** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. **

(Which surprises me, now that I see it was first published in 2010. What's a nearly decade-old book doing on NetGalley?)

Anyway.

This was a really fun little read! Kid!Me, who was interested in history and Victorian London and murder would have loved it... and to be honest Adult!Me really enjoyed it as well.

For a few seconds a wish crossed his mind that some adult could take charge, but he had long learned that such thoughts were dangerous and weakening...

Alfie is a streetwise orphan who looks after his "gang", comprised of his blind brother Sammy and two cousins, Tom and Jack. They make ends meet by doing odd jobs and performing with their dog Mutsy. Then Alfie is recruited by a policeman to help investigate a local murder, and things get a lot more dangerous.

The plot is tight and easy to follow, getting straight to the point and keeping my interest a bit too well - I was trying to read a couple of chapters before bed but the cliffhangers kept me reading well past my bedtime! Harrison has clearly done a lot of research into the time period and it shows, without overwhelming the story.

Would I read the next book in the series? Definitely. And now I see they've already been published, I might just try to track them down. ( )

I was surprised to find this book was already a decade old. It also seems to be labeled as an adult mystery, when it reads more like something meant for middle-grade children. With that in mind, I thought the book was well written and at a good length for kids ages 9-14. The plot was okay, but it wasn't thrilling and the mystery wasn't very captivating.

*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review* ( )

This is the first in the London Murder Mystery YA series set in the Victorian era. Alfie and his four friends, including the dog, are orphans turned amateur sleuths. In this mystery they are investigating the murder of a wealthy man.

It’s an entertaining tale with just the right amount of suspense, gore and action to appeal to younger readers, whilst adults should find it a quick, easy and engaging read. The main characters are instantly likeable and reminded me a little of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five! The sights and sounds of London are well described and give a good sense of time and place. It has an interesting plot which kept me turning the pages to find out ‘whodunnit’.

An enjoyable and fun read.

Thanks to Sapere Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. ( )

Reviewed for Netgalley.
Archie, his blind brother Sammy, his two cousins and a large dog all live in Dickensian London cellar. They earn money for rent any way they can but mostly through begging with Sammy's angelic singing and the antics of the dog.
On one such escapade they try to steal some bread and Archie is caught by the police. While in custody, a detective picks his brains about a recent murder and what the word on the street is about it. There is a reward offered and so Archie decides to try and earn the reward after the detective lets him go.

Lots of twists and turns in this mystery with fairly believable characters that I quite warmed to and made me want to read another in the same series. For fans of Sherlock Holmes and other mysteries as set in similar time. ( )