The Montford Maniac is the second light historical mystery by M.R.C. Kasasian to feature Lady Violet Thorn. Released 18th April 2024 by Canelo, it's 304 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is -not- a serious series, it's full of whimsy and silliness (which occasionally creep very close to the "too much" side of the equation). There are constant unending asides and internal dialogues on every page. The main character is a mystery author who has continual long dialogue with her fictional characters inside her own head and often talks to them out loud in public. They don't even confine themselves to the inside of her head, and are often seen stealing her baked goods and dribbling cookie crumbs down the back of her neck. All the inexplicable occurrences are vaguely waved away and not directly addressed. Readers should bring a hefty suspension of disbelief to the read and keep hold of it throughout.

It's ostensibly set in the Victorian era, but her behavior and language would've got Violet carted off and locked up under the "guardianship" of any convenient male post-haste. Her Aunt Igitha is a loathsome beast, truly unlikable and without any redeeming features whatever, and the scenes featuring her were tiresome to read.

The central mystery itself is well plotted and constructed, and there's a nice twisty ending. With two books extant in the series, it would potentiall be a good choice for a short binge/buddy read.

Three and a half stars. It's not exactly derivative, but fans of Horowitz and Hallett will possibly find something here.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I want to like this series because it seems like my cup of tea but I just can't connect with the main character at all. I find her more annoying than witty, and the characters in her head are confusing.

I loved all the series by M R C Kasasian but I'm not a huge fan of this series. It's a good homage to classic mystery and a lot of fun because the author always writes witty and original story.
Have fun, read it
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you Netgalley; Canelo (the publishers and to the author M. R, C Kasasian for The Montford Maniac. This is the second in the Violet Thorn mystery series of books and although I have not read the first one I absolutely loved this book. I now have to go and read the first one.

Bizarre Events..
The second outing in the Violet Thorn series of mysteries and a most bizarre and disturbing catalogue of events is set in motion following the arrival and requested departure of Lady Violet Thorn’s aunt. Aunt Igitha is truly detestable, but could she really be the Montford Maniac? With a well imagined backdrop, an eerie and atmospheric sense of time and place and a deftly drawn cast, this is an enjoyable historical mystery laced with a wry humour.

I was so looking forward to this as it sounded like just my Cup of Tea. The idea of detectives from a writers imagination was a new and different concept that just didn't work out very well for me in the end. They somewhat comedic at times but ultimately an annoying and irritating distraction from the mystery’s plot. On a plus the surprise at the end did truly surprise me. As this is a first book I would hope for some improvement in any following one's. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Is The Montford Maniac on the loose again after a ten-year absence? Lady Violet, author and amateur detective, is on the case. With the help of her fictional characters, can she solve the crime?

Hmmm, I so wanted to like this book. While I found the fictional characters in Lady Violet’s head original at first, they quickly became a somewhat comedic but ultimately annoying distraction from the mystery’s plot. However, there was a nice twist at the end. 3 stars for The Montford Maniac, a historical cozy mystery.

Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

The Montford Maniac by M R C Kasasian is a unique type of Mystery/ Historical fiction in that it has a cracking sense of humour throughout! I am a huge fan of Cosy Mysteries and this is set in Victorian times so absolutely it is my jam!

I adore Lady Violet Thorn's "inner voices" and their input. This adds a whole new dimension to an already genre busting book and had me utterly howling! Back to the plot however, oh I so wanted to yeet Aunt Igitha into next week! What an utter mare! Add to that crusty old baggage are not one, but two grisly moiders and deliveries of a nature as to raise concern!

I am hooked, absolutely hooked and now I need to go buy the entire back catalogue. How have I not head of Kasasian previously?? Brilliant, utterly sublime writing and I am all about it

Thank you to Netgalley, Canelo and the author MRC Kasasian for this belter of an ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I couldn’t finish this. Too waffly and just not for me.

Thank you Netgalley & Canelo Publishing for an eARC ♥️♥️♥️

Lady Violet Thorn's got some serious family drama going on, and then things take a dark and twisted turn. Think creepy aunts, gruesome murders, and a serial killer on the loose. It's like a Gothic thriller party in here!

I love how the story starts with Violet's relatable struggles with her annoying aunt Igitha, and then it escalates into this intense, suspenseful mystery. The author does a great job of dropping subtle clues and red herrings, keeping me guessing until the very end.

The atmosphere is super eerie and immersive, with vivid descriptions of the setting and characters. I felt like I was right there with Violet, trying to unravel the tangled web of secrets and lies.

The pacing is well-balanced too, with moments of intense action and horror, as well as some quieter moments of character development. I appreciated the complexity of the characters, especially Violet, who's both strong and vulnerable at the same time.

I thank NetGalley and Canelo for an advance reader copy of “The Montford Maniac.” All opinions and comments are my own.

The fictional characters that live in novelist Lady Violet Thorn’s very fertile imagination have a lot to say as they “assist” her in overcoming a missing fiancé, poison pen letters and personal attacks in “The Montford Maniac,” newest book in the Victorian-era series from historical mystery author M.R.C. Kasasian. The characters roam through the narrative and “talk” to her and thus the readers. It is a clever device – and eventually, annoying. As is maid Agnust, whose difficult dialog I also got weary of after a few pages.

This variation on a “Jack the Ripper” theme has its high points. But I wasn’t invested in Lady Violet, and the use of her “helpers” threw me out of the story every time. I enjoyed the humor, and the twist at the ending was an especially nice touch. But not enough to want to put up with too much more of Agnust and her equally fictional fellow hangers-on, in “The Montford Maniac.”

Liked the idea of this book but it wasn't for me, the plot was good but there was too much waffle and that slowed the pace down making it a bit boring and about 100 pages too long. It's the second in a series which I didn't realise until upon reading but it could easily be a standalone. Good effort with unique plot and setting but woeful humour and lacklustre characters

Book 3, but easily a standalone and recommended to anyone who wants sharp humor with their mysteries

While Lady Violet Thorn expels her truly awful Aunt Igitha from her home a series of accidents and deaths surround her and seem to be part of the threat Igitha has made. The events though also remind her of a series of murders 10 years earlier and the killer known as the Monford Maniac.

Lady Violet tries to make sense of the actions while dealing with inner voices that she uses to populate her novels. It's dark and gothic and victorian and absolutely wonderful!
#canelo #themontfordmaniac #mrckasasian

Oh my! Could not finish. If a mannered, ultra-whimsical book peppered with coy characters is your cup of tea, this is the book for you. A Victorian mystery writer interacts with her literary characters and the result is unappetizing