Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity - a Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery #5

Well, it appears with the fifth Myrtle Hardcastle, another great series has come to an end.  It is always disappointing to be reading and thoroughly enjoying a well-written series, only to buy and read a book and discover by the end of the story that you have reached not only the end of the book, but the end of the series!  The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency, the Devil Quick mysteries, Aggie Morton Mystery Queen, the Curious Cat Spy Club, and so many others.  Now, I guess, I can add the Myrtle Hardcastle mysteries to this ever-growing list of finite series that has reached its conclusion.  Which is a real shame, as Elizabeth C. Bunce has given readers a truly wonderful young sleuth with Myrtle and her governess, Miss Judson, and while the ending to this story provides readers with a payoff that has been building since the first book, it still leaves the reader wanting for more!

Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity takes Myrtle, her cat Peony, and the Hardcastles' cook on a trip with Miss Judson to a Scottish isle where the young governess has unexpected inherited an estate from an uncle she did not even know she had.  An estate that consists of a lonely, isolated castle on an island with very limited access by boat.  A castle that is home to Jessie Craig, the mistress of the hounds of Rockfforde Hall; Jessie grandmother Mrs. Catriona Craig, the head housekeeper of Rockfforde Hall; young Muriel, the skittish and superstitious maid; Dougal Alastair Manro (a/k/a "Mac"), Mrs. Craig's grandson and all-around handyman for Rockfforde Hall; and, oh yes, lest we forget, there is also the Grey Lady, otherwise known as the ghost that haunts the halls of the great manor!  Jessie and her grandmother are none too happy that the English crew have invaded their territory, and it is clear there is more to their animosity than simply cultural differences.  One of those happens to be the missing treasure - the Brooch o' Clan MacJudd, which could restore the family's heritage and set things right.  But the brooch has been missing for many decades, and with the condition of the castle and its grounds, it seems selling the property to a fishing company on the mainland might be the only way to go.  It's what the family attorney is pressing for.  It's what the overly friendly Lt. Smoot is encouraging the to do.  But it is exactly what the Craigs do not want to see happen.  And last, but not least, there's the question of whether Augustus Horatio MacJudd (Miss Judson's uncle) died of natural causes or was murdered.  Everything is in place for a fantastic gothic mystery!

Bunce creates a number of stressful situations for poor Myrtle in this book.  First, she must not forget her father's request to make sure Miss Judson does not become too attached to Scotland, as he wants her to come back home (perhaps something to do with the ring he has in that small box in his desk drawer?).  Second, she is determined to find out the truth behind Augustus MacJudd's death, which will not be easy with everyone in the house so distrusting.  Third, she is reluctant to admit that the strange noises, the eerie moans, and the glowing lights throughout the dark house are leaving her very unsettled.  Fourth, with no indoor plumbing whatsoever, she is appalled at the thought of having to use a chamber pot for ... well, you know.  And fifth, and probably most important, she must uncover the identity of the person or persons who killed the family's attorney!  Yes, a body turns up in the dried out fountain in front of the house, and with all the boats gone and no way off the island, and with no phone service to call for the police, Myrtle realizes they are quite possibly trapped with a killer in their midst!

There are any number of suspects, including a neighbor they have not seen, yet who has no problems setting traps in the woods to kill the innocent wildlife - would he also kill a man?  There is the enigmatic Lt. Smoot, who seems to appear just after any sign of trouble, and who disappears without a trace thereafter.  There is also the unseen Mr. Balfour, who is believed to have taken off shortly after MacJudd died; yet, did he really leave the island, or is he merely hiding, hoping to stake his own claim to the missing treasure?  And is Jessie truly without guilt - would she kill in order to take her believed rightful place as the heir to Augustus MacJudd?  And what life-changing secrets is Mrs. Craig keeping from everyone under that gruff exterior?  And, of course, there's Mac, who has the strength of several men and could easily end one's life if he so chose.  And who is the mysterious stranger that is hiding in the upper rooms of the house?

Such a wonderful mystery, so perfectly written, and so grandly filled with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.  Sure, this is a children's mystery, but the plot is definitely worthy of some of the top mystery writers of our time, including Agatha Christie herself!  I was so caught up in the story that I did not want to put it down until I was finished.

There were a couple of things that did catch my eye as I was reading, though.  On page 4, there is what appears to be a typographical error where Bunce is describing Mr. Hardcastle's latest client:  "Viscountess Snowcroft, was the source of more work than he could handle on hwwis own..." (p. 4).  "Hwwis"???  Not sure where the two w's come from, and while some of the Scottish words in the story have double letters, I do not thing this was an intentional spelling.  The second item is not an error, but more the smile that came to my face when I read the name of one of the witnesses to Augustus MacJudd's new will he made out right before he did.  Alan Balfour was the first witness, and the second was a man by the name of Dr. Paul McGann.  I mean, seriously - the fact that Bunce even specified him as a "Doctor" clearly defines this as an obvious nod to the eighth actor to play the time-traveling doctor of the famous British television show.  Doctor who, you ask?  Exactly!

I suppose if the series had to come to an end, this was definitely a powerful way to bring it to conclusion.  It just seems a shame to end Myrtle Hardcastle's sleuthing career, when she's only had five opportunities to show just how clever she is when it comes to solving crimes.  But, alas, as it plainly says on the last page of the story:  "Finis."   (Then again...)  Hope springs eternal!

RATING:  10 sgian dubhs out of 10 for a wonderfully gothic-filled mystery with secret passages, bumps in the night, and all the elements needed to make a superb story!

In Myrtle Peril - a Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery #4

And so we return to the 19th century world of Myrtle Hardcastle with the fourth mystery in the Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery series.  This series has been very enjoyable to read, as author Elizabeth Bunce has crafted some extremely likable characters (some of whom I'd like to see more of!) and writes some intricate mysteries.  Being set in the 19th century, it's also nice to watch the characters go about solving the crimes the old fashioned way - no cell phones, no computers, no internet.  With all the technology of today's world, it's just to easy for the sleuths to become dependent on the tech to do the work for them.  But without it, Myrtle Hardcastle and her governess, Miss Judson, have to depend on their wits, their intuition, and their ingenuity in uncovering and deciphering clues. And that's what keeps this series so much fun to read.

In Myrtle Peril (and, yes, the puns in the titles are also part of the fun) opens with Myrtle facing the fact that her father is going to have to be hospitalized for tonsillitis.  Having lost her mother at such a young age (hmmmm, sound like another girl detective we all know and love, whose father also works in law?), Myrtle is frightened at the prospect of losing her father.  But Miss Judson and the family doctor repeatedly reassure her that he will be fine. But what about her father's latest case - finding out whether Sally Cooke is actually Ethel Snowcroft, the heiress to the Snowcroft fortune.  She was believed lost at sea with her parents years ago, but she has shown up in the care of one Mrs. Dudley, a very prim and proper woman determined to prove to the world that Sally is really Ethel.  The only clues to her identity lie inside the girl's locket - a lock of hair and a faded picture.  But when Mr. Hardcastle is taken away to the hospital for surgery, who is going to uncover the truth about Sally's real identity?  Why, Myrtle Hardcastle, of course!

But where's the murder?  After all, this series is all about young Myrtle and her governess solving murders.  Well, Bunce doesn't keep her readers hanging for long.  The night after his surgery, Mr. Hardcastle is adamant that he witnessed a murder in the hospital - the only problem is, there is no body, no weapon, and no one else saw or heard anything.  The doctor and nurses all insist Myrtle's father was under strong pain medication which made him see things that weren't there.  Even Miss Judson is willing to believe her employer may have only imagined or dreamed it.  But Mytle is not ready to give up on her father.  She may be questioning some things she found in his desk drawer (pamphlets for boarding schools and magazines advertising jewelry!), but if her father says he saw something, then Myrtle things he did.  So, now with two mysteries to solve, Myrtle sets about proving her father was telling the truth and searching for clues that will prove Sally Cooke is really the Snowcroft heir.

Bunce has crafted a well-thought-out mystery with this one - it even had me stumped!  I wavered between two of the potential suspects, but she surprised me with a rather unexpected twist near the end.  And I found it interesting how she keeps poor Myrtle distracted with so many things - her father's health, the boarding school pamphlets, the search for Sally's identity, trying to find out if someone really was murdered, and evading the overly strict and not-so-nice head nurse at the hospital.  And the further she delves into all of these mysteries, the more she begins to make the connections that ultimately lead her to the realization of how they are all connected.  Of course, that doesn't include the plot to have a bomb go off at the hospital's annual charity fundraiser - that's a whole different story unto itself.

Now let's talk about Mr. Blakeney (the solicitor-in-training) and his sister Genie (that pesky reporter who is a thorn in Myrtle's side).  Even though these are only supporting characters, they are so much fun.  I'm glad Bunce manages to wiggle them into her stories, but I would love to see more of them.  Especially Mr. Blakeney, and his quirky little way of always referring to Myrtle as "Stephen" (if you've been reading the series from the beginning, you know why!).  There's always future books!

RATING: 10 missing sketch pads out of 10 for keeping the plots fresh, the mysteries intriguing, and the characters growing!  Always looking forward to the next one!

Cold-Blooded Myrtle - a Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery #3

Christmas is almost arrived at Swinburne in this third Myrtle Hardcastle mystery.  After solving the murder of her neighbor and the murder at a seaside resort, one would think that twelve-year old Myrtle Hardcastle deserves a break - but as we all know, mystery never takes a vacation, especially for young sleuths like Myrtle!  Author Elizabeth C. Bunce returns with probably her best murder mystery yet!  And while it took me a bit to get into this book (I guess it's been too long since I read the second mystery, so other than her governess, Miss Judson, I had a difficult time re-acquainting myself with the rest of Myrtle's supporting cast - I suppose that's a price one pays for reading as many different on-going series as I do!), once I got a few chapters in, I was thoroughly hooked!

Cold-Blooded Myrtle is set right at Christmas time, as the villagers in Swinburne are gearing up for a snowy, freezing holiday.  There's quite a bit going on - the unveiling of Leighton Mercantile's window display for the season ... the opening of the new display at the local museum, showcasing items (coincidentally enough) donated by Professor Leighton ... and the ever-difficult hunt for the perfect Christmas gift for one's family and friends.  Myrtle is worried because Christmas is nearly there, and she has yet to find that hard-to-find gift for her governess.  But she needn't have worried - soon enough, another mystery falls right in their laps, and they are too busy trying to catch a killer to worry about the perfect gift!

Bunce crafts a wonderfully hard-to-figure-out mystery that stumps not only Myrtle and Miss Judson, but the reader as well.  Usually I am pretty good at figuring these things out fairly early on, but Bunce had be guessing on this one until very nearly the end!  It all starts when Leighton Mercantile pulls back its curtains on the amazing window display that Professor Leighton crafts each year - a perfect replica of the village, down to the citizens in the street.  Only this year, the display has an added surprise - a tiny replica of a well, painted black, with a twig of olives placed next to it.  But that's not the only surprise - because once inside the store, Myrtle and Miss Judson, alongside Mrs. Leighton, discover the dead body of Professor Leighton, resting in a chair, a cup of tea by his side and a note in his hand.  For all intent and purposes, it seems Professor Leighton had a stroke, which is what the arriving doctor immediately assumes.  But Myrtle has questions, especially after she finds a photograph of Professor Leighton lying near the scene - an old photo that shows Professor Leighton with some of his students, one of whom happens to be Myrtle's very own mother!

Myrtle's father, of course, is none too happy to find his daughter at the scene of yet another dead body, but since this appears natural, he is not too worried.  Until the attending physician reveals Professor Leighton to have been poisoned - and that he had traces of chloroform around his mouth, which meant someone had murdered the kindly old man.  But why?  Who could possibly have a grudge against a former college professor and owner of the local mercantile?  Well, when Myrtle describes the display in Leighton's window to her father, she discovers the mystery hits a lot closer to home than she could have ever realized - because when she describes the display, her father's first question is, "What color was the well?"  When she tells him it was painted black, he surprises her with an unexpected response.  "Olive, black well ... Olive Blackwell?  What would he put that on display?" (p. 23).  And so begins Myrtle's search for a solution to not only the current mystery, but also the mystery of whatever really happened to one of her mother's college friends - one Olive Blackwell.  The story goes that she fell from the top of the campanile (old bell tower), but her body was never discovered, and no one quite knows what happened.  But as Myrtle soon discovers, someone might know - several someones, in fact, all of whom live in Swinburne and all of whom are familiar to Myrtle.  Myrtle's mother, who died of cancer.  Professor Leighton, who is now dead.  The newly elected Mayor of Swinburne, the father of Myrtle's nemesis, LaRue Spence-Hastings.  Dr. Munjal, the father of Myrtle's friend, Caroline.  and Nora Carmichael, an archaeologist, and her brother David.  But it seems David is also dead, having died while mountain climbing some time ago.  So that only leaves three.  Three people who seem awfully desperate to keep a secret from years ago.  Is one of them the killer?

Oh, and let's not forget Imogen Shelley, the nosy reporter for the loan newspaper who seems to be right in the middle of things, sensationalizing everything she writes about the case.  It turns out, however, that she has a connection with one Mr. Blakeney, a solicitor-in-training who Myrtle previously met in her prior adventures.  And it also turns out that Ms. Shelley has had an unhealthy obsession with the Olive Blackwell case for some time - but is it one that would drive her to murder?

Myrtle and Miss Judson (and, oh yes, Peony, too) have a very difficult time sifting through the clues and the suspects to figure out whodunnit - and when a second body turns up, they realize the clock is ticking, because the window display was changed just before the second murder.  So, when the display is changed again, it's only a matter of time before the third murder occurs!  Bunce writes plenty of suspense, danger, and surprises in this one, and I willingly admit I could not for the life of me figure this one out until almost the end - and when the revelation comes, it suddenly all makes perfect sense.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I would SO recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a great murder mystery.  Bunce writes a wonderful mystery, full of fantastic characters, and provides a more than satisfying read in each and every book.  Definitely looking forward to the next one!

RATING:  10 engraved miner's helmets out of 10 for murder, mayhem, and mystery at Christmas time that is well worth reading!

How to Get Away with Myrtle - a Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery #2

Precocious young female detectives are always fun to read, and none more so than twelve-year old Myrtle Hardcastle.  Author Elizabeth C. Bunce has a wonderful creation on her hands, with characters that are fun, sometimes outlandish, perky, and without a doubt engaging from page one to the very last page of the story.  For those who read the first book in this series, you'll recall that young Myrtle Hardcastle, whose mother has died and her father is doing his best to care for her, along with the help of a young governess and a domineering aunt (remember, this series is set in England the late 1800s), becomes involved in solving the murder of her family's next door neighbor.  Everyone does their best to keep Myrtle out of the investigation, but her sense of right and wrong, her penchant for trouble, and her keen mind filled with facts, observational skills, and deductive reasoning keep Myrtle sticking her nose into the matter until she ultimately uncovers the truth and leads the police to the killer!  Well, now, her father has decided to send her on a vacation with her governess and aunt, to help keep her from being involved with the nasty business of solving murders.  Yeah, right, like that's gonna work...

How to Get Away with Myrtle finds Myrtle, her governess Miss Judson, and her Aunt Helena taking a luxury train ride to a new seaside resort for a vacation away from any kind of trouble.  Myrtle is hard-pressed to find anything enjoyable about the trip, but her Aunt Helena seems to become enthralled with the owner of the train, Sir Quentin Ballingall, and his daughter, Temperance.  But Myrtle is more interested in the rather strong-willed Mrs. Bloom, who is an insurance investigator taking this train ride to insure that the very expensive Northern Lights Tiara (commissioned to commemorate the royal wedding) is kept safe during the trip.  Myrtle never knew that women could be insurance investigators, and she is intrigued by this woman's fierce demeanor and admires her determination and backbone when faced with men who think they know better than her!  So, it's only natural that when Mrs. Bloom turns up dead, her body found by Myrtle and a young boy, Clive, who loves photography and whose father happens to be the manager at the hotel where Myrtle will be staying, that Myrtle would feel an obligation to solve her murder.  And it's a good thing too, since the constabulary in Fairhaven seem less than capable.  And when the rather rude Inspector Arkwright arrives on the scene, Myrtle is more determined than ever to get justice for poor Mrs. Bloom.

The question is - who killed her and why?  And just how did her Aunt Helena's golden scissors come to be sticking out of Mrs. Bloom's back?  Did her Aunt kill the insurance investigator?  Myrtle had noticed the tension between them, but she could not bring herself to imagine her aunt doing such a deed.  Was the murder connected to the theft of the Northern Lights Tiara that occurred on the train ride down to Fairhaven?  If so, then there were plenty of suspects.  The rather rough Mr. Coogan, a guard hired to serve on Ballingall's train who had a history of public drunkenness and violence.  The presumptuously pompous Quentin Ballingall, who could use the theft as a means to cash in on the insurance policy.  The unnaturally nervous Mr. Penrose, who seems to have more going on than just bringing his invalid daughter to the seaside for a holiday.  The anything-but-talented Temperance Ballingall, who was the last person to have the tiara when it disappeared from her head after the lights went out.  And while the two elderly ladies, Miss Causton and Miss Cabot, may seem innocent enough, Myrtle knows one can never assume anything,  And let's not forget that enigmatic Swedish gentleman, Mr. Strand, who is quiet and stays pretty much to himself the entire time.  Or the grim-faced Nurse Temby, who seems less-than-thrilled about constantly toting Miss Penrose everywhere.  And with Miss Judson telling her at every turn to stay out of it, Myrte must enlist the aid of young Clive to help her find out what really happened to Mrs. Bloom!

Bunce provides another intricately-woven tale, where the clues are there if you know where to look for them!  And this time around, there is so much more going on that what appears to the casual reader.  Not only do we have a thief and a murderer, but there are lies and secrets galore, a hidden love affair, and when Aunt Helena is arrested by Inspector Arkwright for the murder of Mrs. Bloom, Myrtle must work overtime to figure out Mrs. Bloom's coded journal and uncover the truth behind her investigation, her connection to the people in Fairhaven, and just why did someone want her out of the picture for good!  

This is an enjoyable series that I would highly recommend - a strong lead character, an excellent supporting cast, and some of the best-written mysteries around!

RATING:  10 tables filled with sandwiches, cakes, and dainties out of 10 for an excellent mix of mystery, humor, and drama that make for a fantastic read!

Premediated Myrtle - a Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery #1

Trying a new series can always be chancy, since you never really know if it's going to be good or not - particularly when it is from an author that you've never read before and know nothing about.  So, when I first stumble across the Myrtle Hardcastle series on Amazon, I added them to my "want list" to keep an eye out for.  I didn't purchase them right away, mind you - I mean, after all, they were in hardback and by Elizabeth C. Bunce, an author that I had never heard of before.  But the titles were enough to catch my interest, and the cover art and design was eyecatching as well.  I mean, seriously - Premeditated Myrtle and How to Get Away With Myrtle! How could you pass up books with titles like that?

As with nearly all young adult and children's series these days, Premeditated Myrtle is written in first person, and Myrtle Hardcastle is 12-years old.  But she is a very intelligent, observant 12-year old that, that, in a number of ways, reminds me of Nancy Drew. She is an only child. Her father is a lawyer, and he is a widower, Myrtle's mother having passed away some time ago. They have a woman who lives with them, who helps take care of Myrtle (she is supposed to be Myrtle's governess and teacher, but in many ways, she is more of a friend to Myrtle than anyone else!). The only differences are in the age (12-years old instead of 16 or 18) and the time period (this series is set in the 1890s).  Myrtle carries a magnifying glass and is obsessed with solving crimes! So, when one happens right next door to her own house, how can she help but get involved?

 

Bunce provides a well-crafted mystery about a cranky old woman who is found dead in her own bathtub. But nothing makes sense. For instance, why was she covered in mud? Why was her prized garden of lilies gone, with nothing left but trussed-up dirt where it appears a scuffle took place? Why was her gardener burning what could potentially be evidence the morning her body was found? Why were there dirt tracks leading into the house? Why was the woman's niece meeting with someone late at night and handing him a mysterious package? Why was her nephew hiding the fact that he argued with her the day before she turned up dead? And why, oh why, was the old woman's cat covered in syrupy goo that seems to have poisoned the poor thing? Well, if there's one thing Myrtle doesn't like, it's unanswered questions!

A former private attorney turned prosecutor, Myrtle's father does not think that anything untoward happened. She was an old woman and her heart simply gave out. But Myrtle knows otherwise, and following in her father's footsteps, and with the help of her governess, Miss Judson (who, by the way, she believes would make the perfect wife for her father, but that's a whole 'nother thing...), she sets out to track down the clues, uncover the evidence, and find out what really happened to Miss Wodehouse and who killed her! But, what happens when not only does the wrong person end up accused of the crime, but that person also confesses!  How in the world will Myrtle free an innocent person and ensure the real killer is caught?  And all the while, she is doing everything in her power to keep Miss Wodehouse's niece away from her father, as she seems intent on becoming his next wife!  (And we won't even spoil the surprise there by revealing what shocking secret Myrtle discovers about Priscilla Wodehouse!)

I am going to say it outright - I absolutely LOVED this book! It was a superb read, well-written, exceptional characters, a fantastic mystery, and quite frankly, readers of any age can enjoy the story.  There is humor, there is sadness, there is shock and surprise, there is doubt, there is revelation - there is just about anything and everything you could ever want in a great story, and then some. I highly, HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who wants a good mystery to curl up with, because I can guarantee you, once you start this, you won't want to put it down.

RATING: 10 fancy microscopes with interchangeable lenses out of 10 for giving readers what is, without a doubt, the BEST mystery book of the year, if not the decade!