The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder
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4.3 • 3 Ratings
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
In 1910 Toronto, while other bachelor girls perfect their domestic skills and find husbands, two friends perfect their sleuthing skills and find a murderer.
Inspired by their fascination with all things Sherlock Holmes, best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem launch a consulting detective business. The deaths of young Irish women lead Merinda and Jem deeper into the mire of the city's underbelly, where the high hopes of those dreaming to make a new life in Canada are met with prejudice and squalor.
While searching for answers, donning disguises, and sneaking around where no proper ladies would ever go, they pair with Jasper Forth, a police constable, and Ray DeLuca, a reporter in whom Jem takes a more than professional interest. Merinda could well be Toronto's premiere consulting detective, and Jem may just find a way to put her bachelor girlhood behind her forever—if they can stay alive long enough to do so.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In 1910, friends Merinda Herringford and Jemima Watts share a home in Toronto and an interest in detective work, to the consternation of Jem's very proper parents, who would rather their daughter pursue a husband than a mystery. Canadian novelist McMillan loses no time in presenting her Holmes and Watson esque duo at a murder scene at a theater to kick off this cozy. Police constable Jasper Forth gives them access to the scene and is a romantic interest; enterprising reporter and Italian immigrant Ray DeLuca rounds off the set of principals. The action is slow to get going as plot points and characters are introduced. Jem and Ray are deeply characterized and fetching, Jasper and Merinda less so. McMillan knows her history and takes imaginative license with it, producing period details that are accurate but still fictional; the handbooks for ladies liberally quoted from are convincing and amusing. The romance is squeaky clean. Fans of inspirational cozies will rejoice.
Customer Reviews
Meet Your New Favorite Heroines in The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder by Rachel McMillan
Herringford and Watts are taking 1900s Toronto by storm, and its men are falling at their feet - well, two of them anyway! Ray DeLuca and Jasper Forth have no choice but to follow the lady detectives through the city's grittiest slum to the beautiful new garden theater as they try to nab the killer who's terrorizing working class women. Jem and Merinda prove adept at solving crimes for their many new (unpaid) clients, but the main suspect in their biggest case is proving to be elusive and dangerous. Will they catch him before any more of Toronto's citizens pays the ultimate price?
How do I put this in easily interpreted, succinct terms? Okay. Here goes. This book is the best. The characters, themes, plot, setting, all are so unique to the genre (Christian fiction) and so absolutely refreshing. In a world of Pride and Prejudice inspired tales, which are great by the way, it was so fun to read a story influenced by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective serials. Even if you aren't into the Christian genre, but happen to be of a "Sherlocked" state of mind and enjoy a little intrigue and a dash of romance every now and then, I think you just might get a kick out of this little paperback from Rachel McMillan.
As you might have deduced from reading the blurb, this isn't strictly a mystery, but a story of strong-willed women striving for some bit of control in a man's world. Even though it's set at the beginning of the 20th century, it still has a thoroughly modern vibe that works. Issues like pay for women (who will pay a wage to a female sleuth?!), equality, and freedom from strictly male rule are thrown in the midst of Jem and Merinda's adventures. Ms. McMillan's clever and romantic prose shines, making The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder one of the finest stories I've read in a very long while. I am excited to see how Toronto evolves in the next book with the determined lady detectives fighting for its citizens!
~ My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ~
* I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*