A review by betweenbookends
The Body Under the Piano by Marthe Jocelyn

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.