My goodness what a fun romp that was through Victorian England. It shouldn’t surprise me though because Michelle Griep always delivers a winner. This is a slightly different genre than I normally read so I thoroughly enjoyed the expertly depicted setting. I felt as though I was a spectator of Kit and Jackson’s dealings around Blackfriars.

Speaking of Kit and Jackson, they were quite the pair. I enjoyed the banter and playfulness they exhibited towards each other almost from the beginning. How they managed to find themselves in one sticky situation after another I’ll never know but it was entertaining to watch them figure out how to escape each time. They were both well developed characters who had personality flaws but ultimately good hearts. Definitely a book I will recommend to friends.

I received a free copy from NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.

The Thief of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep is full of action and romance amid the setting of the dangerous streets of London in the late 1800’s. Jackson Forge is a rookie constable. When he meets up with Kit Turner, a purported pickpocket, in his quest to find a missing man she also is desperate to find both their lives are turned upside down. They an unlikely team for sharing information but will it lead to sharing more? If they solve the case will be able to protect Kit from possible prosecution? Will it cost Jackson his dream of becoming a constable?
This book is very exciting and the story moves along at a fast pace. There are many what most people of the time would describe as unsavory characters. Some are dangerous and some are just quirky. Their quest leads them into very dangerous situations that may cost one or both of them everything they have ever wished for. I recommend this book and believe it will appeal to a wide reading audience. I give it a solid 5 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I am a fan of Michelle Griep and I absolutely loved her last novel, The House at the End of the Moor, but I could not get into this book, and I can't explain why. I loved Constable Jackson Forge. He was a realistic, yet heroic character. I loved that he cared for people and tried to help everyone he could. I loved his back story that explained why he became a constable.
I didn't like Kit Turner, however, and that's where the problem could stem from. Kit had to be tough to survive, and she definitely was a good person. Always trying to help others, but deep down she seemed cold.
The intricate plot was difficult to follow, but I did like the setting. It was realistic and allowed me to feel what it would be like to live in Victorian England.
Even though this book was difficult for me to finish, I will continue to read Michelle Griep's books.

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

Rookie constable Jackson Forge’s first assignment is to find a missing cabby. To do that, he needs thief ringleader Kit Turner’s local knowledge and connections. In this unlikely alliance both have to trust each other with their lives as they unravel criminal activity with ties to City public office.
The Thief of Blackfriars Lane is the standalone novel written by Michelle Griep, published by Barbour Fiction. The plot is set in London 1885, and we follow fresh-out-of-training Constable Jackson Forge who is assigned to find the missing cab driver who is thief ringleader Kit Turner’s foster dad. With her extensive local knowledge and connections, Jackson gets to experience an underworld of dangerous cutthroats and cheats while orphan Kit has to learn to trust again. They deal with life threatening situations connected to criminal activity with ties to City public office.

Main character is rookie Constable Jackson Forge who seems to be a well rounded character from a relatively secure family background. He seems the voice of reason in this story and tries to keep Kit away from the worst of the life threatening madness she gets into.

Supporting character is thief ringleader and orphan Kit Turner who is a feisty, brave and very resourceful young woman hiding her loneliness and vulnerability. She is complex and struggles to trust, which makes her realistic and appealing character my favorite.

I loved how this plot was action packed and drew me into underworld London of 1800s. The stunning descriptions, particularly of the London underground (before tubes), made me feel a part the plot. I felt the characters were relatable and I enjoyed how Jackson and Kit kept meeting cynical, dangerous characters scheming to make big money and get one over on competition.
The excellent research built an exciting plot offering all my favorite elements of a story. One part mystery and one part romance all tied together in a historical setting. With the Dickensian feel, the amusing writing and dialogue made it one of the most entertaining reads in a very long time.
My favorite part was description of how the relationship between Jackson and Kit developed from the initial friendship to budding romance, as they faced mortal danger together. The descriptions of the extreme poverty, fear and despair of a woman who tries to support her children while suffering illness, was not my favorite. But I appreciate the dramatic effect. Michelle Griep is fast becoming one of my go-to-authors in historical romance, because I enjoy her action packed plots so much. I’ll be eagle-eying booksellers for her next release.
Anyone who enjoys action packed historical romance with a Dickensian twist would love this. As will fans of Michelle Griep’s other work. Similar authors to explore might be Abigail Wilson or Sarah E. Ladd. Thank you to Barbour Fiction and NetGalley for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
Conclusion: The Thief of Blackfriars Lane is the packed and exiting story about rookie Constable Jackson Forge and thief ringleader Kit Turner who team up to find her foster dad. They get in life threatening situations while unraveling criminal activity with ties to City public office.

This story has it all: historical fiction, romance, mystery, adventure, all mixed together in an uplifting story taking place in late nineteenth century London.

This is a really good mystery set in the City of London in the late 1800s. Kit skirts the edges of the law, but her intentions are good and her heart is in the right place. Jackson is a new constable who is eager to prove himself, but finds his job is in great jeopardy. Their first meeting was congenial, but when Jackson learns Kit duped him, he sets out to arrest her. A turn of events now has them workIng together to discover the whereabouts of a missing man.

The story moved a little slower for me than I typically like, but it did hold my interest. There is a little romance thrown in and it is quite humorous in places. I really liked the setting. There are religious overtones, but it is not preachy. I appreciated that it is a clean book free of foul language and sex scenes. There are several occurrences of violence, but they are not graphic. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries and/or a London sitting.

I enjoyed this read immensely. I felt as if I were experiencing England in bygone days, trying to right some of the poverty and bring justice to the streets. The author does a fine job of describing the realities of the book’s time period.
Join Kit, street smart and underground tunnel savvy needing to depend on Jackson, a fired constable, as they search for Kit’s adoptive father, and so much more. There is a mix of mystery and suspense that drew me to keep turning the pages.

This is the first by Ms Griep that I have read and was very surprised by this book. I have been enjoying reading historical mysteries and this one turned out to be one of the best I have read in a while. I found it hard to get into in the first chapter because I didn’t really like the hero Jackson but once I got into it, I found it very hard to put down and Jackson did grow on me. There was so much in this story but it didn’t overwhelm you with unnecessary details. There was action, mystery, murder, suspense, twists and turns that you didn’t see coming and of course, romance and to cap it all off encouragement from a Christian point of view. It was such a lovely change but it wasn’t heavy, just enough to make the book just that more enjoyable. I am sure to be reading more by this author. I received this as an ARC and freely do my review.

First of all, can I just say how fabulous this book cover is? I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover but this cover really drew me in as I scrolled through netgalley and I'm so glad that I requested to have an opportunity to read an arc of this book. Thank you netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book! All thoughts are my own. I really enjoyed the two main characters and their unique backgrounds in this story. The plot was well done, the mystery was complex enough to prevent easy predictablility but not so complex that it was too difficult to follow along with. There was a lot that both the main characters could learn from one another. I enjoyed the strong, independent female main character who captured the interest of the male lead, not by her beauty (although he certainly noticed her beauty) but because of her skill, her adeptness and her aptitude to survive and help those around her in poor living conditions. This has a great social justice theme mixed with mystery. I liked the faith elements to the story and appreciated that that theme was present in the story without overpowering/dominating the storyline. The lesson that Kit learned in the story as far as trust is very relatable and relevant during this pandemic, that's for sure! I also enjoyed that there was alot of action (on the run, facing bad guys, that sort of thing) and a realistic, gradual romantic development. The only thing I wasn't super enamored with about this book was that to felt like it took a while to get where it was going. The story started to feel like it was lagging 1/2'- 2/3 of the way though the book but once it picked up into the final dilemma/plan to solve the mystery and catch the "bad guy" so to speak, I was hooked and riveted until the conclusion. This was the first book I've read by this author and I'm now interested in checking out more of her writing in the future.

Michelle Griep is truly one of my favourite authors. Reading this book confirmed that. I would buy any book I see with her name on it, no need to even read the back cover. I couldn’t say that about many authors. This was a captivating Victorian era romance set in London, full of romance, mystery and intrigue. Yes, please! The characters were well thought out and highly entertaining. Griep’s stories are always well paced, not allowing the reader to grow bored, and have a solid ending. I honestly have no negatives to mention here. This is an excellent book that I highly recommend to any historical fiction fan.

This book was so good! It's a clean romance with mystery and action and keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next. The author brings the book to life with her words and makes you feel like you are there. This book was a great read! Thank you Barbour Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really liked this book! Jackson Forge is trying to make it through his first few weeks as a constable when he has a run in with a thief, Kit Turner. He eventually realizes that there is more to her that meets the eye. When his job is on the line, he relies on her to lead him through the seamier streets of London to solve not just one case, but a conspiracy that has mystified the entire department. I've read a lot of books set in Victorian London lately, but I really appreciated that this one was very unique! Neither Kit nor Jackson are wealthy aristocrats; neither of them seem "too" perfect, which makes them feel real. This also isn't solely a marriage plot book. Griep uses the dialogue to plunge us into the London streets (the very opposite of posh Downton Abbey), which took me some time to follow along but overall goes a long way towards building the world of the book. It's very entertaining to follow Kit and Jackson through all parts of London and see what they do to try and blend in. It did take me a few chapters to get into, but I'm glad I kept with it! Once I was hooked I couldn't put it down. It was a well-written mystery that kept me guessing. I really appreciated the twist at the end too-I did not see it coming. A great read!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Barbour Publishing. I was not required to provide a positive review.

I really want to love this book so much, but I found it hard to connect to the characters. Perhaps because I found the prose stilted for my taste. Still, I love the atmospheric setting and how the author depicted life in the streets. But the connection between author and reader, I didn't feel it here.

It's another case of "It's not you; it's me."

Another captivating treasure from storyteller extraordinaire Michelle Griep!
The Thief of Blackfriars Lane has it all: a fast-paced plot with surprising twists and turns that keep you turning the pages; well-crafted, endearing characters who come alive and capture your heart; and vividly described settings that transport you to the scene of the action. Historical people and places are believably infused into the fictional story. The use of the street vernacular of Victorian London adds credibility and flavor to the narrative. The witty banter between the “unlikely and unstoppable” hero and heroine pair is delightful. Faith flows naturally throughout the story focusing on trusting God and His perfect timing for your life regardless of the circumstances. I totally enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Jackson Forge is a police officer a fresh and new addition to London's constabulary force he wants to make a good impression on his superior, make his father proud and be the best officer that he can be (his beat is a little boring). Kit Turner is a thief, a foundling she was taken in by a kind couple her foster father goes missing and Kit is using every resource at her disposal to find him. Investigating another string of disappearances Jackson gets caught up in a web that might end his career before it is truly begun. Kit is a woman used to fending for herself but Jackson is a useful guy to have around. They grow to rely on each other in many ways but when their intersecting investigations puts them on a dangerous path can they stay the course?
This book was an amazing read. It felt very much of the time, smells, daily life, the going to and fro in the day felt very much of the time it was set in. Kit and Jackson were interesting characters that had their own tragedies and felt very authentic go their lives and stations. I will heartily recommend this book to anyone who love a good historical or mystery or historical mystery.

This is a fun historical adventure romping through Victorian England. This tale takes a street smart young lady and a new constable teaming up to find a missing man and to uncover deception and the culprit behind it. There is a sweet and light romance too.
I enjoyed this book and thank Barbour publishing for giving me a copy of it. This is my honest opinion.
4 .5 stars.

When I read the premise, I was so so hooked. I really loved the writing although I had some problems following the story (that's probably just me). In my Zoom classes, all I could think about was reading this book. I was really hooked from the beginning. The characters are lovely and I love how Kit is super b@d@ss.
The story in general was really good, I was invested in the story from start to finish. However, I personally feel like there could have been more romantic moments. Also, I'm not a religious person, so when I read the scenes where they talk about God, I just couldn't relate. That's on me. I knew this book was Christian when and I picked it up. It really didn't make me hate the book.
Therefore, if there's a second book, I would totally read it. It ended in a way that I want to know more about what happens in the future for the characters.

Overall, great book!!

Christian-fiction, historical-novel, law-enforcement, London, verbal-humor, situational-humor*****

Kit heads a gang of petty thieves in a dark area of London, the twist is that the money is used for the needs of the poor, the sick, and the unwanted. Forge is a young man who desperately wants to be a policeman, but he already flubbed it twice. They work together to find a special cabbie and encounter unknown dangers. I thought it was a very pleasant read for a cold afternoon.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Barbour Publishing, Inc./Barbour Fiction via NetGalley. Thank you.

I am sad. I tried downloading this book after being approved to read it but I was unable to see the book in my shelf.

I hope it is a technical glitch because my phone has been faulty these last few days.

I really would love to read this book.

In the meantime, a proper review might come out in the nearest future.

Happy reading and what a beautiful cover!

Newly hired Jackson Ford is determined to prove himself a worthy constable and protect the people of London. Meanwhile, Kit Turner is the local Robinhood, taking from the rich and giving to the needy. When Jackson is swindled by Miss Turner, he's determined to find bring her to justice. But, when a local cab driver goes missing, he's forced to team up with Kit to find the missing man. Along the way, they stumble upon bigger trouble that could cost them both their lives.

I really enjoyed this book. I'm not one to ever read historical or Christian fiction but this book has me wondering why I never looked more into the genres before. The characters were interesting. I liked the chemistry between Jackson and Kit. The plot twists were alright, though most of them are kind of obvious. I do agree with another reviewer that the Christian aspect suddenly appeared in the novel. I wasn't even aware it was a Christian novel because it's mentioned so abruptly, like it was forgotten and suddenly thrown into the rest of the book. Though his faith is so important to Jackson, it isn't apparent at all in the beginning - just his strong sense of justice seems to be a driving factor in his decisions. Kit's lack of faith in God is mentioned once in a while. That was the only part that didn't seem consistent to me. The rest of the book was well tied in together.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.