An Edgar Award Winning SeriesBefore the train has left the station, England s most accomplished new detective already is on a suspect s trail, and readers will be delighted to travel along. Myrtle Hardcastle has no desire to go on a relaxing travel excursion with her aunt Helena when there are More Important things to be done at home, like keeping close tabs on criminals and murder trials. Unfortunately, she has no say in the matter. So off Myrtle goes with her governess, Miss Judson, and cat, Peony, in tow on a fabulous private railway coach headed for the English seaside. Myrtle is thrilled to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Bloom, a professional insurance investigator aboard to protect the priceless Northern Lights tiara. But before the train reaches its destination, both the tiara and Mrs. Bloom vanish. When Myrtle arrives, she and Peony discover a dead body in the baggage car. Someone has been murdered with Aunt Helena s sewing shears. The trip is derailed, the local police are inept, and Scotland Yard is in no rush to arrive. What s a smart, bored Young Lady of Quality stranded in a washed-up carnival town to do but follow the evidence to find out which of her fellow travelers is a thief and a murderer?
An Edgar Award Winning SeriesBefore the train has left the station, England s most accomplished new detective already is on a suspect s trail, and readers will be delighted to travel along. Myrtle Hardcastle has no desire to go on a relaxing travel excursion with her aunt Helena when there are More Important things to be done at home, like keeping close tabs on criminals and murder trials. Unfortunately, she has no say in the matter. So off Myrtle goes with her governess, Miss Judson, and cat, Peony, in tow on a fabulous private railway coach headed for the English seaside. Myrtle is thrilled to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Bloom, a professional insurance investigator aboard to protect the priceless Northern Lights tiara. But before the train reaches its destination, both the tiara and Mrs. Bloom vanish. When Myrtle arrives, she and Peony discover a dead body in the baggage car. Someone has been murdered with Aunt Helena s sewing shears. The trip is derailed, the local police are inept, and Scotland Yard is in no rush to arrive. What s a smart, bored Young Lady of Quality stranded in a washed-up carnival town to do but follow the evidence to find out which of her fellow travelers is a thief and a murderer?
Elizabeth C. Bunce grew up on a steady diet of Sherlock Holmes, Trixie Belden, and Quincy, M.E., and always played the lead prosecutor in mock trial. She has never had a governess, and no one has ever accused her of being irrepressible, but a teacher did once call her argumentative which was entirely untrue, and she can prove it. She lives in Kansas City with her husband and their cats. You can find her online at elizabethcbunce.com.
Praise for Premeditated Myrtle: "A joyful thing to behold. Set in
Victorian England, this mystery gleefully overturns sexist norms
and celebrates independent women of intellect, with Myrtle
Hardcastle leading the charge."
-Booklist, starred review
"Bunce crafts a truly captivating murder mystery, throwing in a
delicious mix of twists, red herrings, and relatives excluded from
the family fortune. Myrtle is an entertaining protagonist, not
afraid to get her hands dirty, sneak into mansions after dark to
find a clue, or call out sexism of men toward her scientific
interests or the racism toward her governess. The book will make
readers yearn for more of Myrtle's (mis)adventures."
-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A saucy, likable heroine shines in a mystery marked by clever,
unexpected twists."
-Kirkus Reviews
"[A] clever and lively Victorian English village murder mystery...
Bunce does an excellent job of making Myrtle the lead actor but
gives her a strong set of (mostly female) supporters."
-The Horn Book
"In the tradition of heroines like Flavia de Luce and Harriet the
Spy, Myrtle is a fine example of the Victorian scientific
female-smart, inquisitive and fearless. Written with a terrific
mixture of humor and suspense, Premeditated Myrtle is a perfect
read for any budding detective."
-Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of the Her Royal
Spyness series
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