Premeditated Myrtle
Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries #1
by Elizabeth C. Bunce
368 pages // published in 2020 // MG historical mystery
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Twelve-year-old Myrtle Hardcastle has a passion for justice and a Highly Unconventional obsession with criminal science. Armed with her father’s law books and her mum’s microscope, Myrtle studies toxicology, keeps abreast of the latest developments in crime scene analysis, and Observes her neighbors in the quiet village of Swinburne, England.
When her next-door neighbor, a wealthy spinster and eccentric breeder of rare flowers, dies under Mysterious Circumstances, Myrtle seizes her chance. With her unflappable governess, Miss Ada Judson, by her side, Myrtle takes it upon herself to prove Miss Wodehouse was murdered and find the killer, even if nobody else believes her — not even her father, the town prosecutor.
Twelve-year-old Myrtle Hardcastle has a passion for justice and a Highly Unconventional obsession with criminal science. Armed with her father’s law books and her mum’s microscope, Myrtle studies toxicology, keeps abreast of the latest developments in crime scene analysis, and Observes her neighbors in the quiet village of Swinburne, England.
When her next-door neighbor, a wealthy spinster and eccentric breeder of rare flowers, dies under Mysterious Circumstances, Myrtle seizes her chance. With her unflappable governess, Miss Ada Judson, by her side, Myrtle takes it upon herself to prove Miss Wodehouse was murdered and find the killer, even if nobody else believes her — not even her father, the town prosecutor.
Ah. Myrtle Hardcastle. A young British girl with a nose for solving murder mysteries, it would seem.
Everything about Myrtle's life is all proper and quite British. But her brain is simply teeming with adventure and crime-solving. While she does everything that a Lady-in-training is supposed to do, and does elegantly well for her dear father's sake, she also does plenty that a Lady shouldn't be caught dead doing. Like spying on the neighbors via telescope.
Miss Judson, Myrtle's governess, is a novelty! She makes me wish that adults could have a governess. While she expertly guides Myrtle on rights from wrongs, like her job requires, she also plainly loves participating in Myrtle's investigations, like her job does NOT require. What a pair these two are, in cahoots with each other!
"'Now. Tell me about your Harrowing Adventure.' She [Miss Judson] made it sound that way, capitalized, like a story in a penny dreadful."
There are no girls her own age that Myrtle can truly call a friend. The girls in her neighborhood are too fashionable, too consumed with their own selves to think twice about any intriguing topic that Myrtle is interested in, like the sciences, and Observing the world... and murder mysteries.
She may be just 12 years old in 1893, but Myrtle Hardcastle uses every modern convenience at her fingertips to piece together the clues of the puzzle. Her telescope is her inanimate best friend, with her microscope at a close second. Myrtle is a fellow fan of Mr. Sherlock Holmes (like me), and she follows his methods of deductive reasoning whenever she can. Just another reason why I love Myrtle.
There are many endearing and memorable characters among Myrtle's family, friends, and... enemies too. A surprise favorite of mine is Mr. Blakeney, a young solicitor-in-training, who meets Myrtle in her investigation and attempts to guide her along. He even has a pet name for her -- Stephen. As crazy as that seems, it's just a part of their semi-comedic friendship together.
Overall, this series opener is an intricately and masterfully-woven plot! It kept me guessing at every turn.
For fans of Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, and Flavia de Luce. Ages 9 to Adult (it has such an amazing and interesting plot, anyone could enjoy it.)
P.S. Like and vote for this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
How to Get Away with Myrtle
Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries #2
by Elizabeth C. Bunce
352 pages // published in 2020 // MG historical mystery
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Before the train has left the station, England’s most accomplished new detective already is on a suspect’s trail, and readers will be delighted to travel along.
Myrtle Hardcastle has no desire to go on a relaxing travel excursion with her aunt Helena when there are More Important things to be done at home, like keeping close tabs on criminals and murder trials. Unfortunately, she has no say in the matter. So off Myrtle goes—with her governess, Miss Judson, and cat, Peony, in tow—on a fabulous private railway coach headed for the English seaside.
Myrtle is thrilled to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Bloom, a professional insurance investigator aboard to protect the priceless Northern Lights tiara. But before the train reaches its destination, both the tiara and Mrs. Bloom vanish. When Myrtle arrives, she and Peony discover a dead body in the baggage car. Someone has been murdered—with Aunt Helena’s sewing shears.
The trip is derailed, the local police are inept, and Scotland Yard is in no rush to arrive. What’s a smart, bored Young Lady of Quality stranded in a washed-up carnival town to do but follow the evidence to find out which of her fellow travelers is a thief and a murderer?
Before the train has left the station, England’s most accomplished new detective already is on a suspect’s trail, and readers will be delighted to travel along.
Myrtle Hardcastle has no desire to go on a relaxing travel excursion with her aunt Helena when there are More Important things to be done at home, like keeping close tabs on criminals and murder trials. Unfortunately, she has no say in the matter. So off Myrtle goes—with her governess, Miss Judson, and cat, Peony, in tow—on a fabulous private railway coach headed for the English seaside.
Myrtle is thrilled to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Bloom, a professional insurance investigator aboard to protect the priceless Northern Lights tiara. But before the train reaches its destination, both the tiara and Mrs. Bloom vanish. When Myrtle arrives, she and Peony discover a dead body in the baggage car. Someone has been murdered—with Aunt Helena’s sewing shears.
The trip is derailed, the local police are inept, and Scotland Yard is in no rush to arrive. What’s a smart, bored Young Lady of Quality stranded in a washed-up carnival town to do but follow the evidence to find out which of her fellow travelers is a thief and a murderer?
In Volume Two, what starts as Myrtle Hardcastle getting to assist "a real Investigator in the search for a jewel thief!" quickly escalates into Myrtle Hardcastle attempting to solve the crime of a murder!
In this story, Myrtle, Miss Judson (governess), and Aunt Helena are heading down the train tracks to go on holiday. Even Peony the cat has gotten packed into the luggage, ready for some relaxation and vacation. Suffice it to say, by chapter 5, the situation becomes Extremely Interesting. When the police handcuffs come out, they're being slapped onto the wrists of one of Myrtle's own inner circle. Gasp!
The larger-than-life settings and atmosphere, alongside the immensely colorful characters, make the story jump to life in my head like a movie. It will capture the attention of even the most reluctant readers out there.
Myrtle's life seems to me that it must be similar to a young Agatha Christie's (fictionalized) life. The other girls back home don't call her "Morbid Myrtle" for nothing.
Many times sprinkled throughout the book I'll just happen to find a wonderful turn of phrase that will make me simply stop and smile (both inwardly and outwardly) at the wittiness of it... and it keeps happening, extending my pleasure of the story itself.
For fans of Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, and Flavia de Luce. Ages 9 to Adult (it has such an amazing and interesting plot, anyone could enjoy it.)
P.S. Like and vote for this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Her first novel, A Curse Dark as Gold, won the inaugural William C. Morris Award for a young adult debut novel and was named a Smithsonian Notable Book. Her high fantasy Thief Errant series includes the novels StarCrossed, A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best book for 2010, and Liar's Moon, one of Kirkus Blog's Favorite YA Novels of 2011. StarCrossed and A Curse Dark as Gold have appeared on Oprah's Kid's Reading List. Her novels have been named to the ALA's Best Fiction for Young Adults list, and she is a three-time Kansas Notable Book winner. An accomplished needlewoman and historical costumer, Elizabeth lives in the Midwest with her husband, her cats, and a boggart who steals books.
Check out her website at elizabethcbunce.com.
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