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Marion Lane #1
Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder
The letter was short. A name, a time, a place.
Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder plunges readers into the heart of London, to the secret tunnels that exist far beneath the city streets. There, a mysterious group of detectives recruited for Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries use their cunning and gadgets to solve crimes that have stumped Scotland Yard.
Late one night in April 1958, a filing assistant for Miss Brickett’s named Michelle White receives a letter warning her that a heinous act is about to occur. She goes to investigate but finds the room empty. At the stroke of midnight, she is murdered by a killer she can’t see—her death the only sign she wasn’t alone. It becomes chillingly clear that the person responsible must also work for Miss Brickett’s, making everyone a suspect.
Almost unwillingly, Marion Lane, a first-year Inquirer-in-training, finds herself being drawn ever deeper into the investigation. When her friend and mentor is framed for the crime, to clear his name she must sort through the hidden alliances at Miss Brickett’s and secrets dating back to WWII. Masterful, clever and deliciously suspenseful, Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is a fresh take on the Agatha Christie—style locked-room mystery with an exciting new heroine detective at the helm.
Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder plunges readers into the heart of London, to the secret tunnels that exist far beneath the city streets. There, a mysterious group of detectives recruited for Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries use their cunning and gadgets to solve crimes that have stumped Scotland Yard.
Late one night in April 1958, a filing assistant for Miss Brickett’s named Michelle White receives a letter warning her that a heinous act is about to occur. She goes to investigate but finds the room empty. At the stroke of midnight, she is murdered by a killer she can’t see—her death the only sign she wasn’t alone. It becomes chillingly clear that the person responsible must also work for Miss Brickett’s, making everyone a suspect.
Almost unwillingly, Marion Lane, a first-year Inquirer-in-training, finds herself being drawn ever deeper into the investigation. When her friend and mentor is framed for the crime, to clear his name she must sort through the hidden alliances at Miss Brickett’s and secrets dating back to WWII. Masterful, clever and deliciously suspenseful, Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is a fresh take on the Agatha Christie—style locked-room mystery with an exciting new heroine detective at the helm.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published December 29, 2020
852 people are currently reading
11427 people want to read
About the author
T.A. Willberg
3 books289 followersT.A. Willberg grew up on a small-holding in South Africa. At 27, she moved to Malta and wrote the MARION LANE mystery series. Her books have been named one of Amazon's "100 Best Books of 2021" as well as a Strand "Book of the Month", a LibraryReads pick and many more. They have been translated into multiple languages.
She has recently launched her own online writing course, which she hopes will help aspiring authors write, edit and publish their novels (more on this at tawillberg.com).
T.A. now lives between Europe and South Africa with her long-time partner, Will.
She has recently launched her own online writing course, which she hopes will help aspiring authors write, edit and publish their novels (more on this at tawillberg.com).
T.A. now lives between Europe and South Africa with her long-time partner, Will.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 968 reviews
February 12, 2025
Every now and then a book comes along and forces the reader to ask the hard-hitting questions. Like “what’s going on?” or “who are these people?” and “do I even like reading?”
January 7, 2021
Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder reminded me so much of Harry Potter and it brought back so many amazing memories. Marion is an intern learning about the secret world of detectives in underground London. The gadgets reminded me of the spells in Harry Potter and the tunnels in the underground felt like the many passageways in Hogwarts.
Unfortunately that is where the similarities ended. JK Rowling created a magical world where you remember traits about every single character, regardless how minor of a character they were. Even though I’m not a big fan of fantasy, the magical world wasn’t hard to understand and I could easily picture what was going on, even at a young age.
In Marion Lane, it was hard to tell any of the characters apart. All of the professors/more experience professionals all blended together and same with the rookies. There were many times where I was questioning which character Marion was talking to and if I had previously been introduced to them.
The mystery was lackluster and the whole time I was wondering what all of the other detectives were doing and why the murder of one of their own was left to be solved by a first year trainee.
2 stars out of a potential 5. I loved the memories of reading Harry Potter, but sadly that’s all I enjoyed about this novel.
Thank you to Netgallery and HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada) for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Unfortunately that is where the similarities ended. JK Rowling created a magical world where you remember traits about every single character, regardless how minor of a character they were. Even though I’m not a big fan of fantasy, the magical world wasn’t hard to understand and I could easily picture what was going on, even at a young age.
In Marion Lane, it was hard to tell any of the characters apart. All of the professors/more experience professionals all blended together and same with the rookies. There were many times where I was questioning which character Marion was talking to and if I had previously been introduced to them.
The mystery was lackluster and the whole time I was wondering what all of the other detectives were doing and why the murder of one of their own was left to be solved by a first year trainee.
2 stars out of a potential 5. I loved the memories of reading Harry Potter, but sadly that’s all I enjoyed about this novel.
Thank you to Netgallery and HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada) for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 23, 2021
I received a review copy of Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to T.A. Willberg and Trapeze Books for the opportunity and for inviting us to the book’s Blog Tour. Minor spoilers may follow.
Marion Lane and the Midnight MurderA colleague asked me today what I’d been reading recently and I described Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder to them as follows: Well, you know Harry Potter has a Wizarding School? Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder has an academy for Sherlock Holmes-esque Detectives and Inquirers. It’s set in the 1950s, in London, and there is an underground secret village where they operate from. The entrance of which is a trapdoor in a bookshop. They are extremely secretive, intelligent, ghost-like crime-solvers, who come to the aid of Londoners when nobody else can assist and they even have their own postal service. Near the start of the novel, there is a murder at the academy. So, that person must have been killed by an agency employee. Marion Lane, a first-year apprentice whose point of view perspective we follow, spends the novel trying to figure out who committed the crime and how it could have taken place. Things get a bit more intense when one of her closest acquaintances is accused of the titular Midnight Murder. After probably wishing they had never asked me, my colleague said they liked the sound of it and then went to their next meeting.
I liked the sound of it too when Trapeze were kind enough to approach me. I was intrigued by the book’s premise and Stuart Turton’s cover blurb sealed the deal. I found the UK cover to be striking yet it does give an impression of the novel being YA. That’s okay though as Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is one of those books that graces the crossover ground of YA and Adult and can be appreciated by both types of readers.
Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is a quality mystery thriller, which takes place not long after World War II and is mostly set in a subterranean setting. It’s a fun, clever and intricate read which includes some intriguing engineering and Steampunk elements. Marion is a likeable lead and the supporting cast, which includes students, Inquirers, and professors, are varied and entertaining to follow.
T.A. Willberg is a writer with huge potential and a very readable style. I found this was a story that rewarded me for paying extra careful attention to what was happening. There were a lot of great story elements throughout including characters gossiping about events, strangers following others, motives, ambitions, and the internal hierarchy of the academy, complex character histories, mysterious maps, unwalkable pathways, and a mechanical area-guardian.
On reflection, I had a mostly positive time with Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder and I will happily rate this debut as a solid 7/10. Although that’s the case, I’d say that the first 33% was just interesting enough to keep my attention. If I wasn’t on the blog tour I may have DNF’d this and moved on to something else. After the first third of the novel though, happenings get really interesting. This is when somebody is accused of the titular murder and they must be guilty as nobody else entered the room. Or did they? How is that possible? After this point, Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder reminded me of what makes a fine, unique, and memorable mystery novel and why I love the genre.
Marion Lane and the Midnight MurderA colleague asked me today what I’d been reading recently and I described Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder to them as follows: Well, you know Harry Potter has a Wizarding School? Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder has an academy for Sherlock Holmes-esque Detectives and Inquirers. It’s set in the 1950s, in London, and there is an underground secret village where they operate from. The entrance of which is a trapdoor in a bookshop. They are extremely secretive, intelligent, ghost-like crime-solvers, who come to the aid of Londoners when nobody else can assist and they even have their own postal service. Near the start of the novel, there is a murder at the academy. So, that person must have been killed by an agency employee. Marion Lane, a first-year apprentice whose point of view perspective we follow, spends the novel trying to figure out who committed the crime and how it could have taken place. Things get a bit more intense when one of her closest acquaintances is accused of the titular Midnight Murder. After probably wishing they had never asked me, my colleague said they liked the sound of it and then went to their next meeting.
I liked the sound of it too when Trapeze were kind enough to approach me. I was intrigued by the book’s premise and Stuart Turton’s cover blurb sealed the deal. I found the UK cover to be striking yet it does give an impression of the novel being YA. That’s okay though as Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is one of those books that graces the crossover ground of YA and Adult and can be appreciated by both types of readers.
Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is a quality mystery thriller, which takes place not long after World War II and is mostly set in a subterranean setting. It’s a fun, clever and intricate read which includes some intriguing engineering and Steampunk elements. Marion is a likeable lead and the supporting cast, which includes students, Inquirers, and professors, are varied and entertaining to follow.
T.A. Willberg is a writer with huge potential and a very readable style. I found this was a story that rewarded me for paying extra careful attention to what was happening. There were a lot of great story elements throughout including characters gossiping about events, strangers following others, motives, ambitions, and the internal hierarchy of the academy, complex character histories, mysterious maps, unwalkable pathways, and a mechanical area-guardian.
On reflection, I had a mostly positive time with Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder and I will happily rate this debut as a solid 7/10. Although that’s the case, I’d say that the first 33% was just interesting enough to keep my attention. If I wasn’t on the blog tour I may have DNF’d this and moved on to something else. After the first third of the novel though, happenings get really interesting. This is when somebody is accused of the titular murder and they must be guilty as nobody else entered the room. Or did they? How is that possible? After this point, Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder reminded me of what makes a fine, unique, and memorable mystery novel and why I love the genre.
May 10, 2021
Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Set in London, England in 1958. Marion, 23, is a trainee detective working for an underground (literally) organisation called Miss Brickett’s who investigate those crimes that might get overlooked. People can call upon the services of Miss Brickett’s via a series of drop-off letter points throughout the city.
The staff can only enter and leave the maze of underground rooms and tunnels via a normal-looking bookshop which has staff members portraying as shop staff. When one of the staff members is murdered, panic sets in amongst the staff, as only one of them could be the culprit. When Marion’s friend, Frank, is found guilty, Marion is sure of his innocence and sets about discovering the truth and revealing the true killer, but if she fails her friend could be imprisoned for life and she could be kicked out of the agency with no-where to go.
Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is a historical, fantasy, mystery book. It is quite a slow burner of a novel the whole way through. I loved the world-building. Yes, it is set in a realistic London, but the agency is a completely different world.
As this is the first book in the series it mainly focuses on inside the agency and a few of the agents and trainees. Plus, the investigation into the death of the woman who was the agency’s Border Guard. We don’t get to see outside investigations on the streets of London, which was a shame.
Marion is a complex character, who is still reeling many years later from the death of her mother. She has lived with her Grandmother Dolores since her mother’s death but circumstances have recently meant that she has had to find accommodation within the agency. She loves gadgets and works mainly in the gadgetry department with another trainee, Bill.
It was a classic whodunit, wrapped within a mystical, strange world full of secrets. It took me a while to get through the book due to the slow nature of it but I can honestly say that I did enjoy it and at times it was certainly suspenseful. I now want to know more about the agency and how they investigate crimes. Book two which is out next year seems to indicate that we will get to see Marion using her skills on the outside to find a killer that the police can’t identify. I am so looking forward to it.
Set in London, England in 1958. Marion, 23, is a trainee detective working for an underground (literally) organisation called Miss Brickett’s who investigate those crimes that might get overlooked. People can call upon the services of Miss Brickett’s via a series of drop-off letter points throughout the city.
The staff can only enter and leave the maze of underground rooms and tunnels via a normal-looking bookshop which has staff members portraying as shop staff. When one of the staff members is murdered, panic sets in amongst the staff, as only one of them could be the culprit. When Marion’s friend, Frank, is found guilty, Marion is sure of his innocence and sets about discovering the truth and revealing the true killer, but if she fails her friend could be imprisoned for life and she could be kicked out of the agency with no-where to go.
Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is a historical, fantasy, mystery book. It is quite a slow burner of a novel the whole way through. I loved the world-building. Yes, it is set in a realistic London, but the agency is a completely different world.
As this is the first book in the series it mainly focuses on inside the agency and a few of the agents and trainees. Plus, the investigation into the death of the woman who was the agency’s Border Guard. We don’t get to see outside investigations on the streets of London, which was a shame.
Marion is a complex character, who is still reeling many years later from the death of her mother. She has lived with her Grandmother Dolores since her mother’s death but circumstances have recently meant that she has had to find accommodation within the agency. She loves gadgets and works mainly in the gadgetry department with another trainee, Bill.
It was a classic whodunit, wrapped within a mystical, strange world full of secrets. It took me a while to get through the book due to the slow nature of it but I can honestly say that I did enjoy it and at times it was certainly suspenseful. I now want to know more about the agency and how they investigate crimes. Book two which is out next year seems to indicate that we will get to see Marion using her skills on the outside to find a killer that the police can’t identify. I am so looking forward to it.
January 27, 2021
I picked this book because it seemed to have so many appealing elements. Set in postwar London, it’s about a secret crime detection and apprehension agency that operates literally underground, getting tipoffs from ordinary citizens through special drop boxes on the streets.
The agency, Miss Brickett’s, is like a sort of grownup Hogwarts, with trainees and teachers, lots of insider intrigue, seemingly magical devices, and a danger from within. The protagonist, Marion Lane, is a trainee with a troubled outside life. When a Miss Brickett’s staff member is murdered, and it seems to be an inside job, Marion feels compelled to investigate, along with her best friend and a mysterious agency visitor from the US.
Despite having all those appealing elements, it was a slog to read the book. Author Willberg doesn’t have the gift for bringing characters to life. You’re told who the bad guy is well before the end. When you find out his motivation it just seems so penny-ante and is a letdown.
One minor criticism is that two of the characters you first meet are Marion Lane and Michelle White. It seems like a rookie mistake to have characters with similar names. Sure, as the book goes on it’s easy to know who is who, but it’s confusing at the beginning.
I would categorize this as a great premise spoiled with lackluster plotting and character development.
The agency, Miss Brickett’s, is like a sort of grownup Hogwarts, with trainees and teachers, lots of insider intrigue, seemingly magical devices, and a danger from within. The protagonist, Marion Lane, is a trainee with a troubled outside life. When a Miss Brickett’s staff member is murdered, and it seems to be an inside job, Marion feels compelled to investigate, along with her best friend and a mysterious agency visitor from the US.
Despite having all those appealing elements, it was a slog to read the book. Author Willberg doesn’t have the gift for bringing characters to life. You’re told who the bad guy is well before the end. When you find out his motivation it just seems so penny-ante and is a letdown.
One minor criticism is that two of the characters you first meet are Marion Lane and Michelle White. It seems like a rookie mistake to have characters with similar names. Sure, as the book goes on it’s easy to know who is who, but it’s confusing at the beginning.
I would categorize this as a great premise spoiled with lackluster plotting and character development.
November 24, 2020
This debut feels a little bit Harry Potter, a little James Bond, and includes a whodunit that is tailor-made for Christie fans. A secret agency operates underground and independent from the London police force. When a murder occurs, the list of suspects is limited to those with access to the tunnels. There is a killer in their midst. Marion is an Apprentice and when family friend Frank is framed, she must act to defy direct orders and save him from banishment. A camaraderie is developing among the Apprentices and their actions may be gaining the respect of their superiors including a newly hired and good-looking American. The gadgets and boobytraps are inventive and at times inconvenient. Marion Lane, your story is far from over. I was betting on a sequel and the last few paragraphs confirm those suspicions. Looking forward to the next chapter in Marion's story.
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2020
It's 1958, and 23 year old Marion, who lives with her abrasive grandmother in London, is invited to apply for a job at a small bookstore. It turns out that this is a cover for a group called the Inquirers, mysterious detectives who operate beneath the city of London. When her friend is arrested for murder, Marion is determined to find the answers, even risking both her job and her life. This book is described as appealing to fans of the Harry Potter universe. It had some fantasy elements, but I found the plot a bit confusing and meandering--it ultimately disappointed this big fan of Harry Potter and urban fantasy. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
January 1, 2021
Favorite Quote:
But that was the thing about death, as Marion knew so well. No matter how much the deceased were loved, life does not wait for the grieving. Though on the inside everything will change and what used to matter falls away, the routine and ordinary remain unchallenged.
My Review:
This is not my typical genre and I struggled a bit with the unfamiliar world-building, complex storylines, and vast cast of uniquely drawn and unorthodox characters, but my curiosity was well and truly poked and continually primed throughout this deeply puzzling and intriguing tale. Ms. Willberg deftly staged her scenes and players with intricate and unfailingly compelling descriptions so finely detailed that sharp visuals danced through my gray matter with the smoothness of a film reel.
This would be an excellent series for the big or small screen. The unusual storylines and writing style were polished, well-honed, and maddeningly paced; keeping me on edge with dark and gloomy settings, untrustworthy characters, questionable hidden agendas, and ingenious and creative gadgets. I coveted their resourceful tools and could put some of those items to good use for myself on a despicable neighbor or three.
But that was the thing about death, as Marion knew so well. No matter how much the deceased were loved, life does not wait for the grieving. Though on the inside everything will change and what used to matter falls away, the routine and ordinary remain unchallenged.
My Review:
This is not my typical genre and I struggled a bit with the unfamiliar world-building, complex storylines, and vast cast of uniquely drawn and unorthodox characters, but my curiosity was well and truly poked and continually primed throughout this deeply puzzling and intriguing tale. Ms. Willberg deftly staged her scenes and players with intricate and unfailingly compelling descriptions so finely detailed that sharp visuals danced through my gray matter with the smoothness of a film reel.
This would be an excellent series for the big or small screen. The unusual storylines and writing style were polished, well-honed, and maddeningly paced; keeping me on edge with dark and gloomy settings, untrustworthy characters, questionable hidden agendas, and ingenious and creative gadgets. I coveted their resourceful tools and could put some of those items to good use for myself on a despicable neighbor or three.
March 2, 2021
Alchemy. Secret underground tunnels. A labrynth of secrets and intrigue. A set of very unique private investigators and a murder mystery set in the darkness underneath London's 1950' streets. This was truly like James Bond meets Sherlock Holmes meets Harry Potter.
This was such a delightful book. I was utterly captivated and drawn into this unique world underneath the ground. It has all the elements of a favourite novel.... Underground bunkers (always been obsessed with them, since working at one of the most famous but secret ones in England...) murder, detectives, alchemy and 'magic'. Some have likened this story to the Harry Potter books and I do see what they mean, although this story contains no real magic, but more the gadgetry of the James Bond series. Its also slightly more grown up, with adult protagonists and this 'Hogwarts' has a bar! The tricks and gadgets of this agency are akin to James Bond, and the murder mystery like a Sherlock Holmes book. I was utterly immersed in the story from start to finish, and I enjoyed learning about the world of Mrs Bricketts Bookshop, the Inquirers and the lessons the apprentices learn. I enjoyed the murder mystery and trying to work out who had killed the poor paper filer in the dark, underground, at midnight. I'm also happy this book has a female protagonist for once too! And we also take a moment to admire that beautiful cover too!
I really hope there's some more of these released because I will be snatching them up for sure! 5 slowly ticking, wheels whirring, light orb emitting stars.
I recieved a copy of this book as an arc from the puclishers and netgalley.
This was such a delightful book. I was utterly captivated and drawn into this unique world underneath the ground. It has all the elements of a favourite novel.... Underground bunkers (always been obsessed with them, since working at one of the most famous but secret ones in England...) murder, detectives, alchemy and 'magic'. Some have likened this story to the Harry Potter books and I do see what they mean, although this story contains no real magic, but more the gadgetry of the James Bond series. Its also slightly more grown up, with adult protagonists and this 'Hogwarts' has a bar! The tricks and gadgets of this agency are akin to James Bond, and the murder mystery like a Sherlock Holmes book. I was utterly immersed in the story from start to finish, and I enjoyed learning about the world of Mrs Bricketts Bookshop, the Inquirers and the lessons the apprentices learn. I enjoyed the murder mystery and trying to work out who had killed the poor paper filer in the dark, underground, at midnight. I'm also happy this book has a female protagonist for once too! And we also take a moment to admire that beautiful cover too!
I really hope there's some more of these released because I will be snatching them up for sure! 5 slowly ticking, wheels whirring, light orb emitting stars.
I recieved a copy of this book as an arc from the puclishers and netgalley.
Read
January 10, 2021DNF no rating. Too silly and too naive for any period, let alone that one. Ridiculous context which doesn't succeed in world building or depth of character to become fantasy fare.
May 25, 2021
Marion Lane is an apprentice inquirer for a secret agency in London that solves the mysteries the police cannot. She's in her element. The pay stinks but she's following her dream. Everything is going great until a coworker is murdered and her killer can only be someone else at the agency.
I can't tell you how much I loved this book. Marion is a completely relatable, likable character. I was rooting for her. I was invested in her. She was real to me. I wanted to work right beside her. A secret investigative agency hidden behind the guise of a book store - YES!!!
I recommend this to all my mystery-loving friends!
I can't tell you how much I loved this book. Marion is a completely relatable, likable character. I was rooting for her. I was invested in her. She was real to me. I wanted to work right beside her. A secret investigative agency hidden behind the guise of a book store - YES!!!
I recommend this to all my mystery-loving friends!
November 24, 2020
This book was very engaging at the beginning—an alternate, post-WWII London with an unofficial "investigative" force that emerged out of the Bletchley Park code-breaking program and that is housed in tunnels under the city. Unfortunately, for this reader at least, the engagement didn't last. The title never seemed to decide what it wanted to be: mystery, alternate history, horror novel. And, yes, those can be successfully combined, but that wasn't the case here.
February 17, 2021
3.5 stars.
This wasn't quite what I was expecting if I'm honest. However, I still enjoyed it. A good detective story with a sense of wonder mixed into the suspense.
Some aspects that seem more at home in a fantasy book, rather than a realistic espionage/murder mystery book though.
This wasn't quite what I was expecting if I'm honest. However, I still enjoyed it. A good detective story with a sense of wonder mixed into the suspense.
Some aspects that seem more at home in a fantasy book, rather than a realistic espionage/murder mystery book though.
December 21, 2020
Thoughts to come...
November 15, 2020
This book is so delightfully fun & escapist! An underground investigative organization...clocks and keys and hidden rooms...a secret map...alchemy and old war secrets...there is so much to love here! Brava to Willberg for a brilliant, adventuresome debut.
July 23, 2021
Review to come when I'm less irritated.
January 27, 2021
This wasn't a bad book - it just didn't do a thing for me. Hard to classify, it was mystery-ish, steampunk-ish, fantasy-ish...but mostly just "ish". I slogged through 2/3 of it, but it felt like walking through deep sand. I finally just gave up. Reading for fun isn't supposed to be this labor intensive.
April 7, 2021
And now we go to historical fiction and lean closer to the cozy side of crime writing. While this isn’t a puzzle solving adventure, and it’s a totally different book, I think those who were fans of Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts would find this entertaining. It’s set in the 1950s where a secret organization exists under London in its tunnels. Basically, people send notes requesting assistance from their detectives. Marion Lane is in training looking to make her way up Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries when one of their own is murdered. Clearly with an organization as secret as theirs it had to be one of them…
Lane, who is not only new and having the bit of personal life she has falling apart, finds herself investigating and questioning whether she even knows anything about the people she works for, and with–especially when she decides to put herself in danger to prove they have accused the wrong person.
This was a bit 007 with fun gadgets and inventions (and dangerous, not fun ones) with a wounded bird type lead trying to make her way in the world and prove herself. The audiobook has a delightful narrator, Karen Cass, and the story whisks you away to a whodunnit below London’s streets that will equally make you jealous you aren’t a part of this organization and maybe make you want to run away.
(TW past suicide mentioned kind of as reveal, brief detail)
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: https://link.bookriot.com/view/56a820...
May 3, 2023
Das Buch hat mich leider ziemlich enttäuscht. Eine Detektei, die von unterirdischen Gängen aus Fälle löst, ein Mörder in den eigenen Reihen? Klang spannend und mysteriös. War es leider nicht, sondern eher langatmig und fast bis zum Schluss ziemlich langweilig.
Marion war für mich keine gute Heldin, ich könnte nichts über sie sagen, sie nicht charakterisieren, so unscheinbar und nichtssagend war sie. Auch alle anderen Personen sind so blass und eigenschaftslos. Und eigentlich sind sie auch egal, denn es werden zwar viele Personen eingeführt, sie haben aber fast nie eine Bedeutung für das Buch oder die Handlung. Aus der Clique der Lehrlinge im ersten Lehrjahr hätte man so viel machen können, Freundschaften, Feindschaften, irgendwelche Beziehungen, die den Personen Leben einhauchen. Aber nichts. Auch sollen die Lehrlinge in den Zwanzigern oder teilweise älter sein, aber angefühlt hat es sich wie eine Horde Teenager.
Das Setting in den unterirdischen Räumen war zwar nicht schlecht, irgendwie schlug es sich aber kaum auf die Atmosphäre nieder. Ein wenig erinnerte mich alles an das "Magisterium" und an "Harry Potter", ohne aber an die Tiefe der Ausarbeitung der speziellen Welt heranzukommen.
Zum Fall: der war leider genauso langweilig wie der Rest. Erst zum Schluss kam etwas Spannung auf, aber ansonsten war es ziemlich lahm und auch die Ermittlungen zogen sich langatmig dahin.
Insgesamt ein langatmiges, blasses und nichtssagendes Buch.
Marion war für mich keine gute Heldin, ich könnte nichts über sie sagen, sie nicht charakterisieren, so unscheinbar und nichtssagend war sie. Auch alle anderen Personen sind so blass und eigenschaftslos. Und eigentlich sind sie auch egal, denn es werden zwar viele Personen eingeführt, sie haben aber fast nie eine Bedeutung für das Buch oder die Handlung. Aus der Clique der Lehrlinge im ersten Lehrjahr hätte man so viel machen können, Freundschaften, Feindschaften, irgendwelche Beziehungen, die den Personen Leben einhauchen. Aber nichts. Auch sollen die Lehrlinge in den Zwanzigern oder teilweise älter sein, aber angefühlt hat es sich wie eine Horde Teenager.
Das Setting in den unterirdischen Räumen war zwar nicht schlecht, irgendwie schlug es sich aber kaum auf die Atmosphäre nieder. Ein wenig erinnerte mich alles an das "Magisterium" und an "Harry Potter", ohne aber an die Tiefe der Ausarbeitung der speziellen Welt heranzukommen.
Zum Fall: der war leider genauso langweilig wie der Rest. Erst zum Schluss kam etwas Spannung auf, aber ansonsten war es ziemlich lahm und auch die Ermittlungen zogen sich langatmig dahin.
Insgesamt ein langatmiges, blasses und nichtssagendes Buch.
September 22, 2020
Wow. Just wow. I often say that I "couldn't put the book down," but this time I literally could not put it down! All that I remember from the last two days is sleeping and reading this book! I absolutely adored this steampunk-ish, alternative history mystery.
The plot of the novel revolves around a super-secret organization of sleuths, who live in the tunnels (!) under the 1950s London, while pretending to work at a bookstore. There they invent all kinds of cool gadgets and investigate whatever crimes have come to their attention via being deposited into the secret slots all over London. The worldbuilding alone deserves an award. Then, suddenly - one of their own is murdered on the premises! Which could only mean one thing - one of them is a killer. Somehow, after all of this juicy setup, this book also manages to pull off amateur sleuthing amidst professional private detectives, because the protagonist, Marion Lane, is nothing but a first-year apprentice, and it is from her point of view that we get to learn about and investigate the crime.
If you like secret societies, alternative history, magical schools (it has that vibe), locked room mysteries, amateur sleuthing shenanigans, borderline-science-fictional gadgets (think, maybe, Warehouse 13 or James Bond)... And frankly, if you like good literature, don't miss this gem of a book!
The plot of the novel revolves around a super-secret organization of sleuths, who live in the tunnels (!) under the 1950s London, while pretending to work at a bookstore. There they invent all kinds of cool gadgets and investigate whatever crimes have come to their attention via being deposited into the secret slots all over London. The worldbuilding alone deserves an award. Then, suddenly - one of their own is murdered on the premises! Which could only mean one thing - one of them is a killer. Somehow, after all of this juicy setup, this book also manages to pull off amateur sleuthing amidst professional private detectives, because the protagonist, Marion Lane, is nothing but a first-year apprentice, and it is from her point of view that we get to learn about and investigate the crime.
If you like secret societies, alternative history, magical schools (it has that vibe), locked room mysteries, amateur sleuthing shenanigans, borderline-science-fictional gadgets (think, maybe, Warehouse 13 or James Bond)... And frankly, if you like good literature, don't miss this gem of a book!
February 8, 2021
Super disappointing. Stiff characters who are just a collection of moments, no personality. An intriguing premise but never believable, the tech was basically magic (I mean, that map is just The Marauder’s Map), the time and place poorly realized at best, the pacing slow — ugh. I feel like I was swindled by the package and the blurbs and am definitely feeling disappointment.
April 17, 2021
Although this reminded me so much of Harry Potter in the beginning. I really enjoyed Marion Lane and the Midnight murder.
It’s 1958 and in London. Marion lives with her grandmother who is not the most caring kind. To get away from the claustrophobic atmosphere in the house she takes a job at a bookstore as an apprentice. But when she gets there, she led underground she is brought to place full of tunnels and rooms belonging to a secret police agency full of investigators. When one of the investigators is murdered. She starts snooping around she finds a set of secret rooms that she discovered a very dangerous substance in a vial that was made in the war to be used against the British but it was never used.
Thanks Orion of a copy of this book. I didn’t realise that it had already been published. This was a fun and intriguing historical read. Like I said it did remind me a bit of Harry Potter but that didn’t deter me to read this. I am also a fan of HP. I liked the premise of the story and the mystery in this book. It would make a great film or Tv show. 5 stars from me.
It’s 1958 and in London. Marion lives with her grandmother who is not the most caring kind. To get away from the claustrophobic atmosphere in the house she takes a job at a bookstore as an apprentice. But when she gets there, she led underground she is brought to place full of tunnels and rooms belonging to a secret police agency full of investigators. When one of the investigators is murdered. She starts snooping around she finds a set of secret rooms that she discovered a very dangerous substance in a vial that was made in the war to be used against the British but it was never used.
Thanks Orion of a copy of this book. I didn’t realise that it had already been published. This was a fun and intriguing historical read. Like I said it did remind me a bit of Harry Potter but that didn’t deter me to read this. I am also a fan of HP. I liked the premise of the story and the mystery in this book. It would make a great film or Tv show. 5 stars from me.
January 11, 2021
“The bookshop was a link to the outside world, to stability and normality, and a portal into the mysterious and intoxicating world of Inquiry.”
Think Harry Potter catching a train at Platform 9 ¾, which will whisk him off to wizarding school. But here we have Marion Lane, a young woman living with her grandmother in postwar London, whisked off to a world of secrets and detective work.
Marion recently lost her job and has been lucky enough to secure an appointment for a new one. She has an interview at Miss Brickett’s Secondhand Books and Curiosities. When she arrives at the appointed time, though, she finds the door locked. The bookshop is actually a front for Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries. So getting inside might be the first test Marion faces. If she can figure out how to defeat that lock, maybe she’ll be offered a position. Marion’s last employment was with a mechanic, so this test is right in her wheelhouse, and she soon has the door open. Miss Brickett’s Secondhand Books looks somewhat disheveled and dusty, but holds a certain charm nonetheless. However, hidden inside the small store is a lift, one that descends underground to where the agency has set itself up inside unused tunnels and abandoned spaces. A curious place indeed.
"Solving the murder, for T.A. Willberg’s readers, is loads of fun. The setting, almost fantastical, has strange inventions to discover and rare creatures to be encountered."
To Marion’s delight, she is taken on as a first-year apprentice. If all works out as she hopes, she will become an Inquirer at the end of three years. But the road is long and grueling. And Miss Brickett’s has strict rules, the most important of which includes forbidden areas. Trespassing will get you ousted immediately. There’s even a Border Guard. Late one night, that Border Guard, who was also an agency clerk, received a letter containing a name, a place and a time, with instructions to destroy it immediately after reading. She realized what it meant and rushed off. At the stroke of midnight, she was murdered, and it appears only one person had the opportunity to do it --- Marion’s good friend.
But the agency must handle this on its own. Involving the police could put the entire future of Miss Brickett’s at risk. The problem is that the evidence points to one person, and one person only. None of the agency board members will share information nor, it seems, will they even consider anyone else. Well, Marion can’t sit by and watch while her friends and career are destroyed. But the deeper she investigates, the more she discovers that the risk the agency faces is greater than simply being shut down.
The tunnels that Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries inhabits have a certain personality of their own. If you go too deep --- say, into the forbidden areas --- the walls even have a tendency to move. You could get trapped. Fortunately, the agency has a Gadget department, which Marion uses to the fullest. There are gadgets no one in the modern world has heard of, but they come in handy back in 1958.
Solving the murder, for T.A. Willberg’s readers, is loads of fun. The setting, almost fantastical, has strange inventions to discover and rare creatures to be encountered. There’s a nearly magical aura, which fights a sinister darkness that has followed the evil inside. Young Marion Lane has her first case behind her. Surely there will be many more to come.
Reviewed by Kate Ayers
Think Harry Potter catching a train at Platform 9 ¾, which will whisk him off to wizarding school. But here we have Marion Lane, a young woman living with her grandmother in postwar London, whisked off to a world of secrets and detective work.
Marion recently lost her job and has been lucky enough to secure an appointment for a new one. She has an interview at Miss Brickett’s Secondhand Books and Curiosities. When she arrives at the appointed time, though, she finds the door locked. The bookshop is actually a front for Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries. So getting inside might be the first test Marion faces. If she can figure out how to defeat that lock, maybe she’ll be offered a position. Marion’s last employment was with a mechanic, so this test is right in her wheelhouse, and she soon has the door open. Miss Brickett’s Secondhand Books looks somewhat disheveled and dusty, but holds a certain charm nonetheless. However, hidden inside the small store is a lift, one that descends underground to where the agency has set itself up inside unused tunnels and abandoned spaces. A curious place indeed.
"Solving the murder, for T.A. Willberg’s readers, is loads of fun. The setting, almost fantastical, has strange inventions to discover and rare creatures to be encountered."
To Marion’s delight, she is taken on as a first-year apprentice. If all works out as she hopes, she will become an Inquirer at the end of three years. But the road is long and grueling. And Miss Brickett’s has strict rules, the most important of which includes forbidden areas. Trespassing will get you ousted immediately. There’s even a Border Guard. Late one night, that Border Guard, who was also an agency clerk, received a letter containing a name, a place and a time, with instructions to destroy it immediately after reading. She realized what it meant and rushed off. At the stroke of midnight, she was murdered, and it appears only one person had the opportunity to do it --- Marion’s good friend.
But the agency must handle this on its own. Involving the police could put the entire future of Miss Brickett’s at risk. The problem is that the evidence points to one person, and one person only. None of the agency board members will share information nor, it seems, will they even consider anyone else. Well, Marion can’t sit by and watch while her friends and career are destroyed. But the deeper she investigates, the more she discovers that the risk the agency faces is greater than simply being shut down.
The tunnels that Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries inhabits have a certain personality of their own. If you go too deep --- say, into the forbidden areas --- the walls even have a tendency to move. You could get trapped. Fortunately, the agency has a Gadget department, which Marion uses to the fullest. There are gadgets no one in the modern world has heard of, but they come in handy back in 1958.
Solving the murder, for T.A. Willberg’s readers, is loads of fun. The setting, almost fantastical, has strange inventions to discover and rare creatures to be encountered. There’s a nearly magical aura, which fights a sinister darkness that has followed the evil inside. Young Marion Lane has her first case behind her. Surely there will be many more to come.
Reviewed by Kate Ayers
October 5, 2021
I enjoyed this, I didn't love it.
Look, I'm a sucker for a secret society underground. And I liked this vaguely alternative London. The society's a bit steampunky, with a little bit of magic thrown in.
The thing is, the character development isn't amazing. Marion herself is well drawn, as is her closest friend, Bill. But a lot of the other students felt underdeveloped and kind of interchangeable, ditto the professors. Also, I'm not sure how well the magical elements were integrated into the whole.
Overall, I liked it, but it was missing a bit of a spark somewhere.
Look, I'm a sucker for a secret society underground. And I liked this vaguely alternative London. The society's a bit steampunky, with a little bit of magic thrown in.
The thing is, the character development isn't amazing. Marion herself is well drawn, as is her closest friend, Bill. But a lot of the other students felt underdeveloped and kind of interchangeable, ditto the professors. Also, I'm not sure how well the magical elements were integrated into the whole.
Overall, I liked it, but it was missing a bit of a spark somewhere.
January 10, 2022
I absolutely LOVED Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder. What a great way to start off 2021. This reminded me of a steampunk Harry Potter mixed with murder, underground labyrinths, cool gadgets, and alchemical secrets. There was a lot going on in this book but it all worked together seamlessly. I love the idea of an underground detective agency and I sincerely hope there’s a sequel where we can see Marion in action again.
January 3, 2021
2/5 stars ⭐️⭐️
It's like Harry Potter but without the flavor.
It started out pretty great and was super engaging, but that fell apart pretty quickly. The whole mystery was pretty bland and uninspired to me, honestly.
It's like Harry Potter but without the flavor.
It started out pretty great and was super engaging, but that fell apart pretty quickly. The whole mystery was pretty bland and uninspired to me, honestly.
October 19, 2021
Rating: 3.75 stars
Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is an entertaining murder mystery novel with an unusual setting - a secret underground investigative agency and interesting gadgets. A light, fun reading experience.
Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder is an entertaining murder mystery novel with an unusual setting - a secret underground investigative agency and interesting gadgets. A light, fun reading experience.
May 16, 2021
“Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder” is a debut novel by T. A. Willberg. It’s a mystery set in 1958 London, but with a bit of a fantasy twist. I absolutely adore the cover, which was the main reason I wanted to read this book.
I love the setting the author created. Marion Lane is an inconspicuous young woman who works in a tiny bookstore called Miss Brickett’s Secondhand Books and Curiosities. But the truth is, that’s only the cover-up for the secret organisation of private investigators, who are helping Londoners with cases, which police cannot or don’t want to handle. Marion is an apprentice there, hoping that one day, her name will be immortalised in the golden plaque of honoured Inquirers. Unfortunately, the daily routine is disturbed when one of the employees is murdered in their headquarters at midnight. All clues indicate that it was an inside job.
This is the first book in the series, so here we learn mainly about the agency, its structure, employees and, of course, their fantastic headquarters located underground in a maze of complicated tunnels. Because of the nature of the crime, we don’t see how Inquirers (investigators) work outside on London streets, which is a bit of a shame, but I’m sure in the following books we’ll learn about it too.
The secret base itself is so intriguing and full of secrets that it’s enough to keep the reader turning the pages, wondering what could be hiding in forbidden parts or undiscovered tunnels. Also, another brilliant thing in the book is the gadgets that are on the border of crazy inventions and magic. The whole place feels like a mixture of Ministry of Magic and James Bond movies.
The novel is a charming and pleasurable read. Marion is an independent young woman, inquisitive and ready to do her best for the job. She is not afraid to act according to her believes even if stubborn digging up for the truth might end up badly for her.
If you enjoy mysteries with a unique setting and flares of historical novel mixed with fantasy, you should check out this book!
I love the setting the author created. Marion Lane is an inconspicuous young woman who works in a tiny bookstore called Miss Brickett’s Secondhand Books and Curiosities. But the truth is, that’s only the cover-up for the secret organisation of private investigators, who are helping Londoners with cases, which police cannot or don’t want to handle. Marion is an apprentice there, hoping that one day, her name will be immortalised in the golden plaque of honoured Inquirers. Unfortunately, the daily routine is disturbed when one of the employees is murdered in their headquarters at midnight. All clues indicate that it was an inside job.
This is the first book in the series, so here we learn mainly about the agency, its structure, employees and, of course, their fantastic headquarters located underground in a maze of complicated tunnels. Because of the nature of the crime, we don’t see how Inquirers (investigators) work outside on London streets, which is a bit of a shame, but I’m sure in the following books we’ll learn about it too.
The secret base itself is so intriguing and full of secrets that it’s enough to keep the reader turning the pages, wondering what could be hiding in forbidden parts or undiscovered tunnels. Also, another brilliant thing in the book is the gadgets that are on the border of crazy inventions and magic. The whole place feels like a mixture of Ministry of Magic and James Bond movies.
The novel is a charming and pleasurable read. Marion is an independent young woman, inquisitive and ready to do her best for the job. She is not afraid to act according to her believes even if stubborn digging up for the truth might end up badly for her.
If you enjoy mysteries with a unique setting and flares of historical novel mixed with fantasy, you should check out this book!
August 5, 2021
Sadly, I really disliked this book. The reason why I feel strong negative feelings towards it is because everything I found out about it before reading it seemed amazingly interesting, mysterious, and altogether very gripping - a post-WWII, steampunk-themed murder mystery. As much as the setting should have set up a brilliant and atmospheric novel, the story, characters, and mystery-building elements were painfully plain, flat, and simply uninteresting. The protagonists are as complex as their stock-image names - American Detective Kenny or British Detective Bill - and their interactions with one another are just as unilinear. Not only are the characters bland but the story is boring whilst the narrator inaccuratly builds it up as if it were the most entising story they have ever encountered. I've seen many reviewers mention this book reminds them of the first Harry Potter novels and I see their point - the author clearly wanted to include some aspects of the HP books in her novel, which might have worked if not the fact that this novel is supposed to be about adults who usually should not act like 11-13-year-old children. I tried very hard to keep reading this book and not throw it in the DNF pile but maybe the other option would have simply saved me time and left me much less exhausted.
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