This book was a great read! It has mystery, drama, suspense and just enough twists and turns to make it a book you can't put down. I would recommend that you start with book 1 and read them in order to get the most enjoyment out of this series. I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Christian Historical Fiction.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

As the third and final book in the series, The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane did not disappoint! Michelle Griep is a masterful storyteller who brilliantly weaves together elements of family, faith, romance, history, mystery, and good and evil.

I have adored Jackson and Kit from the very beginning and in book three I enjoyed seeing them grow not only in their marriage and faith, but also in trying to balance their new roles with being new parents. I also liked seeing more of Graybone and his softer side, the growing love and affection between Charles and Martha, and the introduction of two characters, who either because of their quirkiness or eccentric ways, remind us of the wisdom in not being quick to judge but rather slow to listen.

In many ways, book three read much more like book one than book two in that it was well-paced and kept my interest throughout. The only reason why this isn’t a five-star read for me is because of some of the content. And because of the content, I do believe some may need to read this more as Fiction with elements of faith than Christian Fiction.

Star Rating: 4.5 stars, rounded down.

Thank you, NetGalley and Barbour Publishing, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What an exhilarating, adventurous conclusion to Michelle Griep’s Blackfriars Lane series! I fell in love with Kit and Jackson from book one, and it’s been so wonderful to see their story continue all the way through The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane. This story kept me on my toes and holding my breath from the first pages. It’s a tale that will suck readers in and keep them guessing. Definitely add this series to your TBR! 4/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Another exciting adventure with Kit & Jackson Forge! Michelle Griep knows how to write a compelling series. I’ve loved each book in the Blackfriars Lane series and highly recommend starting with book 1! The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane is book 3 and I’ve loved watching Kit & Jackson fall in love, marry, and now experience parenthood all while solving crimes and bringing ne'er-do-wells to justice.

In this story, Kit experiences the conflicts of balancing motherhood with her desire to be a private investigator. She and her father have opened up a detective agency while her husband works as the new Chief Inspector of one of London’s busy police stations. While Jackson’s under pressure to meet the demands of his superiors, Kit’s struggling with whether or not she should stay home with their darling one year old daughter Bella. When she’s presented with a case of a missing husband and child, the mother’s plight tugs on Kit’s heartstrings. Though her father’s suspicious, Kit vows to locate the missing child. But, all is not as it seems and as Kit & Jackson unravel the mystery, they find more than they bargained for, putting many lives in danger including their own daughter.

Kit & Jackson are such a fantastic team. It was fun seeing their domestic life mixed in with solving crimes. Kit’s a terrible cook though she tries, but her sweet affection for her husband more than makes up for it. They’ve acquired a pet armadillo whose antics provide some funny, lighthearted moments. Bella’s adorable and both Kit & Jackson are in a competition to get her to say mama & papa. The secondary characters bring another fun dynamic to the story. I enjoyed the budding romance between Martha & Inspector Baggett. I also liked the quirky characters in the police station including Mr. Catchpole & Harvey.

The mystery was complex with several twists and turns. It kept me on the edge of my seat and the ending was especially intense. It’s very much a Dickens-like story that doesn’t shy away from Society’s gritty aspects. I loved the way faith was naturally woven in and the lessons learned such as paying attention to the talents of those around you and recognizing you can’t do it all.

This is definitely a must read series for historical mystery/romance fans! Though I think this is the last book, I’m not ready to let these characters go. I’m hoping there’re more mysteries and adventures in store I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane is the 3rd in a series. And it is extremely important that you read the first two books first. I did not realize how connected these books would be and feel I did myself (and Michelle Griep) a disservice by not reading them first.
This was a story of intrigue and suspense. Twists and turns around every corner. It had me guessing and wondering what was going to happen next. I did enjoy the book. But know that it would have been even better if I had read the others first. I look forward to reading more by Griep in the future.

Kit Turner, the street smart young woman is now married to the police of chief, Jackson Forge, but she has not given up her street wits and wiles. Even though she is now a mother of a little girl who has her and Jackson's love completely and they are very possessive and protective of her. Kit and her father have joined forces and have formed an investigation agency. On her very first case she is distracted and led astray and almost loses her life. And of course Jackson is brought into the foray and his life is in danger also and it seems any one that Kit has connections with is in danger. Hold on to your seats as you read this exciting book one that you will not want to put down. I was gifted an early E-copy of this delightful book by the publisher and the author and I am delighted to leave my positive review.

The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep was a fun read in her Blackfriars Lane series. Book 3 follow Kit Forge, her husband, Jackson, and a myriad of other friends and family as she sets off on an adventure to solve a case for the detective agency she runs with her father. In typical Kit fashion she can’t do anything simple or without a bit of turmoil. Will she be able to juggle all the roles in her life…wife, mother, detective? And more importantly, will the people she loves survive the danger involved with her case? I guess you’ll have to read it and find out. (Thank you NetGalley & Barbour Fiction for letting me preview this book. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to leave a positive review & all opinions are my own.)

I was unfamiliar with Michelle Griep and stumbled upon this book because it was residing among my favorite genre. Also unaware that this was the final book of a series. It didn’t disappoint because the author makes you comfortable with the characters from the very beginning. I was drawn into the story from the very beginning. Kit and her father are opening a detective agency. Main character Kit is spunky and is undeterred by knowing the underbelly of London’s citizens, she has made connections to the right people to have her share of informants. Her father, a retired Chief inspector, has plenty of his own and believes Kit should concentrate more on being more domestic for Jackson’s sake He has been made Chief Inspector. They have an almost toddler, Bella, whostays with Kit’s best friend, Martha, at her soup kitchen during the day. Fortunately, Martha has daughters who can keep a close watch on Bella when Martha gets very busy.. We watch the beginning of a romance between Martha and Charles, Jackson’s best friend. We also see how a give and take relationship works with a young couple just finding their way around a marriage and work. Jackson could starve since his wife can’t cook at all. Has to get his coffee and food from the street vendors. On his way to work. Kit worries their advertisements we’re’nt working because they didn’t have any clients their first morning.her dad is relaxed and says it will happen all in God’s time. To relax. Then comes in a woman in desperate need of help finding her scoundrel of a husband who had kidnapped their daughter. Kit couldn’t wait. and wanted to take the case because it pulled on her heartstrings. They placated the woman enough to get rid of her. Father told Kit absolute no, they didn’t have all the facts. Kit didn’t take no for an answer and took it upon herself to solve. Every time she met with the mother she felt as if she had seen her eyes beforebut couldn’t place where she had seen her. Then the story really takes off it merges with Jackson’s investigations. The one thing that disturbed me was using Martha’s son for recon information on a high risk info gathering mission. Lots of humor throughout. So many characters with unique personalities. Special thanks to the following for giving me an unedited copy to read and give my own honest opinion. #NetGalley,MichelleGriep, #TheSleuthsOfBlackfriarLane. Yes, I will definitely be recommending.this book. Available now.

Michelle Griep concludes the Blackfriars Lane trilogy with a bang!

In "The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane," sparks fly as Kit and Jackson attempt to balance married life, a babe in arms, and perilous investigations into Victorian London's criminal underworld. Fans of “Miss Scarlet and the Duke” will love this jaunty story's action-packed blend of mystery and romance.

If you're in the mood for a rollicking adventure with Dickensian flair, “The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane” is sure to be your cup of tea!

Heart-pounding action and heartwarming romance abound in this third adventure for Kit and Jackson! I adored seeing Jackson progress as a loving and protective husband and father, and seeing Kit be a spunky detective who grows wiser as a mother and wife is a wonderful character arc for her in this series. Seeing Kit strike a balance in her life that didn’t compromise one dream at the expense of another was extremely satisfying. Seeing two other series characters find love was another wonderful addition to this romantic tale! The entire cast of side characters was so well constructed, multidimensional, interesting, and throughly entertaining! Best of all, the mystery and action was SO compelling! There were so many twists and turns that kept me guessing (and audibly gasping!) until the sweet happy ending! It was a hard won happily ever after for Jackson and Kit, and the very best conclusion to a wonderful series.

I received a copy of this book for review purposes, but my opinion is my own. I really did ADORE it!

I enjoyed reading the first two books from Michelle Griep's Blackfriars Lane series and was excited to have the opportunity to read the third installment, The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane. Since this is a series, I advise others to read the books in order to have a better experience. It was great continuing Kit and Jackson's story. I once again found myself caught up on one of their adventures that, also, included some mystery and suspense. I loved it.


I am giving The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read clean historical fiction.
I am curious to see what other stories Michelle Griep has in store for her fans next.

I received a copy of Michelle Griep's The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Wife. Mother. Homemaker. Detective. Kit Forge wears many hats, and if that’s not enough, she’s partnered with her father to open a new detective agency. It’s hard to be all things to all people, but Kit never shies away from the impossible. Despite her hard work and good intentions, some things fall through the cracks. Namely, her husband. But Jackson barely notices. He’s too busy putting out his own fires. As the new chief inspector of a busy London station, he must salvage the disaster left behind by the former police chief—an obstacle made all the harder when the superintendent breathes an ultimatum down his neck. Against her father’s advice, Kit takes on a case involving a missing child, one in which she and Jackson become a little too emotionally involved. . .and end up endangering their own little girl in the process. Can Kit and Jackson learn that just because they can say yes doesn’t mean they should? (GoodReads synopsis)

I normally like this series, but I just cannot say this is one of my favorites. There is a big-time jump, it feels like, from how the second book ended and this one began. There are references to the time jump but there are also moments where even I forgot who Kit’s father was. I also wasn’t entirely sure whose job it was that Jackson had been promoted into.

I found it difficult to relate this Kit to previous novel Kit. She seemed to be lost, and I understand that she would be different in a sense, but there was also a hollowness to her. Like she knew to pray to God, but it was a gesture and not a leap of faith.

The mystery was fine, and I liked the additional romance.

Overall, I rate this novel 3 out of 5 stars.

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, but this one fell flat for me.

Kit's "cussing like a sailor" (her own words) hadn't been used to describe her in previous books--why start now? In addition, her use of marital relations to get what she wanted felt over the top and also at odds with previous books; true, she and Jackson hadn't been married then, so I appreciate that that element wasn't there--but I also didn't really feel it fit now, even though they're married. Kit felt fundamentally changed as a character, and that is what really stands out to me as most problematic.

I did enjoy Charles and Martha's romance; that was a highlight and the redeeming factor of the read.

Gripe's "Of Monsters and Men" duology is my preferred series by her, and one I'd be glad to revisit next time round.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Why I chose this book: Michelle had me hooked on this series from the first book. Both my teen daughter and I have enjoyed the series and wait expectantly for the next book to come out.

Type of Book: Historical fiction, action

Overall: This was a pretty enjoyable read. Kit is as feisty as ever. There is such a cast of characters in this work and I found myself wondering how they were all going to tie together--it was masterfully done! I like the message Forge learns by the end of the story, and though a little obvious, it is a good message that is well displayed throughout.

I will say character descriptions are one of Michelle's greatest strengths. Take this one for example: "A round ball of a man rolled in, his spectacles so thick the eyes behind them popped like an owl's. 'Inspector Ira Harvey reporting for duty, sir.' He yanked out a handkerchief and swiped it across his sweaty brow--which did nothing to relieve the darkened circles of perspiration spreading out from his armpits. The man didn't look capable of finding a child's stolen lollipop, let alone hauling in a ruthless criminal."

And take this one describing little Frankie: "Martha's boy was at that awkward age between colt and stallion."

Michelle does a fantastic job of giving each character his/her own voice. I tell clients all the time that dialogue has to have purpose--even internal dialogue. Hearing something like: "Much could be gleaned when tossing up a statement and allowing the chaff to blow away," tells me about the character who speaks it. Again, Michelle is a master at character.

However, I dock a star because this story, while fine, wasn't gripping. Not every story is. Getting a four-star review is still exemplary. The editing could have caught a thing or two but that just gets missed sometimes when there have been so many rewrites (which every great book has!). For example, a conversation with Bellows in the beginning of the story is not fluid: Charles asks for a "brief" word with Bellows, and three pages later Bellows comments, "Brief, eh?" It took me a minute to figure out where that "brief" comment came from. I was so caught up in the dialogue and story that I didn't remember the one comment from three pages back. It is that kind of thing that editors are to catch and this one just slipped through. My rule to live by: never pop that fictive bubble we work so hard to pull our readers into.

Favorite Quotes/Characters: I love Kit. She's a fireball. And to watch her work through some things in the story made for a good plotline.

And again, the descriptions of this poor inspector Harvey! Cracks me up: Forge "shoved the file across the desk. 'Then shut it down.' 'Mmm...I cannot, sir.' The man shook his head, an amazing feat considering it didn't appear he had a neck."

Bookshelf worthy? If you have the others, you might as well add this one so you have the set. Because of the teenability score, I probably won't have it on my shelf although I did enjoy the story.

Teenability: I wouldn't recommend it for younger teens. And some of the things, while not showy, were just a little much even for me. For example: "Say it again.' His lips moved against the throbbing pulse just beneath her skin. 'Say my name and never stop saying it.' 'Charles.' She moaned. 'Oh, Charles.'" (me: gag)

**Side note: the audio version is very well done.**

I really wanted to love this book, but I just had the hardest time getting into it for some reason. While I loved Kit in the first book, she has gotten progressively more frustrating to me, and I don't know if that's me or her, but the decisions she makes kind of drive me crazy since she got together with Jackson. In the first book, she was really stubborn, but it seemed like it was always for the sake of others, but in this latest one, it seems more about satisfying her own wants and desires, and it made her stubbornness much less attractive. I did thoroughly enjoy the Baggett and Martha storyline though. That kind of saved the book for me.

I thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with Jackson, Kit, and the rest of the crew in the final book of the Blackfriars Lane series! Michelle Griep wrote a funny, emotional, and action packed mystery that will have you turning pages to find out what kind of trouble pops up next. I really need to read her other books that have been on my TBR forever!

Thank you to Barbour Books and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Reasons to read:
-Romance, action, complex mystery, comedy, and faith elements
- Work/Life Balance
- General mayhem
- Dual POV
- Miss Scarlet and the Duke Vibes
- Series final

My Thoughts:
In the final installment to the Blackfriars Lane series, Jackson and Kit are happily married and raising their baby daughter, Bella. But between raising their daughter and trying to balance their demanding careers respectively, things can get messy. Add an investigation that impacts them all to the mix, and things go downright chaotic.

I loved every moment of this story. From the strong, and flirty, relationship between Kit and Jackson, to the mystery packed with twists and turns the Sleuh of Blackfriars Lane was an entertaining read. I loved the balance the author achieved, showing the realistic and happy life of Kit, Jackson, and Bella, and the darker, grittier scenes of a crime-plagued Victorian England. It was also so good to see the growth of Jackson and Kit from the first book, until now. The author did great work in showing the challenges and emotions Kit faced while being a working mother, especially during a time when it was uncommon.

The secondary characters added to the progression of the main plot, while also adding a second romance. This romance helped highlight the strength of the main couple's relationship, and both characters had their share in helping solve the final mystery. The mystery plot itself was well thought out, and while it seemed the cases taken on by Kit and Jackson would not be intercepted, I appreciated how the dots connected by the end. There was plenty of action and suspense, keeping the pages turning as they steadily built up to a dramatic climax. I knew there was to be a happy ending, but that didn’t stop my heart from hearting at the dangers the family faced. Through this all, there was a steady faith element that was weaved brilliantly into the pages. Loud enough to deliver a message, yet stubble as not to distract from the plot.

Kit and Jackson have become memorable characters for me. It is truly bittersweet to say goodbye to these characters, and the world Greip has created. I would gladly continue to read more books about them - yet I felt the ending was perfect. The good thing that can be found with a series ending is that now, I can wait patiently for Griep to deliver new stories, with the confidence that I will enjoy them just as much as I have with The Blackfriars Lane series.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭:
Clean Romance (kissing only)
Trigger Warning: Death, Suicide, Kidnapping,

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I have loved this series, and I highly suggest reading it in order to fully appreciate a d enjoy the series.

I love Kit, though at times I want to shake my finger at her and ask what she's thinking. Her heart is in the right place, but she can get herself in quite a fix sometimes. This series deals with some of the unsavory parts of the world, but love and God always triumph. I really enjoyed the journey and adventure this story took me on. I'm sad to see this journey end.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley, and this is my honest review.

This was a fun addition to the Blackfriars series! I enjoyed seeing how Kit and Jackson's lives had changed and how they adjusted to those changes. I also liked that Charles and Martha's relationship had some time in the spotlight. The mysterious plot was well done and kept me on the edge of my seat.

As this book brings the conclusion to the trilogy I would say well done. That being said I feel that the story was well developed but I had trouble with the lack of real communication and while the faith element was there the innuendo and sexual content was to much. Definitely not a favorite book by this author for me