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purplepenning's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
The Myrtle Hardcastle mysteries continue to be delightful! For a special treat, pick this one up on audio. (They're all excellent on audio, but the narrator handles the Scottish dialect and explanations particularly well.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Kidnapping, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Death
Minor: Chronic illness and Animal cruelty
bookgirl4ever's review
3.0
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
Miss Judson inherits a Scottish estate from someone who knew her father but she didn’t have a personal relationship with. She, Myrtle, and Cook embark on visiting the property to decide what to do with it and, of course find themselves embroiled in a mystery as soon as they set foot in the village. A fun read but not particularly memorable.
Miss Judson inherits a Scottish estate from someone who knew her father but she didn’t have a personal relationship with. She, Myrtle, and Cook embark on visiting the property to decide what to do with it and, of course find themselves embroiled in a mystery as soon as they set foot in the village. A fun read but not particularly memorable.
verydazedragon's review
3.0
This mystery was way too sloppy, but it was a good end to the series. (Is it the end?) Mr. Hardcastle and Miss Judson finally getting their act together was worth the wait, but that was really the only part of the book that I particularly liked. I’m not sure if it was the change from a bustling city to a rural setting, or what, but this book wasn’t as fast paced as the others, and it as kind of far-fetched.
momreads's review
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was a fun mystery and Myrtle Hardcastle is a wonderful protagonist. I did think there were a few loose ends with this one. Still enjoyed it though.
kristensreadingnook's review
4.0
“The weapon was entirely out of character for Miss Judson: a tiny Scottish knife? And stabbing a virtual stranger in the back? If Miss Judson were going to kill someone, she’d do it right to his face.”
In this latest installment of the Edgar award winning series, Myrtle and her governess head to Scotland to see the estate Miss Judson has inherited from an uncle she never knew. Set in the late 1800’s, Myrtle reminded me of a young Ms. Marple as she set about uncovering the secrets of the island, a riddle that would lead to some hidden treasure, and who/what was causing disturbances and harming inhabitants of the island.
While this is the fifth in the series of which I’ve read no others, it can definitely be read as a stand alone. There were a couple small plot lines that obviously carried over from prior books but weren’t integral to the mystery at the heart of this story.
I do think this book could be a frustration to some middle grade aged readers because when any of the Scottish folk spoke, the words were written in Scots and unless the reader is familiar with the accent, it could be hard to distinguish the words. There is a glossary in the back but that can take away from the flow of the story with the amount of dialogue there is. I think it would make for a great audiobook if the narrator got the accent right, though.
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read if you like:
Middle grade mysteries
Ms. Marple
Scottish settings
Riddles
Locked room mysteries
In this latest installment of the Edgar award winning series, Myrtle and her governess head to Scotland to see the estate Miss Judson has inherited from an uncle she never knew. Set in the late 1800’s, Myrtle reminded me of a young Ms. Marple as she set about uncovering the secrets of the island, a riddle that would lead to some hidden treasure, and who/what was causing disturbances and harming inhabitants of the island.
While this is the fifth in the series of which I’ve read no others, it can definitely be read as a stand alone. There were a couple small plot lines that obviously carried over from prior books but weren’t integral to the mystery at the heart of this story.
I do think this book could be a frustration to some middle grade aged readers because when any of the Scottish folk spoke, the words were written in Scots and unless the reader is familiar with the accent, it could be hard to distinguish the words. There is a glossary in the back but that can take away from the flow of the story with the amount of dialogue there is. I think it would make for a great audiobook if the narrator got the accent right, though.
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read if you like:
Middle grade mysteries
Ms. Marple
Scottish settings
Riddles
Locked room mysteries
beautifulminutiae's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
jilljemmett's review
5.0
When Myrtle Hardcastle’s governess, Miss Judson, inherits an estate in Scotland, they both go up to visit the land. It isn’t as grand as they expected though. The large house is haunted and run down. Myrtle is certain that the former lord, Miss Judson’s uncle, was murdered, so she embarks on her own investigation. When there’s another murder, and the estate’s only boat is stolen, Myrtle is stuck there until she solves the murders.
One of my favourite parts about the Myrtle Hardcastle stories is that they are a great mystery for adult readers to solve as well. The mystery was captivating and suspenseful. It became a little confusing by the end, because there were so many characters, particularly some suspects who were only mentioned and didn’t appear on the page. However, this was a fun story for middle grade mystery lovers!
Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity is a great new mystery!
Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book!
Content warnings: death, murder, heart condition, death of parent (mentions)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Death of parent