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Murder in Punch Lane
Melbourne, 1868. When dazzling theatre star Marie St Denis dies in the arms of her best friend, fellow actress Lola Sanchez, everyone believes it was suicide by laudanum overdose. Everyone except Lola. On the brink of stardom herself, she risks everything by embarking on a quest to find Marie's killer.
When journalist Magnus Scott, writing as 'the Walking Gentleman', publishes a compassionate obituary about her friend, Lola decides to seek his help. A fraught attraction develops between these two amateur detectives from opposite sides of society, and their volatile relationship soon begins to compromise their investigation.
Lola keeps a secret from Magnus. She traverses the corrupt underbelly of the brash young metropolis just as he does, but disguised as a boy, entering dangerous, forbidden spaces where the lives of the rich and privileged intersect with the city's underclass and bohemians, theatre folk, prostitutes, down-and-outs and opium addicts.
Neither are prepared for the truths they will uncover about the powers that rule Melbourne - or the consequences for their own lives. And now they must race to find the murderer before the city destroys them both.
When journalist Magnus Scott, writing as 'the Walking Gentleman', publishes a compassionate obituary about her friend, Lola decides to seek his help. A fraught attraction develops between these two amateur detectives from opposite sides of society, and their volatile relationship soon begins to compromise their investigation.
Lola keeps a secret from Magnus. She traverses the corrupt underbelly of the brash young metropolis just as he does, but disguised as a boy, entering dangerous, forbidden spaces where the lives of the rich and privileged intersect with the city's underclass and bohemians, theatre folk, prostitutes, down-and-outs and opium addicts.
Neither are prepared for the truths they will uncover about the powers that rule Melbourne - or the consequences for their own lives. And now they must race to find the murderer before the city destroys them both.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2024
14 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
Jane Sullivan
4 books5 followersJane was born in England to Australian parents, came to live in Melbourne in 1979 and worked at The Age as a reporter, feature writer and editor of various sections, including the books pages. She won the inaugural Australian Human Rights award for journalism.
At present she contributes to The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald, writing features and a Saturday column, ‘Turning Pages’, about books and writing.
She has also written for Griffith Review, Meanjin and Australian Book Review and has reviewed books for ABC Radio National’s Books and Arts program.
Murder in Punch Lane is Jane’s fourth book. She has previously published two novels – The White Star (Penguin Australia, 2000) and Little People (Scribe, 2011) – and the nonfiction work Storytime (Ventura Press, 2019).
At present she contributes to The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald, writing features and a Saturday column, ‘Turning Pages’, about books and writing.
She has also written for Griffith Review, Meanjin and Australian Book Review and has reviewed books for ABC Radio National’s Books and Arts program.
Murder in Punch Lane is Jane’s fourth book. She has previously published two novels – The White Star (Penguin Australia, 2000) and Little People (Scribe, 2011) – and the nonfiction work Storytime (Ventura Press, 2019).
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 22, 2024
In a Nutshell: A historical murder mystery set in 1860s Melbourne and partly based on true events. The content turned out to be even darker than I expected. Loved the unusual setting and the atmosphere, but didn’t like the convoluted plot development, the impulsive characters, and the initially easy investigation of the mystery.
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Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
😮 The unique historical setting of 1860s Melbourne – captured well by the writing.
😮 Great atmosphere, especially in the second half when things get really murky.
😮 The author's note – caught me by surprise! Didn’t remember that this was based on actual people and some true events, so it was stunning to discover that whatever I thought might have been farfetched was actually true. Appreciate how the author clearly distinguishes fact from fiction.
😮 I love that cover, even though it is too serene for such a story. It does match the plot well.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🧐 The lead duo of Lola and Magnus – Interesting and complicated characters, but not easy to connect to. Arcs too uneven to get a gauge on their actual personality. Very impulsive and a bit too confident in their abilities.
🧐 The other characters – quite intriguing in their own way, but not developed enough. Too many convenient turnarounds to be convincing.
🧐 Plenty of racist words, which suits the era but feels odd to read, especially as some aren't really necessary for the core plot.
🧐 The murder mystery begins somewhat dark but goes even darker as the investigation proceeds. While this might work for many readers, I wasn’t in the frame of mind to read about such heinous sexual assaults.
🧐 There are enough twists and turns to keep us on our toes, and the final reveal was also a surprise. However, the red herrings feel too convoluted and forced at times. The ups and downs don’t feel natural in the plot development.
Bookish Nays:
😔 The investigation by the “detective” - Lola seems to have almost 100% success in her maiden investigation. She gets detailed answers from any random person she questions on her very first attempt. She can create an in-depth backstory just from looking at some scattered clues on the murder site. The process felt far too straightforward, even though the results weren’t.
😔 Whenever she is referred to, Marie sounds much older than her actual age of seventeen. Also, her age is revealed only in chapter fifty, which is the final chapter of the book. Her age was an important factor in the plot, so it should have been revealed much earlier.
All in all, the history was great and the mystery was okay. As I said, I was not in the headspace for this read, and hence the second half was very disturbing for me, especially considering Marie’s age.
Recommended to those who enjoy prose more than the plot, are okay with dark sexual content, and interested in reading a partly-fictionalised factual story.
2.75 stars.
My thanks to Echo Publishing for providing the DRC of “Murder in Punch Lane” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
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Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
1868. Melbourne. When young theatre actress Lola Sanchez watches her best friend, a theatre star named Marie St. Denis, die in a painful manner, she refuses to believe, like everyone else does, that Marie chose to kill herself by overdosing on laudanum. However, as no one else is convinced by Lola’s claim that Marie was murdered, she embarks on a quest to find Marie’s killer. When a journalist named Magnus Scott writes a touching, almost-personal obituary for Marie, Lola approaches him for help. As the two amateur detectives traverse the dark alleys of Melbourne, they discover sinister truths connected to the wealthy and the powerful, which increases the danger every step of the way.
The story comes to us in the third-person perspective of the key characters.
Bookish Yays:
😮 The unique historical setting of 1860s Melbourne – captured well by the writing.
😮 Great atmosphere, especially in the second half when things get really murky.
😮 The author's note – caught me by surprise! Didn’t remember that this was based on actual people and some true events, so it was stunning to discover that whatever I thought might have been farfetched was actually true. Appreciate how the author clearly distinguishes fact from fiction.
😮 I love that cover, even though it is too serene for such a story. It does match the plot well.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🧐 The lead duo of Lola and Magnus – Interesting and complicated characters, but not easy to connect to. Arcs too uneven to get a gauge on their actual personality. Very impulsive and a bit too confident in their abilities.
🧐 The other characters – quite intriguing in their own way, but not developed enough. Too many convenient turnarounds to be convincing.
🧐 Plenty of racist words, which suits the era but feels odd to read, especially as some aren't really necessary for the core plot.
🧐 The murder mystery begins somewhat dark but goes even darker as the investigation proceeds. While this might work for many readers, I wasn’t in the frame of mind to read about such heinous sexual assaults.
🧐 There are enough twists and turns to keep us on our toes, and the final reveal was also a surprise. However, the red herrings feel too convoluted and forced at times. The ups and downs don’t feel natural in the plot development.
Bookish Nays:
😔 The investigation by the “detective” - Lola seems to have almost 100% success in her maiden investigation. She gets detailed answers from any random person she questions on her very first attempt. She can create an in-depth backstory just from looking at some scattered clues on the murder site. The process felt far too straightforward, even though the results weren’t.
😔 Whenever she is referred to, Marie sounds much older than her actual age of seventeen. Also, her age is revealed only in chapter fifty, which is the final chapter of the book. Her age was an important factor in the plot, so it should have been revealed much earlier.
All in all, the history was great and the mystery was okay. As I said, I was not in the headspace for this read, and hence the second half was very disturbing for me, especially considering Marie’s age.
Recommended to those who enjoy prose more than the plot, are okay with dark sexual content, and interested in reading a partly-fictionalised factual story.
2.75 stars.
My thanks to Echo Publishing for providing the DRC of “Murder in Punch Lane” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
July 10, 2024
'If you hold their secrets, you have great power yourself'.
When Lola finds her friend, and fellow actress, Marie, insensible and she shortly dies in her arms thereafter, the police are quick to rule it as suicide - after all there were some suicide notes left nearby. But that's not the Marie that Lola knows. The Marie who was her best friend was full of life, the best actress, and had many admirers. Determined to find the murderer, Lola becomes an amateur sleuth, enlisting a cad about town, Magnus, or the 'Walking Gentleman' to his readers. As they uncover more, however, they become less sure just who the killer could be. In the underbelly of mid 19th Century Melbourne, criminals are everywhere and under-handed dealings are rife.
Hmm - this is one of these difficult books to rate. I found the writing and tone great- I felt fully immersed in the underbelly and alleyways of 19th Century Melbourne but the two main characters seemed a bit naive, 'Do you use powders and a magnifying glass and a tape measure and all that malarkey'? Further, it seemed as though the storyline became more complex, rather than the mystery. I'll still look for this author in the future though as her writing was lovely to read.
When Lola finds her friend, and fellow actress, Marie, insensible and she shortly dies in her arms thereafter, the police are quick to rule it as suicide - after all there were some suicide notes left nearby. But that's not the Marie that Lola knows. The Marie who was her best friend was full of life, the best actress, and had many admirers. Determined to find the murderer, Lola becomes an amateur sleuth, enlisting a cad about town, Magnus, or the 'Walking Gentleman' to his readers. As they uncover more, however, they become less sure just who the killer could be. In the underbelly of mid 19th Century Melbourne, criminals are everywhere and under-handed dealings are rife.
Hmm - this is one of these difficult books to rate. I found the writing and tone great- I felt fully immersed in the underbelly and alleyways of 19th Century Melbourne but the two main characters seemed a bit naive, 'Do you use powders and a magnifying glass and a tape measure and all that malarkey'? Further, it seemed as though the storyline became more complex, rather than the mystery. I'll still look for this author in the future though as her writing was lovely to read.
August 23, 2024
3.5 stars
Set in 19th Century Melbourne Murder in Punch Lane is a haunting murder mystery.
Inspired by the death in 1868 of actress Marie St Denis from a laudanum overdose Jane Sullivan writes a fictional 'what if' story; what if she was actually murdered?
Sullivan's writing is poetic and lyrical which justly suits the backdrop of the story being rehearsals of a Shakespearean play.
Thinking it is much more than the recorded cause of suicide, actress Lola Sanchez takes it upon herself to investigate the death of her friend Marie. She enlists the help of journalist and magazine editor Magnus Scott.
I did enjoy the setting of a bohemian Melbourne with dark alleys and opium dens and also the melodramatics of the theatre rehearsals.
What I did struggle with was the characters, not one likeable one among them! Our female main character was a fatalist where I wanted a fighter and her offsider, like every man in this book, was a misogynist.
Crooked police and judges, allusions to actresses willingly sleeping with men to get parts and a gentleman's dinner where the women attend naked, it was more ick than gothic.
I did love the writing, I had no clue who the murderer was, and there were plenty of suspects, plus the unexpected twist that really knocked me all contributed to my rating.
Set in 19th Century Melbourne Murder in Punch Lane is a haunting murder mystery.
Inspired by the death in 1868 of actress Marie St Denis from a laudanum overdose Jane Sullivan writes a fictional 'what if' story; what if she was actually murdered?
Sullivan's writing is poetic and lyrical which justly suits the backdrop of the story being rehearsals of a Shakespearean play.
Thinking it is much more than the recorded cause of suicide, actress Lola Sanchez takes it upon herself to investigate the death of her friend Marie. She enlists the help of journalist and magazine editor Magnus Scott.
I did enjoy the setting of a bohemian Melbourne with dark alleys and opium dens and also the melodramatics of the theatre rehearsals.
What I did struggle with was the characters, not one likeable one among them! Our female main character was a fatalist where I wanted a fighter and her offsider, like every man in this book, was a misogynist.
Crooked police and judges, allusions to actresses willingly sleeping with men to get parts and a gentleman's dinner where the women attend naked, it was more ick than gothic.
I did love the writing, I had no clue who the murderer was, and there were plenty of suspects, plus the unexpected twist that really knocked me all contributed to my rating.
July 1, 2024
Dark doings in Melbourne 1868
I really wanted to love this. I’m familiar with the laneways around this area of Melbourne. Chock full of the city’s history, where the dark underbelly of the city met the rich and powerful. A step away from Parliament, a whisker from the Melbourne Club.
When Marie St. Denis, a highly regarded actress and best friend of Lola Sanchez, dies in Lola’s arms, Lola decides to find out who’s responsible.Lola’s a struggling actress.
The police won’t investigate. The coroner, a friend of Marie’s has ruled Marie’s death as suicide? Lola seeks the help of Magnus Scott, popular newspaper reporter, aka the Walking Gentleman.
A solid mystery for sure but didn't quite inveigle me.
An Echo ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher
I really wanted to love this. I’m familiar with the laneways around this area of Melbourne. Chock full of the city’s history, where the dark underbelly of the city met the rich and powerful. A step away from Parliament, a whisker from the Melbourne Club.
When Marie St. Denis, a highly regarded actress and best friend of Lola Sanchez, dies in Lola’s arms, Lola decides to find out who’s responsible.Lola’s a struggling actress.
The police won’t investigate. The coroner, a friend of Marie’s has ruled Marie’s death as suicide? Lola seeks the help of Magnus Scott, popular newspaper reporter, aka the Walking Gentleman.
A solid mystery for sure but didn't quite inveigle me.
An Echo ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher
January 3, 2026
A dark historical murder mystery, that is inspired by the death of actress Marie St Denis, from a laudanum overdose.
Set in Melbourne in 1868, this story explores the sins and secrets of Melbourne in the nineteenth-century. I enjoyed the unusual setting in the story, including the opium dens, the melodrama of the theatre rehearsals and the intersection between the privileged and the city’s underclass.
The amateur detective duo in this story, Lola and Magnus, are both complicated characters and I felt they were too naive at times. There were many characters in this story and none were particularly likeable unfortunately.
Some of the plot twists in this story felt rather far-fetched, although the authors note highlighted how much was surprisingly true.
This was an interesting audiobook to listen to, particularly as it was inspired by actual people and events. I would certainly read more from Jane Sullivan.
3.5 stars
November 22, 2024
Big thanks to Echo Publishing for sending us a copy to read and review.
Australia’s cities were starting to form distinct flavours and characteristics by the 1860s.
Melbourne with its fickle weather and desire to become a cultured place was leading the way in the theatre world.
The apparent suicide of actress Marie St Denis gives the reader a front row seat into the dark side of Melbourne and appearances of real people that walked the streets.
An overdose of laudanum was cited as the official cause of death.
Best friend and fellow actress Lola Sanchez does not buy it and with the help of journalist Magnus, investigates what really happened.
To extract valuable information she had to disguise herself as male and experience seedy life in alley ways and opium dens.
A murder mystery lyrically written evoked a sense of the dramatics adding to an atmospheric backdrop.
Sometimes less is more and I found it at times tedious to keep up with the plot and its many characters.
The research translated well onto the page and descriptions of colonial Melbourne and streets that are so iconic in our glorious city came alive.
I would definitely read more from this author.
Australia’s cities were starting to form distinct flavours and characteristics by the 1860s.
Melbourne with its fickle weather and desire to become a cultured place was leading the way in the theatre world.
The apparent suicide of actress Marie St Denis gives the reader a front row seat into the dark side of Melbourne and appearances of real people that walked the streets.
An overdose of laudanum was cited as the official cause of death.
Best friend and fellow actress Lola Sanchez does not buy it and with the help of journalist Magnus, investigates what really happened.
To extract valuable information she had to disguise herself as male and experience seedy life in alley ways and opium dens.
A murder mystery lyrically written evoked a sense of the dramatics adding to an atmospheric backdrop.
Sometimes less is more and I found it at times tedious to keep up with the plot and its many characters.
The research translated well onto the page and descriptions of colonial Melbourne and streets that are so iconic in our glorious city came alive.
I would definitely read more from this author.
August 5, 2024
In 1868 Melbourne, theatre star Marie St Denis dies under suspicious circumstances, leading her best friend Lola Sanchez to suspect foul play despite claims of suicide by laudanum overdose. Determined to find the truth, Lola teams up with journalist Magnus Scott, and together they navigate a dangerous investigation that challenges their societal boundaries and sparks a complicated attraction. Disguised as a boy, Lola infiltrates Melbourne's corrupt underbelly, uncovering shocking truths that put both her and Magnus in grave danger as they race to unmask the killer.
I went into this expecting it to be a gritty, dark mystery. But I was really unprepared for just how dark it was. I didn’t realize until the very end that Marie St. Denis, who dies at the beginning of the novel, is only seventeen years old. The entire narrative made her sound like a mature woman in her late twenties. I also found it difficult to like Lola and Magnus, which is unfortunate since the story alternates between them.
There is also an orgy. While it wasn’t described in great detail, it was enough to make me very uncomfortable. The fact that the murdered girl had been part of the secret organization’s “entertainment” made it so much worse. By the end, I’d guessed the murderer but found the details of why difficult to follow.
I’m not sure who I would recommend this to. I received an advance copy via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
I went into this expecting it to be a gritty, dark mystery. But I was really unprepared for just how dark it was. I didn’t realize until the very end that Marie St. Denis, who dies at the beginning of the novel, is only seventeen years old. The entire narrative made her sound like a mature woman in her late twenties. I also found it difficult to like Lola and Magnus, which is unfortunate since the story alternates between them.
There is also an orgy. While it wasn’t described in great detail, it was enough to make me very uncomfortable. The fact that the murdered girl had been part of the secret organization’s “entertainment” made it so much worse. By the end, I’d guessed the murderer but found the details of why difficult to follow.
I’m not sure who I would recommend this to. I received an advance copy via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
May 10, 2025
There's a particular frisson of delight when you're reading a novel set in your own town. You recognize the streets and you have a mental landscape painting of the setting, even if it is set 160 years earlier. Jane Sullivan, herself now a Melbourne resident after emigrating from England decades ago, takes us to post-Gold Rush Melbourne, and in a way not unlike Kerry Greenwood with her Phrynne Fisher novels, introduces us to a feisty, intelligent amateur detective who is less sidekick and more spur to her co-investigator Magnus Scott, a journalist who styles himself as 'The Walking Gentleman'.
For the historian of Melbourne, it is gratifying to see that Sullivan has done her research. I enjoyed Sullivan's playful tweaking of real-life characters in creating her own Lola Sanchez and Magnus Scott. The name Lola Sanchez of course evokes the Gold-Rush performer Lola Montez, and Magnus Scott as 'The Wandering Gentleman' and editor of the New Bohemian bears more than a passing resemblance to Marcus Clarke. She integrates historical figures as well, most notably the enigmatic Redmond Barry, patriarch of Melbourne's cultural scene but with his own domestic ambiguities, and Dr Nield, the coroner.
For my complete review, please visit:
https://residentjudge.com/2025/05/10/...
October 11, 2024
First of all, I want to thank Jane Sullivan, Echo Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC of Murder in Punch Lane and that’s my honest opinion.
Melbourne, 1868. Mary St Denis, una giovanissima ma già affermata attrice, muore per aver assunto una dose eccessiva di laudano. La sua migliore amica, nonché aspirante detective, Lola Sanchez, non crede che sia stato voluto, e comincia ad indagare per conto suo, affiancata da un affascinante giornalista.
Cosa dire. Purtroppo questo romanzo non è riuscito a conquistarmi. L’ambientazione e l’ispirazione a veri fatti di cronaca mi avevano spinto a chiedere l’eARC, ma la lettura si è rivelata piuttosto faticosa, e ci ho messo un bel po’ ad arrivare alla fine.
L’avvio è fin troppo rapido. Caso e personaggi vengono presentati in quattro e quattr’otto, senza che si crei un minimo di atmosfera, e la situazione non migliora con il procedere della storia. Non mi sono affezionata né a Lola né a Magnus, e in fondo la storia non ha nulla di particolarmente originale.
Melbourne, 1868. Mary St Denis, una giovanissima ma già affermata attrice, muore per aver assunto una dose eccessiva di laudano. La sua migliore amica, nonché aspirante detective, Lola Sanchez, non crede che sia stato voluto, e comincia ad indagare per conto suo, affiancata da un affascinante giornalista.
Cosa dire. Purtroppo questo romanzo non è riuscito a conquistarmi. L’ambientazione e l’ispirazione a veri fatti di cronaca mi avevano spinto a chiedere l’eARC, ma la lettura si è rivelata piuttosto faticosa, e ci ho messo un bel po’ ad arrivare alla fine.
L’avvio è fin troppo rapido. Caso e personaggi vengono presentati in quattro e quattr’otto, senza che si crei un minimo di atmosfera, e la situazione non migliora con il procedere della storia. Non mi sono affezionata né a Lola né a Magnus, e in fondo la storia non ha nulla di particolarmente originale.
January 7, 2025
3 Stars
What I loved:
> The historical research was meticulous
> The atmospheric vibes of 1868 Melbourne
> Spotting the celebs of the era
What I disliked:
> Lola and Magnus - like, what was the characterisation here? I can sort of see the vision, but it didn't land on the page and so the character arcs were so off. Consequently, as a reader, I never felt connected or invested in them as characters.
> The mystery - the start was good, but them Lola and Magnus just... don't bother about the mystery anymore? The conclusion was fine, but the mystery definitely felt sacrificed for the broader theatre plot.
> So many interesting secondary characters just... disappear? I liked Mrs Harvey, but after the start she's barely there.
Overall:
I'd recommend this if you want a fascinating and very well-researched tale set in Gold Rush era 'Marvellous Melbourne' and you're not worried about the mystery component. If you're looking for something akin to Fergus Hume's Mystery of a Hansom Cab, I'd recommend picking up the sequels Madame Midas, and Miss Mephistopheles.
What I loved:
> The historical research was meticulous
> The atmospheric vibes of 1868 Melbourne
> Spotting the celebs of the era
What I disliked:
> Lola and Magnus - like, what was the characterisation here? I can sort of see the vision, but it didn't land on the page and so the character arcs were so off. Consequently, as a reader, I never felt connected or invested in them as characters.
> The mystery - the start was good, but them Lola and Magnus just... don't bother about the mystery anymore? The conclusion was fine, but the mystery definitely felt sacrificed for the broader theatre plot.
> So many interesting secondary characters just... disappear? I liked Mrs Harvey, but after the start she's barely there.
Overall:
I'd recommend this if you want a fascinating and very well-researched tale set in Gold Rush era 'Marvellous Melbourne' and you're not worried about the mystery component. If you're looking for something akin to Fergus Hume's Mystery of a Hansom Cab, I'd recommend picking up the sequels Madame Midas, and Miss Mephistopheles.
November 16, 2024
‘Murder in Punch Lane’ gets 4 stars from me based on the amount of historical research that it involved, but 3 stars for the characterisation. Jane Sullivan does a great job recreating the era of 1860’s Melbourne: the opium dens, the crime, the theatre and the sense of a dark underbelly, with ‘gentlemen’ indulging in extremely unsavoury recreational activities. The plot involves the alleged suicide of actress, Marie. Her friend, Lola Sanchez, an aspiring actress, decides to investigate and enlists the help of the ‘Walking Gentleman’, Marcus Scott, a journalist. I liked him at first but found his characterisation lost its way as he dipped into penury. As for Lola Sanchez, I was not convinced that she had the necessary abilities to investigate her friend’s murder. Great history but the story becomes rather convoluted, although it is supposedly based on an actual crime. It has a definite Melbourne/Australian focus. Loved the cover!
July 3, 2024
The corrupt underbelly of 1860s Melbourne and the fringes mingle in an exciting but dangerous place where compromises, danger and murder exist side by side. Lola, an up and coming actress is determined to find the murderer of her best friend, Marie, a theatre star. But no one will take her serious. So she turns to a journalist for help. Their volatile relationship creates sparks and threatens the investigation. But as they delve deeper into the case they are unprepared for the truth they find that extends to the highest and lowest parts of society and the dangers to themselves.
Sullivan does a wonderful job of creating the atmosphere and setting for this interesting mystery. Some of it seemed a bit obvious to me but I thought it was a well-crafted story.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Sullivan does a wonderful job of creating the atmosphere and setting for this interesting mystery. Some of it seemed a bit obvious to me but I thought it was a well-crafted story.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
August 22, 2025
Another good Read. Sir Redmond Barry sitting ouside the Melbourne or is Bust was a bit daubting to me reading about the man in this way Fact and Fiction melding gives one time to think. Other members were live persons in that era so again Fact and Fiction. My forbears were in Melbourne at that time 1880 and some years before so I am always thinking did they know about these carring ons?Lola and Magnus didn't have the time to talk as they were both quick to judge. Dr Nirld was a real person The Age 12 November 1868 - About Marie St Claire a piece worth reading -
Dr. Neild, was hastily summoned to ber bed
side. No one in the 'place knew more than
that she was ill, but Dr. Neild at once saw
that she was suffering from tbe effects of
laudanum. She had not token enough for a
deadly dose - Yes I enjoyed this book and The Age article giving more about Marie.
Dr. Neild, was hastily summoned to ber bed
side. No one in the 'place knew more than
that she was ill, but Dr. Neild at once saw
that she was suffering from tbe effects of
laudanum. She had not token enough for a
deadly dose - Yes I enjoyed this book and The Age article giving more about Marie.
July 27, 2024
The setting of Melbourne 1863 alone was rare. The setting of theatre and the life that went on in theatres at the time was similar to theatres elsewhere. Actresses were popular, sought after but not quite polite society which was a sad reflection for the time.
Marie St Denis dies of a supposedly laudunam overdose. Her best friend Lola who was present is the only one who believes it was a murder and not an accidental death. Finding someone who’d believe her, and more importantly help her to track the murderer is impossible, despite the clues she has that everything is not quite what it seems.
It was an interesting mystery and the background setting made it even more so. The characters themselves seemed a bit too simple but it was probably the way people acted at the time.
Marie St Denis dies of a supposedly laudunam overdose. Her best friend Lola who was present is the only one who believes it was a murder and not an accidental death. Finding someone who’d believe her, and more importantly help her to track the murderer is impossible, despite the clues she has that everything is not quite what it seems.
It was an interesting mystery and the background setting made it even more so. The characters themselves seemed a bit too simple but it was probably the way people acted at the time.
July 3, 2024
If you're a fan of the charming intrigue found in Miss Scarlet and The Duke, then Murder in Punch Lane by Jane Sullivan is right up your alley. This murder mystery keeps you guessing with its mix of captivating characters and occasional dips into monotony.
While some parts drag like molasses on a winter's day, Sullivan surprises with sudden bursts of action that propel the story forward. The inconsistency in pacing is a drawback, but it hints at the author's potential growth in future works.
Thank you to NetGalley and Echo Publishing for the ARC.
While some parts drag like molasses on a winter's day, Sullivan surprises with sudden bursts of action that propel the story forward. The inconsistency in pacing is a drawback, but it hints at the author's potential growth in future works.
Thank you to NetGalley and Echo Publishing for the ARC.
July 24, 2024
Melbourne, 1868. Theatre actress Marie dies in the arms of her friend, Lola, by suspected overdose- and everyone believes it was suicide, except Marie.
Marie joins with journalist Magnus and become amateur detectives through the laneways of Victorian-era Melbourne.
.
I love the history of Melbourne; the laneways, the stories, the people. I was super excited for this book, however I found the story getting quite complicated as it went on, but I found it overall enjoyable- just wish it was a bit easier to get from beginning to end.
Marie joins with journalist Magnus and become amateur detectives through the laneways of Victorian-era Melbourne.
.
I love the history of Melbourne; the laneways, the stories, the people. I was super excited for this book, however I found the story getting quite complicated as it went on, but I found it overall enjoyable- just wish it was a bit easier to get from beginning to end.
July 10, 2024
I found this so slow and boring I just could not bring myself to finish it This is very unusual for me I can usually wade through if I must but not with this one the character's were one dimensional and it was like wading through mud. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 4, 2024
I enjoyed reading this crime novel that is set in 19th century Melbourne. It's interesting to hear about the powers who ruled Melbourne and the lifestyles of the city's residents. Inspired by real events and people, it's a convoluted plot revolving around a theatre star who dies, her friend who believes it was murder, and a well to do journalist who only cares about his next story.
October 19, 2024
I got up to about page 50. My personal opinion, not for me. The amateur detective female character - I couldn’t suspend my disbelief to believe someone did that in Melbs back then. Maybe they did. For me I wasn’t sure if this was trying to be serious and gritty or a bit more like Phryne Fisher Mysteries. (The characters here are NOT well off unlike Phryne).
January 8, 2025
unfortunately i liked the idea of this book more than i liked the actual book. the blurb had me thinking this book would go one way but it didn’t. i did like the history and the fact that many of the characters were real people, and the prose was deliciously written but i feel like it missed the mark a bit for me unfortunately.
December 19, 2025
Seemed more like a collection of appropriate vignettes to the time period, location and genre, and a ticking off of tropes/cliches for historical fiction and crime stories, rather than a detective novel set in 1860’s Melbourne. Only finished it as it was a book club read
July 10, 2024
Loved the descriptive writing, felt authentic like the author had lived in that time. The mystery is expertly drawn. Great characters that I’m still thinking about.
September 10, 2024
Challenging content, not quite what I expected
December 15, 2024
An entertaining historical mystery set in Melbourne towards the end of the 19th century.
January 12, 2026
An historical novel full of twists and turns, set in my city and featuring some true high-up people of the 1860's.
The guilty party is the last person expected, revealed at the very end.
The guilty party is the last person expected, revealed at the very end.
September 22, 2024
Marie St Denis, the dead actress at the centre of Jane Sullivan’s novel, was a historical figure. Born in Belgium in 1848, she died in Melbourne 20 years later. At the time, her death was reported as suicide.
Sullivan has taken the skeleton of St Denis’ life and times and fleshed out a murder mystery with a romance side shoot. Leading the charge, in both the investigative and romantic stakes, is actress Lola Sanchez who aspires to St Denis’ degree of success on the stage, particularly in the role of Ophelia in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Her detecting offsider is Magnus Scott, a world weary journalist and magazine editor, who goes by the writing name of the ‘Walking Gentleman’. (I suspect Scott’s character owes something to the real life author Marcus Clarke who walked the streets of Melbourne in the late 1860s and wrote under various names including ‘The Peripatetic Philosopher’.)
There is no doubting the depth of research that underpins Murder in Punch Lane. Colonial Melbourne’s highways and byways are well drawn and the emerging upper class crosses paths with the burgeoning city’s underbelly in bordellos and opium dens. One of the side characters in the novel is Redmond Barry, best remembered as Ned Kelly’s ‘hanging judge’, but also renowned for his philanthropic and cultural activities. His portrayal in the novel is less than flattering. Other historical figures who appear in the story include British actor Walter Montgomery and theatre entrepreneur George Coppin.
Murder in Punch Lane felt longer to me than its 368 pages. (I read it on a Kindle and would have guessed it ran to over 500 hard copy pages.) The research sat too heavily at times and uncovering the identities of the mysteriously numbered ‘S’s in St Denis’s diary became somewhat laboured.
My 3.0★ rating reflects my enjoyment of diving into colonial Melbourne tempered by the somewhat circuitous plot.
For more about Murder in Punch Lane and the actress Marie St Denis, see my blog post Who Killed Alice Maes (aka Marie St Denis)?
Sullivan has taken the skeleton of St Denis’ life and times and fleshed out a murder mystery with a romance side shoot. Leading the charge, in both the investigative and romantic stakes, is actress Lola Sanchez who aspires to St Denis’ degree of success on the stage, particularly in the role of Ophelia in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Her detecting offsider is Magnus Scott, a world weary journalist and magazine editor, who goes by the writing name of the ‘Walking Gentleman’. (I suspect Scott’s character owes something to the real life author Marcus Clarke who walked the streets of Melbourne in the late 1860s and wrote under various names including ‘The Peripatetic Philosopher’.)
There is no doubting the depth of research that underpins Murder in Punch Lane. Colonial Melbourne’s highways and byways are well drawn and the emerging upper class crosses paths with the burgeoning city’s underbelly in bordellos and opium dens. One of the side characters in the novel is Redmond Barry, best remembered as Ned Kelly’s ‘hanging judge’, but also renowned for his philanthropic and cultural activities. His portrayal in the novel is less than flattering. Other historical figures who appear in the story include British actor Walter Montgomery and theatre entrepreneur George Coppin.
Murder in Punch Lane felt longer to me than its 368 pages. (I read it on a Kindle and would have guessed it ran to over 500 hard copy pages.) The research sat too heavily at times and uncovering the identities of the mysteriously numbered ‘S’s in St Denis’s diary became somewhat laboured.
My 3.0★ rating reflects my enjoyment of diving into colonial Melbourne tempered by the somewhat circuitous plot.
For more about Murder in Punch Lane and the actress Marie St Denis, see my blog post Who Killed Alice Maes (aka Marie St Denis)?
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