ARC Review: Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg

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.

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For an excerpt, CLICK HERE 

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Lately, I've been stuck in a reading slump. I usually go back to old favorites to get back into a regular reading pattern, but alas, it hasn't been working. Then I read the blurb for this book. I love a good mystery. The time frame and overall theme were interesting. I rarely read books set in the 1950s. The story starts with the death of a filing assistant. Clues suggest that the killer is a fellow Inquirer. Everyone who works for Miss Brickett’s Investigations & Inquiries is under suspicion. The main character, Marion Lane, is a newly minted Inquirer and takes up the task of finding the murderer after her friend is accused of the deed. Things are not as they seem in London's underbelly. Marion keeps her wits about her, despite her inexperience and amateur sleuthing skills. I thought the setting and worldbuilding were done well. I don't know much about the architecture of London, but it's creative to have the Inquirers running around the tunnels throughout London. If you're a fan of alternate universes set in post-WWII London where mysteries are around each corner, this is the book for you. 

4 stars

About the Author

Photo Credit: Wentzil Olivier

T.A. Willberg was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and holds a chiropractic master's 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.

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