Aggie Morton reine du mystère: Crime au manoir d'Owl Park

Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen #2

by Marthe Jocelyn, Isabelle Follath (Illustrator), Marie Leymarie (Translator)

Aggie prend des vacances bien méritées à Owl Park, le manoir de Lady Grison. Là, en pleine campagne anglaise, l'attendent sa cousine Lucy et des invités tout à fait fascinants : d'exotiques voyageurs en provenance de Ceylan et une troupe d'acteurs extravagants... Mais lorsque les enfants découvrent un cadavre le matin de Noël... les vacances prennent un tour mortel. Un meurtrier se cache à Owl Park !

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Christmas, Childrens, Historical, Fiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published September 22, 2020

About the author

Canadian born
22 books published for young readers"

Reviews

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowza! This was 1 of my most highly anticipated releases of this year. I loved the 1st book SO much. This 1 did NOT disappoint. It was AMAZING! It’s set from a few days before Christmas up until a couple days after the New Years. So reading it now made it even better-even cozier. The author is so descriptive in detail I could see everything perfectly in my head, smell it, & even taste it! All the snow, the fires to keep warm by, the house itself...just made me want to curl up under a blanket & not stop reading. Which is what happened last night lol I read the last 40% in 1 sitting. Didn’t go to sleep til way past 1. I couldn’t put it down! All the suspense, having to know what was going to happen, plus the enjoyment of just the book itself-impossible to stop reading. Aggie is visiting her newly married sister & her husband where they live called Owl Park. She brings her best friend, & best detective colleague Hector. They are joined this time by Lucy, Aggies cousin by marriage. Lucy got on my nerves many times. Lol but she is 10 years old, & also wanting to prove herself up again the great Aggie-so it’s realistic that she would-written so well. There’s a whole new murder mystery this time-Aggie just can’t seem to get away from it lol There’s a whole house full of suspects, & they’re all snowed in. These books are inspired by Agatha Christie, & the author said not only did she research her normal areas there as usual, but also other mysteries by other crime writers. If you look at the sources page in the back you can see all of the research & time she put in, & everything she did. It’s a ton. And it shows. When authors take the time for that, it really pays off. I also really appreciate it. I’ve never read a Christie book, but I know what some of them are about. So the nod to the great writer at the bottom of page 378 going into the next page-it made me smile. Full circle & all that. I think Agatha Christie would love these books. I can’t flipping wait for the next book. Like all the ones I love the most, I hope there are a TON more to come. I’m gonna need more than just a trilogy or something lol I highly recommend both books. Another absolutely beautiful cover by Isabelle Follath, along w/beautiful illustrations above every chapter heading too.💜

[Lotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 another fun and cosy installment in the series! I looove so many of the characters in this (my favourites are hector perot aka hercule poirot and granny jane aka miss marple) and always enjoy the small little references to the books aggie will grow up to write. I'm still not 100% decided if I'll continue with this series though.
pro: lovely returning characters + I always have a good time reading them overall + I like the set-up of series of reading one book per season. con: the mysteries are never that exciting to me (not necessarily super predictable but also not very thrilling) + the books are usually a bit too long and dragged out in my opinion. hmmm.

[Amanda (BookLoverAmanda) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aggie Morton Mystery Queen - Peril at Owl Park by Marthe Jocelyn
3 Stars
Second Book in the Aggie Morton Mystery Queen Series

This is a pretty fun middle grade series! This would be great for 12-13 year olds who enjoy mysteries, historical settings and smart, curious characters. While this is a very age-appropriate for middle grade readers, there are a few sentences or moments that might teeter the line for sensitive readers. Since it is a mystery, there are discussions of crimes, descriptions of blood, along with suspicions about characters and death. However, there is no graphic violence, nothing too scary in a horror sense and no inappropriate language or themes in my opinion. The tone stays light and adventurous, in line with classic detective stories like Nancy Drew. As with any book though, parents might want to read through this series a little first to see if it aligns with their comfort level for their child.

All of that said, I have enjoyed being back with Aggie and Hector in another fun mystery. We have a charming historical setting, as always and classic mystery elements as you would in an Agatha Christie style mystery book. I do feel some of the pacing is a bit slow though for me and sometimes I found myself tuning out a little or not as engaged as I was in the first book.

In this installment, we are at Christmastime with our characters where a holiday gathering quickly turns for the worst when someone is found murdered in the library. It's one of the traveling actors there dressed in their pirate costume. We have people missing, jewel theft and lots of adventure. Aggie is 12 years old and goes to Owl Park, her sister Marjorie's new home. Hector, Aggie's friend, goes with her, along with Grannie Jane. We also see their cousin Lucy along with them.

Overall, this series is atmospheric and has a cozy feel to it but I wasn't always connected as I wanted to be. Either way, I am looking forward to continuing it.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfectly twisty Christmas murder that includes kidnappings, jewel theft, and a raging blizzard!

Aggie and Hector are simply the best duo, and Lucy was a hoot and a half. I’m not a huge middle-grade reader, but these stories are fun and refreshing.


Content: mild language (1x d*mn; G*d’s teeth; G*d’s breath); veiled comment about men dallying with women

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Aggie Morton is looking forward to Christmas at Owl Park, her sister Marjorie's new home. Aggie's best friend Hector Perot is coming too along with Grannie Jane while Mummy and dog Tony stay behind in mourning for Papa. At Owl Park there is almost cousin 10-year-old Lucy to explore with, secret passageways, a visitor from Ceylon with a cursed emerald and a troop of traveling actors. To think Marjorie is nervous about hosting her first house party under her mother-in-law's disapproving eye! While the children are enjoying a Christmas morning treasure hunt to find their stockings, they stumble across a dead body in the library! It's one of the actors in pirate costume from the night before, but which one- a professional or one of the guests? There's too much blood for a natural death and Aggie suddenly finds herself in the midst of another murder investigation. To make matters worse, one of the guests is missing as is the cursed Echo Emerald. Searching for the missing guest and emerald is difficult as snow continues to fall heavily. The snow makes travel difficult so where could the thief have gone? The Inspector is young and untried so perhaps this time someone will listen to Aggie's theories. With Hector urging caution and Lucy blabbing secrets every which way, it won't be an easy task to solve this one.

This story is a cross between Agatha Christie and Downton Abbey for children. I loved the setting of Owl Park, the manor house with secret passageways and how Christmas was celebrated in the early 1900s. I also really liked the story of the Echo Emerald and the introduction of a character of color into the story. This is an example of diversity done right. The theatrical tableaux were fun and interesting, I didn't guess the first but the other two were easy for a reader like Aggie (and me). I didn't enjoy the mystery quite as much as the first one. I was easily able to figure out what was going on pretty much right away. Still, I got caught up in the story and simply couldn't put it down!

I still like Aggie so much. She's a reader so she has a big imagination. I do think she'll grow up to be a writer someday. The stories she dreams up at the end are a little too mature for a young child and may make adult readers roll their eyes but young readers unfamiliar with Agatha Christie's works will have their appetite whetted for the real deal after reading Aggie's imagined adventures. I like seeing a writer's mind at work as Aggie figures out which words and similes work best. Some of her descriptions are a little fanciful but they're also rooted in the period in which she is growing up. That's a great, subtle way to get history into kids. Aggie is smart, brave and clever. She's still shy but less so. She's mostly only shy when it comes to getting up in front of a crowd. If she went to school she would be the quiet one who never raises her hand even though she knows the answer. I also like how Aggie reasons out what must have happened and how she tries to turn to an adult for help.

Lonely Aggie is now making new friends. Hector is her very best friend. I think they're drawn to each other because they're both lonely and intelligent children whom people tend to dismiss or talk down to. Her because she's a girl and him because he's foreign and a child. He's a really great friend and his rational mind is a good foil for Aggie's imagination. Lucy is less appealing. Aggie keeps making the excuse that Lucy is 10. She's old enough to know better than to do some of the things she does in this book. She sounds younger, more like 8. I do know an energetic 10 year old who can't keep secrets though! Lucy enjoys sneaking around the manor, defying her grandmother and being nosy. She has lots of energy but when faced with a shock, she screams. I found her just a little annoying. I didn't approve of her blabbing when she was specifically told not to. I understand she likes the attention and because she's young, she wants to feel important but this is a BIG thing and she doesn't understand why it's important to keep her mouth shut. She nearly gets them all into big trouble a few times.

Grannie Jane is great. While manners are important, she also enjoys gossip and secretly seems to approve of Aggie's secret detecting. She's willing to listen to the children and she respects her granddaughter's intelligence and perceptions of the situation. Grannie Jane is also very kind to Hector. I love Grannie Jane and if I were a Victorian/Edwardian girl I would be very happy to have a grandmother like her. Unlike Lucy. Poor Lucy! Her grandmother, the Dowager Lady Greyson, is stuck in the past and rigid in her beliefs. She believes children should be seen and not heard, disapproves of everything anyone else does, except her son, of course and spends a lot of time frowning. I feel slightly bad for her for having a toothache at Christmas and the only medicine available is chloroform! Yikes! Aspirin was invented but still very new and probably she wouldn't approve anyway. It's too new for her. I didn't like the revelation about her feelings at the end. I figured that one pretty quickly because I read a lot of period romances but it made me roll my eyes.

Marjorie and James, on the other hand, are lovely. Marjorie is sweet, kind and caring. She is very concerned about what her mother-in-law thinks. James is fun. He's a great uncle to Lucy. I can relate. I have a fun uncle too but James is more sensible. He knows when to be disapproving and when to allow Lucy freedom to run around. He's only concerned for her safety and for the privacy of his guests.

The guests include James's school friend Lakshay Siwam, a native of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). He might be the first "brown" person Aggie has ever met! Yes he was educated in England and is pretty much an English gentleman but he also respects his family and the Hindi culture in his country. He's friendly and enjoys scaring everyone with his tale of the cursed emerald. He claims it's just a story but it's clear he does believe it. I like him a lot and would like to know more about him and his country. There's a lot out there about India under the British Raj but I don't know anything about Ceylon except that I like their tea. Mrs. Siwam, Kitty, is not as enjoyable. She seems silly and foolish. She doesn't respect her husband's culture and his fears about the emerald. That's OK if she's teasing him and trying to get him to relax and stop worrying over silly curses but she deliberately goes against his wishes. I think she likes the emerald for the monetary value and the attention it brings her. I do not like silly, selfish women. Marjorie is willing to give her the benefit of the doubt but I think Marjorie is too nice.

A traveling troop of three actors arrives at Owl Park and quickly brings most of the household around to becoming amateur actors. Sebastian Mooney is the charming, handsome leading man. He's too slick and charming in my opinion. I think there's going to be trouble there. Roger Corker is the aging veteran actor. He's not all that likable either. He drinks a lot and seems to enjoy being a ham. Annabelle Day is the lone woman in the group. She seems nice. She's too neat and orderly for me but she has to be because they're short of money so to lose props or damage costumes would be costly. The Inspector chooses her as his primary suspect. She had motive (money), means and possibly opportunity but I don't think she's a murderer. A thief maybe, out of misguided loyalty to the men in her life but a murderer? No. Inspector Willard is young and everyone on the force dismisses him because of his age and lack of experience but he seems sharp and not eager to quickly close the case for the sake of glory. He's quiet and not in the story on page much but he's trying so I like him.

Other members of the household include Dr. Mussleman, the Dowager's physician who has come to treat her for a toothache. He claims his chloroform is missing and can't be found anywhere. Is is really missing or did he use it on someone other than Lady Greyson? He appears to be a real doctor and to know what he's doing but that could also make him knowledgeable about how to use chloroforms to keep someone quiet. He's also overlooked by the police and the children as a suspect. The police would prefer it to be Frederick, a young footman who made a mistake and has been given a second chance. He's young but seems to be doing well in his job. His sister is convinced he had only fallen in with a bad crowd and wouldn't do that again. Since this is a novel, that's too obvious. I feel bad for him because one youthful mistake could cost him his future. Stephen, the boot boy, holds a clue to the mystery but is dismissed as being unimportant and too busy to share what he observed. Only Aggie and Hector believe Stephen to be the key. I like him and agree with Aggie and Hector. The upper servants are of course very proper, especially the butler but the cook is warm and occasionally spoils Lucy when she's not super busy. It's fun to imagine Mrs. Pattmore leaving treats for Lady Mary, Lady Edith and Lady Sybil when they were young, right around the same timeframe! The kitchen feels like a warm and cozy place to be.

I would recommend this book to young children ages 9-12 and those who read with them. There is a lot of blood in this story but kids that age do tend to like gory things. Adults who like cozy mysteries will enjoy this one but maybe not all that blood. I hope to read more about Aggie in the future.

[BooksNCrannies · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stolen jewel, a gruesome murder, a clues-filled mansion, a cast of suspicious characters — can you solve this Christmas murder mystery?

✏️ Review ✏️

For the most part, Peril at Owl Park provides a delightfully entertaining Christmas murder mystery. The first half of the plot seemed a bit too predictable, so apart from getting to know the characters and the intriguing elements of a gruesome Christmas murder, it didn't strike me as all that impressive.

But the second half of the plot is absolute delight! The ending took me totally by surprise. So many revelations, accusations, and surprises greatly heighten the action, bringing this mystery to a sizzling and satisfying conclusion.

Peril at Owl Park will make a fitting addition to your Christmas TBR.... Just don't stress out being stuck (because of a bitter blizzard 🥶) in a huge mansion with a multitude of extremely suspicious characters (a killer lurks among them! 😳) over the Christmas holiday (not so merry! 😐).... Enjoy! 😁

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📊 A Quick Overview 📊

👍🏼 What I Liked:
•The whole idea of a Christmas-themed murder mystery.
•The many twists and surprises in the second half of the plot.
•The abundance of murder suspects.
•The character portrayal — each has a distinct personality.

👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
•The first half of the plot — too predictable.

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📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 3.75/5 [rounded up to 4 on Goodreads])
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 3/5
— 📝 Writing: 3/5
— 👥 Characters: 4/5

~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)

— 🤬 Language: 1/5

•Two uses of d*mn and two uses of God's name in vain.

— ⚔️ Violence: 1/5

•Some mildly graphic descriptions of death and injuries (mentions blood).

— ⚠️ Sexual: 1/5

•A few mildly suggestive remarks.

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📣 Random Comments 📣

•There is one condescending remark towards elements of Christianity in the book.

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💬 Favorite Quotes 💬

•(None)

[Chautona Havig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sure wish these would have been around when I was a kid. Seriously, this one had my mind spinning in different directions. My wild guess turned out to be right and wrong at the same time (complicated guess with two crimes). It took until 3/4 through the book to figure out for sure what was going on.

Great characterization, fun plot, lots of twists, and best of all--not an "easy" crime to solve. Kids are smarter than you think, and I actually think I'd have done better at this one as a kid (they tend not to overthink thinks which is a blessing sometimes!

Can't wait to read the next!

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just as fun as the first one, although Aggie's morbid fantasies weren't quite as good this time. However, it was nice to see Hector receiving much better treatment from the other characters (Aggie included) in this volume. It's probably some sort of heresy that I enjoy reading a book about a fictionalized version of Agatha Christie more than I enjoy reading actual Agatha Christie books.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a delight to read! Full of all the best things about mysteries with amazing characters and a classic setting. The references to classic mystery stories (Sherlock Holmes, Wilkie Collins, and of course, Agatha Christie) made the book all the more fun to read. I’m very much looking forward to following the rest of Aggie Morton’s adventures!

[Vikki VanSickle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful! This cozy mystery takes place in an English manner over a week at Christmas, and young tween sleuths Aggie (based on Agatha Christie), Hector (based on Hercule Poirot) and spunky cousin Lucy are determined to solve both a murder and a theft. A great read for kids who love mysteries or the Enola Holmes series. There is no need to have any familiarity with Agatha Christie to enjoy this series, but if you do, there are delightful Easter eggs for you to enjoy. Would make a fantastic family readaloud as well.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guessed the murderer! 😎😜 I love how this series introduces kids (and adults who are new to the mystery genre like me) to the crucial elements of a well-told mystery, alibis, suspects, red herrings, etc. There were also several cleverly hidden nods to Agatha Christie’s most famous mysteries. It was fun to revisit five characters from the previous book and throw them into a whole new setting and cast of characters. The narrator was good too. I loved her voices for Annabel Day and Dot the maid especially.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely read. Very cute to think about a young Agatha and imagine her with her little Belgian friend ‘Hector’
Good plot well written and not too obvious. Great for younger readers

[Lady Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.3 / 5

A lovely mystery with a slight edge on the original, in that this time there is a theft AND a murder involved!

Aggie and her friend Hector (and Grannie Jane) are off to visit Aggie's sister, Marjorie, at her new home at Owl Park. A colourful cast of characters is also invited, including a couple who are owners of a particularly valuable emerald. But then, wouldn't you know it--dun dun DUN, a murder happens and the emerald also mysteriously vanishes!

Looks like a case for Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen!

So...a lot to like about this, for sure, and I was also surprised at how gruesome some of the imagery could get at times in terms of the murder details, as this book is...well, middle grade level! Still, Aggie does have a way of going about things that is ever-charming, so I really am not complaining!

All in all, twas quite enjoyable!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reviewing this super late, I don't know I forgot to do my review but LOVED this sequel in the Aggie Morton series! Starts out with a very fast and entertaining pace, even more than the first one! I know these are supposed to be young teen books but I even got stressed out at one point with some of the anticipation (Hector being nabbed and no one realizing??? Come on people!!). I liked all the different elements of the story too: Marjorie learning how to be a Duchess, the missing jewel and Mr. Sivam's back story, the reappearance of Augustus Fibbeley, the presence of the acting troupe, and obviously the murder mystery!
Very enjoyable read!

[Tara Ethridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our upper elementary readers are constantly asking for books that have a murder in them, and that is why I took a chance on this series when I saw “dead body” in the blurb. 😂 It is a delight of a book told with a tilt to an Agatha Christie style. Lots of twists and turns and the setting of a fancy manor was fun as well as the friendship between Aggie and Hector. I was surprised at the final reveal of the whodunnit.

[Sumiyah]

I’ll save it for winter

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed the first book in this series, and since the library hasn't gotten any copies of the second book yet, I purchased one with Christmas gift card money. I'm glad that I did, especially since I got to read it right at the tail end of the year, while it was still seasonally appropriate. The English Christmas setting is delightful, and even though the mystery requires a significant amount of build-up and seemed slow to me at first, I found it very satisfying.

This book is full of clever twists, historical charm, and strong character development for Aggie and Hector. I hope that this series will continue for many more books, and would recommend it to any historical mystery fan, especially those who like Agatha Christie and would enjoy a well-researched, imagined glimpse at her childhood. This is great for both children and adults, and aside from its murder theme, some non-graphic violence, and scenes of peril, it has no content concerns for younger children who are ready for a middle grade reading level.

[Kristi Clemow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. All fans of Hercule Poirot should read this series, just for fun - Hector is perfect - his logical speech, his bows and love of buns . As a kid, I think I would have liked it too - giant house, secret passages, a library and conservatory - and a murder mystery. Funny too. "She squeezed shut her eyes and began to scream. A long, admirable scream.
My eyes met Hector's. "That should do it, " I said.
"Most emphatically," said Hector"

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This takes place in England from December 23, 1902 through January 1, 1903. The story this time involves a secret passage, stairs, an emerald, a desk set, a journalist, and a car. This was just as much fun as the previous book and has a delightful surprise at the end.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleanor says: I think this book was really good because I like these sort of books. I like them because they’re mysteries for you to solve and like riddles are hidden in the pages and you have to look for them and pay attention.

[Jenn (Jenn’s Bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐️!!!
This was utterly fabulous!

[Angela Falkner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adored it as it is beautifully written and the story is Christmassy but still very exciting

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love these books!!

[☯Emily Ginder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series about Agatha Christie as a girl detective. She has a refugee friend, Hector Perot, who helps her solve mysteries. This time the mystery takes place at her sister's estate. A visiting friend from Ceylon is bringing a precious emerald with him before he goes back to Ceylon to return it to the temple where it belongs.

However, the emerald disappears, the friend disappears, a man is murdered and other mayhem ensues. Aggie is able to help the police solve these problems with a little help from her friends.

[Rebecca (booksandbreggs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the second installment of Aggie and Hector almost more than book #1. The mystery in Peril at Owl Park was great and mirrored Christie's And Then There Were None. 5/5 stars! It's a must-read for younger mystery enthusiasts.

[(Katie) Paperbacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series, I think young readers and older readers would enjoy this series. Of course these books remind me of Agatha Christie books, but they also have a Nancy Drew feel as well.

[Liene Kokina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the relationship between Aggie and Mr. Fibbley. 🕵🏻

[Jen Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute, entertaining easy read. I like the little twists to explain how everything falls together. Might read the next in this series.

[Julay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved that we got a better glimpse at Aggie and Marjories relationship as sisters.

Lucy is so annoying.