Modern Women Solving Crimes

The Bachelor Girl’s Guide To Murder by Rachel McMillan is a Christian historical novel set in Toronto at the beginning of the twentieth century.

The heroines Merinda and Jem are very modern women for their time. Neither are married, inspite of parental pressure. In an age where marriage was the be all and end all, the bachelor girls are certainly defying convention. At night they both wear men’s clothing to enable them to walk the streets safely. They have set themselves up to solve crimes. The amateur sleuths base themselves on Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson in their thoughts and actions. As with the famous duo, so one is a more dominant personality than the other.

The novel explores the criminal underworld. The streets of Toronto prove to be a very dangerous place after dark, especially for women alone.

The city is rife with corruption. Men will go to extraordinary lengths to keep their activities secret.

Friendship is an important theme. Circumstances threw Merinda and Jem together but friendship binds them.

There is also the theme of family. Newspaper reporter Ray has a close bond with his sister and nephew. He puts their welfare and well being above his own.

Immigration and poverty run side by side in the novel. Groups of immigrants came to Toronto for a better life. However the realities did not match the expectations.

Bubbling beneath the surface is a blossoming romance. The reader spots it unfolding before the characters realise the strength of their feelings for each other.

I enjoyed The Bachelor Girl’s Guide To Murder, finding it an amusing read at times as Jem is rather accident prone. It kept me guessing till the end. An entertaining afternoon’s read.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review.  No monetary compensation was received and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON

Blog tour on Litfuse The Bachelor Girls Guide To Murder