User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder reminded me so much of Harry Potter and it brought back so many amazing memories. Marion is an intern learning about the secret world of detectives in underground London. The gadgets reminded me of the spells in Harry Potter and the tunnels in the underground felt like the many passageways in Hogwarts.
Unfortunately that is where the similarities ended. JK Rowling created a magical world where you remember traits about every single character, regardless how minor of a character they were. Even though I’m not a big fan of fantasy, the magical world wasn’t hard to understand and I could easily picture what was going on, even at a young age.
In Marion Lane, it was hard to tell any of the characters apart. All of the professors/more experience professionals all blended together and same with the rookies. There were many times where I was questioning which character Marion was talking to and if I had previously been introduced to them.
The mystery was lackluster and the whole time I was wondering what all of the other detectives were doing and why the murder of one of their own was left to be solved by a first year trainee.
2 stars out of a potential 5. I loved the memories of reading Harry Potter, but sadly that’s all I enjoyed about this novel.
Thank you to Netgallery and HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada) for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: really liked it
Every now and then a book comes along and forces the reader to ask the hard-hitting questions. Like “what’s going on?” or “who are these people?” and “do I even like reading?”
Rating: really liked it
I received a review copy of Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to T.A. Willberg and Trapeze Books for the opportunity and for inviting us to the book’s Blog Tour. Minor spoilers may follow.
Marion Lane and the Midnight MurderA colleague asked me today what I’d been reading recently and I described Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder to them as follows: Well, you know Harry Potter has a Wizarding School? Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder has an academy for Sherlock Holmes-esque Detectives and Inquirers. It’s set in the 1950s, in London, and there is an underground secret village where they operate from. The entrance of which is a trapdoor in a bookshop. They are extremely secretive, intelligent, ghost-like crime-solvers, who come to the aid of Londoners when nobody else can assist and they even have their own postal service. Near the start of the novel, there is a murder at the academy. So, that person must have been killed by an agency employee. Marion Lane, a first-year apprentice whose point of view perspective we follow, spends the novel trying to figure out who committed the crime and how it could have taken place. Things get a bit more intense when one of her closest acquaintances is accused of the titular Midnight Murder. After probably wishing they had never asked me, my colleague said they liked the sound of it and then went to their next meeting.
I liked the sound of it too when Trapeze were kind enough to approach me. I was intrigued by the book’s premise and Stuart Turton’s cover blurb sealed the deal. I found the UK cover to be striking yet it does give an impression of the novel being YA. That’s okay though as Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is one of those books that graces the crossover ground of YA and Adult and can be appreciated by both types of readers.
Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is a quality mystery thriller, which takes place not long after World War II and is mostly set in a subterranean setting. It’s a fun, clever and intricate read which includes some intriguing engineering and Steampunk elements. Marion is a likeable lead and the supporting cast, which includes students, Inquirers, and professors, are varied and entertaining to follow.
T.A. Willberg is a writer with huge potential and a very readable style. I found this was a story that rewarded me for paying extra careful attention to what was happening. There were a lot of great story elements throughout including characters gossiping about events, strangers following others, motives, ambitions, and the internal hierarchy of the academy, complex character histories, mysterious maps, unwalkable pathways, and a mechanical area-guardian.
On reflection, I had a mostly positive time with Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder and I will happily rate this debut as a solid 7/10. Although that’s the case, I’d say that the first 33% was just interesting enough to keep my attention. If I wasn’t on the blog tour I may have DNF’d this and moved on to something else. After the first third of the novel though, happenings get really interesting. This is when somebody is accused of the titular murder and they must be guilty as nobody else entered the room. Or did they? How is that possible? After this point, Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder reminded me of what makes a fine, unique, and memorable mystery novel and why I love the genre.
Rating: really liked it
Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Set in London, England in 1958. Marion, 23, is a trainee detective working for an underground (literally) organisation called Miss Brickett’s who investigate those crimes that might get overlooked. People can call upon the services of Miss Brickett’s via a series of drop-off letter points throughout the city.
The staff can only enter and leave the maze of underground rooms and tunnels via a normal-looking bookshop which has staff members portraying as shop staff. When one of the staff members is murdered, panic sets in amongst the staff, as only one of them could be the culprit. When Marion’s friend, Frank, is found guilty, Marion is sure of his innocence and sets about discovering the truth and revealing the true killer, but if she fails her friend could be imprisoned for life and she could be kicked out of the agency with no-where to go.
Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is a historical, fantasy, mystery book. It is quite a slow burner of a novel the whole way through. I loved the world-building. Yes, it is set in a realistic London, but the agency is a completely different world.
As this is the first book in the series it mainly focuses on inside the agency and a few of the agents and trainees. Plus, the investigation into the death of the woman who was the agency’s Border Guard. We don’t get to see outside investigations on the streets of London, which was a shame.
Marion is a complex character, who is still reeling many years later from the death of her mother. She has lived with her Grandmother Dolores since her mother’s death but circumstances have recently meant that she has had to find accommodation within the agency. She loves gadgets and works mainly in the gadgetry department with another trainee, Bill.
It was a classic whodunit, wrapped within a mystical, strange world full of secrets. It took me a while to get through the book due to the slow nature of it but I can honestly say that I did enjoy it and at times it was certainly suspenseful. I now want to know more about the agency and how they investigate crimes. Book two which is out next year seems to indicate that we will get to see Marion using her skills on the outside to find a killer that the police can’t identify. I am so looking forward to it.
Rating: really liked it
This debut feels a little bit Harry Potter, a little James Bond, and includes a whodunit that is tailor-made for Christie fans. A secret agency operates underground and independent from the London police force. When a murder occurs, the list of suspects is limited to those with access to the tunnels. There is a killer in their midst. Marion is an Apprentice and when family friend Frank is framed, she must act to defy direct orders and save him from banishment. A camaraderie is developing among the Apprentices and their actions may be gaining the respect of their superiors including a newly hired and good-looking American. The gadgets and boobytraps are inventive and at times inconvenient. Marion Lane, your story is far from over. I was betting on a sequel and the last few paragraphs confirm those suspicions. Looking forward to the next chapter in Marion's story.
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
I picked this book because it seemed to have so many appealing elements. Set in postwar London, it’s about a secret crime detection and apprehension agency that operates literally underground, getting tipoffs from ordinary citizens through special drop boxes on the streets.
The agency, Miss Brickett’s, is like a sort of grownup Hogwarts, with trainees and teachers, lots of insider intrigue, seemingly magical devices, and a danger from within. The protagonist, Marion Lane, is a trainee with a troubled outside life. When a Miss Brickett’s staff member is murdered, and it seems to be an inside job, Marion feels compelled to investigate, along with her best friend and a mysterious agency visitor from the US.
Despite having all those appealing elements, it was a slog to read the book. Author Willberg doesn’t have the gift for bringing characters to life. You’re told who the bad guy is well before the end. When you find out his motivation it just seems so penny-ante and is a letdown.
One minor criticism is that two of the characters you first meet are Marion Lane and Michelle White. It seems like a rookie mistake to have characters with similar names. Sure, as the book goes on it’s easy to know who is who, but it’s confusing at the beginning.
I would categorize this as a great premise spoiled with lackluster plotting and character development.
Rating: really liked it
It's 1958, and 23 year old Marion, who lives with her abrasive grandmother in London, is invited to apply for a job at a small bookstore. It turns out that this is a cover for a group called the Inquirers, mysterious detectives who operate beneath the city of London. When her friend is arrested for murder, Marion is determined to find the answers, even risking both her job and her life. This book is described as appealing to fans of the Harry Potter universe. It had some fantasy elements, but I found the plot a bit confusing and meandering--it ultimately disappointed this big fan of Harry Potter and urban fantasy. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Rating: really liked it
Favorite Quote:
But that was the thing about death, as Marion knew so well. No matter how much the deceased were loved, life does not wait for the grieving. Though on the inside everything will change and what used to matter falls away, the routine and ordinary remain unchallenged.
My Review:
This is not my typical genre and I struggled a bit with the unfamiliar world-building, complex storylines, and vast cast of uniquely drawn and unorthodox characters, but my curiosity was well and truly poked and continually primed throughout this deeply puzzling and intriguing tale. Ms. Willberg deftly staged her scenes and players with intricate and unfailingly compelling descriptions so finely detailed that sharp visuals danced through my gray matter with the smoothness of a film reel.
This would be an excellent series for the big or small screen. The unusual storylines and writing style were polished, well-honed, and maddeningly paced; keeping me on edge with dark and gloomy settings, untrustworthy characters, questionable hidden agendas, and ingenious and creative gadgets. I coveted their resourceful tools and could put some of those items to good use for myself on a despicable neighbor or three.
Rating: really liked it
Alchemy. Secret underground tunnels. A labrynth of secrets and intrigue. A set of very unique private investigators and a murder mystery set in the darkness underneath London's 1950' streets. This was truly like James Bond meets Sherlock Holmes meets Harry Potter.
This was such a delightful book. I was utterly captivated and drawn into this unique world underneath the ground. It has all the elements of a favourite novel.... Underground bunkers (always been obsessed with them, since working at one of the most famous but secret ones in England...) murder, detectives, alchemy and 'magic'. Some have likened this story to the Harry Potter books and I do see what they mean, although this story contains no real magic, but more the gadgetry of the James Bond series. Its also slightly more grown up, with adult protagonists and this 'Hogwarts' has a bar! The tricks and gadgets of this agency are akin to James Bond, and the murder mystery like a Sherlock Holmes book. I was utterly immersed in the story from start to finish, and I enjoyed learning about the world of Mrs Bricketts Bookshop, the Inquirers and the lessons the apprentices learn. I enjoyed the murder mystery and trying to work out who had killed the poor paper filer in the dark, underground, at midnight. I'm also happy this book has a female protagonist for once too! And we also take a moment to admire that beautiful cover too!
I really hope there's some more of these released because I will be snatching them up for sure! 5 slowly ticking, wheels whirring, light orb emitting stars.
I recieved a copy of this book as an arc from the puclishers and netgalley.
Rating: really liked it
Marion Lane is an apprentice inquirer for a secret agency in London that solves the mysteries the police cannot. She's in her element. The pay stinks but she's following her dream. Everything is going great until a coworker is murdered and her killer can only be someone else at the agency.
I can't tell you how much I loved this book. Marion is a completely relatable, likable character. I was rooting for her. I was invested in her. She was real to me. I wanted to work right beside her. A secret investigative agency hidden behind the guise of a book store - YES!!!
I recommend this to all my mystery-loving friends!
Rating: really liked it
This book was very engaging at the beginning—an alternate, post-WWII London with an unofficial "investigative" force that emerged out of the Bletchley Park code-breaking program and that is housed in tunnels under the city. Unfortunately, for this reader at least, the engagement didn't last. The title never seemed to decide what it wanted to be: mystery, alternate history, horror novel. And, yes, those can be successfully combined, but that wasn't the case here.
Rating: really liked it
Thoughts to come...
Rating: really liked it
This book is so delightfully fun & escapist! An underground investigative organization...clocks and keys and hidden rooms...a secret map...alchemy and old war secrets...there is so much to love here! Brava to Willberg for a brilliant, adventuresome debut.
Rating: really liked it
DNF no rating. Too silly and too naive for any period, let alone that one. Ridiculous context which doesn't succeed in world building or depth of character to become fantasy fare.
Rating: really liked it
3.5 stars.
This wasn't quite what I was expecting if I'm honest. However, I still enjoyed it. A good detective story with a sense of wonder mixed into the suspense.
Some aspects that seem more at home in a fantasy book, rather than a realistic espionage/murder mystery book though.
