. 5 stars

Thank you Barbour Publishing, Inc. and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Law enforcement officer's dream job meets trouble!

Victorian London of 1885. A young woman with Robin Hood overtones who runs a street gang gets under the collar of a bright spanking new Constable.
Jackson Forge has only ever wanted to become a policeman. Now his first day arrives for his posting down near London docks at Blackfriars and he's late. If he hadn't stopped to help an old gentleman he'd have been on time--and still have had his purse!
Jackson's new career seems to only go down hill from here on. His track record is definitely not winning any accolades. Late for the very annoyed Sergeant Graybone, outspoken when he shouldn't be, and suspicious about the Lord Mayor, he has a targeted painted on his back as far as his superiors are concerned. Talk about angels charging in!
Two important men have gone missing and now a third. The last is a poor hansom driver. Are the three linked? Forge thinks so. Someone else is concerned about the cabbie and Jackson finds himself with a most unlikely partner, that's after he's in trouble once more with the Sergeant.
A dangerous Intrigue, chases through both dubious and disgusting parts of Blackfriars, an unlikely and unlooked for partnership--all are just part of this story where the various plots and subplots keep the action moving along a tightrope of focused action.
Kit and Jackson turn out to both be in tune and supportive actors when death threatens and daring play is called for.
A fresh look by Griep at these beloved Dickensian seedy backdrops, the underbelly of nineteenth century London, that historical mystery writers seize upon as the canvas for dark doings, albeit through Griep's slightly different lens.

A Barbour Publishing ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Will this dangerous pursuit lead the wolf out of its den and be the end of them ...

One more name to add to my long long list of authors to follow.
The author has a talent to describe in great many details the environment surrounding her characters, the many chases are vividly detailed, so much I was out of breath like her heroes, and while it was a dark time, I was able to imagine all the colors of this period, but I chose to let out the odors. There was a very Dickensian feeling burdening along the pages.
Jackson chose to become a constable to try in some way to right the wrong he feels he had do in the path, his guilt eating at him so much he makes rookie mistakes in his eagerness to prove his worth.
Kit is a survivor, she grew in the slums of Victorian London, she learned the hard ways al the tricks and scams this part of the city uses to fool its inhabitants. To survive she had to be cleverer and outsmart all those who thought to take advantage of a little girl then young woman.
When they are paired by their very personal circumstances, they walk both on an new path, as their past impedes their ability to work together, yet along the road they will have to work on their issues, she to trust other, him to believe in himself.

The author provides us a tale of faith and confidence with two young heroes who will find the answers of their inner quest in the most unexpected way.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 : a few kisses.

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Barbour Books, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Jackson Forge is a newly minted constable in Victorian London, England on his first day to work when he gets swindled by a lovely woman (Kit Turner) and her young side-kick. Various events lead him to end up having to join forces with Kit Turner to find out where several missing individuals have gone. At the beginning of the novel, the reader is almost given the impression that Jackson is a bit of a bumbling constable, and may not make it on the force ... in fact at one point, he is "fired" and actually banned from the city, but he goes on to prove himself pretty handily, and he and Kit make quite the crime fighting team!

This book had quite a bit of action and adventure, and sometimes I had troubles keeping all the various players straight -- but I think that is purely me and not an issue with the writing. I found myself rooting for both main characters, that they would be successful in their quest to figure out the mystery and to figure out what their place in life was to be, and of course to realize that they loved each other and were perfect for each other.

This title is set to release on January 1, 2021, and the library will be purchasing a copy as soon as we can! I greatly enjoyed reading this novel, and I'm rather surprised this is the first book by this author that I have read. I can tell you .... it won't be the last!!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

The Thief of Blackfriars Lane
Series: Standalone (but it would be awesome if we were able to get more books)
Rating: 4 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

The Thief of Blackfriars Lane was a very unexpected read for me. It took me by surprise of how good the story was. Honestly I did not know what to expect, since this is the first book I read by this author.
This book has action, mystery, suspense and best of all romance. The romance was very subtle and I enjoyed the chemistry between the two leads. They both had great chemistry, even when they were butting heads.
I enjoyed the criminal investigation process they both went through. There was never a dull moment.

The problem with having favourite authors is that you have higher expectations of their books than others. Michelle Griep's latest work, The Thief of Blackfriars Lane, however did not disappoint, it passed my expectations with flying colours!

This story takes you on a high speed adventure through the slums of London as Kit and Jackson race against time to find a missing person before he ends up dead. Kit and Jackson were such well written characters, both so strong and passionate about their causes. It was so refreshing to have a female lead with a stronger personality than the male lead. The wit and banter between the two was fun and enjoyable to read.

In the first half of the book, the storyline went as I expected and then - BAM - it took so many unexpected twists and turns that it kept me on the edge of my seat right until the end. It had the most heartwarming ending that was wholly satisfying. Another fantastic release from Michelle Griep!

The Thief of Blackfriars Lane is Michelle Griep’s newest release. I have read all of her previous books and this one is by far my favorite to date. I adored Jackson and Kit. They were a fabulous duo and am so glad to get to know them. I found their scenes together to be delightful and full of adventure. I enjoyed the vivid historical details that made me feel as though I was right being transported back in time. I thought it was so very good and should not be missed.

I am giving The Thief of Blackfriars Lane a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend for readers who enjoy clean historical fiction. I look forward to reading more like this one by Michelle Griep in the future.

I received The Thief of Blackfriars Lane from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Michelle Griep has another masterpiece on her hands! With gripping, artistic imagery she takes the reader to another time and location. London in the 19th century comes alive in this story of intrigue, suspense, danger, and romance. Kit has grown up with no family of her own, forming attachments with the people of Blackfriars Lane. But money and work are scarce here and Kit helps the only way she knows, with cunning and deception the tools of her trade. She has a strict code to never break the law, but to bend it to help her provide for so many needing families. Kit and her crew create situations to convince people of fortune to part with coins. One such situation brings Kit face to face with Jackson Forge, a newly hired constable in the City of London. While Jackson is happy to part with a few coins when he believes Kit has returned his dropped coin purse, he has a change of heart when he realizes one of her crew has first lifted his coin purse. With 2 strong and stubborn personalities, Kit and Jackson are set to butt heads. When a cabbie goes missing, a dear friend of Kit's and Jackson's last chance to keep his job, they must team up to find and follow the clues to find him. But danger lurks around every corner, with Kit trying to follow her own plan and Jackson trying to keep up with her while maintaining the law. Dodging cut-throats and thieves in the sewage tunnels, conning black-hearts, and hiding from other constables who would stop their hunt. Nothing is as it seems, with highly ranked officials under suspicion and clues leading in too many directions to make sense. While the hunt is on, Kit and Jackson find their admiration growing against their better efforts. Can they avoid the danger while growing their admiration into something more?
Michelle Griep has penned a novel bursting with suspense, shadows that have you jumping, and characters that jump off the page. From the first encounter I was pulled into Kit and Jackson's world, trying to help them figure out the clues and unearth the culprit behind the missing men. This is a story that should not be missed, keeping the reader entertained from beginning to end. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Thief of Blackfriars Lane is the third Michelle Griep book I’ve finished (fourth overall I’ve attempted), and I find myself once again at a loss as to why I keep giving her chances. The bones of a good story are there, but something is just missing.

Griep excels at immersive, atmospheric writing, and it’s at its best here as she moves from her typical Regency setting to a darker, grittier Victorian London. While I’ve read other books in this setting, what Griep did with it in the context of a more Christian fiction perspective, while still making it evocative and compelling is definitely a strong point.

And Kit was fairly interesting. I have read a few swindler/band of thieves stories in different genres within the past couple years, and I like that Griep made the archetype her own. Jackson was also fairly likable, a constable new to his job who genuinely cares for other people. I wasn’t super invested in them, but they were decent people and their romance was sweet.

I just feel like something missed the mark, mostly in the mystery side. I found myself simultaneously confused and underwhelmed by it, with so many intricate threads making it hard to piece together, and thus feeling poorly thought through.

I don’t know if I’ll pick up another Michelle Griep book after so many that were “just ok.” But I believe she has a pretty loyal established audience, and they’ll enjoy it. And if you want a more “PG” story of the Victorian underworld, it might be worth giving it a shot to see what you think.

This book was non stop adventure and fun. I very much loved the strong female lead, and our mostly naiive hero. I loved the descriptions of the environment, the city, the muck! This book was a great escape from reality.

I am not an avid reader of historical fiction. I took a chance on a new author to me and I am glad I did. Griep came through on many of my requirements for a good novel.

I liked how the characters were developed. Jackson is a flawed young man with a wonderful heart. Because of childhood mistakes, he wants to correct wrongs and desires to be a constable efficient in eradicating evil. He's a bit naive, however, and gets into all kinds of trouble confronting those who live on and below the streets of London. He has to match wits with the other well crafted character, Kit. She is a smart gal, having learned how to survive and thrive on those very dangerous streets. Can the two work together to solve the mystery of a missing cab driver? We are taken through the underworld of historical London, meeting those who inhabit the darker side of the city.

Griep's writing style is one thing that makes this novel an engaging one. The interaction between Jackson and Kit is well done with snarky dialogue. I also appreciate the many issues Griep brings up in the course of the plot. What is failure? Jackson's father gave him this advice: “...it is far better to be a failure at what you love than a success at what you hate.” (2434/3768) And, “...the only true failure in life is refusing to do what God has asked of you.” (2463/3768) That is some good food for thought.

Griep provides another of my requirements for a good historical novel, a good author's note enlightening readers to historical facts and important cultural information. She has even included a bibliography in case readers want to know more.

I am impressed with this novel, the first I have read by Griep. She is a good story teller, adding humor and a budding romance to a good mystery. I get the impression Jackson and Kit have just begun their adventures so I will be looking for the next novel in this series.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Oh I loved this book!! It was so well written, the characters were loveable, and the plot was fast-paced without feeling rushed. It was a very enjoyable read, and I am hoping for more books to make a series!

I loved the dynamic between how Kit saw herself and those she was helping, and how Jackson saw them. (At first, at least.) Kit didn't care about her reputation at all, but cared more about helping those around her who were in a bad way. She was clever, and resourceful, and trustworthy.

Jackson was a good man who had a bit of bad luck trying to become a constable. Meeting and then trying to apprehend Kit turns into something much more than he bargained for! But he learns a lot about himself in the process, and learns not to judge too quickly. I really appreciated his gentleness, and his unwavering faith.

I thought the book was great all the way through. It kept me wanting to read more, even though the beginning was a little bit slow. Definitely worth working through. I will read more books by this author for sure!

Love historicals of the Victorian era? Love a Christian message seamlessly woven into the narrative? Michelle Griep has such a “silver pen” (compare to a “silver tongue” that our heroine Kit Turner has), that I could easily follow her into the underbelly of London. Not many authors could describe the shenanigans of Constable Jackson Forge and his enemy-turned-conspirator Kit the way Griep does. Griep tucks historical fact, English geography, and mystery, romance, and suspense into one mesmerizing, achingly beautiful story. The Thief of Blackfriars Lane grips you and refuses to be expunged from your mind much like the horrible smells of the sewer refuse to leave our unlikely hero’s clothes. For those who love surprises, there are plenty of twists and turns. There are also some very thought-provoking questions raised. Why does God allow failure and tragedy, instead of rescuing us from them? Kit doesn’t understand, and Jack helps console her:

“Yet it is often in tragedy where we find our life’s purpose, and that purpose is to love God and man.”

Are right and wrong clear-cut and absolute? Jack thinks they are. Can Kit teach him to think differently?

“...most of life dwells in the murky grey between right and wrong. Misfortunes will come and go, but through it all, our main duty is to keep loving God and keep loving man.”

Can you judge a book by its cover? If we’re referring to people, Griep proves that to judge based on the apparent cover is faulty at best, dangerous at worst. If we are referring to a book, I judge any of Michelle Griep’s books by one criterion: if her name is on it, it bears the mark of excellence. You would do well to buy it.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author and publisher. I also bought a copy, because a Griep is too good not to share. I am voluntarily leaving my opinions, which are solely my own.

The Thief of Blackfriars Lane
By Michelle Griep
4 stars

*Book Blurb: There’s Often a Fine Line Between a Criminal and a Saint
Constable Jackson Forge intends to make the world safer, or at least the streets of Victorian London. But that’s 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. When 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 doesn’t find the cabby, he’ll be fired. If Kit doesn’t help Jackson, he’ll arrest her for thievery. Yet neither of them realize those are the least of their problems.*

Griep takes us on a wild ride down the dark streets of Victorian London. Jackson and Kit have to work together to find missing persons, both with their own agenda, but coming together these two clever characters come to respect each other even though they are vastly different and come from different side of the tracks. Good faith content! Themes of redemption. Failure isn't final. And your past doesn't define your future.
I love the world and characters that the author creates. All the people we meet along the way are so wholly their own. From seedy swindlers to loving fathers. Adventure awaits in this novel!

I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

As expected, the author delivers her signature Dickensian type novel filled with adventure, faith and romance. The author's writing style is unique in its description and her ability to bring alive this time period in the reader's mind. I always feel like I have traveled back in time to another era and experienced an accurate portrayal of London at this time in history. The plot was filled with twists and turns and none of it was predictable. There are many beautiful lessons to pick up while reading this novel, like a treasure hunt to enjoy.

About a month ago, Barbour Punlishing sent me an email inviting me to join the review crew for The thief of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep. Without hesitation I accepted this invitation because this far I have enjoyed books written by Michelle Griep!

The Thief of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep is a fantastically written historical fiction of the late 1800s in London. A Constable and a swindler happen to be looking for the same cabbie, for different reasons. Yet they seem to work together in their own ways with many challenges along the way to achieve their goal.

Two protagonists here, Kit Turner (the swindler) and Jackson Forge (the Constable). Kit grew up as an orphan, learning to take care of herself through the years and is now the leader of men who hope for more while Jackson’s past is full of guilt for allowing his older brother to get beaten up when they were just kids.

It’s interesting how these two happen to meet then unexpectedly end up creating their own path towards finding this missing cabbie. I do love how these two interact and seem to support one another so effortlessly. When while sometimes throwing the other under the bus, it seems they each are impressed with the other.

I do love both characters! They each could be an amazing story on its own but together they’re unstoppable! An important supporting character is Baggett, the first friend Jackson makes as a Constable. Without Baggett, much would not have gone the way Kit and Jackson hoped it would.

There were more twists in this book than I was expecting. While it seemed the book was ending, it didn’t! There was so much more to learn still!! I love a great read that keeps me guessing!

A digital copy ARC of The Thief of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep was provided complimentary by Barbour Publishing via NetGalley. While not expected to write a review, I appreciate the opportunity to do so.

What a great story! At first, I wasn’t sure what to think of these two main characters. But by the end of the story, I found them endearing. Griep does a wonderful job setting the scene in the streets of the City of London. Her research on Victorian culture and customs is evident and appreciated. The mystery was engaging with some unexpected turns. All the while, the two main characters are surprised to discover attributes about the other that they had missed at first. I was glad to see lessons about trusting God with your circumstances and surrendering control to Him. Such an interesting tale that I would love to read a sequel about these characters. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This book was fantastic! There was a crime to be solved, mystery, a bit of romance, and historical London. The slang/terminology of the time was so much fun. I did not want to put this book down!