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Genre: 🕵🏼‍♀ Historical Mystery | Age: 👧🏼 Middle Grade (ages 9+) | Buy: Bookshop, Amazon | ⭐Star rating

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Admittedly, I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to murder mysteries, so middle grade mysteries typically suit my tolerance level just fine. The Myrtle mysteries have been a perfect blend of wit, suspense, and footnotes, though I think the content is a little much for a true middle grade read — in my opinion, it’s better suited for teen or Young Adult ages. But, that said, my 9-year-old would probably be fine reading it.

In this mystery, Myrtle, her governess, and her cat, work diligently to help solve a couple of modern (to them) murders as well as a cold case that Myrtle’s late mom may have been connected to.

My favorite part of these mysteries is that Myrtle doesn’t typically have to sneak around to get her detective work done. Her governess, Miss Judson, is almost always with her and her dad is even starting to be somewhat supportive of Myrtle’s adventures.

I have enjoyed the whole series, but this book was my favorite so far.

🍄 Everyone’s a Suspect

It really did feel like every character was a suspect in this third book, but I enjoyed that aspect. I was questioning people I thought we could trust, wondering if being creepy or nosy meant you were a murderer, and wanting to peek into people’s personal things “just to be sure”.

The historical case and how it was connected to the modern murders was a great puzzle I enjoyed watching unfold. I may have guessed “whodunnit” by picking every suspect in turn, except the actual murderer, but realized where I missed the answer along the way.

I have to admit the ending and the great reveal were a little…strange. But I guess people are allowed their fictional quirks, especially in a mystery with a 12-year-old detective.

🧠 Cold Cases

Not only was there a cold case in this book, but the setting was quite literally cold. One scene in particular had Myrtle and Miss Judson nearly getting stuck in a blizzard and needing to warm up once they found a friendly home.

This scene brought a homeopathic remedy to mind that I have used when my little people come in from playing in the snow with cold fingertips and noses. Hamamelis is a nice remedy for regulating blood circulation and will help restore blood flow after being in the cold for too long.

I wish I could have handed out Hamamelis to those poor people in the book who were coming in from traipsing in the snow.

🦉Who Would Like This Book

If you love a quaint mystery, you’ll probably like this book.

The book also has a great historical setting. There was even a look into a bell tower that I found particularly interesting.

Lastly, but not least important, is the wit. The prose and the characters are unmatched in their cleverness. The footnotes are fun, the cat is hilarious, and the Random Use of capital letters gets me every time.

Have you read any mysteries that you love?

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🤖 Always written and edited without the use of AI.