How to Get Away with Myrtle

By Elizabeth C. Bunce

Algonquin Young Readers, 2020. 346 p.

This is the second book in the Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery Series (the first book was Premeditated Myrtle and is quite good as well, so if you haven’t read that one check it out first). Anyway, in this particular adventure Myrtle has gone away on holiday with her Aunt Helena and her governess Miss Judson. They hope to keep her away from anything untoward—only someone is murdered on the train as they are headed to their destination. Needless to say Myrtle is quite in the thick of it even though the local constable seems unable to do much and the train’s inspector is dismissive of the young detective and her observations. This mystery set in a historical background where new scientific discoveries are happening all around (like the fact that a new invention of photographs might provide evidence of the crime scene) and this spunky young girl won’t stay away just because she is young and female.

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