Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder: A Historical Mystery

T.A. Willberg

Dec 2020 · A Marion Lane Mystery Book 1 · Sold by Harlequin

About this ebook

"This is the most fun I've had with a book this year. Every page is a delight and the mystery got its hooks into me from the first chapter.” – Stuart Turton, bestselling author of The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

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 at Miss Brickett’s receives a letter of warning, detailing a name, a time, and a place. 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.

Marion Lane, a first-year Inquirer-in-training, finds herself drawn ever deeper into the investigation. When her friend and colleague 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 murder mystery, with an exciting new heroine detective.

Ratings and reviews

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.

whodunit, inventions, investigation, 1950s, steampunk, clandestine-agency, London, locked-room-mystery, family-dynamics, friendship, murder, murder-investigation***** Marion Lane is a new recruit in a clandestine under-the-ground investigation agency with a difficult task ahead (even more so than the usual). She has to solve the locked-room murder of an unpleasant co-worker and clear her friend of the deed. Marion is gifted but underestimated and the agency is reminiscent of Veronica Speedwell, The Chronicles of St Mary's, and even Inspector Gadget. There are lots of plot twists, mysterious maps, and peculiar clues. Some characters are drawn in depth, but there are others who seem to be waiting for a sequel. The publisher's blurb is a good hook, but the story has a bit of background to overcome, so don't expect it to hit the ground running. I noticed some other reviewers had issues with the gadgets in a timeframe of the late 1950s, but as someone who was in grammar school at that time, I have no problem at all with it. I really loved it! I requested and received a free ebook copy from HARLEQUIN (U.S. & Canada)/Park Row Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

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About the author

T.A. Willberg was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and holds a chiropractic masters degree from Durban University of Technology. MARION LANE AND THE MIDNIGHT MURDER is her debut novel and launch of her detective series. She currently lives in Malta with her partner.