As the detective proves to be less and less trustworthy, she tries to hire another one - enter Benjamin Blackthorn, an adorable giant who really wants to drop the whole detective business and live a quiet life selling furniture. I thought I would have a peak before the readalong was even scheduled to start and here I am at 2am reading the last page and craving for more after reading it in just two sittings !

A Victorian era mystery and a humerus coming of age story all rolled into one narrative and Violet is a rather inquisitive and funny character. I had been set on the idea, but now my attic was filled with the skeletons of half-finished hats, faded botanical specimens and, most tragic of all, dusty portraits of a few worthy occupants of the town. The disappointments of the decade had been compounded by the realisation it was almost impossible for a lady to take up a respectable profession. It has all the fun elements of an amateur woman sleuth, sort of like Enola Holmes (but far less capable).

I enjoyed reading about how she outsmarted the creepy suitors her father found and her hilarious verbal exchanges with Benjamin Blackthorn and Maria Monk and four stars from me.

Now at twenty-eight and still living in her family home in St Leonards, Violet’s father is beginning to worry that she’ll never settle down and find a husband. Purchase from Booktopia* *As an affiliate of Booktopia I may earn a small commission on your purchase at no additional cost to you. I had faithfully included all three of her chins, upon which she told me she had only sat for me out of sympathy, forbade me to continue as an artist and left, chins wobbling in fury. The why of her vanishing is as important to Violet as the how, and she’s determined not to give up until she discovers what happened all those years ago. And if this end up being turned into a series (which the ending seemed to suggest in my opinion), I would not be adverse to keep reading.She isn’t your typical Victorian woman, going against social conventions by not wanting to get married and pursuing a career instead. There are issues around the constraints placed on women in the era, of class and the lack of choice when it comes to making a living: marriage, servitude or prostitution seem to be the main options for women. I was cheering Violet on and like how confident she came after getting to grips of becoming a ‘Lady detective’. So while I enjoyed this and recommend it as a fun, quick read for your next rainy day, I wasn't left overwhelmingly satisfied at the end.

Most purchases from business sellers are protected by the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 which give you the right to cancel the purchase within 14 days after the day you receive the item. With rare exceptions such as bank holidays, the book group meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 7. It completely took me by surprise how quickly I engaged with the characters and plot and I hope this becomes a series as I can’t wait to follow the rest of violets adventures.Which, in 1896, can make things a little complicated…At 28, Violet’s father is beginning to worry she will never find a husband. For that reason they make not only a hair-raising and spine-tingling personal narrative, but also a document of history. So many historical mysteries are long standing series and while I love revisiting favorite characters again and again, sometimes it’s nice when things wrap up after just one book. Packed with an assortment of quaint and humorous characters, the story builds to a dramatic conclusion involving surprising revelations and a fair amount of danger.