Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg
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Source: copy from Netgalley; all opinions are my own
Official Summary: Late one night in April 1958, a filing assistant at Miss Brickett’s receives a letter of warning, detailing a name, a time, and a place. She goes to investigate but finds the room empty. At the stroke of midnight, she is murdered by a killer she can’t see–her death the only sign she wasn’t alone. It becomes chillingly clear that the person responsible must also work for Miss Brickett’s, making everyone a suspect.
Marion Lane, a first-year Inquirer-in-training, finds herself drawn ever deeper into the investigation. When her friend and colleague is framed for the crime, to clear his name she must sort through the hidden alliances at Miss Brickett’s and secrets dating back to WWII.
Review: This was such a fun mystery!! I loved that it was set in 1958 London – historical mysteries are always a bit more exciting because they don’t have modern day means of detecting. The whole world of Miss Brickett’s was fascinating to me – it’s literally housed underground and men and women train to become Inquisitors. They are essentially “law enforcement” that keep out of the spotlight and exact justice apart from the government. Marion is in her first year as an apprentice here, and everything is exciting and freeing (much better than being forced into a marriage she doesn’t want). However, when a filing assistant is found murdered…everything changes.
I really loved Marion. She was, in most ways, smart about investigating the murder and ultimately trying to exonerate the person who is being held up as the culprit. She has a great friend named Bill who helps her through most of the book and I really liked their relationship – they really were great friends who told each other almost everything. There are a lot of secondary characters, so I got confused here and there about who was who, but I don’t think it’s anything that should deter you from reading. The author did a good job building this “world” if you will and creating a cast of characters that were all needed and important.
The book wraps up the main mystery, but there is a bit of a cliffhanger in terms of what could possibly happen next. This leads me to believe the book will have a sequel, and I certainly hope so! I really loved Marion, and I think she’s a strong character who understands right and wrong, and she doesn’t believe everything her superiors tell her to believe. She’s smart, for sure, and I think a lot of people will enjoy meeting her.
I’ve really started enjoying mysteries. This one sounds good. Great review!
Does this novel count as a “cozy” mystery? I just learned about that tag for certain kinds of detective and mystery stories, and I’m still trying to figure it out. This one sounds good!
This sounds like such a fun mystery. And I really like the 1950’s setting. It seems like historical mysteries are most often set *way back* (like, the 19th century or even earlier) so it’s fun to have one in this particular time period.
Okay I am totally down for this book!
This sounds great, Lauren. I shall add it to my TBR.
This sounds like a great read! I love a good mystery!
Jill – Doused in Pink
This sounds like a great mistery, totaly my style of read <3
LackaDaisy
I do love historical mysteries as well. This sounds awesome 🙂
I like the sound of this one! I enjoy historical mysteries and the fact that this career choice helps Marion avoid a marriage she doesn’t want is great! Wonderful review, Lauren. 🙂
Oooh this sounds fun! I haven’t read many historical mysteries but I may have to check this one out. Thanks for sharing!
You definitely caught my attention with this one. I love the sound of the training school and the mystery there.
A world of inquisitors? Aside from now much fun this sounds, the historical worldbuilding sounds so cool!’
I seem to lean towards reading mysteries with British characters/set in London. I think Sherlock Holmes is the culprit of this reading taste. And I love that this one features a strong friendship which I think always makes a book experience better.
Ooh, this has such an intriguing premise! Sounds like it was a really good mystery. Great review!
This is new to me, but always game for a well written and fun mystery!
This sounds like a good book!
This sounds really interesting. I’ve not read too many historical mysteries so will definitely have to keep this one in mind.
This sounds SO fun!!