"the bachelor girl's guide to murder" by rachel mcmillan

The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder (Harvest House, April 2016)
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It's a rainy, dreary day today. The kind of day where you just want to curl up under a blanket with a good book and a cat. So that's what I did!

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In 1910 Toronto, while other bachelor girls perfect their domestic skills and find husbands, two friends perfect their sleuthing skills and find a murderer.

Inspired by their fascination with all things Sherlock Holmes, best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem launch a consulting detective business. The deaths of young Irish women lead Merinda and Jem deeper into the mire of the city's underbelly, where the high hopes of those dreaming to make a new life in Canada are met with prejudice and squalor.

While searching for answers, donning disguises, and sneaking around where no proper ladies would ever go, they pair with Jasper Forth, a police constable, and Ray DeLuca, a reporter in whom Jem takes a more than professional interest. Merinda could well be Toronto's premiere consulting detective, and Jem may just find a way to put her bachelor girlhood behind her forever—if they can stay alive long enough to do so.

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I wasn't quite sure what to expect from The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder, but I thought it looked like fun ... and it certainly was! The novel feels old-timey—in a good way! Merinda and Jem do bear a resemblance to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and I loved seeing all the parallels. Also, the book just reads like an older mystery—like something Agatha Christie or Dorothy L. Sayers would have written.

While the mystery—surrounding two murdered girls and government corruption—was interesting, I didn't care as much about the "whodunit" as I did about getting to know Jem and Merinda. Much of the novel is told through Jem's eyes, and I appreciated that perspective. Jem is clearly Merinda's sidekick, and usually the sidekick is a supporting character, but not here. I loved Jem dearly, while I felt like Merinda was just "there." Hopefully Merinda will become equally fleshed out in future novels!

Throughout the novel, author Rachel McMillan includes two things that you may be tempted to skip over (these are things I generally skip): excerpt quotes at the beginning of each chapter and footnotes scattered throughout. The footnotes are fabulous! They are so funny and provide extra information that's helpful to know. And the excerpt quotes? They go with each chapter, but what you really want to pay attention to is the attribution. So great!

I thoroughly enjoyed this first encounter with Herringford and Watts, and I look forward to their future adventures! 4 stars.

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Rachel McMillan is a keen history enthusiast and a lifelong bibliophile. When not writing or reading, she can most often be found drinking tea and watching British miniseries. Rachel lives in bustling Toronto, where she works in educational publishing and pursues her passion for art, literature, music, and theater.

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Meet best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem, who launch their own Sherlock Holmes-esque consulting detective business in 1910 Toronto in Rachel McMillan’s The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder. The deaths of young Irish women lead Merinda and Jem deeper into the mire of the city’s underbelly. Merinda could well be Toronto’s premiere consulting detective, and Jem may just find a way to put her bachelor girlhood behind her forever–if they can stay alive long enough to do so.

Rachel is celebrating the release of The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder with a Murder Mystery Prize Pack giveaway (details below) and an author chat party on April 28!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• One copy of The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder
• A magnifying glass necklace
• A bowler hat
• A pocket watch
• A $30 Amazon gift card

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 4/28. The winner will be announced at The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder Facebook party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Rachel and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."