The Thief of Blackfriars Lane

Spunky and spirited Kit Turner uses her brains and beauty to run scams in Victorian London to provide for the poor and destitute of Blackfriars Lane. However, when an old friend goes missing, she turns to the handsome new constable Jackson Forge for assistance in tracking him down. Jackson Forge is new to law enforcement and has one chance to impress his captain and remain on the police force --find this missing cab driver and solve the case. Kit and Jackson, con and policeman, agree to a truce and work together. As danger escalates and the case turns into much more than a single missing man, their attraction grows, and the partnership becomes something much more.Michelle Griep delivers a spunky and romantic Victorian mystery that captivates and entertains readers, taking them from the back alleys and sewers of London to the Lord Mayor’s ballroom. With a thoroughly exciting and engaging plot, we follow our hero and heroine across London to solve a mystery that unfolds into bigger conspiracy. I truly felt like I escaped to Victorian London because each scene was set perfectly with excellent description and dialogue. Although I did predict the villain of the story about halfway through, I was still thoroughly captivated until the very end with how the entire mystery was solved and how the final confrontation played out. There were so many twists and turns in the storyline that I was completely entertained until the last page. My favorite part of this story was the enemies to lovers couple dynamic, with wonderfully written chemistry and romance between Kit and Jackson. A strong female protagonist who can still be rescued by a dashing hero is always my favorite! I highly recommend The Thief of Blackfriars Lane to anyone looking for an entertaining read that allows you to escape to Victorian London and perhaps even solve a mystery or two!

This was a really enjoyable book that takes place in London’s Victorian era.An action packed mystery that keeps you guessing and a sweet romance.Also enjoyed the historical notes at the end.Looking forward to book two!

So much fun! I loved it! Heading straight into book 2!

This book - THIS BOOK! - What a ride. Griep takes us from the opulence of the ballroom down into the very sewers of London, then back into the constable's station, tumbling out into the dark alleyways of Blackfriars Lane. This madcap adventure reads like a rollercoaster, following two impetuous individuals as they race against the clock (and - whoops - maybe even towards each other). It was refreshing to have the plot focus on the mystery rather than the romance; we watch their relationship develop as they work together on their mutual goal, but it isn't the primary focus.There is a fairly lengthy cast list, but the number of developed characters simply adds to the plot. Through their complexity, we learn that the richness of London comes from people in all walks of life, not just the wealthy or powerful. Kit in particular also reminds us to guard against judging people by their appearances alone, and to not place too much emphasis on first impressions. She may be wounded and scrappy, but she has a heart of gold; she just needs a companion willing to challenge her sometimes reckless decisions. Likewise, Jackson - a green Constable - seems to be naively idealistic, but we learn later that he has been formed by past wounds and grief just as much as Kit. Both Jackson and Kit have intensely personal reasons for making London a better place. Their quote, "To us - unlikely and unstoppable", perfectly describes the pair: powerful as individuals, unstoppable as a duo. How I would love to read more of their adventures.Christian themes softly weave through the story (moreso in the second half than the first). There is violence, but it is not glorified nor graphically described. Character interactions are squeaky clean.

I received a free ARC of this story from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.“For want of a properly working pocket watch, Jackson Forge failed to save the world today—or at least the City of London. Now he’d be lucky to save himself.”With this beginning as an indicator, I had a feeling that I was in for a great read. And it was everything! Every raving review I had read, every five-star rating, everything I was hoping for and more. Rarely do I form a final opinion about a story until I finish, but this was an exception. I rated it a five-star read from the first page and by the time I was halfway finished, I was ordering a paperback copy, knowing that it would be an instant favorite. From interesting characters and thrilling plots, to surprising twists and unexpected conclusions, this story was a non-stop adventure from beginning to end. The author’s writing style has a unique tone that perfectly balances detail and dialogue to fully immerse readers into the characters’ lives. I love Jackson and Kit and would enjoy reading more of their adventures!Another reviewer wrote this story is reminiscent of Zootopia without the animals and it is true. I thought the resemblance was neat since Zootopia is another favorite of mine.The Thief of Blackfriars Lane is the first book I have read by Michelle Griep and I am excited to read more of her past and future releases!

I started this book while visiting London. It started off well, but it sort of fizzled for me at about 75%. There were quite a few characters mentioned and it was hard to predict how important they were to the overall plot. I loved the scenes with Kit and Forge on the run, especially being chased in the underground tunnels. I definitely felt the couple had chemistry which was a big plus. I would probably have enjoyed the book more if it wasn’t quite so lengthy.

For me, this book dragged in a couple of areas (like when Jackson was searchingfor the missing man and then found Kit & also while Kit and Jackson were tryingto find the person behind the disappearance), but the pacing got better. Loved theinteraction between them since they consider themselves on the different sides ofthe law. Also loved the facts about London and its history. Must read.

What an enjoyable read! The Thief of Blackfriars Lane started off a bit slowly for me, but once it picked up I was fully engaged!