I enjoyed Murder in Punch Lane, but it also frustrated me. The naivety of the main characters was distracting from the overall story because we're trying to solve a murder here, not a Nancy Drew-esque situation.

First of all, I want to thank Jane Sullivan, Echo Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC of Murder in Punch Lane and that’s my honest opinion.

Melbourne, 1868. Mary St Denis, una giovanissima ma già affermata attrice, muore per aver assunto una dose eccessiva di laudano. La sua migliore amica, nonché aspirante detective, Lola Sanchez, non crede che sia stato voluto, e comincia ad indagare per conto suo, affiancata da un affascinante giornalista.

Cosa dire. Purtroppo questo romanzo non è riuscito a conquistarmi. L’ambientazione e l’ispirazione a veri fatti di cronaca mi avevano spinto a chiedere l’eARC, ma la lettura si è rivelata piuttosto faticosa, e ci ho messo un bel po’ ad arrivare alla fine.
L’avvio è fin troppo rapido. Caso e personaggi vengono presentati in quattro e quattr’otto, senza che si crei un minimo di atmosfera, e la situazione non migliora con il procedere della storia. Non mi sono affezionata né a Lola né a Magnus, e in fondo la storia non ha nulla di particolarmente originale.

In a Nutshell: A historical murder mystery set in 1860s Melbourne and partly based on true events. The content turned out to be even darker than I expected. Loved the unusual setting and the atmosphere, but didn’t like the convoluted plot development, the impulsive characters, and the initially easy investigation of the mystery.

Plot Preview:
1868. Melbourne. When young theatre actress Lola Sanchez watches her best friend, a theatre star named Marie St. Denis, die in a painful manner, she refuses to believe, like everyone else does, that Marie chose to kill herself by overdosing on laudanum. However, as no one else is convinced by Lola’s claim that Marie was murdered, she embarks on a quest to find Marie’s killer. When a journalist named Magnus Scott writes a touching, almost-personal obituary for Marie, Lola approaches him for help. As the two amateur detectives traverse the dark alleys of Melbourne, they discover sinister truths connected to the wealthy and the powerful, which increases the danger every step of the way.
The story comes to us in the third-person perspective of the key characters.

Bookish Yays:
😮 The unique historical setting of 1860s Melbourne – captured well by the writing.
😮 Great atmosphere, especially in the second half when things get really murky.
😮 The author's note – caught me by surprise! Didn’t remember that this was based on actual people and some true events, so it was stunning to discover that whatever I thought might have been farfetched was actually true. Appreciate how the author clearly distinguishes fact from fiction.
😮 I love that cover, even though it is too serene for such a story. It does match the plot well.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
🧐 The lead duo of Lola and Magnus – Interesting and complicated characters, but not easy to connect to. Arcs too uneven to get a gauge on their actual personality. Very impulsive and a bit too confident in their abilities.
🧐 The other characters – quite intriguing in their own way, but not developed enough. Too many convenient turnarounds to be convincing.
🧐 Plenty of racist words, which suits the era but feels odd to read, especially as some aren't really necessary for the core plot.
🧐 The murder mystery begins somewhat dark but goes even darker as the investigation proceeds. While this might work for many readers, I wasn’t in the frame of mind to read about such heinous sexual assaults.
🧐 There are enough twists and turns to keep us on our toes, and the final reveal was also a surprise. However, the red herrings feel too convoluted and forced at times. The ups and downs don’t feel natural in the plot development.

Bookish Nays:
😔 The investigation by the “detective” - Lola seems to have almost 100% success in her maiden investigation. She gets detailed answers from any random person she questions on her very first attempt. She can create an in-depth backstory just from looking at some scattered clues on the murder site. The process felt far too straightforward, even though the results weren’t.
😔 Whenever she is referred to, Marie sounds much older than her actual age of seventeen. Also, her age is revealed only in chapter fifty, which is the final chapter of the book. Her age was an important factor in the plot, so it should have been revealed much earlier.

All in all, the history was great and the mystery was okay. As I said, I was not in the headspace for this read, and hence the second half was very disturbing for me, especially considering Marie’s age.

Recommended to those who enjoy prose more than the plot, are okay with really dark sexual content, and interested in reading a partly-fictionalised factual story.

2.75 stars.

My thanks to Echo Publishing for providing the DRC of “Murder in Punch Lane” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Set against the backdrop of 1800s Melbourne, Murder in Punch Lane follows the naive aspiring actress Lola as she grapples with the death of her best friend and renowned actress, Marie. While the official verdict points to an overdose, Lola is steadfast in her belief that Marie's death was no accident. With a unique set of skills, Lola embarks on a quest to uncover the truth while navigating the corrupt entertainment industry.

As an avid enthusiast of historical fiction and narratives through multiple perspectives, I had high expecations for Murder in Punch Lane. However, the novel ultimately did not meet the mark for me. Despite my experience as a seasoned reader, this one failed to engage me. I found the narration, dialogue, and vernacular to be suitable for only very advanced readers. I struggled to keep the characters distinct from one another and as though many elements of the story didn't 'fit'. I really wish I could have loved this one more!

In 1868 Melbourne, theatre star Marie St Denis dies under suspicious circumstances, leading her best friend Lola Sanchez to suspect foul play despite claims of suicide by laudanum overdose. Determined to find the truth, Lola teams up with journalist Magnus Scott, and together they navigate a dangerous investigation that challenges their societal boundaries and sparks a complicated attraction. Disguised as a boy, Lola infiltrates Melbourne's corrupt underbelly, uncovering shocking truths that put both her and Magnus in grave danger as they race to unmask the killer.

I went into this expecting it to be a gritty, dark mystery. But I was really unprepared for just how dark it was. I didn’t realize until the very end that Marie St. Denis, who dies at the beginning of the novel, is only seventeen years old. The entire narrative made her sound like a mature woman in her late twenties. I also found it difficult to like Lola and Magnus, which is unfortunate since the story alternates between them.

There is also an orgy. While it wasn’t described in great detail, it was enough to make me very uncomfortable. The fact that the murdered girl had been part of the secret organization’s “entertainment” made it so much worse. By the end, I’d guessed the murderer but found the details of why difficult to follow.

I’m not sure who I would recommend this to.

An incredible book with wonderful characters and a beautiful setting. It will keep you guessing until the end.

The setting of Melbourne 1863 alone was rare. The setting of theatre and the life that went on in theatres at the time was similar to theatres elsewhere. Actresses were popular, sought after but not quite polite society which was a sad reflection for the time.


Marie St Denis dies of a supposedly laudunam overdose. Her best friend Lola who was present is the only one who believes it was a murder and not an accidental death. Finding someone who’d believe her, and more importantly help her to track the murderer is impossible, despite the clues she has that everything is not quite what it seems.

It was an interesting mystery and the background setting made it even more so. The characters themselves seemed a bit too simple but it was probably the way people acted at the time.

I found this so slow and boring I just could not bring myself to finish it This is very unusual for me I can usually wade through if I must but not with this one the character's were one dimensional and it was like wading through mud. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

'If you hold their secrets, you have great power yourself'.

When Lola finds her friend, and fellow actress, Marie, insensible and she shortly dies in her arms thereafter, the police are quick to rule it as suicide - after all there were some suicide notes left nearby. But that's not the Marie that Lola knows. The Marie who was her best friend was full of life, the best actress, and had many admirers. Determined to find the murderer, Lola becomes an amateur sleuth, enlisting a cad about town, Magnus, or the 'Walking Gentleman' to his readers. As they uncover more, however, they become less sure just who the killer could be. In the underbelly of mid 19th Century Melbourne, criminals are everywhere and under-handed dealings are rife.

Hmm - this is one of these difficult books to rate. I found the writing and tone great- I felt fully immersed in the underbelly and alleyways of 19th Century Melbourne but the two main characters seemed a bit naive, 'Do you use powders and a magnifying glass and a tape measure and all that malarkey'? Further, it seemed as though the storyline became more complex, rather than the mystery. I'll still look for this author in the future though as her writing was lovely to read.

'Gothic crime in the laneways of 19th century Melbourne'. That is what caught my attention and I am glad it did as this is a fantastic book and one that is inspired by real events and it kept me enthralled throughout.

Set in Melbourne it takes you on a journey of life, crime, sins and secrets in the streets of 1868. Lola's friend Marie dies but is it suicide or is it murder? Will Lola find the truth or will this put her in danger too? Is there romance budding between Lola and the journalist Magnus Scott?

There is so much happening in this book that you have to keep reading. It is a thrilling and intriguing read, it keeps you guessing and you never know what is around the next corner. Great atmosphere, great characters and a great storyline. I really enjoyed this book and found it quite entertaining and think I need to see what else this author has written.

Thank you NetGalley and Echo Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

If you're a fan of the charming intrigue found in Miss Scarlet and The Duke, then Murder in Punch Lane by Jane Sullivan is right up your alley. This murder mystery keeps you guessing with its mix of captivating characters and occasional dips into monotony.

While some parts drag like molasses on a winter's day, Sullivan surprises with sudden bursts of action that propel the story forward. The inconsistency in pacing is a drawback, but it hints at the author's potential growth in future works.

The corrupt underbelly of 1860s Melbourne and the fringes mingle in an exciting but dangerous place where compromises, danger and murder exist side by side. Lola, an up and coming actress is determined to find the murderer of her best friend, Marie, a theatre star. But no one will take her serious. So she turns to a journalist for help. Their volatile relationship creates sparks and threatens the investigation. But as they delve deeper into the case they are unprepared for the truth they find that extends to the highest and lowest parts of society and the dangers to themselves.

Sullivan does a wonderful job of creating the atmosphere and setting for this interesting mystery. Some of it seemed a bit obvious to me but I thought it was a well-crafted story.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Murder in Punch Lane succeeds in two ways... it is a marvelous work of historical fiction, and it has a wonderful murder mystery to solve. I was hooked from the very beginning, and couldn't read fast enough. I highly recommend this book.

Dark doings in Melbourne 1868!

I really wanted to love this. I’m familiar with the laneways around this area of Melbourne. Chock full of the city’s history, where the dark underbelly of the city met the rich and powerful. A step away from Parliament, a whisker from the Melbourne Club.
When Marie St. Denis, a highly regarded actress and best friend of Lola Sanchez, dies in Lola’s arms, Lola decides to find out who’s responsible.Lola’s a struggling actress.
The police won’t investigate. The coroner, a friend of Marie’s has ruled Marie’s death as suicide? Lola seeks the help of Magnus Scott, popular newspaper reporter, aka the Walking Gentleman.
A solid mystery for sure but didn't quite inveigle me.

An Echo ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

I really wanted to like this, but it read more like Gothic horror than Gothic mystery to me. I’m sure less sensitive readers would enjoy it.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

"Melbourne, 1868. When dazzling theatre star Marie St. Denis dies in the arms of her best friend, fellow actress Lola Sanchez, everyone believes it was suicide by laudanum overdose. Everyone except Lola. On the brink of stardom herself, she risks everything by embarking on a quest to find Marie's killer.

When journalist Magnus Scott, writing as 'the Walking Gentleman', publishes a compassionate obituary about her friend, Lola decides to seek his help. A fraught attraction develops between these two amateur detectives from opposite sides of society, and their volatile relationship soon begins to compromise their investigation.

Lola keeps a secret from Magnus. She traverses the corrupt underbelly of the brash young metropolis just as he does, but disguised as a boy, entering dangerous, forbidden spaces where the lives of the rich and privileged intersect with the city's underclass and outsiders: bohemians, theatre folk, prostitutes, down-and-outs and opium addicts.

Neither are prepared for the truths they will uncover about the powers that rule Melbourne - or the consequences for their own lives. And now they must race to find the murderer before the city destroys them both."

I have become obsessed with Australia lately, especially anything set in Melbourne.

First of all, the cover is beautiful and I am so bummed that it didn't transfer when I downloaded it. Now, on to the actual review. This kind of reminded me of Sherlock Holmes and miss phryne fisher. It was a real page turner and loved every moment