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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
Not very interesting and not a very good sequel
*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author and Kelly Doyle at Algonquin Young Readers. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Myrtle returns for another adventure, and this time she is taking to the road… well, rail… with her beloved Miss Judson and less-beloved Aunt Helena. Can our young detective-in-training still practice her skills when she is out of her comfort zone, away from her resources, and under the disapproving eye of the family battleaxe?
Of course, she can… after all, Myrtle IS irrepressible!
In this story, she faces another classically-Christie style murder, whilst dodging responsible adult influences and making some new friends (and enemies!). As well as Harriet the Spy and Flavia de Luce, I got a distinct flavour of Amelia Peabody in Myrtle’s determined focus on finding the truth and fulfilling her ambitions, against the doubts and expectations of those around her. I could definitely see an adult Myrtle poking miscreants out of her way with a parasol!
It was lovely to see my own personal favourite character, Mr Blakeney, making a return this time around and I cheered his appearance as much as I booed Aunt Helena’s. But these are no pantomime characters, and Elizabeth C. Bunce develops even her side characters into more complex and nuanced individuals, subverting reader expectations delightfully.
This is another rippingly good adventure tale for young – and older – readers, and I am definitely adding copies of these books to my personal shelves. I love it when I find a new favourite author!
Fellow fans of classic mystery novels with unique characters, and a light, humorous style of writing, are sure to love these books as much as I do. I can’t wait to introduce Myrtle to Minishine!
I turned away and shoved the chemisettes into the trunk. If this were a proper holiday, Father would be coming with us, not separating us with a whole ocean.” On a Proper Holiday, Father and Miss Judson might even frolic on the beach together. They’d Promenade on the Pier together. We could be a Proper Family, just the three of us. Instead, Miss Judson and I were being Exiled to the seaside, while Father got as far away from us as possible.
Miss Judson turned me to face her. “You may not believe this, but your father just wants you to have a good time—”
“I’d have a good time in Paris. With him.”
“—doing something that does not involve murder.”
I glowered at her. “An ordinary holiday. Like an ordinary girl.”
“Exactly. I’m sure you can manage that. Rumor has it you’re clever and resourceful.”
– Elizabeth C. Bunce, How to Get Away with Myrtle
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/10/10/blog-tour-premeditated-myrtle-how-to-get-away-with-myrtle-elizabeth-c-bunce/
Myrtle returns for another adventure, and this time she is taking to the road… well, rail… with her beloved Miss Judson and less-beloved Aunt Helena. Can our young detective-in-training still practice her skills when she is out of her comfort zone, away from her resources, and under the disapproving eye of the family battleaxe?
Of course, she can… after all, Myrtle IS irrepressible!
In this story, she faces another classically-Christie style murder, whilst dodging responsible adult influences and making some new friends (and enemies!). As well as Harriet the Spy and Flavia de Luce, I got a distinct flavour of Amelia Peabody in Myrtle’s determined focus on finding the truth and fulfilling her ambitions, against the doubts and expectations of those around her. I could definitely see an adult Myrtle poking miscreants out of her way with a parasol!
It was lovely to see my own personal favourite character, Mr Blakeney, making a return this time around and I cheered his appearance as much as I booed Aunt Helena’s. But these are no pantomime characters, and Elizabeth C. Bunce develops even her side characters into more complex and nuanced individuals, subverting reader expectations delightfully.
This is another rippingly good adventure tale for young – and older – readers, and I am definitely adding copies of these books to my personal shelves. I love it when I find a new favourite author!
Fellow fans of classic mystery novels with unique characters, and a light, humorous style of writing, are sure to love these books as much as I do. I can’t wait to introduce Myrtle to Minishine!
I turned away and shoved the chemisettes into the trunk. If this were a proper holiday, Father would be coming with us, not separating us with a whole ocean.” On a Proper Holiday, Father and Miss Judson might even frolic on the beach together. They’d Promenade on the Pier together. We could be a Proper Family, just the three of us. Instead, Miss Judson and I were being Exiled to the seaside, while Father got as far away from us as possible.
Miss Judson turned me to face her. “You may not believe this, but your father just wants you to have a good time—”
“I’d have a good time in Paris. With him.”
“—doing something that does not involve murder.”
I glowered at her. “An ordinary holiday. Like an ordinary girl.”
“Exactly. I’m sure you can manage that. Rumor has it you’re clever and resourceful.”
– Elizabeth C. Bunce, How to Get Away with Myrtle
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/10/10/blog-tour-premeditated-myrtle-how-to-get-away-with-myrtle-elizabeth-c-bunce/
Myrtle Hardcastle, her Aunt Helena, and her governess Miss Judson have been sent on a vacation in a seaside town. As soon as they board the train, Myrtle can sense a mystery coming. A priceless tiara is on display on the train, with an insurance investigator on board to protect it. However, the tiara is stolen during a power outage on the first night. Myrtle and the insurance investigator, Mrs. Bloom, search the train for clues. The next day, Mrs. Bloom can’t be found. Her body is eventually found in the luggage car when they arrive at their destination. The murder weapon points to Myrtle’s Aunt Helena. Myrtle doesn’t trust anyone else to investigate the connection between the robbery and Mrs. Bloom’s murder, so she takes the investigation into her own hands.
I enjoyed this story more than the first Myrtle Hardcastle mystery. The first one was a good introduction to the characters. This one had a clear, straight forward mystery to solve.
I loved the classic setting of a train. It is an enclosed setting that limits the people who can be involved. The murderer has to be on the train with everyone else because there isn’t any way to escape the train without getting hurt. This is a great classic setting.
I’m looking forward to reading more Myrtle Hardcastle books in the future!
Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this story more than the first Myrtle Hardcastle mystery. The first one was a good introduction to the characters. This one had a clear, straight forward mystery to solve.
I loved the classic setting of a train. It is an enclosed setting that limits the people who can be involved. The murderer has to be on the train with everyone else because there isn’t any way to escape the train without getting hurt. This is a great classic setting.
I’m looking forward to reading more Myrtle Hardcastle books in the future!
Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Myrtle is traveling by train for a holiday at the seaside, when a priceless tiara is stolen and one of the train passengers is murdered. The local police are incompetent, and only Myrtle and her irrepressible governess, Miss Judson, can solve the case and bring justice to the murderer. But how is a Proper Young Lady supposed to adhere to the Rules of Etiquette AND have the freedom to run around the beach solving crimes? Especially with mean Aunt Helena criticizing her every move.
I cannot describe how much I loved this second book in the Myrtle series!
One of the things that made me fall in love with this book is the incredible character development. I love how the main characters change their minds, discover new information, grow in their personalities and abilities, and suddenly realize that their relationships with other characters can be different.
I was fully invested in the character growth and the story from the very first page. The writing drew me in, and emotionally hooked me into the lives of the characters. Myrtle herself is a fantastic main heroine. She is energetic and emotional and incredibly intelligent. I absolutely adored her strong relationship with Miss Judson, and her evolving relationship with her Aunt Helena.
I was massively curious about every clue. I couldn't wait to read the next chapter and the next! I wanted to see how all the disparate clues could possibly come together to a rational conclusion. I was so pleased with the complexity of the mystery, and yet it all made sense in the end with everything explained and every loose end wrapped neatly in a bow. At one point, I thought that I had figured out who the murderer was, but I was completely wrong! I was genuinely surprised at the ending.
The secondary characters are wonderful as well, with the townspeople, train staff, hotel clerks, and local fishermen all playing their part. The setting of the beach, the hotel, the pier, and the ships all give a creepy or homey atmosphere to the story that adds so much to the action of each scene.
One of the things I really loved was how the history of the town was a big part of unraveling the murder mystery. Myrtle had to find out about the past in order to understand what was happening in the present, and it gave the story so much depth. Brilliant writing!
Another nice feature of this book is the gorgeous cover art, which gives little clues to the contents of the book with scissors, the pier, and a cat on the beach. All these things feature strongly in the plot, and I love how the artwork incorporates them.
I wish I could give this book 10 stars, and I look forward with extreme eagerness for the next books in the series!
Update: I forgot to mention how humorous the writing is! There is a lot of witty dialogue, funny aside comments to the reader, a jovial and charming solicitor, and these crazy ducks that terrorize the streets. It’s hilarious and wonderful!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.
I cannot describe how much I loved this second book in the Myrtle series!
One of the things that made me fall in love with this book is the incredible character development. I love how the main characters change their minds, discover new information, grow in their personalities and abilities, and suddenly realize that their relationships with other characters can be different.
I was fully invested in the character growth and the story from the very first page. The writing drew me in, and emotionally hooked me into the lives of the characters. Myrtle herself is a fantastic main heroine. She is energetic and emotional and incredibly intelligent. I absolutely adored her strong relationship with Miss Judson, and her evolving relationship with her Aunt Helena.
I was massively curious about every clue. I couldn't wait to read the next chapter and the next! I wanted to see how all the disparate clues could possibly come together to a rational conclusion. I was so pleased with the complexity of the mystery, and yet it all made sense in the end with everything explained and every loose end wrapped neatly in a bow. At one point, I thought that I had figured out who the murderer was, but I was completely wrong! I was genuinely surprised at the ending.
The secondary characters are wonderful as well, with the townspeople, train staff, hotel clerks, and local fishermen all playing their part. The setting of the beach, the hotel, the pier, and the ships all give a creepy or homey atmosphere to the story that adds so much to the action of each scene.
One of the things I really loved was how the history of the town was a big part of unraveling the murder mystery. Myrtle had to find out about the past in order to understand what was happening in the present, and it gave the story so much depth. Brilliant writing!
Another nice feature of this book is the gorgeous cover art, which gives little clues to the contents of the book with scissors, the pier, and a cat on the beach. All these things feature strongly in the plot, and I love how the artwork incorporates them.
I wish I could give this book 10 stars, and I look forward with extreme eagerness for the next books in the series!
Update: I forgot to mention how humorous the writing is! There is a lot of witty dialogue, funny aside comments to the reader, a jovial and charming solicitor, and these crazy ducks that terrorize the streets. It’s hilarious and wonderful!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.
Loved the first book in this series and loved this one.
I want to read the rest of the series as it's excellent.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I want to read the rest of the series as it's excellent.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Y'all. I love a mid grade to mix things up, and this was so fun! I really loved reading the Mandy series and Lemony Snickett as a kid, so this is right up my alley. Look forward to reading the next book.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
How To Get Away With Myrtle is the second story following young Myrtle, who loves mysteries and crime. Her love of mystery and crime comes from her late mother who was a medical student and her father who is a prosecutor. Due to this upbringing, she wants to be an investigator when she grows up. To get Myrtle away from the previous murder, her father gets Myrtle and Miss Judson to go on holidays with Aunt Helena. However, little does anyone know, a robbery and murder is about to occur, so this type of mystery seems to be following Myrtle, to her happiness and everyone else’s dismay. But how can she do this when she is supposed to be a Proper Young Lady according to her father and her aunt. She continues with the help of her governess Miss Judson and her personal assistant, Peony the cat.
I was truly shocked at how much I loved this book. I did struggle initially, but I put that down to my own reading slump and life struggles, but once I got into it fully, I struggled to put it down! There are so many things I loved about this book. From the excerpts from H.M. Hardcastle. These again were a fabulous inclusion at the beginning of the chapters. It truly gave me a feel about what the following chapter would be about. The addition of the footnotes were great, and definitely suitable for the intended audience. They would definitely be suited better for a physical copy of the book, which was mentioned in the disclaimer at the beginning, which I was incredibly thankful for!
The continual character development of Myrtle was again some of the best I’ve read this year. I loved reading Myrtle as grow as a young girl, surrounded by others in an unfamiliar environment. The writing style of Bunce was so descriptive, yet not overly descriptive and so very engaging. I loved reading how Myrtle interacted with all the adults within the book. Her relationship again with Miss Judson was so incredibly well done and I loved their relationship and trust. It was great seeing more a complex relationship form between them due to the nature of this book. The relationship of Myrtle and Aunt Helena is one that looking back, I actually loved by the end of it. It’s definitely a lot more of a complex and tough relationship. I love reading about arguments in families as they feel so much more real.
I can normally struggle with background characters sometimes, and the background characters within this book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. They were a fabulous addition, due to the nature of the story. I went from hating some to loving them, and vice versa. The townspeople telling their stories of knowing other characters and the background history was fabulous to read. It was such great writing, I’m still in shock at how Bunce once again took me on a rollercoaster ride.
The complexity of this story was around Myrtle having to find the background history of certain characters and how they related to the town and its people before understanding and figuring out the murder mystery and thieving crime. I think this added to the fantastic growth of Myrtle along with the depth of the story line.
As I said, once I was hooked in this book, I couldn’t put this book down because I just loved reading about the new clues and trying to figure out who the murderer and thief was. The murderer and thief who I thought it was changed about 5 times. So I definitely didn’t pick it until the scene where it was revealed. I really hope there’s going to be more books in the series, so I can be once again reunited with these fantastic characters and Bunce’s beautifully vivid storytelling and writing style.
Thank you very much to the Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review and allowing me to participate in the blog tour.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
I love the Myrtle Hardcastle murder mystery series for young readers! Elizabeth C. Bunce has done it again with HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MYRTLE, the second book in the series. A seashore vacation with Myrtle's insufferable Aunt Helena goes horribly wrong before they even arrive (a jewel heist on a train, anyone?). Myrtle and her governess, Miss Judson, get entangled despite their best efforts to steer clear. I am highly anticipating book three!