Reviews

Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce

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congressbaby143's review against another edition

3.0

I’m a little in love with charming Mr. Blakeney.

Although, I have to admit, this is the novel that started my reading slump. It was too slow for me or if not, it took turns which piqued my interest (piqued interest being correctly used with its negative connotation) but it did eventually pick up its pace in the last few chapters and I finally finished it in one go.

I liked this other middle grade series more, it’s the Aggie Morton series. I recommend that over this one. That one had a lot of heartwarming moments and it actually cared enough for its readers with its careful language amid it being a period piece. I feel this one was inching towards “oh, the recklessness with things may be a product of their time” and now that I found it’s possible to navigate that better with the Aggie Mortion series, it’s only unfortunate that I picked that series up before this. That set the standard for me.

thenovelbook's review against another edition

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3.0

Fans of Enola Holmes and Flavia de Luce will probably enjoy this story. It's written at a middle-grade level, but it's not bad for an adult reader. The governess, Miss Judson, is surprising and more than competent as Myrtle's companion/supervisor in this murder mystery.

peachyclaudia's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

4.0

jigsaw's review against another edition

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adventurous funny fast-paced

5.0

audreylee's review against another edition

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funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Myrtle is a fantastic character. If you like precocious youth and witty banter with a bit of mystery, you will love this one.

annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review

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4.0

It took a few tries before this book actually reached me and then it, of course, took a couple more weeks before I got to reading it. Today I needed some easier books, quicker reads, books I could still read and enjoy even though I was tired. Since this book is a middle grade and has a very easy to read font the book seemed absolutely perfect for that. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, apart from it being a mystery, but I was ready to be surprised.

And this book sure did surprise me. In a very positive way. I have to admit that on page 4 or 5 I had to check if this was really the first book, since it seems the author is just jumping in and we've already missed quite some adventures, but once I reassured myself I just enjoyed the ride. And even though it felt like we were thrown right into the middle of Myrtle's life and journey, quite soon I was invested in her life, her family, her friends and the case.

Most mystery novels have a leading lady who's not exactly good at being a detective. They're in the way, they're making mistakes, they're breaking laws. It's quite clear that Myrtle is a little different in that regard. She knows what she's doing. She knows the rules. She knows what she can and can't do. It doesn't mean she doesn't take risks anymore. It simply means the risks are way more calculated and have a clear purpose.

But Myrtle wasn't the only unique and amazing character in this book. Even though the book is true to its time periode, as much as possible, it felt like there were quite a lot of strong women present in this story. And in this case strong doesn't mean that they try to kick against every holy house, but that they find a way to make their dreams come true and to be who they want to be within the strict limits of their time.

I can't wait to dive into the next adventure and I hope we'll be reunited with as many characters as possible!