I was really excited when I saw this book was up for review on Netgalley as I had been watching for it for quite a while. Unfortunately, I was disappointed because of the sheer amount of negative content.

Things I liked: Jackson's and Kit's sweet daughter Bella and her darling interactions with her Grandpa Turner. Also, her pet armadillo named Brooks. Martha was also a favorite character of mine. She had so, sooo much on her plate, but she handled it marvelously, was a wonderful mother to her children and a good friend to all. She spoke up for what was right and good, but she used tact. A true role model.

Things I didn't like: Language. Kit swears and I mean, a LOT. It's not always written out, but it's mentioned 3 times that I remember right off that she was swearing like a sailor and/or saying oaths that would make a sailor or deckhand blush. While I know Kit raised herself on the streets and had a hard life, she's had time over the last book to mature and mellow a bit. This along with along with several inappropriate comments she makes or thinks about her and Jackson's love life was part of why I rated this lower than I otherwise would have.

Hellhole, hell, Hades, hell bent, fools, what the devil, etc are used by various characters.

Sexual Content
A trollop or tramp in a slum district sports a horrifyingly revealing top that cause her to practically spill out the top of it. She flaunts herself and tries to provoke a undercover cop into staying with her. He refuses of course, and she comes off with a very vulgar retort on how a man's face or head wasn't body parts she paid attention to. A mention of a bawdy house and a flash house. A mention of a circus woman's scandalous costume. A mention of a married Kit trying to seduce Jackson to get her way, the details which I won't mention.
Someone mentions the "scoundrel that spawned us.."
A mention of a man having an affair with another man's wife. A villain who is likely a rapist crudely "jokes" about how he wouldn't squeal to the cops, but that he sure makes the ladies squeal.

Triggers:
Brief mentions of alcohol and a couple cops waiting to go out for a pint after work. Mention of a violent girl dismembering rats to scare other children.
Blood, deaths, moderate violence.

Sorry to say, I can't recommend this book. If you want a cleaner read, pick up either of the previous books in the series and you'll be better off.

Thank you to the publisher for the complimentary e-book I received to review through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and thoughts above are my own.

I loved catching up with Kit and Jackson! I particularly enjoyed seeing their relationship develop as parents as well. They are such a sweet couple and it is fun to read about!



The sleuthing was exciting in the story as it left me guessing as to who was involved. As Kit and Jackson get further involved in the case, the reader is left cheering them on and hoping they come out unscathed.



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.



The review will be posted on my blog as of March 1, 2024.

Another wonderful read. This is full of mystery, suspense, adventure, and romance and with a variety of stories running through the book, never boring. This author has a wonderful way of writing, blending many stories but never leaving you confused. This is the third book in the series. It was very hard to put down. Jackson and Kit are now married but the love they have for each other and the way the author had them learn what God would want for them and helped them to deal with their mistakes. I enjoyed the Christian addition to the story without it being over the top. Well worth the read for anyone who likes murder, mystery, and romance. I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and freely give my review.

The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane is the third book in Michelle Griep wonderful trilogy : “Blackfriars Lane” .
I loved catching up with Kit and Jackson! Jackson and Kit's marriage is tested as they try to deal with home life, work life, and raising a new baby.
They are now parents to a little girl Bella. Kit is struggling to find a balance between being a wife, mother and detective without giving up on one or the other. Jackson has his hands full with trying to keep his job as the new chief inspector at a London station.
Against her father's advice, Kit takes on a case involving a missing child, and it becomes more complicated than she expected and endangers those she loves.
As I expect from Michelle Griep’s books, the plot is gripping, chock full of action, danger, intrigue, and an interesting cast of new characters.
After a slow start, the story begins to pick up steam with lots of twists and turns and dangerous situations. In a word, it’s unputdownable!!

This has been one of the most enjoyable books I've read for a while. (I had no idea that this was part of a series, just thought it was a single book). The tale was gripping with twists and turns. It had me gripped throughout. I highly recommended this book.

Michelle grabs the reader's attention from the first page. Keeping business in the family, Kit and her Father, who has retired from the police force, start the story as they commence a new detective business in the town and Kit's husband is Chief Inspector at the local police station. As they go about their daily work, solving cases that come their way, many characters are cleverly intertwined into the story that is set in 1700/1800's England. Michelle remains true to historical businesses and landmarks, along with the colloqial speech of the day as the story unravels.
Read on to find out if Kit is able to balance motherhood and her passion of detective work? Can the family escape an unexpected turn of events when the Mr Child, the opium trader, comes up on top? Does Charles, the Inspectors right hand man, acknowledge his love for Martha, a mother of many children and carer for Kit and Jackson's daughter or does he choose to keep his love silent? Kit's spiritual learnings are delicately sprinkled throughout, offering an opportunity for the reader to pause and contemplate their own situation.

Michelle Griep did not disappoint. This book was a slow start for me but I am glad I kept going. The characters are enjoyable and the story line is both plausible and encourages you to think. I liked that the characters were not "perfect" but realized their weaknesses and worked on them. There was a great Christian theme that did not feel forced at all, which I love. There were several parts that made me chuckle and many of the events that I felt alongside the characters. A well written book that I will definitely recommend to my children.

Kit and Jackson are now wed and have a little girl in this, the third in the series, set in Victorian London. Enjoyed this one in parts, but didn't like the kidnapping aspect. Might just be me. Would still recommend this one though, and encourage you to read the others too.

What an interesting ride this series has been, watching Kit and Jackson grow from adversaries to allies, from friends to spouses, and now, from lovers to parents. Kit really struggles to balance using her sleuthing skills to bring about justice while still making a happy home life for her husband and their infant daughter, Bella. When dangers connected to her first case multiply, she reconsiders the cost. She has often put her life on the line, but Bella?! My adrenaline was really pumping as this talented couple put their heads and hearts together to wrap up this assignment. Strong performances from old friends Charles and Martha really sweeten this perfect tale. Can I hope Griep isn't satisfied to leave this a trilogy? Thanks to NetGalley for an early read; I was not required to post a review.

The Trilogy is complete now in this final offering of the Blackfriar's series. This story's mystery was so ADRENALINE packed I could hardly put the story down until I knew all came to end as it should. I'd like to thank Netgalley for allowing me to read this arc prior to release. The opinion expressed is entirely my own.

The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep shows a realistic question from a mother. Current mothers today have to choose between working outside the home or staying home and raise their children. With current inflation crisis, thanks to Biden's politics, many mothers do not have a choice but to go to work. Griep does a wonderful job at showing the conflicting emotions that Kit has about this chain of questioning. Other than that, Griep does a wonderful job at crafting a moving plot filled with plenty of moments of grace, suspense, and romance. I love novels that feature the same characters. Readers come to the know the characters and enjoy spending time with them as they grow and become part of our lives. Jackson and Kit's marriage is tested as they try to deal with home life, work life, and raising a new baby. Overall, The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep is going to be a wonderful addition to my library, and I'm really anxious to see what Griep comes up with next. She is a wonderful storyteller, and I have loved all of her stories that I have read.

I received a complimentary copy of The Sleuth of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

The Sleuth of Blackfrairs Lane is a fantastic story that will grab your attention from the start. Against her father's advice, Kit takes on a case involving a missing child, and it becomes more complicated than she expected and endangering those she loves.
Jackson and Kit are parents to a little girl Bella. Kit is struggling to find the balance being a wife, mother, homemaker, and detective without giving up on one or the other. Jackson has his hands full with trying to keep his job as the new chief inspector at a London station.
The plot was well written with action, danger, intrigue, interesting new characters, and Kit's tendency for sleuthing and finding herself in some interesting situations.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.