Premeditated Myrtle Review written by the Ent on 10/25/2020 This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog. **We reviewed an audiobook copy of the book from the publisher- our opinions are our own and we highly recommend the book**
Know Before You Read
Book: Premeditated Myrtle
Genre: Detective Mystery
Age suggested : 8 and up
Release Date: October 6th, 2020
Themes: Mystery, persistence, truth, relationships
Warnings: Death and police investigations, implied death of parent
Quick Summary of Premeditated Myrtle:
Myrtle is the daughter of a well respected prosecutor as well as a brilliant sleuth in her own right. When her neighbor dies, she jumps on to the case when the investigators say that it was simply a heart attack. The book is set in the 1890’s, so it definitely has undertones of Sherlock Holmes, but Myrtle still shines as her own unique personality.
Premeditated Myrtle Review: (Contains Light Spoilers)
–Why Read It-
Premeditated Myrtle is a great mystery book that manages to discuss big topics (such as death) while having an overall light feel to it. This is a great gateway for kids to enter the worlds of Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Peirot and Miss Marple. Overall, Premeditated Myrtle is simply a fun read for anyone interested in the mystery genre.
-Plot-
The overall plot of this book plays out like most mystery novels (especially those written for a younger audience). With that said, Premeditated Myrtle manages to keep a consistent level of intrigue throughout the book while maintaining an aura of mystery throughout. The intertwining nature of the two major plots of the book (one is romantic and one is the mystery) adds a level of tension to the character’s interactions.
-Characters-
This is where Premeditated Myrtle shines. There are so many very intriguing and likable people in this story. This is led by the title character, Myrtle Hardcastle. Myrtle manages to straddle the line between relatable pre-teen and detective genius wonderfully. No one can doubt her abilities, but they are unsharpened due to her inexperience. This ultimately shows her as a flawed character, with room for growth.
The other characters that deserve a nod are her father, Ms. Judson, and her neighbor’s cousin. The dynamic between these three characters (along with their interactions with Myrtle) carry the drama side of this book along quite nicely.
Premeditated Myrtle Discussion Questions:
- Myrtle is consistently supported by Ms. Judson throughout the story. Who is someone in your life who consistently supports you?
- Myrtle has a rough experience when her father takes her to his job. Have you ever been to your parent’s job(s)? If so, what was it like? If not, what do you think it would be like?
- Do you think you would be a good detective? Why or why not?
- Myrtle is convinced that her neighbor has been killed despite everyone not believing her at first. Have you ever knew something was correct even though no one believed you? What was it like?
If you enjoyed our Premeditated Myrtle Review, check out our other posts:
–Enola Holmes: The lesser known, yet just as brilliant Holmes sibling is on the case when her mother goes missing.
–3 Mystery Movies for Any Age: We have some mystery movies for any aged family. Check out our suggestions now!
–The Sleepover: A fun family movie in which mom’s a….ninja?!
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