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verydazedragon's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A very cozy, satisfying mystery. I figured out all of the plot twists ahead of time, due to the less-than-subtle foreshadowing. As a children’s book, it had a savory combination of gory detail and comforting innocence. It’s just what I expect every juvenile mystery to be.
brianareads's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Kidnapping
evamadera1's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this cozy middle grade mystery. The beginning felt a bit too wordy but once the mystery started, things fell into place. I loved Aggie's "morbid curiosity" and the inclusion of so many turn of the century small English country town tropes. I did figure out the culprit before Aggie (she had a mistaken choice) but that's to be expected as it's written for middle schoolers.
arali426's review
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
momreads's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book features a fictional Agatha Christie as a young girl. She and her new friend, Hercule Perot, try to solve the mystery of who killed Irma Eversham. What a delightful read. The characters were fun and the mystery well developed. I look forward to more in this series.
itabar's review
3.0
A disappointment. I found Aggie a bit annoying and something about the tone put me off. Then there are the "asides" where she describes an imagined scene which I found really annoying.
libraryrabbit's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
betweenbookends's review
3.0
I rarely read middle grade novels but this was such a fun excursion from all the serious literary fiction I’ve been reading. Marthe Jocelyn takes a lot of inspiration from the life and works of the mystery queen, Agatha Christie in the characterization and plot of the novel. With middle grade, there’s always the concern the story might be overly simplistic and the writing too dialled down for adult / older readers to enjoy. Thankfully, it wasn’t the case with this. The mystery is genuinely intriguing and the writing style, simple but effective. Ofcourse, there are plot conveniences and cliche mystery troupes, but it’s still a fun read. The setting of the town of Torquay, 1902 is vivid and very well done. Aggie Morton is a spirited young woman and she and her friend, Hector, together with their sleuthing capabilities get to the bottom of the murder mystery. It’s a cozy, quick read, that's apt for mystery lovers, young and old alike. I also have to mention the lovely cover art and chapter illustrations by Isabelle Follath that work incredibly well with the story.
ckarako's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0