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Shed Girl
Shed Girl is a contemporary crime novel set in the small fictional town of Annie's Court on Washington's northern coast.
Annie's Court has a runaway problem. Runaways arrive and then they disappear. Juliet French, an old runaway herself, does tarot readings for petty cash at the Farmers Market. Across the market Tony LeCrosse sells toys. Juliet notices the runaways flock to LeCrosse. Just before they go missing.
After witnessing the abduction of a young boy, Detective Benson Picard solicits Juliet's help. Already determined to find the boy, she agrees to Benson's terms. Juliet, a strong female lead, feels the danger in the cards when Tony LeCrosse invites her to a party. He wants her to entertain his guests with tarot readings. Juliet balks at the word “entertain” but agrees anyway. When Kyle shows up at LeCrosse's party, Juliet's spine “turns to stardust and fairies rush in.” The two team-up to find the missing kids. But Kyle has secrets of his own.
Annie's Court has a runaway problem. Runaways arrive and then they disappear. Juliet French, an old runaway herself, does tarot readings for petty cash at the Farmers Market. Across the market Tony LeCrosse sells toys. Juliet notices the runaways flock to LeCrosse. Just before they go missing.
After witnessing the abduction of a young boy, Detective Benson Picard solicits Juliet's help. Already determined to find the boy, she agrees to Benson's terms. Juliet, a strong female lead, feels the danger in the cards when Tony LeCrosse invites her to a party. He wants her to entertain his guests with tarot readings. Juliet balks at the word “entertain” but agrees anyway. When Kyle shows up at LeCrosse's party, Juliet's spine “turns to stardust and fairies rush in.” The two team-up to find the missing kids. But Kyle has secrets of his own.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 18, 2024
15 people are currently reading
2031 people want to read
About the author
Milana Marsenich
5 books58 followersMilana Marsenich lives in Northwest Montana near Flathead Lake at the base of the beautiful Mission Mountains. She enjoys quick access to the mountains and has spent many hours hiking the wilderness trails with friends and dogs. For the past 20 years she has worked as a mental health therapist in a variety of settings. As a natural listener and a therapist, she has witnessed amazing generosity and courage in others. She first witnessed this in her hometown of Butte, Montana, a mining town with a rich history and the setting for Copper Sky. She has an M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling from Montana State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. She has previously published in Montana Quarterly, Big Sky Journal, The Polishing Stone, and Feminist Studies. She has a short story included in The Montana Quarterly book Montana, Warts and All, The Best From Our First Decade. Copper Sky is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 15, 2024
"Kids from happy homes rarely run away." This simple truth is reiterated repeatedly throughout this mystery, set on the rainy coast of Washington with two runaway teens as the main characters. I found both Juliet and Kyle to be completely authentic teens, at times justifiably naive but wise in navigating the adult world. The story exposes the reality of homeless, runaway children and the ugly truth of why it exists as well as the failure of the social services that are supposed to help them. While reading this I wanted to scream in frustration when Juliet and Kyle would see crimes against children being committed but the police either didn't believe them or required concrete evidence before getting involved. As a retired middle school teacher, I have faced these same roadblocks with at-risk students. I loved the setting for this one because the weather felt as important as the plot or the characters. Although I've never been in that location, the author made me feel the wisps of chilling fog swirling around my legs, ominous and foreboding, as it did with Juliet. Although this is the first in a new series, this book doesn't leave you hanging, just ready for the next one to be released. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more about Juliet's life in Annie's Court.
My thanks to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for providing the digital ARC. All opinions and the review are my own.
My thanks to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for providing the digital ARC. All opinions and the review are my own.
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January 15, 2026
I received Shed Girl by Milana Marsenich through a Goodreads giveaway, and I found this to be a very enjoyable read! I think the target audience for this crime thriller with a sweet romance woven throughout would definitely be YA; however, even though I’m way past that age group, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.
I really liked the pacing, and the characters—both the kids and the adults—felt very believable. Some of their experiences were tough to imagine, which made parts hard to read, but that also made the story more impactful. It was a quick read that kept me turning pages, and I found it hard to put down because I was always curious about what Juliet and her sleuthing partner, Kyle, would uncover next.
Some of the darker thoughts in this book were also tough to process, but that’s the reality of the world we live in, and I appreciated how the author brought that forward.
The only thing that pulled me out of the story a bit was how often certain memories were repeated. I get that they were deeply troubling to Juliet and always on her mind, but I didn’t think the exact same details needed to be written out so many times.
Also, the last few lines of the book were PERFECT. I was literally smiling ridiculously as I finished it! Overall, this book was gripping, heartfelt, and definitely worth the read.
I really liked the pacing, and the characters—both the kids and the adults—felt very believable. Some of their experiences were tough to imagine, which made parts hard to read, but that also made the story more impactful. It was a quick read that kept me turning pages, and I found it hard to put down because I was always curious about what Juliet and her sleuthing partner, Kyle, would uncover next.
Some of the darker thoughts in this book were also tough to process, but that’s the reality of the world we live in, and I appreciated how the author brought that forward.
The only thing that pulled me out of the story a bit was how often certain memories were repeated. I get that they were deeply troubling to Juliet and always on her mind, but I didn’t think the exact same details needed to be written out so many times.
Also, the last few lines of the book were PERFECT. I was literally smiling ridiculously as I finished it! Overall, this book was gripping, heartfelt, and definitely worth the read.
March 17, 2024
Title: Shed Girl
Author: Milana Marsenich
Genre: Mystery
Format: ebook from Coffee and Thorn
Series: Juliet French Mystery Book 1
Star Rating: 4 stars
tw: kidnapping, assault, homelessness, rape, sexual assault, parental death, alcoholism, drunk driving, car accident, drugs, drugging
A special thank you goes to Coffee and Thorn for providing me with an early copy of this book. Please know that this does not influence my rating or thoughts on the book itself.
When Coffee and Thorn offered this book to me, I read far enough to see that Juliet, the main character, was a tarot card reader and immediately volunteered to read it. I’ve been slowly dabbling into tarot cards and recently picked up a new deck that is going to help me learn them. So I was excited to read about a main character that works with tarot cards. I was secretly hoping it would help me in my journey as well.
But enough about me, let’s talk about this book and how much I enjoyed it. There were two main characters, Juliet and Kyle. Both of them are teenage runaways, which made me sad because of the situations that led them to run away. One of my favorite things about these two was that they acted like teenagers. There have been so many times where I’ve read a mystery book and the main characters were teenagers but they acted like adults and everyone is just okay with it. Here, they were teenagers in every sense of the word and that was so refreshing. There were so many times I wanted just to shake them, especially when they were talking to the detective, and say “That’s not how this works!” They put themselves into dangerous situations and they fell in love instantly but I loved them so much.
Another fantastic aspect of this book was how well it portrayed grief. Juliet had good days and she had bad days. There were days when her brain wouldn’t be quiet and there were days when she was able to exist and not think about the situation of what led her to run away. It showed how grief healing is not linear and there was never a cure for it. Time can certainly help but it never truly heals all. The grief showed in Kyle too and it was refreshing to see a teenage boy not afraid to show emotion. He was so sensitive and cared so much for Juliet and the kids at the camp. It made my heart so happy.
Overall, I loved this book in case it wasn’t obvious. I loved the aspect of the tarot cards and how important they were to Juliet. I loved the two teenage main characters and how adorable they were, trying to navigate a relationship while figuring out what was happening to the runways. I’m excited to see where this series goes. The possibilities are endless and I can’t wait to dive back into this world.
Author: Milana Marsenich
Genre: Mystery
Format: ebook from Coffee and Thorn
Series: Juliet French Mystery Book 1
Star Rating: 4 stars
tw: kidnapping, assault, homelessness, rape, sexual assault, parental death, alcoholism, drunk driving, car accident, drugs, drugging
A special thank you goes to Coffee and Thorn for providing me with an early copy of this book. Please know that this does not influence my rating or thoughts on the book itself.
When Coffee and Thorn offered this book to me, I read far enough to see that Juliet, the main character, was a tarot card reader and immediately volunteered to read it. I’ve been slowly dabbling into tarot cards and recently picked up a new deck that is going to help me learn them. So I was excited to read about a main character that works with tarot cards. I was secretly hoping it would help me in my journey as well.
But enough about me, let’s talk about this book and how much I enjoyed it. There were two main characters, Juliet and Kyle. Both of them are teenage runaways, which made me sad because of the situations that led them to run away. One of my favorite things about these two was that they acted like teenagers. There have been so many times where I’ve read a mystery book and the main characters were teenagers but they acted like adults and everyone is just okay with it. Here, they were teenagers in every sense of the word and that was so refreshing. There were so many times I wanted just to shake them, especially when they were talking to the detective, and say “That’s not how this works!” They put themselves into dangerous situations and they fell in love instantly but I loved them so much.
Another fantastic aspect of this book was how well it portrayed grief. Juliet had good days and she had bad days. There were days when her brain wouldn’t be quiet and there were days when she was able to exist and not think about the situation of what led her to run away. It showed how grief healing is not linear and there was never a cure for it. Time can certainly help but it never truly heals all. The grief showed in Kyle too and it was refreshing to see a teenage boy not afraid to show emotion. He was so sensitive and cared so much for Juliet and the kids at the camp. It made my heart so happy.
Overall, I loved this book in case it wasn’t obvious. I loved the aspect of the tarot cards and how important they were to Juliet. I loved the two teenage main characters and how adorable they were, trying to navigate a relationship while figuring out what was happening to the runways. I’m excited to see where this series goes. The possibilities are endless and I can’t wait to dive back into this world.
January 24, 2024
If you love Tarot and enjoy mysteries, you have got to read Shed Girl! I love, love, love how the author weaved in various Tarot elements into the story, taking time to incorporate ethical considerations, a few basic spreads, and the meanings of a few of the cards as part of the story. The accuracy and detail elevated the reading experience for me, as I hadn’t seen this done before with such thoroughness. It’s obviously not a book intended to teach someone how to learn the Tarot, but anyone with an interest in Tarot will enjoy reading the author’s take on this subject while immersed in a truly interesting mystery.
Shed Girl brings up some heavy themes, but it was handled in a manner that avoids being overly graphic. There is enough left to the imagination to make it acceptable for a wider audience, so this is a book I wouldn’t have reservations sharing with a sensitive audience. I would recommend it highly to new Tarot readers and Tarot enthusiasts that enjoy reading mysteries.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Shed Girl brings up some heavy themes, but it was handled in a manner that avoids being overly graphic. There is enough left to the imagination to make it acceptable for a wider audience, so this is a book I wouldn’t have reservations sharing with a sensitive audience. I would recommend it highly to new Tarot readers and Tarot enthusiasts that enjoy reading mysteries.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 8, 2023
Two runaway teens band together to help other runaways in this fast-paced novel. The storytelling is superb, as are the characters and plot. I was able to vividly imagine Juliet and Kyle, as well as the bohemian and quaint seaside town of Annie’s Court. Juliet French, at eighteen, lives in a shed and reads the Tarot at the Farmer’s Market. She comes from a long line of female ancestors who “knew magic,” and were “magic lovers.” Seventeen year-old Kyle has been residing in a tent town—a safe haven for runaways nearby the town. Since he is older than the other runaways, he takes it upon himself to assist the younger ones as much as possible. Juliet is too old to reside there.
Annie’s Court is experiencing a problem with the rising numbers of runaways taking shelter there. But some are also missing. Kyle, like Juliet, is searching for Twyla, a missing girl. Juliet agrees to help out Detective Benson Picard by snooping for him at a party at Tony LeCrosse’s ritzy condo. Picard believes Tony has something to do with disappearance of several runaways. Juliet has a sense of foreboding about Tony, his wife Alice.
Both Juliet and Kyle are haunted by their pasts—by what made them run away from their difficulties. They are anxious to put their pasts behind them and focusing on Twyla will help them do so. The mystery soon becomes complicated, though insights are gleaned from Juliet’s ability to read the Tarot cards. Her deceased mother, Lila, had taught her to trust her instincts. Juliet agrees to read cards at one of Tony’s parties and discovers this dazzling green-eyed toymaker is not to be trusted.
It isn’t long before Juliet and Kyle join begin working together. Juliet has lost her mother tragically, and Kyle—his sister. Juliet recalls her mother’s advice: “Find something good to focus on and more goodness will follow.” Will she be able to follow it?
But then a boy shows up with bruised arms at her shed door. He doesn’t want her to go to the police. And then they find a doll that smoldering on the shed floor—its head has been removed and limbs are flailing. It’s a miniature replica of Juliet. Kyle believes it’s a warning from Tony, but who is trying to scare her off and why?
Romance begins to blossom between Juliet and Kyle. Will he become her knight in shining armor?
Not only is this a brilliant mystery, this novel is full of fabulous details—from Juliet’s recurring dreams, the sights and sounds of the Farmer’s Market, to precise descriptions of the toys Tony makes. Juliet’s and Kyle’s pasts unfold and we discover why both became runaways—and why they want to assist others. Will their valiant efforts be thwarted? Will they be able to help Detective Picard solve the case? There are cliffhangers and then more cliffhangers!
While the plot is intricate, the writing is crisp, though poetic enough to allow the reader to become completely immersed in the struggle between good and evil in Annie’s Court. I highly recommend this engaging novel to both YA readers and any adult reader who loves great characters and a well-written mystery!
Annie’s Court is experiencing a problem with the rising numbers of runaways taking shelter there. But some are also missing. Kyle, like Juliet, is searching for Twyla, a missing girl. Juliet agrees to help out Detective Benson Picard by snooping for him at a party at Tony LeCrosse’s ritzy condo. Picard believes Tony has something to do with disappearance of several runaways. Juliet has a sense of foreboding about Tony, his wife Alice.
Both Juliet and Kyle are haunted by their pasts—by what made them run away from their difficulties. They are anxious to put their pasts behind them and focusing on Twyla will help them do so. The mystery soon becomes complicated, though insights are gleaned from Juliet’s ability to read the Tarot cards. Her deceased mother, Lila, had taught her to trust her instincts. Juliet agrees to read cards at one of Tony’s parties and discovers this dazzling green-eyed toymaker is not to be trusted.
It isn’t long before Juliet and Kyle join begin working together. Juliet has lost her mother tragically, and Kyle—his sister. Juliet recalls her mother’s advice: “Find something good to focus on and more goodness will follow.” Will she be able to follow it?
But then a boy shows up with bruised arms at her shed door. He doesn’t want her to go to the police. And then they find a doll that smoldering on the shed floor—its head has been removed and limbs are flailing. It’s a miniature replica of Juliet. Kyle believes it’s a warning from Tony, but who is trying to scare her off and why?
Romance begins to blossom between Juliet and Kyle. Will he become her knight in shining armor?
Not only is this a brilliant mystery, this novel is full of fabulous details—from Juliet’s recurring dreams, the sights and sounds of the Farmer’s Market, to precise descriptions of the toys Tony makes. Juliet’s and Kyle’s pasts unfold and we discover why both became runaways—and why they want to assist others. Will their valiant efforts be thwarted? Will they be able to help Detective Picard solve the case? There are cliffhangers and then more cliffhangers!
While the plot is intricate, the writing is crisp, though poetic enough to allow the reader to become completely immersed in the struggle between good and evil in Annie’s Court. I highly recommend this engaging novel to both YA readers and any adult reader who loves great characters and a well-written mystery!
March 18, 2024
An interesting concept and on the whole an interesting read. The main characters, Juliet and Kyle, were well drawn, both having their secrets, doubts and fears, but also being strong, likeable young adults.
Both Juliet and Kyle are almost 18 years old, both are runaways struggling through their own difficult lives and their equally as difficult past - both reluctant to open up and share their lives and their secrets, but both are more concerned about the children that arrive at the harbourside town of Annie's Court - and then promptly disappear.
Juliet lives in an old shed with a cat (who rather steals several scenes), Kyle lives in a tent in an area near the woods set aside for the shelter of runaway boys, but there is conflict between him and another of the older boys, a conflict which does affect him, but his feelings for Juliet are growing, feelings which are mutual so does it matter that he has to leave the safety of the tents?
Kyle has a job washing dishes, Juliet augments her meagre finances by doing tarot readings at the local market, until one day the toymaker who also has a stall there invites her to a party to entertain his guests with her readings. She accepts for there is suspicion about Tony LeCrosse - children are drawn to his toys and then they disappear. Juliet, working undercover for a local policeman, and assisted by Kyle, is determined to find and rescue the missing children.
I enjoyed the read, I wanted to find out what happened to the children and I liked Juliet and Kyle, but there were a couple of things which very slightly niggled. The main one was that this is a very American book - no problem for American readers, but for this Brit some of the wording was baffling, along with the Americanisms (gotten, for instance) but that is my problem, not the author's!
Some of the scenes and action I found a little hard to believe, the two lead characters did all the work while the policeman only popped up now and then. One big problem I had: Juliet had a cell phone (mobile in the UK) - how did she charge the thing up? She had a small tape recorder as well: ditto how did she work the thing? Batteries? How could she afford batteries?
I wasn't convinced by her repeated visits to LeCrosse's parties, putting herself in danger without proper police backup and some information was repeated too much - both Juliet and Kyle's backgrounds for instance, and the repeated disappearances then re-appearances of the young girl (no spoilers!)
Maybe the cover is a little too 'busy'? Less is more would be the brief here - the hand holding the tarot cards is perfect, but the background confuses the issue and somewhat obliterates the text.
However, this was a good read and I enjoyed the information about Juliet's tarot readings, these were excellently done. The main characters have great potential for further novels.
Both Juliet and Kyle are almost 18 years old, both are runaways struggling through their own difficult lives and their equally as difficult past - both reluctant to open up and share their lives and their secrets, but both are more concerned about the children that arrive at the harbourside town of Annie's Court - and then promptly disappear.
Juliet lives in an old shed with a cat (who rather steals several scenes), Kyle lives in a tent in an area near the woods set aside for the shelter of runaway boys, but there is conflict between him and another of the older boys, a conflict which does affect him, but his feelings for Juliet are growing, feelings which are mutual so does it matter that he has to leave the safety of the tents?
Kyle has a job washing dishes, Juliet augments her meagre finances by doing tarot readings at the local market, until one day the toymaker who also has a stall there invites her to a party to entertain his guests with her readings. She accepts for there is suspicion about Tony LeCrosse - children are drawn to his toys and then they disappear. Juliet, working undercover for a local policeman, and assisted by Kyle, is determined to find and rescue the missing children.
I enjoyed the read, I wanted to find out what happened to the children and I liked Juliet and Kyle, but there were a couple of things which very slightly niggled. The main one was that this is a very American book - no problem for American readers, but for this Brit some of the wording was baffling, along with the Americanisms (gotten, for instance) but that is my problem, not the author's!
Some of the scenes and action I found a little hard to believe, the two lead characters did all the work while the policeman only popped up now and then. One big problem I had: Juliet had a cell phone (mobile in the UK) - how did she charge the thing up? She had a small tape recorder as well: ditto how did she work the thing? Batteries? How could she afford batteries?
I wasn't convinced by her repeated visits to LeCrosse's parties, putting herself in danger without proper police backup and some information was repeated too much - both Juliet and Kyle's backgrounds for instance, and the repeated disappearances then re-appearances of the young girl (no spoilers!)
Maybe the cover is a little too 'busy'? Less is more would be the brief here - the hand holding the tarot cards is perfect, but the background confuses the issue and somewhat obliterates the text.
However, this was a good read and I enjoyed the information about Juliet's tarot readings, these were excellently done. The main characters have great potential for further novels.
February 20, 2024
Shed Girl by Milana Marsenich
Reviewed By: Sara Hailstone
Trigger Warning: young people in peril, abusive family and stranger relationships
Shed Girl drew me in with Milana Marsenich’s descriptive language tied to setting and I especially liked the presentation of the protagonist’s tarot readings. A contemporary young adult crime novel, Shed Girl traverses a disturbing landscape of disappearing child runaways. Juliet French, a runaway once herself now gives tarot readings at the farmer’s market in the fictional town of Annie’s Court. Situated on Washington’s northern coast, Juliet has taken up residence in a shed and is scraping by with her tarot readings. She notices, however, that at the farmer’s market young runaways visit a certain Tony LeCrosse who sells toys, soon after these youth go missing. Juliet is called upon by Detective Benson Picard to try and find a missing boy after witnessing his abduction, he knows Juliet’s proximity to Tony and the man’s demands for her to carry out tarot readings at his private gatherings could help secure a foothold in finding the missing children. The plot whips forward with an underlying romance carrying the reader through. Shed Girl is a novel of balance between love and crime, and language that resonates.
Milena Marsenich has worked for twenty years as a mental health therapist. She has an M.Ed. in Mental Health Counselling from Montana State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. Her first novel was Copper Sky (2018) was a Spur Award finalist for Best Western Historical Novel. Marsenich’s second novel The Swan Keeper (2019) was a Willa Award finalist. A short story titled Wild Dogs won the Laura Award for short fiction in 2020. She is known also for her third novel Beautiful Ghost and a nonfiction work titled Idaho Madams. She has been published in Montana Quarterly, Big Sky Journal, The Polishing Stone, and Feminist Studies. Marsenich lives in Northwest Montana.
Her work and portfolio can be found on her website: https://milanamarsenich.com
Shed Girl works through some heavy incidents with heart and a skillful prose that does not lose the reader. Child abduction and societal conversations around trafficking rings is confronted in this novel with conviction and pronounced characterization. We root for Juliet and the spiritual power she plays from her back pocket is accessible and inspiring: you’ll root for her. You’ll also want her to find and keep love, because she deserves it.
Thank you to Milena Marsenich, Black Rose Writing and Coffee and Thorn for the complimentary copy in request for an honest review!
Reviewed By: Sara Hailstone
Trigger Warning: young people in peril, abusive family and stranger relationships
Shed Girl drew me in with Milana Marsenich’s descriptive language tied to setting and I especially liked the presentation of the protagonist’s tarot readings. A contemporary young adult crime novel, Shed Girl traverses a disturbing landscape of disappearing child runaways. Juliet French, a runaway once herself now gives tarot readings at the farmer’s market in the fictional town of Annie’s Court. Situated on Washington’s northern coast, Juliet has taken up residence in a shed and is scraping by with her tarot readings. She notices, however, that at the farmer’s market young runaways visit a certain Tony LeCrosse who sells toys, soon after these youth go missing. Juliet is called upon by Detective Benson Picard to try and find a missing boy after witnessing his abduction, he knows Juliet’s proximity to Tony and the man’s demands for her to carry out tarot readings at his private gatherings could help secure a foothold in finding the missing children. The plot whips forward with an underlying romance carrying the reader through. Shed Girl is a novel of balance between love and crime, and language that resonates.
Milena Marsenich has worked for twenty years as a mental health therapist. She has an M.Ed. in Mental Health Counselling from Montana State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. Her first novel was Copper Sky (2018) was a Spur Award finalist for Best Western Historical Novel. Marsenich’s second novel The Swan Keeper (2019) was a Willa Award finalist. A short story titled Wild Dogs won the Laura Award for short fiction in 2020. She is known also for her third novel Beautiful Ghost and a nonfiction work titled Idaho Madams. She has been published in Montana Quarterly, Big Sky Journal, The Polishing Stone, and Feminist Studies. Marsenich lives in Northwest Montana.
Her work and portfolio can be found on her website: https://milanamarsenich.com
Shed Girl works through some heavy incidents with heart and a skillful prose that does not lose the reader. Child abduction and societal conversations around trafficking rings is confronted in this novel with conviction and pronounced characterization. We root for Juliet and the spiritual power she plays from her back pocket is accessible and inspiring: you’ll root for her. You’ll also want her to find and keep love, because she deserves it.
Thank you to Milena Marsenich, Black Rose Writing and Coffee and Thorn for the complimentary copy in request for an honest review!
March 22, 2024
Emotional and Beautiful Book
I am not sure how I want to start this review. What really drew me in the cover alone. I had no idea what this book was about. I haven’t read anything from this author. Honestly won’t t be the last book either. Has I write this review I am so glad that I did. I really enjoyed the characters and the writing style.
Yes this was a tough book to read at times. Because of the subject/nature of this book. Yes it took my a bit longer to read. It didn’t feel like a short read to me. But I pushed through because I just adored Juliet. She has such strength and heart. Even through she had such tough upbringing after her mother passed away. Juliet wanted to help others find their way. Or get them somewhere safe. I love that Juliet read tarot cards. I love them and people who do them. Have such a gift to do it. Definitely will be on the look out for the next book.
Kyle wants not to love and adore about Kyle. But with Kyle always holding on to the past.
There was a moment that I felt like I was there with Juliet and Kyle. Wanting to hold her. When she is in the store. And she sees one of the little girl’s she wanting to save. Asking about her baby. I can only imagine how the look on that girls face. Has Juliet was asking her where her baby was. Getting mad at the man that was there trying to trying to coach the little girl to leave with him. Or another time when Kyle was working and the same little girl came to him. Hurting and bruised up looking for Juliet. These characters and this book will forever be in my heart. I did receive arc for honest review. But after reading this book I knew I needed my own copy. I love supporting authors and definitely want to continue reading more books from this author. Like I stated earlier. I highly recommend this book. Definitely a 2024 favorite.
About Book:
Juliet is 18 year old girl who has recently run away from her aunt home. Due to some abuse. Julie travels to a place where all runaway children go called Annies Court. Juliet finds shelter in abandoned shed. Who her mother taught her how to read tarot cards. Because they are being abuse my their parents or the system is failing them. But the children are coming up missing or look like they are being abused by someone in the area. Juliet meets a detective who asks Juliet to look into what’s going on with these kids.
Kyle who is almost 18 who helps feeds and shelter runways. Kyle is also a runway but not from abused past. But from a past in believes is all his fault. He thinks his parents don’t want him. So he runaway from his home.
Kyle and Juliet team up together to help one another out. This book does mention different kinds of abuse.
Thank you the author to the author and Coffee and thorn Booktours.
I am not sure how I want to start this review. What really drew me in the cover alone. I had no idea what this book was about. I haven’t read anything from this author. Honestly won’t t be the last book either. Has I write this review I am so glad that I did. I really enjoyed the characters and the writing style.
Yes this was a tough book to read at times. Because of the subject/nature of this book. Yes it took my a bit longer to read. It didn’t feel like a short read to me. But I pushed through because I just adored Juliet. She has such strength and heart. Even through she had such tough upbringing after her mother passed away. Juliet wanted to help others find their way. Or get them somewhere safe. I love that Juliet read tarot cards. I love them and people who do them. Have such a gift to do it. Definitely will be on the look out for the next book.
Kyle wants not to love and adore about Kyle. But with Kyle always holding on to the past.
There was a moment that I felt like I was there with Juliet and Kyle. Wanting to hold her. When she is in the store. And she sees one of the little girl’s she wanting to save. Asking about her baby. I can only imagine how the look on that girls face. Has Juliet was asking her where her baby was. Getting mad at the man that was there trying to trying to coach the little girl to leave with him. Or another time when Kyle was working and the same little girl came to him. Hurting and bruised up looking for Juliet. These characters and this book will forever be in my heart. I did receive arc for honest review. But after reading this book I knew I needed my own copy. I love supporting authors and definitely want to continue reading more books from this author. Like I stated earlier. I highly recommend this book. Definitely a 2024 favorite.
About Book:
Juliet is 18 year old girl who has recently run away from her aunt home. Due to some abuse. Julie travels to a place where all runaway children go called Annies Court. Juliet finds shelter in abandoned shed. Who her mother taught her how to read tarot cards. Because they are being abuse my their parents or the system is failing them. But the children are coming up missing or look like they are being abused by someone in the area. Juliet meets a detective who asks Juliet to look into what’s going on with these kids.
Kyle who is almost 18 who helps feeds and shelter runways. Kyle is also a runway but not from abused past. But from a past in believes is all his fault. He thinks his parents don’t want him. So he runaway from his home.
Kyle and Juliet team up together to help one another out. This book does mention different kinds of abuse.
Thank you the author to the author and Coffee and thorn Booktours.
March 18, 2024
Serious problems surrounding run-away children mix with crime, mystery, and a touch of magic to form a potent read.
Juliet has just turned eighteen and lives in a shed on the edge of a small town after escaping abuse from her mother's boyfriend. She's not living the high-life but gets by, which is more than most of the runaways, who flee to the town. But then, many who show up, soon disappear. Juliet has her own problems as she tries to survive with only her tarot cards to earn money from tourists. When she gains the notice of a policeman, he offers to hire her to assist him with the disappearance cases. After all, she has a special connection to the runaways that he could never have. But even with her special skills and a dusting of real magic, searching for clues becomes a dangerous game.
This read dives deep into the serious problem surrounding runaways and the situations they try to escape from. It doesn't go into details, which keeps it appropriate for the young adult level, but still tugs at the heartstrings and makes the terrible circumstances clear. Juliet's background clicks her solidly into the group, gaining not only sympathy but also a bit of respect. Her life is far from perfect, but she's dealing with everything the best she can and doesn't play the victim. Even her attitude toward her mother is level-headed. She takes risks but isn't stupid and is easy to root for the entire way through.
The mystery is very well laid. Each step brings the solution closer, and while some aspects fall obviously into place, enough pieces remain in the shadows to make it a grabbing read until the end. Juliet finds herself weaving between the police, a tent-town haven for runaways, and several locals, while still maintaining relationships with other runaways and trying her best to string through the suspected villains. This creates a web of subplots, which are as intriguing as the main plot itself.
It's a read, which hits upon several difficult themes and eases in tons of heart. Add the dusting of magic, and it's a rich tale with so much to enjoy and dig into until the last page.
I received a complimentary copy and found it gripping until the end.
Juliet has just turned eighteen and lives in a shed on the edge of a small town after escaping abuse from her mother's boyfriend. She's not living the high-life but gets by, which is more than most of the runaways, who flee to the town. But then, many who show up, soon disappear. Juliet has her own problems as she tries to survive with only her tarot cards to earn money from tourists. When she gains the notice of a policeman, he offers to hire her to assist him with the disappearance cases. After all, she has a special connection to the runaways that he could never have. But even with her special skills and a dusting of real magic, searching for clues becomes a dangerous game.
This read dives deep into the serious problem surrounding runaways and the situations they try to escape from. It doesn't go into details, which keeps it appropriate for the young adult level, but still tugs at the heartstrings and makes the terrible circumstances clear. Juliet's background clicks her solidly into the group, gaining not only sympathy but also a bit of respect. Her life is far from perfect, but she's dealing with everything the best she can and doesn't play the victim. Even her attitude toward her mother is level-headed. She takes risks but isn't stupid and is easy to root for the entire way through.
The mystery is very well laid. Each step brings the solution closer, and while some aspects fall obviously into place, enough pieces remain in the shadows to make it a grabbing read until the end. Juliet finds herself weaving between the police, a tent-town haven for runaways, and several locals, while still maintaining relationships with other runaways and trying her best to string through the suspected villains. This creates a web of subplots, which are as intriguing as the main plot itself.
It's a read, which hits upon several difficult themes and eases in tons of heart. Add the dusting of magic, and it's a rich tale with so much to enjoy and dig into until the last page.
I received a complimentary copy and found it gripping until the end.
December 15, 2023
Juliet French, the titular “Shed Girl”, knows magic. She breathes life into the Tarot cards she reads at the local farmer’s market, intuits the subconscious of her customers, and feels the darkly seductive spell cast by a mysterious toymaker and his glittering wife. Set aptly in the Pacific Northwest, in the fictional town of Annie’s Court, Shed Girl uses the oppressively cloudy skies, damp cold, and lashing rain of the region to tell the story of young people living on the edges of society. Making their homes in tent communities, the rotting hull of a shipwrecked boat, and Juliet’s abandoned shed, these runaway youth are vulnerable to the weather, illness, and the worst kind of predators, who seem to have set up shop in Annie’s Court. Determined to unravel the mystery of vanishing children and their connection to the toymaker with the fall-into green eyes, Juliet agrees to act as police informant, and joins forces with another runaway, Kyle, who has a secret of his own to hide. When she agrees to “entertain” the guests at LeCrosse’s party with Tarot readings, she sets in motion a chain of events that will unmask the darkness lurking within opulent spaces, glossy clothing, and mouth-watering spreads of food and drink. Blending mystery with a blossoming love story, and a gritty expose of youth experiencing homelessness, Shed Girl shines a light on the fragility of trust, the tenuous nature of family, and our innate ability to find and build our own communities. With often hauntingly beautiful, dream-like imagery, two perfectly-imperfect young lovers, and a sympathetic supporting cast, Marsenich’s novel is an intelligent, compassionate exploration of what can happen when we think we’ve lost it all, but never lose ourselves.
March 16, 2024
Shed Girl is not the typical YA novel popular today, and that is its strength. Instead of focusing on another romantic drama-filled dilemma of a teen girl, the novel centers on a young woman’s struggle to survive on her own. Escaping sexual abuse, Juliet lives in a shed where she reads Tarot cards as a side hustle. The disappearance of another troubled teen, Twyla, gets Juliet involved in uncovering the mysterious happenings surrounding troubled teens in their town. This underlying mystery and Marsenich’s carefully developed plot keep the reader interested and invested in Juliet’s well-being. Without preachiness, the writer does a great job of showing teens how some adults are not to be trusted.
I really enjoyed Juliet as a character because she strives to never be a victim again. Despite the circumstances of her childhood, she is in control. The writer does a great job of letting us understand her connection to Twyla since they shared the same tragic background. Marsenich also does an excellent job of bringing forth a realistic romance between Juliet and Kyle. It’s not an overly sappy typical romance. It is one where two people who are drawn together not because they are opposite but share a bond of having to be on one’s own at a young age. Kyle truly gets her.
The novel realistically let readers see what happens to young people when they are forced to leave horrible home lives only to be taken advantage of by adults for unsavory purposes. It focuses on the very real and dark side of runaway life where teens find themselves facing the homelessness and sex trafficking. Shed Girl’s descriptive writing and pacing is one teen readers will enjoy. It's theme of learning who to trust is an important one.
I really enjoyed Juliet as a character because she strives to never be a victim again. Despite the circumstances of her childhood, she is in control. The writer does a great job of letting us understand her connection to Twyla since they shared the same tragic background. Marsenich also does an excellent job of bringing forth a realistic romance between Juliet and Kyle. It’s not an overly sappy typical romance. It is one where two people who are drawn together not because they are opposite but share a bond of having to be on one’s own at a young age. Kyle truly gets her.
The novel realistically let readers see what happens to young people when they are forced to leave horrible home lives only to be taken advantage of by adults for unsavory purposes. It focuses on the very real and dark side of runaway life where teens find themselves facing the homelessness and sex trafficking. Shed Girl’s descriptive writing and pacing is one teen readers will enjoy. It's theme of learning who to trust is an important one.
July 22, 2024
In "Shed Girl" author Milana Marsenich takes the reader into the heart of being young and homeless in America—a dangerous, confusing, and tragic place. And yet, it’s what her hero, Juliet French has chosen in order to have control over her own life.
Juliet is a young woman with an abusive past, not unlike far too many children. Squatting in an abandoned shed on the waterfront, Juliet makes her way in the world by reading tarot cards. She’s an unlikely hero, paying attention to the children on the street and especially those in a homeless camp filled with runaway kids.
After witnessing a young boy abducted on the streets of Annie’s Court, a seaside town in Washington, and being unable to stop it, she can’t get the crime out of her mind. And, Detective Benson Picard isn’t likely to let that happen as he recruits her to be his eyes and ears on the streets.
When Juliet takes a job reading tarot at a party, she’s thrown headlong into an unsettling situation with a charismatic character that leaves her shaken as the disappearances of more young people continues.
One of the author’s strengths is her ability to immerse the reader in the setting of her novels, and to let that setting infiltrate every scene. Marsenich never lets you forget where you are as the mystery unfolds, lending a melancholy, ominous feeling, only broken up by the moments of joy Juliet finds in her relationships with other kids on the street, especially seventeen-year-old Kyle.
Marsenich’s ability to put you in a place physically and emotionally, is made deeper by Juliet’s connection with the ethereal tarot. In "Shed Girl" harsh reality and spiritually coexist in the same tragic space.
"Shed Girl" is more than a mystery. It’s a rich read, deeply affecting, and compassionate.
Juliet is a young woman with an abusive past, not unlike far too many children. Squatting in an abandoned shed on the waterfront, Juliet makes her way in the world by reading tarot cards. She’s an unlikely hero, paying attention to the children on the street and especially those in a homeless camp filled with runaway kids.
After witnessing a young boy abducted on the streets of Annie’s Court, a seaside town in Washington, and being unable to stop it, she can’t get the crime out of her mind. And, Detective Benson Picard isn’t likely to let that happen as he recruits her to be his eyes and ears on the streets.
When Juliet takes a job reading tarot at a party, she’s thrown headlong into an unsettling situation with a charismatic character that leaves her shaken as the disappearances of more young people continues.
One of the author’s strengths is her ability to immerse the reader in the setting of her novels, and to let that setting infiltrate every scene. Marsenich never lets you forget where you are as the mystery unfolds, lending a melancholy, ominous feeling, only broken up by the moments of joy Juliet finds in her relationships with other kids on the street, especially seventeen-year-old Kyle.
Marsenich’s ability to put you in a place physically and emotionally, is made deeper by Juliet’s connection with the ethereal tarot. In "Shed Girl" harsh reality and spiritually coexist in the same tragic space.
"Shed Girl" is more than a mystery. It’s a rich read, deeply affecting, and compassionate.
December 4, 2023
Annie's Court has a runaway problem. Juliet French, herself a runaway just short of eighteen, does tarot readings at the local farmers market for cash to make ends meet. Juliet lives in an abandoned shed, barely big enough for a bed and a portable gas stove to cook her food. She has a keen sense of observation and a talent for finding out the dealings in the undercurrent of Annie's Court, a lovely Pacific Northwest coastal town. Juliet notices other runaway teens and children flock to a guy who sells toys at the market--just before the kids go missing.
Juliet's talent for doing detective work snags the attention of Detective Picard from the local police department. He asks Juliet to work undercover as an informant to find out what's going on with the runaway situation. When Juliet meets a kind, generous guy named Kyle who oversees the runaway camp on the beach, the two team up to find out why kids are disappearing. They take a liking to each other than extends beyond friendship and a common goal.
This story has mystery, page-turning suspense, and wonderful characters. The vivid description transports and immerses readers into this coastal town. You hear and smell the ocean and the rainforest, and I rooted for Juliet and Kyle’s hearts of gold on every page. This peek into the dangerous and desperate world of runaways to escape onerous situations opened my eyes to the hopelessness of their predicaments. Juliet and Kyle do what they can to help…but is it enough? You'll love this pulse-pounding, yet heartwarming story by author, Milana Marsenich, a truly gifted writer, who captures what it's like to be coming of age in a scary, but hopeful world.
Juliet's talent for doing detective work snags the attention of Detective Picard from the local police department. He asks Juliet to work undercover as an informant to find out what's going on with the runaway situation. When Juliet meets a kind, generous guy named Kyle who oversees the runaway camp on the beach, the two team up to find out why kids are disappearing. They take a liking to each other than extends beyond friendship and a common goal.
This story has mystery, page-turning suspense, and wonderful characters. The vivid description transports and immerses readers into this coastal town. You hear and smell the ocean and the rainforest, and I rooted for Juliet and Kyle’s hearts of gold on every page. This peek into the dangerous and desperate world of runaways to escape onerous situations opened my eyes to the hopelessness of their predicaments. Juliet and Kyle do what they can to help…but is it enough? You'll love this pulse-pounding, yet heartwarming story by author, Milana Marsenich, a truly gifted writer, who captures what it's like to be coming of age in a scary, but hopeful world.
March 16, 2024
A young heroine bereft of family; children ill used by adults; an adult world that looks away, youngsters left to band together to address the evil, a hint of magic, a breath of innocent romance, a series of narrow escapes. These are all familiar fare of young adult fiction but Milana Marsenich makes something new and fresh of them.
The heroine, Juliet, who has grown up as a runaway, feels authentic and is gloriously hard-wired for likeability. She’s kind, practical, intuitive, brave and feisty – with a depth and history swirling below the surface. One can’t help engaging with her and wanting to know more - so readers will be happy that this is the first of a series and they can meet her again. The hint of magic is supplied by her command of the Tarot pack. These are central to her identity, her history, the working of the plot, but the magic is cleverly ambiguous: perhaps it is no more than a learnt ability to listen, to pick up clues in silence, to dredge to consciousness the present things that the conscious mind has not captured.
The writing is beautiful – rich, atmospheric, and quietly brimming with sensory references – the smell of expensive furniture, the bright shimmering of light on a metallic building, the haunting sounds of an old ship. From an adult perspective, the plot sometimes lacks plausibility but this wouldn’t trouble an adolescent, and even from an adult perspective the writing is so intense and immersive that one is happy to be lulled into credulity.
All in all an enjoyable read.
The heroine, Juliet, who has grown up as a runaway, feels authentic and is gloriously hard-wired for likeability. She’s kind, practical, intuitive, brave and feisty – with a depth and history swirling below the surface. One can’t help engaging with her and wanting to know more - so readers will be happy that this is the first of a series and they can meet her again. The hint of magic is supplied by her command of the Tarot pack. These are central to her identity, her history, the working of the plot, but the magic is cleverly ambiguous: perhaps it is no more than a learnt ability to listen, to pick up clues in silence, to dredge to consciousness the present things that the conscious mind has not captured.
The writing is beautiful – rich, atmospheric, and quietly brimming with sensory references – the smell of expensive furniture, the bright shimmering of light on a metallic building, the haunting sounds of an old ship. From an adult perspective, the plot sometimes lacks plausibility but this wouldn’t trouble an adolescent, and even from an adult perspective the writing is so intense and immersive that one is happy to be lulled into credulity.
All in all an enjoyable read.
March 18, 2024
I received a copy of this book in advance for a honest review.
Shed Girl is the first in a new YA mystery series that centers on a young runaway, Juliet French, who lives in, you guessed it, a shed (hence the title). She makes money to support herself and her cat Wilma by performing tarot card readings at the Farmers Market in Alice Court, the Washington town she has come to after running away after a traumatic event she experienced while living with her aunt. Enlisted by local police detective Picard to aid in the investigation of missing teenage runaways, Juliet, along with fellow runaway Kyle, join forces to help solve the mystery. As with most first books in a series much time is devoted to character development, but it was hard for me to get into the story. I found the language to be cliched, especially in the parts where Judith and Kyle’s burgeoning romance is developing. The creepy characterization of antagonist Tony LaCrosse seemed a bit over the top to me, but I guess in the world where these kids live and attempt to survive, maybe to people exposed to people like this, he wasn’t too far off character. Yet, however pedestrian I found the story and the writing to be, I can appreciate that the story shone a light on the plight of runaways and dove into the reasons why some children feel that running away is their only alternative from a bad situation. It also has thematic elements of grief, survival and trust. It’s definitely for the YA crowd.
Shed Girl is the first in a new YA mystery series that centers on a young runaway, Juliet French, who lives in, you guessed it, a shed (hence the title). She makes money to support herself and her cat Wilma by performing tarot card readings at the Farmers Market in Alice Court, the Washington town she has come to after running away after a traumatic event she experienced while living with her aunt. Enlisted by local police detective Picard to aid in the investigation of missing teenage runaways, Juliet, along with fellow runaway Kyle, join forces to help solve the mystery. As with most first books in a series much time is devoted to character development, but it was hard for me to get into the story. I found the language to be cliched, especially in the parts where Judith and Kyle’s burgeoning romance is developing. The creepy characterization of antagonist Tony LaCrosse seemed a bit over the top to me, but I guess in the world where these kids live and attempt to survive, maybe to people exposed to people like this, he wasn’t too far off character. Yet, however pedestrian I found the story and the writing to be, I can appreciate that the story shone a light on the plight of runaways and dove into the reasons why some children feel that running away is their only alternative from a bad situation. It also has thematic elements of grief, survival and trust. It’s definitely for the YA crowd.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2024
Young adult mystery and romance with caution; standalone story
Fascinating mystery with the sweetest young adult romance between 17 and 18-year-olds. The caution is due to the subject of human/child trafficking and because of the situation we find our main characters in. Juliet French who lives in a ten feet by ten feet abandoned shed and Kyle are runaways. Juliet fled from a dangerous situation in Arizona where she lived with her aunt while Kyle fled from his home in Montana from fear and shame. They along with many other young people stop their running in Annie’s Court, Washington on its northern coast. One day Annie watches a little boy almost abducted off the street, but when she goes to help him, he runs away from her. Soon she meets Kyle and finds that he lives in an encampment of many other runaways. What they discover in trying to help a few children, is that there are many more in perilous conditions. Can they bring the perpetrators to justice? Can they save the children?
As this is book one, I am hoping that we get to see more of Juliet, Kyle and Picard the police officer who takes her under his wing. The addition of Juliet’s ability to read people through her tarot cards, just adds to the intrigue of this story. If you do not need steam in your mystery romance, you will want to read this book. I volunteered to review an ARC of it through BookSirens.
Fascinating mystery with the sweetest young adult romance between 17 and 18-year-olds. The caution is due to the subject of human/child trafficking and because of the situation we find our main characters in. Juliet French who lives in a ten feet by ten feet abandoned shed and Kyle are runaways. Juliet fled from a dangerous situation in Arizona where she lived with her aunt while Kyle fled from his home in Montana from fear and shame. They along with many other young people stop their running in Annie’s Court, Washington on its northern coast. One day Annie watches a little boy almost abducted off the street, but when she goes to help him, he runs away from her. Soon she meets Kyle and finds that he lives in an encampment of many other runaways. What they discover in trying to help a few children, is that there are many more in perilous conditions. Can they bring the perpetrators to justice? Can they save the children?
As this is book one, I am hoping that we get to see more of Juliet, Kyle and Picard the police officer who takes her under his wing. The addition of Juliet’s ability to read people through her tarot cards, just adds to the intrigue of this story. If you do not need steam in your mystery romance, you will want to read this book. I volunteered to review an ARC of it through BookSirens.
January 18, 2024
Milana Marsenich writes a good mystery tale with Shed Girl
In Shed Girl, the reader is introduced to Juliet, as she witnesses and tries to stop a kidnapping. She failed. Juliet is just 18 years old, and making her living doing tarot card reading. As the title implies, Juliet lives in an old shed with her cat. Her back story shows how and why she is where she is, and yet, because of what she witnessed, she's approached to help with the investigation of missing runaways. She has been one herself, many times, so she's familiar with the life. I haven't read anything by this author before, and what a hidden gem. Juliet puts herself in harms way when she tries to get an in with a creepy man, the toymaker, and she hopes to get information for the police, so she can get paid, and maybe get something more to eat, and she needs the money from the toymaker. Information. That's what she needs to share, but she gets in over her head, along with another boy, Kyle, as they try to save more street kids from being taken, or once they are, to rescue them. Milana Marsenich has a great imagination. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. Shed Girl is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
In Shed Girl, the reader is introduced to Juliet, as she witnesses and tries to stop a kidnapping. She failed. Juliet is just 18 years old, and making her living doing tarot card reading. As the title implies, Juliet lives in an old shed with her cat. Her back story shows how and why she is where she is, and yet, because of what she witnessed, she's approached to help with the investigation of missing runaways. She has been one herself, many times, so she's familiar with the life. I haven't read anything by this author before, and what a hidden gem. Juliet puts herself in harms way when she tries to get an in with a creepy man, the toymaker, and she hopes to get information for the police, so she can get paid, and maybe get something more to eat, and she needs the money from the toymaker. Information. That's what she needs to share, but she gets in over her head, along with another boy, Kyle, as they try to save more street kids from being taken, or once they are, to rescue them. Milana Marsenich has a great imagination. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. Shed Girl is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
December 19, 2023
Milana Marsenich, whose novels often reflect her growing up in Montana, creatively tackles a complex subject that few Americans consider in their busy, daily lives—that of runaway children and their subsequent exploitation. Not a stretch for Marsenich whose background is in mental health counseling.
The Shed Girl is set in a fictional town, Annie’s Court, in the Pacific Northwest, a geographic area notorious for homeless kids who disappear in plain sight, their ubiquitous “Missing! Have you seen this girl (or boy)” flyers stuck to telephone poles and store windows.
Perhaps the children in Annie’s Court’s homeless camp don’t even want to be found after leaving homes with drug-addicted, physically abusive parents? Perhaps, no one is even looking?
But, Juliet French, Marsnenich protagonist and a homeless teenager herself, is searching.
In the process, Juliet stumbles on to a crime so evil and despicable in its method and scheme, that she must prove the offence exists to save the runaways. All the while, Juliet, whose mother taught her the family gift of reading tarot cards, can’t see her own future because of the past.
Instead, Juliet searches for missing children – seeking the whos, the whys, and, most importantly, the wheres. Once blind to what the ambiguous tarot cards reveal to her, Juliet ultimately discovers love and forgiveness in her own future.
The Shed Girl is set in a fictional town, Annie’s Court, in the Pacific Northwest, a geographic area notorious for homeless kids who disappear in plain sight, their ubiquitous “Missing! Have you seen this girl (or boy)” flyers stuck to telephone poles and store windows.
Perhaps the children in Annie’s Court’s homeless camp don’t even want to be found after leaving homes with drug-addicted, physically abusive parents? Perhaps, no one is even looking?
But, Juliet French, Marsnenich protagonist and a homeless teenager herself, is searching.
In the process, Juliet stumbles on to a crime so evil and despicable in its method and scheme, that she must prove the offence exists to save the runaways. All the while, Juliet, whose mother taught her the family gift of reading tarot cards, can’t see her own future because of the past.
Instead, Juliet searches for missing children – seeking the whos, the whys, and, most importantly, the wheres. Once blind to what the ambiguous tarot cards reveal to her, Juliet ultimately discovers love and forgiveness in her own future.
March 15, 2024
Here is a novel whose central character is so delightful that even without a great story (which is thrown in for good measure, as it happens) you’d read on just for the pleasure of keeping her company . So you’ll be pleased to know that this is billed as the first in a series.
She’s a young woman just coming to adulthood after a difficult childhood full of losses and conflict, a runaway, homeless... But she’s no victim. She is grounded and resilient and sensitive and clever and warm. When she sees a child being dangerously ill treated, she intervenes – and thus begins an adventure that propels her into the terrifying world of child abduction and abuse.
It’s a young adult novel, appropriate for older teenagers and upwards, and its issues will resonate. It's a detective story and a thriller, tied up with a thread of a love story and a braid of family history. It has plenty for adult readers also, particularly in its characterisation. Alongside the glorious heroine, all the characters are interesting and multi-valent: the bad guys are attractive, the good guys have flaws, the kids are all individual and credible. The action drives ahead and the peril feels real.
Just enjoy – then be pleased that there will be more to come.
She’s a young woman just coming to adulthood after a difficult childhood full of losses and conflict, a runaway, homeless... But she’s no victim. She is grounded and resilient and sensitive and clever and warm. When she sees a child being dangerously ill treated, she intervenes – and thus begins an adventure that propels her into the terrifying world of child abduction and abuse.
It’s a young adult novel, appropriate for older teenagers and upwards, and its issues will resonate. It's a detective story and a thriller, tied up with a thread of a love story and a braid of family history. It has plenty for adult readers also, particularly in its characterisation. Alongside the glorious heroine, all the characters are interesting and multi-valent: the bad guys are attractive, the good guys have flaws, the kids are all individual and credible. The action drives ahead and the peril feels real.
Just enjoy – then be pleased that there will be more to come.
June 23, 2024
As an avid reader of mysteries, I found Milana Marsenich's Shed Girl to defy most of the typical categories of mysteries, at least those with which I am familiar. First, Juliet French is an unusual and unique lead character. She inhabits a world that is totally unfamiliar to me as a person and reader. While she is not homeless, she is as close to being homeless as any lead character in a mystery novel I can think of. She is not wandering-homeless like Lee Chid's Reacher but more like a street person in a poor neighborhood, but with a strong sense of dignity and morals. To this, Marsenich throws in Tarot Cards, which operate as a kind of meta-plot device, observing and predicting the action from some mystical place. We have all read mysteries in which Tarot Cards play a role but not with the subtlety we find in Shed Girl. All of this built into an engaging plot that is constructed around runaway children, groups of them that are like an American version reminiscent of Dickens' street children. No review of a mystery should reveal the plot or twists and turns, as that is the fun. What I can say is that, because of the unfamiliarity of the characters and setting, the book took me some pages to become engaged. But, in the end, the narrative and descriptive power of Marsenich's writing draws you into this strange world of Juliet French and her street urchin hordes. It is a book filled with interesting characters, social issues, and a good mystery to be solved. Bravo!!!
August 1, 2024
"Shed Girl" by Milana Marsenich is a contemporary crime novel set in the small, fictional town of Annie's Court on Washington's northern coast. The town faces a troubling issue with runaways who mysteriously disappear after arriving. Juliet French, a former runaway, now makes a living doing tarot readings at the Farmers Market. She notices that the runaways often flock to Tony LeCrosse, a toy seller, shortly before they vanish.
When Detective Benson Picard witnesses the abduction of a young boy, he enlists Juliet's help in the investigation. Juliet, already determined to find the missing boy, agrees to help under Benson's terms. As she delves deeper, Tony LeCrosse invites her to a party to entertain his guests with tarot readings. Despite her initial reluctance, Juliet agrees. At the party, she teams up with Kyle, who also shows up, and together they set out to find the missing kids. However, Kyle harbors his own secrets, adding to the suspense and intrigue of the story.
With a strong female lead and a compelling plot, "Shed Girl" offers a gripping mystery filled with danger and unexpected twists.
When Detective Benson Picard witnesses the abduction of a young boy, he enlists Juliet's help in the investigation. Juliet, already determined to find the missing boy, agrees to help under Benson's terms. As she delves deeper, Tony LeCrosse invites her to a party to entertain his guests with tarot readings. Despite her initial reluctance, Juliet agrees. At the party, she teams up with Kyle, who also shows up, and together they set out to find the missing kids. However, Kyle harbors his own secrets, adding to the suspense and intrigue of the story.
With a strong female lead and a compelling plot, "Shed Girl" offers a gripping mystery filled with danger and unexpected twists.
December 1, 2023
As an ARC reader, I'm very glad I chose this book. It was a little difficult to choose from the bookshelf categories that I have - it's so different from anything I've read before. The subject matter - runaway children - is not something I've read a whole book about before, but this book really made me think about the problems of why children run away from home and the dangers they face, especially if they're influenced by social media. I was a bit confused as to where this story was going right at the beginning but a whole chapter in and I was interested, and by the time all the characters were introduced I was engrossed. I'm so glad to see there are more books featuring the principal "Girl in the shed", Juliet French. If you like female leads with strong characters - and a little bit of romance - the couple are only just 18 you'll love this. I liked the police detective who took Juliet under his wing, but there are some very dark characters that I got to reading might not be far from real life.
I didn't want to put this book down, and I thoroughly recommend it
I didn't want to put this book down, and I thoroughly recommend it
December 8, 2023
“Shed Girl” kept me up till 2:30 A.M.! This book is a page-turner which made me want “just a little bit more” before turning out the light!
This “Juliet French Mystery-1” is a new direction for one of my favorite authors, Milana Marsenich. The story reveals the author’s background and understanding of the problems many of today’s youth face. Marsenich has worked in the field of mental health for many years and has extensive experience with young people and their struggles. This experience shines brightly here in her newest novel.
Juliet French is a runaway herself, and is an inspirational main character while still exhibiting the hopeful passion of her teen-age years. The plot is fast-paced and gets a little complicated, but is quite original. The setting, an imaginary town on the west coast of Washington state, lends itself to many mood-setting descriptions which, in Marsenich’s signature style, are beautifully written.
All in all, “Shed Girl” appears to be the beginning of a new set of adventures, with fresh characters and insight into a different slice of life.
This “Juliet French Mystery-1” is a new direction for one of my favorite authors, Milana Marsenich. The story reveals the author’s background and understanding of the problems many of today’s youth face. Marsenich has worked in the field of mental health for many years and has extensive experience with young people and their struggles. This experience shines brightly here in her newest novel.
Juliet French is a runaway herself, and is an inspirational main character while still exhibiting the hopeful passion of her teen-age years. The plot is fast-paced and gets a little complicated, but is quite original. The setting, an imaginary town on the west coast of Washington state, lends itself to many mood-setting descriptions which, in Marsenich’s signature style, are beautifully written.
All in all, “Shed Girl” appears to be the beginning of a new set of adventures, with fresh characters and insight into a different slice of life.
January 19, 2024
Milana Marsenich has an admirable range—historical fiction, fiction with a literary bent, nonfiction, crime fiction, love stories—and she sure can spin a yarn.
SHED GIRL, billed as a contemporary crime novel on the back cover, certainly lives up to that, but it's so much more. It's a look at a life on the margins, it plumbs connections and separations, and it finds hope amid the bleakness. The world Marsenich builds in this one—the fictional Annie's Court in northern Washington state—feels familiar and threatening and very, very real. And the main character she puts there, Juliet French, has a big heart that she keeps well-armored.
The crime at the center of the novel, the abduction of a young boy and Juliet's determination to unravel the mystery, provides the propulsive element of this page-turner. And Marsenich pumps the blood right through Juliet's big heart, giving us someone to root for and someone whose safety to worry over. You won't want it to end, but end it must, and Marsenich brings everything together in a most satisfying way. Highly recommended.
SHED GIRL, billed as a contemporary crime novel on the back cover, certainly lives up to that, but it's so much more. It's a look at a life on the margins, it plumbs connections and separations, and it finds hope amid the bleakness. The world Marsenich builds in this one—the fictional Annie's Court in northern Washington state—feels familiar and threatening and very, very real. And the main character she puts there, Juliet French, has a big heart that she keeps well-armored.
The crime at the center of the novel, the abduction of a young boy and Juliet's determination to unravel the mystery, provides the propulsive element of this page-turner. And Marsenich pumps the blood right through Juliet's big heart, giving us someone to root for and someone whose safety to worry over. You won't want it to end, but end it must, and Marsenich brings everything together in a most satisfying way. Highly recommended.
January 21, 2024
The Pacific Northwest comes alive in this compelling mystery (#1 in an anticipated series) by new-to-me author Milana Marsenich. The rainy, cold weather provides the chilling backdrop for an engaging story that is part young adult coming of age, part thriller and part love story with a sprinkle of magic for good measure. The main character is Juliet French, a young woman who reads Tarot cards at the farmer’s market and calls an abandoned shed her home. But there is a darkness in her small town that is threatening the safety of the runaways who are drawn there. When she gets involved in the ongoing investigation to find the missing young people, Juliet risks the quiet security she has fought so hard to achieve. A young man named Kyle joins her in her efforts but he is carrying the burdens of his own secret past. This is an extremely well-written novel that never shies away from the horrific issues of teen homelessness and the predators who seek to exploit them. 5 Stars!!
December 2, 2023
Not only is this an absorbing mystery, but the author chose a subject that most assuredly needs more discussion and delineation in fiction: runaway children. The other thing I enjoyed about this novel is the location, the northeastern coast of Washington state. What this setting did was attribute to and accentuate the plot’s eerie atmosphere. This is tantamount in a thriller-type book surrounded by foggy mysterious, maleficent, loathsome characters.
The juxtaposition of something so innocent as toy manufacturing contrasted to the nefarious preoccupations of the villains is brilliant. It made this one terrific fast, read.
Juliet French, the main character, is mature and smart for her age, demonstrating a strong personality despite having been a victim of abuse.
This will definitely make a fine mystery series. I look forward to reading the next installment!
The juxtaposition of something so innocent as toy manufacturing contrasted to the nefarious preoccupations of the villains is brilliant. It made this one terrific fast, read.
Juliet French, the main character, is mature and smart for her age, demonstrating a strong personality despite having been a victim of abuse.
This will definitely make a fine mystery series. I look forward to reading the next installment!
March 17, 2024
It was difficult to put this book down once I began reading. Even from an adult perspective, the central characters were compelling, the setting authentic and the story one which drew the reader easily along. The central boy/girl relationship was built gently despite the inevitable distrust of young people in their situation, and their need for companionship and affection was convincing. The themes of distrust, isolation and homelessness were made more poignant by the strength of the scarred young characters alone in a dangerous world. The language around their burgeoning relationship would benefit from a close edit – there is a lot of repetition - but that doesn’t detract from a finely written and enjoyable book. ‘Shed Girl’ is a gripping, engrossing and challenging novel, well geared for its intended audience.
November 19, 2025
Nicely written mystery/thriller. Thr characters are well written into the story. The plot was a bit unique. Runaway children flock to this small town, but darkness lurks within, and these runaways begin to disappear. Julliet a former runaway herself only now of age. Lives in an abandoned shed. During the day to make money she does tarot card readings at the Farmers Market. She has internal instincts that she suspects a man who sells toys at the Market of something sinister. There are other characters in this story that creat an interesting story. The mystery and suspense keeps the reader glued to it's pages wanting more. Thanks Goodreads and publisher as well as Author for this interesting read. Recommened for those who like Amatur Slueth Detectives and a good story that ends well.
March 22, 2024
Meet Juliet – an eighteen-year-old homeless girl who’s been abused at home and is now living in a shed with her little kitten, and getting by on her own in a seaside town which is a magnet for runaways. She’s sweet, she’s kind, she’s intuitive, she’s lonely, she wears boho clothes and she reads the tarot – but hey she’s seriously badass!
Runaway kids start disappearing. Where are they going? There’s an goodlooking but weirdly creepy guy who hangs out at the marketplace, selling toys and taking way too much interest in the local kids. There’s a policeman who ought to know better than to use an eighteen year old girl as a kind of informal PI, but anyway he does... And plucky Juliet rises to the challenge.
She also falls in love, with a like-minded homeless boy who is looking out for the younger runaways hanging out in the town.
But the kids and Juliet and her boyfriend are heading into dark places when they start to investigate. There’s peril and action and you have to read on.
And it was a pleasure reading on.
Runaway kids start disappearing. Where are they going? There’s an goodlooking but weirdly creepy guy who hangs out at the marketplace, selling toys and taking way too much interest in the local kids. There’s a policeman who ought to know better than to use an eighteen year old girl as a kind of informal PI, but anyway he does... And plucky Juliet rises to the challenge.
She also falls in love, with a like-minded homeless boy who is looking out for the younger runaways hanging out in the town.
But the kids and Juliet and her boyfriend are heading into dark places when they start to investigate. There’s peril and action and you have to read on.
And it was a pleasure reading on.
December 12, 2023
Milana Marsenich's contemporary crime novel is a departure from her compelling literary novels with their smooth word-pictures and lyrical mysticism. But her skill is apparent in the complexity of her plot and the depth of her characters in this first-of-a-series, Shed Girl, the story of a young runaway who fends for herself in a dangerous world while looking out for others who are younger and in more danger. The author's use of tarot cards is a bonus for readers who enjoy the occult. Her handling of child trafficking (without the usual dimension of sex-trafficking) lends another layer of depth to the story while keeping the tone wholesome and upbeat.
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