Elizabeth C. Bunce

Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity is the newest installment of the Myrtle Hardcastle mystery series. Young Myrtle’s governess, Miss Judson has unexpectedly learned that she is the heir to an estate in Scotland. Myrtle’s father suggests that Myrtle accompany Miss Judson from their home in England to learn all they can about this new revelation. So off they go accompanied by Cook, the house keeper, and Peony the curious cat. This quartet have no clue that they are about to find themselves trying to solve not only the mystery of Miss Judson’s inheritance, but also the mystery of a murder in a haunted castle.This entertaining book in the series is slowed down by the author including the use of Scottish dialogue throughout the book. While giving a more authentic feel, it slowed down my enjoyment having to decipher the speech patterns. I have to say it even took Myrtle a while to get used to it, although she seemed to pick it up more readily than I. This book was provided for review by NovelSuspectsInsiders.… (més)

Myrtle is on the case in another great mystery! Myrtle is traveling with her Aunt Helena rather reluctantly and it is really no surprise that things don’t go as planned. First, there is a jewel theft which is followed up by a murder. Myrtle is determined to get to the bottom of things in this surprisingly complex mystery. Myrtle and her governess, Miss Judson, definitely have their work cut out for them in this installment.

Myrtle is a fantastic character and I love the fact that the adults in her life are supportive and encouraging. Her Aunt Helena does have some pretty strong opinions about how a young lady should behave but it is evident just how much she really cares for Myrtle. This 12-year-old’s investigative skills are top notch and I am pretty sure that this crime would not have been solved if it were up to the adults in positions of power.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a fabulous job with the series. Bethan Rose Young does a wonderful job of bringing Myrtle and the rest of the cast to life. I am certain that her narration only added to my enjoyment of this story. I do recommend this delightful series to both middle-grade readers and adults. I cannot wait to read the next book!

I received a review copy of this book from Algonquin Young Readers.… (més)

This was great! Myrtle was such an intelligent girl and I loved the fact that the adults in her life supported her and were a significant part of the story. The crime in this story was surprisingly complex and kept me guessing until the end. I was hooked by this story early on and found it almost impossible to set aside. Where were middle-grade books like this when I was younger?

12-year-old Myrtle is a fantastic character. She is more intelligent than most of the adults in the story and is always looking into something and constantly making observations. When a neighbor dies, Myrtle decides that she needs to look into it and she will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of things. The Victorian setting was incredibly well done and only added to the story’s charm.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator did a fantastic job of bringing this story to life. Bethan Rose Young did such a great job of representing this fun cast of characters. I found her voice to be very pleasant and didn’t want to stop listening. I cannot wait to read the next book in this fun middle-grade series!

I received a review copy of this book from Algonquin Young Readers.… (més)

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 he —not even her father, the town prosecutor.… (més)