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Montmorency #2
Montmorency On The Rocks: Doctor, Aristocrat, Murderer?
Montmorency -- the man leading a double life, torn between his two identities -- returns in this gripping sequel to MONTMORENCY: THIEF, LIAR, GENTLEMAN?
Five years after giving up his life of crime in the London sewers, Montmorency is back. But his evil alter ego, Scarper, has returned too, pulling him back into a dark world of crime.
Montmorency's old friend and fellow government agent, Lord George Fox-Selwyn, fights to rescue him from disaster. The two men are needed now more than ever, as a rash of bombings threaten to destroy England's rail lines. And only Montmorency's intimate knowledge of the London underworld can save the city...
Five years after giving up his life of crime in the London sewers, Montmorency is back. But his evil alter ego, Scarper, has returned too, pulling him back into a dark world of crime.
Montmorency's old friend and fellow government agent, Lord George Fox-Selwyn, fights to rescue him from disaster. The two men are needed now more than ever, as a rash of bombings threaten to destroy England's rail lines. And only Montmorency's intimate knowledge of the London underworld can save the city...
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2004
27 people are currently reading
610 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor Updale
22 books74 followersEleanor Updale studied history at St. Anne's College, Oxford, before becoming a producer of TV and radio current affairs programmes for the BBC. Her first children's novel, Montmorency, won the Silver Smarties Prize and the Medway Book Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
March 12, 2025
A very entertaining novel of mild adventure featuring the British government agents Lord George Fox-Selwyn and his schizophrenic, drug-taking sidekick Montmorency, also known as Scarper when his Mr. Hyde personality takes over. But who was it written for? The themes are adult: drug abuse and addiction, bomb planting terrorists, suspicious child deaths, and what is suspected to be a murderously perverted pastor. Not much fun there for a young adult audience and no characters to cheer along fighting the bad guys. Yet it was first published by Scholastic Children's Books.
The characters are portrayed very well, though they lack the emotional depth one would expect in an adult novel. While sexual attraction is decorous and well behaved, violence - the terrorists and their bombing campaign - is described at a distance (there are reports of the bloodshed and maimings). The emotional impact of addiction and the fear that a serial killer may be active on a small Scottish island are both contained to show their seriousness yet not too much of their scariness. It is as if the author, or perhaps the publisher, felt they were balancing on a high wire: beneath the plot driven action there is a really good adult mystery asking to be fleshed out.
It may have been better to have split the story into two. A young adult detective/crime adventure with the heroes chasing the villains around London and dallying with an understory of drugs and cold turkey, and an emotionally driven take on a young doctor moving to a remote Scottish rural community and unravelling the mystery of a domineering puritanical cleric and the deaths of so many young children, with a love affair thrown in the lighten the sombreness.
The author's descriptive powers are impressive, especially with the hard struggle of the island people and the gentler life on the country estate of Glendarvie, and the historical period is brought to life very well - 1880s Britain. I wasn't too happy at the portrayal of the Irish as a nation of English hating terrorists. However, that is just a personal thing. Overall, a very enjoyable read which could have been much better if the two plot elements were not distracting one from the other.
The characters are portrayed very well, though they lack the emotional depth one would expect in an adult novel. While sexual attraction is decorous and well behaved, violence - the terrorists and their bombing campaign - is described at a distance (there are reports of the bloodshed and maimings). The emotional impact of addiction and the fear that a serial killer may be active on a small Scottish island are both contained to show their seriousness yet not too much of their scariness. It is as if the author, or perhaps the publisher, felt they were balancing on a high wire: beneath the plot driven action there is a really good adult mystery asking to be fleshed out.
It may have been better to have split the story into two. A young adult detective/crime adventure with the heroes chasing the villains around London and dallying with an understory of drugs and cold turkey, and an emotionally driven take on a young doctor moving to a remote Scottish rural community and unravelling the mystery of a domineering puritanical cleric and the deaths of so many young children, with a love affair thrown in the lighten the sombreness.
The author's descriptive powers are impressive, especially with the hard struggle of the island people and the gentler life on the country estate of Glendarvie, and the historical period is brought to life very well - 1880s Britain. I wasn't too happy at the portrayal of the Irish as a nation of English hating terrorists. However, that is just a personal thing. Overall, a very enjoyable read which could have been much better if the two plot elements were not distracting one from the other.
November 2, 2021
Really three and a half stars.
June 19, 2012
I am really fond of Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman?, the first book in this series. In fact, I've read it at least four times. I thus began this book with some expectations and excitment.
I've been waiting to get my hands on the Montmorency sequels for years.
The problems with this book are rather glaring. But so are the positives. It is an excellent Victorian-era novel of daring adventures, redemption, and mystery.
In the first book of this series, Montmorency turns himself from a second-rate criminal into a white collar thief and gentleman. He's now a familiar figure around the clubs, and an active agent for the British government with his friend Lord George Fox-Selwyn. This sequel begins five years later, with Montmorency and Fox-Selwyn returning from a year abroad. The British government needs their assitance. Someone is bombing train stations. Meanwhile, on a tiny island in Scotland, babies are dying and no one can solve why.
So......Montmorency, Fox-Selwyn, and Dr. Farcett spend most of the book traveling from London to Scotland with appearances from Scarper, the unforgettable Cissie, and even Vi and her Mom. The mysteries themseleves really aren't that compelling and their solutions are predictable, but they are engaging enough to make them perfect for the intended reading audience.
On one level, its a very good book. Interesting characters, lots of dramatic action, a flicker of...you might call it romance.
But from a literary standpoint, its rather dreadful. Overly dramatic, confusing and slightly weird romance, characters that stand rather one dimmensionally.
I love the characters, but they are rather one dimmensional and "character change" is...well, it isn't classic.
Lord Fox-Selwyn brings to mind a sort of "sherlock holmes" character and Montmorency has a bit of Remington Steele character about him.
I would say this is a middle school/high school age book. Older ages can enjoy it, but I have a feeling, like in my case, its just not written for an older auidence. The characters are to dramatic and the plot convenient for anyone used to reading books like The Count of Monte Cristo, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, or even Ivanhoe.
I've been waiting to get my hands on the Montmorency sequels for years.
The problems with this book are rather glaring. But so are the positives. It is an excellent Victorian-era novel of daring adventures, redemption, and mystery.
In the first book of this series, Montmorency turns himself from a second-rate criminal into a white collar thief and gentleman. He's now a familiar figure around the clubs, and an active agent for the British government with his friend Lord George Fox-Selwyn. This sequel begins five years later, with Montmorency and Fox-Selwyn returning from a year abroad. The British government needs their assitance. Someone is bombing train stations. Meanwhile, on a tiny island in Scotland, babies are dying and no one can solve why.
So......Montmorency, Fox-Selwyn, and Dr. Farcett spend most of the book traveling from London to Scotland with appearances from Scarper, the unforgettable Cissie, and even Vi and her Mom. The mysteries themseleves really aren't that compelling and their solutions are predictable, but they are engaging enough to make them perfect for the intended reading audience.
On one level, its a very good book. Interesting characters, lots of dramatic action, a flicker of...you might call it romance.
But from a literary standpoint, its rather dreadful. Overly dramatic, confusing and slightly weird romance, characters that stand rather one dimmensionally.
I love the characters, but they are rather one dimmensional and "character change" is...well, it isn't classic.
Lord Fox-Selwyn brings to mind a sort of "sherlock holmes" character and Montmorency has a bit of Remington Steele character about him.
I would say this is a middle school/high school age book. Older ages can enjoy it, but I have a feeling, like in my case, its just not written for an older auidence. The characters are to dramatic and the plot convenient for anyone used to reading books like The Count of Monte Cristo, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, or even Ivanhoe.
June 16, 2025
A fun, entertaining, summer read Victorian mistory! There were two plots and both were good, one at kings cross, the other on a cute little island.
December 7, 2021
Another dark romp. More meat to this one. Want to read the next one.
CN: substance abuse, drug addiction, medical malpractice leading to death, baby death suspected to be deliberate serial murder, terrorism including accidental deaths, imperialism unquestioned by the text, possibly something else I've forgotten because those first few are a lot.
CN: substance abuse, drug addiction, medical malpractice leading to death, baby death suspected to be deliberate serial murder, terrorism including accidental deaths, imperialism unquestioned by the text, possibly something else I've forgotten because those first few are a lot.
June 22, 2017
I found it hard to get into this book after the first one. The transition from the first book to this sequel is really uneven. The first was suspenseful, and there were hints about Montmorency's character and past that I was hoping would be further explored. Instead we miss out on hearing about his life of spying in the East with Selwyn-Fox, and almost immediately end up in Scotland. The bombing case wasn't very compelling, and I still don't find Fox-Selwyn and especially Montmorency to be characters so much as lightly shaded habits and personalities. The first book held a lot of promise (I wished it was an adult book at times), with themes of duality, reformation, redemption, and morality, but this book didn't further any of them. I am going to keep reading the series and hope that the next books are a little more compelling.
July 6, 2013
My mother picked this book up for me in the library, but sadly, without its predecessor. So I started reading and I have to admit that my mother chose well. Only two big issues with this book, 1)the start was slightly slow and it definitely caught up speed in the second half 2) I felt as if I had read it before. I think this is mainly down to the fact I am a Sherlock Holmes superfan and it is set around the same time and Montmorency appears to be a very similar character. However, I feel this only added to my enjoyment of the story and I agree that it must be difficult to write a new sleuth when the greatest detective ever created is there to influence you. So yes, I enjoyed this book, yes I will hopefully get hold of the first one and yes, I will most certainly be reading the rest of the series.
January 16, 2025
A really fun book about a thief who, whilst in jail, strikes on an innovative way to do crime, utilizing the new London sewerage system. He creates a kind gentleman figure and an alter ego figure who does the dirty work. It's a really fun idea, has an interesting ending and was an engaging read. I'd like to know more about how his two personality parts clash and compliment each other and a romance would be fun - how would he work that in with his two selves? Would make a great movie. An easy YA read with scope for a more adult version.
June 19, 2020
Ripping good yarn.
A lot of reviewers have mentioned how strange it is that there are no juvenile characters in this series. But in a way, all of them are adult bodies getting into adult situations (what's with that Maury Povich-like cliffhanger?), but processing their thoughts, emotions, and moral quandaries like tweens.
FWIW, this one dragged on a bit more than the first, which I enjoyed a lot more. The resolution on the island was unlikely verging on impossible.
Still, the characters are pretty well realized, the plots move along at a brisk pace, and there's a load of interesting historical detail. On the minus side, the carefully researched detail made the 21st-century speech especially glaring in contrast.
A lot of reviewers have mentioned how strange it is that there are no juvenile characters in this series. But in a way, all of them are adult bodies getting into adult situations (what's with that Maury Povich-like cliffhanger?), but processing their thoughts, emotions, and moral quandaries like tweens.
FWIW, this one dragged on a bit more than the first, which I enjoyed a lot more. The resolution on the island was unlikely verging on impossible.
Still, the characters are pretty well realized, the plots move along at a brisk pace, and there's a load of interesting historical detail. On the minus side, the carefully researched detail made the 21st-century speech especially glaring in contrast.
February 1, 2023
It was generally a good book. I read it without knowing it was a sequel to another book, so I did run into some road blocks. However, the author was able to catch me up to speed with short and simple descriptions of events that had happened in the previous book, so that really helped. The description and details in the book really made me feel like I was in London at an earlier period of time, which was quite fun. The characters themselves were fairly well-written, and the story was fairly engaging. The only thing I dislike about the book is how it ends on a huge cliffhanger, as it feels like a cheap strategy the author used to persuade readers to buy her next book.
March 16, 2019
I really enjoyed this story of Montmorency and his wealthy friend and fellow spy, Lord Fox-Selwyn, Doctor, Vi and the residents of a far off Irish island they befriend. It’s refreshing to have two mysteries going on that ONLY relate in the moral dilemmas they present to the protagonists in addition to the temptation Fox-Selwin is determined to eradicate from Montmorency’s life. The characters are sympathetic and well-drawn and the plot compelling.
March 22, 2018
Another action-packed tale in the life of Montmorency. The author's style holds the reader at a distance, and sometimes I wonder whether we're supposed to be rooting for Montmorency and his friends, laughing at them, holding them in contempt or a complicated mix of all three. In any case, an enjoyable read when my head is too muzzy with this cold to do anything else
September 3, 2018
Definitely not what I was hoping for after enjoying the first book so much. I didn't like all of the drug use and still don't understand it's place in the story. I'm disappointed in this one and don't know if I'll continue with the series or not.
September 28, 2020
Like the first in this series, it took me a bit of time to fall in love with the story, but a certain way through it carried me to the end. The story was a bit farfetched in places and the plot lines were rather stretched and scattered, but I cared about the characters.
February 22, 2022
I really loved this book too, my copy was read by Stephen Fry which I think probably helped. This book covered heavier topics than the first book in the series, but everything was wrapped up nicely. It reminds me a little of Oceans 8 in that way.
February 14, 2024
The whole series is simple and unassuming, yet so captivating. Highly underrated.
This, the second book in the series, is more mellow, but still heart wrenching and holds wonderful call backs to the first.
This, the second book in the series, is more mellow, but still heart wrenching and holds wonderful call backs to the first.
October 6, 2017
Picked this up from a share-a-book rack. Pleasant read. Nice characters, some history, interesting locations. Appears to be a book for teens, but still good read for adults.
August 8, 2019
This is a bit slower than the first book, but no less funny. Not suuuuuper exciting, but well done. I might read the third installment eventually.
April 23, 2021
I really like the flow of how this book was written and the characters keep you engaged. This series is a quick read with some twist and turns.
July 3, 2021
I was hooked!
August 27, 2021
A good sequel. Very realistic description of dealing with recovery from drug addiction.
April 6, 2022
this book is good. love the mystery of what like illness is affecting the kids and honestly kept me interested the whole time :) jacey you missed out girlfriend
March 4, 2023
JUST DELIGHTFUL
These characters are now my friends. I am enjoying their journey so very much . Onwards to the next book with enthusiasm. Thanks Ellie
These characters are now my friends. I am enjoying their journey so very much . Onwards to the next book with enthusiasm. Thanks Ellie
October 14, 2010
This well-researched Victorian age thriller takes place in London and Scotland, and features a doctor, an aristocrat, and a thief as the main characters. Montmorencey is the thief, Farcett is the doctor, and Fox-Selwyn is the aristocrat.
I'd picked this up trying to keep abreast of current YA series, figuring that with a well-written series you can come in on the second or third book and figure out what was going on. I was able to, though it had that character heavy tone that later books in a series sometimes get, despite the fact that this is only the second.
The plot involves two mysteries; one is an island in northern Scotland in which the babies on the island sicken and die soon after birth. The second plot involves an explosion, blamed on a gas leak, which was actually caused by a bomb. Fox-Selwyn has been asked to help solve the bomb leak, Farcett wants to solve the mystery of the dying babies, and Montmorency wants to help them both.
These are both interesting mysteries, but the book took a long damn time to get around to them. It's a hundred pages in before either mystery is even mentioned. The first part of the book concerns with Fox-Selwyn's attempts to help both of his friends, who are having personal crises. Farcett is distraught about a death he accidentally caused in the operating theater, so distraught that he's considering leaving the medical profession entirely. Montmorency, meanwhile, has an opium addiction. Farcett and Montmorencey have a history together, though they don't know each other by name. I think that was the main plot of the first book, and it's hinted at in this one, but not explained in detail. I have no issue with that.
What I do have issue with is why this was on the shelf as a YA book. I'm utterly baffled. Not only are there almost no young adult characters in it, but the themes are not ones that one often finds in YA. It's not about finding your place in society, realizing truths about the outer world, or the flush of new romance. It's about having a midlife identity crisis following a failure, about judging too harshly, and about what happens when your drug use and/or other past crimes come back to haunt you. These are adult themes.
I liked the characters, I liked the plot (when it got around to it) and if I had read the first book and cared enough about Montmorency to care whether he threw of his opium-lust or not, I wouldn't have minded the plodding start. It feels well researched, and the setting details felt quite nice. The pacing had quite a few issues (slow start, not sure about time lapse, etc.)
As a Victorian-themed adventure novel, Montmorency on the Rocks is reasonably successful. As a YA novel...no.
I'd picked this up trying to keep abreast of current YA series, figuring that with a well-written series you can come in on the second or third book and figure out what was going on. I was able to, though it had that character heavy tone that later books in a series sometimes get, despite the fact that this is only the second.
The plot involves two mysteries; one is an island in northern Scotland in which the babies on the island sicken and die soon after birth. The second plot involves an explosion, blamed on a gas leak, which was actually caused by a bomb. Fox-Selwyn has been asked to help solve the bomb leak, Farcett wants to solve the mystery of the dying babies, and Montmorency wants to help them both.
These are both interesting mysteries, but the book took a long damn time to get around to them. It's a hundred pages in before either mystery is even mentioned. The first part of the book concerns with Fox-Selwyn's attempts to help both of his friends, who are having personal crises. Farcett is distraught about a death he accidentally caused in the operating theater, so distraught that he's considering leaving the medical profession entirely. Montmorency, meanwhile, has an opium addiction. Farcett and Montmorencey have a history together, though they don't know each other by name. I think that was the main plot of the first book, and it's hinted at in this one, but not explained in detail. I have no issue with that.
What I do have issue with is why this was on the shelf as a YA book. I'm utterly baffled. Not only are there almost no young adult characters in it, but the themes are not ones that one often finds in YA. It's not about finding your place in society, realizing truths about the outer world, or the flush of new romance. It's about having a midlife identity crisis following a failure, about judging too harshly, and about what happens when your drug use and/or other past crimes come back to haunt you. These are adult themes.
I liked the characters, I liked the plot (when it got around to it) and if I had read the first book and cared enough about Montmorency to care whether he threw of his opium-lust or not, I wouldn't have minded the plodding start. It feels well researched, and the setting details felt quite nice. The pacing had quite a few issues (slow start, not sure about time lapse, etc.)
As a Victorian-themed adventure novel, Montmorency on the Rocks is reasonably successful. As a YA novel...no.
May 10, 2013
Yay for pbswap, I didn't have to wait long on the wishlist to get this one. I waited to read it, for a few weeks at least, before I couldn't resist any longer. At first, I was sort of wanting to hear more of Montmorency and Fox-Selwyn's adventures in spy work in foreign countries. Still think that would've been fascinating. But I ended up enjoying the adventures that did happen. Montmorency's addiction took me by surprise, I didn't think he'd fall to anything like that. Fox-Selwyn really proved to be a character I grew especially fond of. I liked how he brought his friends around, and reintroduced them to each other, forming them into a three man team of sorts. I was intrigued by the mystery of the dying babies on Tarimond, eager to see it solved. I was hoping little Jimmy would survive when so many others hadn't. The London bombing mystery sort of had me hooked too, but I was more worried about keeping the little ones alive. I'll admit I was also taken with the scenery in that area. I could imagine it all cold and windy, ocean crashing on the rocks... I have to say that the explanation surprised me. Just when I was feeling smug that my guess as to who the suspect was was right, the real truth comes out. It was sad, but made sense. I'm glad things were figured out and the new children born would have a much better chance of surviving. And I couldn't help but like Maggie, and Morag and her family. The resolution to the mystery in London though didn't seem to be as big of a deal. While they were searching for the suspect and putting together the pieces, it was exciting. Meeting up with Vi and her mother again was nice. Vi becoming more of a real character instead of just a background one was cool too. I wasn't expecting really to see her again, so it was neat. Sad about her mother though, as she was likable in the first book. And her announcement there at the end, with her decision to stay on Tarimond... whoa! Out of left field, and leaving me with questions! Is it Montmorency? That's my guess, though no real flirting or relationship was ever shown, only sort of very lightly maybe hinted at. I do like the two of them together, and couldn't help but laugh at their shopping expedition to get her shoes. There a few varied moments in the story that had me laughing. I liked Dr. Farcett's role in the story too, he's a good character, though I'll admit I'm not as fond of him as I am of Montmorency and Fox-Selwyn. In the end, I found this sequel to be highly enjoyable. I went ahead and ordered books 3 & 4, so I'll probably be diving into them as soon as they get here, which can't be soon enough for me!
July 31, 2012
Thoughts on the Overall Book: As I thought when reading the first one, this is one of those series that the first book is slower than the rest to build up the characters and the story line, and I really appreciate how Updale did that. So many YA authors rush through stories and then you don't really get to know the characters at all. Montmorency, however, was introduced well and you come to care for him and his friends, and this book, as I predicted, was a little faster paced. I'd also like to point out another thing I really like about these books. Updale can write a very engaging story without the flash and dash of most modern fiction. There are no over the top action scenes, it's actually more like what it would be like to be a spy in the real Victorian London, but it's not any less exciting for that. It's just more realistic, and for that, I really like these books.
Characters: Again, I loved Montmorency, Fox-Selwyn, and now Farcett who joined the duo. I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about Vi. I don't dislike her, but I'm trying to decide if she annoys me sometimes or not. I'll probably know by the next book. I did like Morag and Maggie however, and I really hope that we might meet them again in later books.
Problems/What bothered me: There was nothing that really bothered me. I can even say using Irish nationalists as the bombers bothered me because it did happen. And of course, there were always more radical Irish rebels and then the ones who tried the best they could, and I would be a poor historian not to point that out. Because not everyone in a cause is the same even if they fight for the same thing. And O'Connell had his reasons, and I felt bad for him being thrust into the situation he was. Also there are mentions of drug use in this book, but it's not condoning it in the least, so you shouldn't worry about it. Besides, take into consideration the time period; during the Victorian era, a lot of people were taking opium or something of that nature. If it bothers you, think of it as historical accuracy.
Conclusion: 4 stars. I liked this book even more than the first one, and I am excited to read the next ones. Montmorency is fast becoming a favorite character of mine.
Recommended Audience: Again, anyone who enjoys Sherlock Holmes would like these books, and older teens.
Characters: Again, I loved Montmorency, Fox-Selwyn, and now Farcett who joined the duo. I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about Vi. I don't dislike her, but I'm trying to decide if she annoys me sometimes or not. I'll probably know by the next book. I did like Morag and Maggie however, and I really hope that we might meet them again in later books.
Problems/What bothered me: There was nothing that really bothered me. I can even say using Irish nationalists as the bombers bothered me because it did happen. And of course, there were always more radical Irish rebels and then the ones who tried the best they could, and I would be a poor historian not to point that out. Because not everyone in a cause is the same even if they fight for the same thing. And O'Connell had his reasons, and I felt bad for him being thrust into the situation he was. Also there are mentions of drug use in this book, but it's not condoning it in the least, so you shouldn't worry about it. Besides, take into consideration the time period; during the Victorian era, a lot of people were taking opium or something of that nature. If it bothers you, think of it as historical accuracy.
Conclusion: 4 stars. I liked this book even more than the first one, and I am excited to read the next ones. Montmorency is fast becoming a favorite character of mine.
Recommended Audience: Again, anyone who enjoys Sherlock Holmes would like these books, and older teens.
October 7, 2016
Montmorency on the Rocks: Doctor, Aristocrat, Murderer?
Montmorency is back at it again with all new problems.The book “Montmorency on the Rocks:DAM?” by Eleanor Updale is focus on the hero and his friends having some complications in their lives.The story is again about Montmorency,only this time instead of helping England, he needs help!
The theme of this book is that one should always be able to look past one's mistakes and for one to try and right his mistakes. He supports it by having characters that have problems that are very bad for one's health and others. It helps the reader understand that though a person has made a mistake, even if it is a great one, that you should always be able to look past, not forgive, but look past it.
What i like about this book is that it makes characters step into the spotlight and have their own opinions and little stories. That is something that the previous book lacked much so. However, I didn’t like the spotlight being on Montmorency, but not really being about him. He is such an interesting character still in book two that I still like the spotlight mostly on him. It affects me by showing that, even though he was a thief and is going through some problems, he still deeply cares for his friends and this really toward me shows that some people are actual good human beings. Sure they can be rough, unpolished, and just plain annoying, but their are some people that truly care about someone in their life. I would fully recommend this book to anyone, it has an amazing story with unbelievable good characters, sure some parts are somewhat sad and bad to read, but there are a lot of funny and thrilling parts in between.
Montmorency is back at it again with all new problems.The book “Montmorency on the Rocks:DAM?” by Eleanor Updale is focus on the hero and his friends having some complications in their lives.The story is again about Montmorency,only this time instead of helping England, he needs help!
The theme of this book is that one should always be able to look past one's mistakes and for one to try and right his mistakes. He supports it by having characters that have problems that are very bad for one's health and others. It helps the reader understand that though a person has made a mistake, even if it is a great one, that you should always be able to look past, not forgive, but look past it.
What i like about this book is that it makes characters step into the spotlight and have their own opinions and little stories. That is something that the previous book lacked much so. However, I didn’t like the spotlight being on Montmorency, but not really being about him. He is such an interesting character still in book two that I still like the spotlight mostly on him. It affects me by showing that, even though he was a thief and is going through some problems, he still deeply cares for his friends and this really toward me shows that some people are actual good human beings. Sure they can be rough, unpolished, and just plain annoying, but their are some people that truly care about someone in their life. I would fully recommend this book to anyone, it has an amazing story with unbelievable good characters, sure some parts are somewhat sad and bad to read, but there are a lot of funny and thrilling parts in between.
May 29, 2009
This book is the second in this series, following on from Montmorency, and as with the previous volume, this book focusses on the exploits of the eponymous (anti)hero - however, in Montmorency on the Rocks, our protagonist is forced to widen his circle of trust to include others for the first time since his escape from prison.
Who else can discover the connection between an explosion at Kings Cross and a series of deaths on a desolate Scottish island other than Montmorency and his friends? Can our hero learn to trust other people, including the man who once saved his life? If not, this is going to be a very short book...
I enjoyed this very much, as was the case with Montmorency, so I'm looking forward to seeing where the author takes our hero in the two remaining books (while also keeping my fingers crossed for more...) - the series continues in Montmorency and the Assassins.
Who else can discover the connection between an explosion at Kings Cross and a series of deaths on a desolate Scottish island other than Montmorency and his friends? Can our hero learn to trust other people, including the man who once saved his life? If not, this is going to be a very short book...
I enjoyed this very much, as was the case with Montmorency, so I'm looking forward to seeing where the author takes our hero in the two remaining books (while also keeping my fingers crossed for more...) - the series continues in Montmorency and the Assassins.
June 26, 2010
Eleanor Updale has followed up with a great sequel! Montmorency is lovable despite his many flaws (or maybe because of them?) and the many new characters (and the old) are crafted very well. Definitely one to read.
After spending a year abroad in the service of Her Majesty, Montmorency and Fox-Selwyn return to London. Unfortuneately Montmorency has started to destroy his body with his growing dependance on a drug he found in a market in Turkey. Worried about his friend, Fox-Selwyn arranges a trip to his brother's estate in Scotland for himself, Doctor Farwcett and Montmorency. This will be the first time the Doctor and former prisoner 493 will see each other since their last scientific exhibition.
As they leave London, however, an explosion rocks the station and Fox-Selwyn is called back to London to investigate. The Doctor takes Montmorency with him to the northern-most tip of Scotland; to the island of Tarimond. Arriving at Tarimond they discover a terrifying situation: all of the babies are dying before the age of three months, and no one knows why.
Montmorency must juggle helping both his friends with their investigations as he retires Scarper.
After spending a year abroad in the service of Her Majesty, Montmorency and Fox-Selwyn return to London. Unfortuneately Montmorency has started to destroy his body with his growing dependance on a drug he found in a market in Turkey. Worried about his friend, Fox-Selwyn arranges a trip to his brother's estate in Scotland for himself, Doctor Farwcett and Montmorency. This will be the first time the Doctor and former prisoner 493 will see each other since their last scientific exhibition.
As they leave London, however, an explosion rocks the station and Fox-Selwyn is called back to London to investigate. The Doctor takes Montmorency with him to the northern-most tip of Scotland; to the island of Tarimond. Arriving at Tarimond they discover a terrifying situation: all of the babies are dying before the age of three months, and no one knows why.
Montmorency must juggle helping both his friends with their investigations as he retires Scarper.
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