A Case of Grave Danger (The Violet Veil Mysteries)

A Case of Grave Danger (The Violet Veil Mysteries)

By Author / Illustrator

Sophie Cleverly, Hannah Peck

Genre

Adventure

Publisher

HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN

9780008297350

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

21-01-2021

Synopsis

A breakout new detective series, from the author of the spine-tingling SCARLET AND IVY series, beautifully illustrated by Hannah Peck.


Violet Veil wants nothing more than to prove her worth and become her father's apprentice at Veil & Sons Undertakers. And one rain-soaked night she gets her chance when she meets a boy, Oliver, who is wandering around the graveyard. Only, the last time Violet saw Oliver, he was indoors and very much dead, waiting to be buried. Violet has just found her first case, and it doesn't get bigger than this: can she, with the help of her dog, Bones, help Oliver solve his own 'murder'?

Reviews

Donna

A brilliant first book in a new series by the author of the Scarlet and Ivy series. I was sceptical when first beginning to read this book as it's not my usual type (and I had never read the Scarlet and Ivy series). However, I thoroughly loved it! The story whisks you along, as Violet, Oliver (a 'dead' shoeshine boy), and her dog Bones, try to solve the mystery of Oliver's own 'murder'!

Violet's life shows the expectations of women in Victorian times were much less than that of men. She is an undertaker's daughter who would love nothing more than to help her dad with his work. However, an undertaker is no profession for a woman, as her mother - Iris - keeps telling her. Violet is a feisty girl who was born in the mortuary and has certain talents, such as communicating with the dead! She lives with her parents and her younger six-year-old brother, Thomas.

Violet is undeterred by the police officers who, it seems, are convinced Violet's father has something to do with the murders. She is determined to prove his innocence before it's too late and the noose has claimed her father's life.

This is a spooky story which had me, as the reader, changing views as to why the murders of four rich men, and one attempted murder of a penniless shoeshine boy, happened. Who is the perpetrator? Is it The Black Widow (Miss Stone) who once worked for her family, but her father had to let go? Or is she just a decoy? Is it Violet's father, who is in debt and blackmail notes have been found in his office?

I loved that Bones, the greyhound, took such an influential role in the adventure. An excellent read!

336 pages / Ages 8+ / Reviewed by Donna Ritchie, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+

 

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