A missing girl. The treacherous streets of Medieval London. Only one woman is brave enough to try and bring her home.
If you like a compelling read that keeps you turning the pages then you'll love this first instalment in Emily Organ's historic thriller series.
After the death of her family, grieving Alice has chosen a quiet life of seclusion in a monastery. But she is hit by a personal tragedy which forces her to confront the dangers of medieval London.
When her 14 year old friend, Constance, vanishes, Alice's life is turned upside down. Is Constance's disappearance linked to a dead girl pulled from the Thames? Another girl is on the run - but who is she running from?
Alice's desperate search stirs up something sinister and soon her own life is in danger. Powerful forces want to ensure the truth will never be uncovered, can Alice find Constance before her time runs out?
Emily Organ is the author of over thirty historical cozy mysteries set in Victorian and 1920s England. Her bestselling series include the Penny Green Victorian Mysteries, the Augusta Peel Mysteries, and her newest Emma Langley Victorian Mysteries, in which a plucky widow teams up with former reporter Penny Green. She also writes the Churchill & Pemberley cozy mysteries, featuring two spirited senior sleuths. Emily’s books combine warmth, wit, and a love of history, inspired by her fascination with London’s past.
I was extremely delighted to be offered the chance to read a copy of this book via the Advance Reader Group - thankyou to the author and publishers!
This had such a striking and haunting beginning that it immediately grabbed my attention and the storyline kept me hooked until the end! Set in London in 1352 it is beautifully described and very atmospheric at times. We follow Alice who has had to deal with such tragedy in her life so lives a very sad existence in a single room, and she volunteers at a monastery where the children there become her family and when one of her favourites disappears without a trace Alice and her friend Jon, whose sister also disappeared a year before, take it upon themselves to find out what has happened despite others in power trying all they can to halt their search and throw them off the trail.
There is a great web of characters introduced throughout that add to the intrigue and mystery and I was so pleased to hear that the sequel is already being worked on! I can't wait!!
The first few pages started out good, but that was brief. The story is fragmented. Very slow moving. Repetitive descriptions of the filth and stench in London during this time. That information was necessary to set the scene, but does not need continual reminders. I got it. It was filthy, it stank. Please move on. The characters are flat. Conversations childlike. I gave up. Don't know if the plot ever improved. Sorry. Cannot recommend.
I read a couple other of Ms. Organ's books and liked them...but this is really cheesy. Dialogue between adults is really childish. I forced myself to get thru 4 chapters and I just couldn't go any further. Disappointing.
"Runaway Girl" is set in London, 1352. Following family tragedy, Alice has built a quiet, modest life in a monastery working with the foundling children. Then one of girls there, 14 yr old Constance, disappears suddenly in the night, leaving a murdered body behind her. The Prior insists she has fled with a young man but to Alice there seem too many inconsistencies and she is convinced something more sinister has befallen Constance. At the same time, a dead girl is pulled from the Thames and another is on the run. Are the girls linked? As Alice tries to uncover the truth she puts herself further and further in danger as someone is working desperately hard to make sure she doesn't succeed.
This is quite a departure from her previous novels and I was intrigued with the choice of historical setting but before I had time to really consider it further, I found I was thrown straight into the action in the very opening lines of the prologue. An unknown girl is witness to a murder and trying to escape. The murky world of London and the Thames are brilliantly evoked through smell, touch, sound, taste and sight. Details, such as their clothing, immediately transports the reader to 1352 and everything feels very real and alive.
There is a cliff hanger at the end of each chapter so you can't help but keep turning the pages to try and solve the mystery. The chapters alternate between the three different plot threads creating more tension and adding complexity to the story as they weave in and out of each other, building towards an exciting ending.
The characters are all highly convincing and believable. Emily has a real gift for capturing dialogue and her conversations really add colour to the characters and feel authentic. Alice, the protagonist, is strong, bold, independent and outspoken. She is a widow so has a little more freedom although she is later robbed of her home and financial independence as this is too much of a threat to those in authority. It's really interesting to have such a strong female lead in a time when women had so few rights and were deemed so lowly. Alice is a dynamic presence and adds real vitality to the plot. She fights against convention and all the obstacles she meets. Her voice is so often dismissed as that of an "hysterical woman" it is even harder for her to make people believe in the crimes she knows to have taken place. I loved the detail about the way she plaited her hair, or tied an embroidered belt; it captured the historical era with subtly and conviction. The author has clearly spent a great deal of time researching this novel to ensure it reads so easily and well.
My favourite character was actually one of the relatively small cast members, Millicent, a wise old midwife who nurses with ancient charms and herbs. The imagery which described her home and her livelihood was very effective. Her use of "the old language" gave a fascinating insight about people at this time. She is full of wise words: "Evil will always be among us and take the place of some people's hearts whether they're bandits on the road or the King's own knights."
I don't want to give too much away but Sir Walter is a deeply unpleasant creation who will make your skin crawl! Each character is well crafted. Each voice distinct.
In many ways this novel fits the modern genre of "grip lit" and the "psychological thriller" just set hundreds of years ago. It has secrets, murder, abduction and corruption. It has a strong female protagonist who won't be quietened and shows determination and resilience as she overcomes social barriers. There are duplicitous men, romantic interests and a sense of never quite knowing who to trust.
The last section of the novel is full of pace and dramatic tension. The way the novel finishes by coming back on itself to one of the scenes from the beginning gives a beautifully satisfying and circular ending to the narrative.
Emily's writing is well crafted and beautifully executed. She pays immense attention to detail in order to capture scenes and characters with vitality and strength. I am impressed with how she can produce such different types of stories in each of her novels so effectively. It may be set in the 1350's but is extremely readable and fluent. If you don't usually read historical dramas, I would suggest you make an exception here. I would highly recommend this novel!
There’s a conspiracy afoot in 14th century London. Young girls are disappearing. Worst yet, nobody seems to notice. In the dead of night, two victims of this conspiracy are driven through London by their captors, but there’s an even bigger problem: one of them is dead. The girl that’s alive witnessed the murder, and her ability to identify the killer means she won’t remain alive much longer—not unless she can escape.
RUNAWAY GIRL by Emily Organ is a stunning winner in every possible way! Emily is such a gifted writer that she just sweeps you along in the tidal wave of this lovingly crafted story. Her characters are so fully fleshed out and developed that you swear you know them. When they hurt, you do, too. And the predicament of children disappearing tugs at our heartstrings as evil pervades and appears unstoppable.
I confess to the world that I loved RUNAWAY GIRL so much! I was one of the lucky few to receive an ARC copy, and I TORE through it … as in RAVAGED those pages. I couldn’t help it! It’s pure adventure and a nifty mystery to boot. It’s a huge departure from her previous novel and the risk paid off. It contains all the elements that will have you riveted to the pages.
Ms. Organ’s voice is unique and her mighty pen true. The writing is superb as is the storyline. The characters are like a Vermeer painting sprung to life. The heart of the story is Alice, a widow who works at a monastery that allows her sanctuary from life’s ills. She takes care of the children housed under St. Hugh’s stately arches, but she’s soon pulled into a maelstrom of evil when a young charge disappears right under everyone’s noses. Although the prior and police insist the girl ran away, Alice refuses to believe it was anything other than foul play, and means to bring her back no matter what the cost.
Brother Jon is another standout. He’s assigned by the prior to aid Alice in her investigation into what occurred. He’s resolute and determined, but Alice sees him more as a hindrance and barely tolerates him slowing her down. The way their relationship develops is so skillfully handled, and with danger dogging their every step, I wasn’t sure what was in store. And what would a mystery be without a villain? In RUNAWAY GIRL, Ms. Organ gives us a deliciously devious one. I was booing and hissing and wanting to throw tomatoes.
But for me, there’s one element that really pushed this story over the top, and that is: the element of surprise. Being confounded by the ingenious twists completely won me over. While most authors can deliver a grammatically sound sentence, they don’t often deliver in the department of keeping us off balance. I’m here to tell you that Ms. Organ has mastered this art! It sets her apart from the crowd and has made me one of her biggest fans. The fact it seems effortless, makes it all the more amazing!
I highly recommend and encourage readers to buy this book … most especially if you love historical thrills shrouded in mystery. Emily Organ is a new author that deserves to be heard. Five stars for this amazing read!
This is the second book I've read by Emily Organ; I enjoyed The Outsider and Lisa's Diary so much, I've been really looking forward to reading this one.
Runaway Girl is completely different to Emily's previous novel, and is set mainly in London. The story starts dramatically with a murder and kidnapping, and could be set in any age. I quickly realised though, that it is set in the mid 1300s following the plague in England, but with themes that are as relevant today as they were then. Alice, the main character in the story, is a strong, determined woman who has enormous depths of compassion, and is extremely likeable. Elizabeth, another strong character, shows courage and determination as her story develops. After a while, the two story threads link up neatly and believably, and the plot thickens.
There's gentle exploration of the role of women in society, and the choices available to them if widowed; there's also strong links to the trafficking of girls and women today. As the story unfolds, for me, these links became even stronger, possibly because I live in the North West of the UK, with recent cases of the exploitation of girls in some of our towns. Part of the story reminded me of how women were treated in the 1960s and 1970s if they dared to have a child without being married - incarcerated, their babies adopted whether they wished that or not, some women condemned to live in institutions for many, many years. To read a story that made so many present day connections, even though set so far in the past, was wonderful.
The characters roles develop carefully through the story, with strong relationships growing between people, that naturally evolved through common interests and beliefs - mainly beliefs in people, although there is an element of faith as well. Prejudice and hypocrisy are explored, too, with the introduction of the person who takes care of Elizabeth for a while. This character reveals the double standards people have for themselves, as well as their willingness to judge and condemn 'other'. Again, links with the issues people face today.
Without revealing the ending of the story, there is an event towards the end that left me thinking 'Ah, of course, that had to happen', even though I was sad about it. The ending clearly has a 'To be continued...' something I'm looking forward to reading, to find out what happens to the characters: Does this person's plans succeed? Does this person get the come-uppance they so richly deserve? What really happened to this person in the past? What role did this other person play in the out-working of the story?
Emily Organ writes well, tells a convincing story, and brings the characters to life. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens to Alice in her next book.
Ms Organ paints her scenery with a deft touch, giving us the sights, sounds and the smells of mediaeval London. Her characters are well written, with believable dialogue, and she makes it easy for her readers to feel like they're there inside the story itself. I loved all of her Penny Green series and also the rather quirky Churchill and Pemberly series. Definitely an author to watch.
*****Potential spoiler alert below*****
Book 1: Alice Westcot, has lost her husband and son to the plague, surviving herself but in deep grief she turns away from the business they ran together and starts to help at St Hugh's Priory looking after the abandoned and sick children. When the 14 year old Constance is abducted from the door one night and Alice keeps searching for her a chain of events begin that sees Alice first losing her home and possessions and then her place at the priory. With the help of Brother Jon who's sister, Elizabeth de Grey, disappeared in similar circumstances Alice is determined to find the girls and set them free no matter the personal cost.
Book 2: With her property returned, Constance and Elizabeth now free and a fresh start ahead of her as Jon's wife Alice de Grey has reopened her business and taken in 3 of the children she looked after at the priory. But trouble arrives again and Alice is defending her family and home as she is caught up in the mystery of the casket. Shortly after her husband died some Italian men raided her house and took a casket hidden by her husband. Now years later another group are back and happy to murder anyone in their path to retrieve it. With Jon away in France fighting and searching for the elusive Sir William Rokeby. Alice must fend for herself and her family, return the contents of the box without getting caught and stop the murderous gang from continuing their campaign of violence.
Book 3: Jon returns to France to pick up the trail of Sir William Rokeby while life continues at home. Only more difficulties arise when Alessandro's godmother, Sarah Dalton, is struck ill and treatment fails to work. Father Aldous calls on Alice to visit and meet Dr Servian who has agreed to treat her for free. But who is the Doctor, he appears to be blind and rather helpless, but rather inept and vague. What's more Sarah is only getting worse. When Alice's niece, Mary de Grey, is abducted by her nursemaid things become difficult with the search parties all day and Dr Dr Servian's demands that she attend Sarah's bedside all night. Alice has to find the stamina to keep going in order to discover the identity of Dr de Servian and rescue Mary.
Great period detail, which is something I look for in historical fiction. Wonderful story line and interesting characters. If you enjoy historical fiction set in medieval times you should try it.
This was such a surprise especially after reading one of the Penny Green series (which I did not like). The history is so good and well researched & while some of the plot is a little fantastical, most medieval mysteries with female heroines require the reader to suspend certainty. This is soo different in terms of writing style and content from Penny Green that it almost seems like they were written by different authors. Maybe I need to give that series another try. Either way, I wish Ms Organ would continue this series - I'd love to read more about Alice, Jon, Elizabeth, Constance & especially Millicent!
Having enjoyed other works by this author, I was really excited to be invited to read this book prior to its publication and I wasn't disappointed. I was hooked immediately. I loved the characters and the historic setting provided a great backdrop for the tale. I found the tale had undercurrents of historic politics and adventure throughout. The story moved at a comfortable pace that allowed you to get involved with each character while continuing to enjoy the plot. There were plenty of nail biting moments which kept me guessing to the end.
My usual taste in books are vastly different to this, but occasionally I take break from psychological thrillers and crime novels and love to immerse myself in something just like this.
This story is so well written, atmospheric and paints such a vivid picture that transported me back in time. I could picture the streets, the charachters, the squalor almost as if I was there.
I completely lost myself in this book. Beautifully written and so well researched, a compelling read x
This was the first book I've read by this author. I liked the detail paid to the settings and the descriptions of how the people lived at the time. I enjoyed the story and I got a prequel to read (which I will do soon). I'm sure it will be just as good. I've recommended it to my daughter and she said she'll probably read it some time soon, as she was already reading something else. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good historical novel.
The runaway girl series is a wonderful journey through medieval England, is well researched with interesting characters and a mystery that keeps the reader engaged to the end. If you enjoy stories featuring strong women this is for you.
Absolately loved this. I became so absorbed I forgot about the chores waiting! You really do have to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next.
Excellent writing plus a gripping plot really draws you in. Definitely a must read
I enjoyed all three books. The stories were fascinating. I do not read many books from that age so the customs, manners and background information was very helpful. I recommend this series.
I enjoyed all three stories. They were very well written and the characters were most interesting. I love historical novels and the description of the time and places made these stories worth reading.
Good book, but I enjoyed 'The visitors' more,,,. The story was a bit too easy to guess. The visitors was more suspenseful and on the whole, well written.
I found the historical background interesting. The plot moved on quickly, but I did feel it was rather predicable. It was reasonably entertaining but I wasn't gripped.
I wouldn't call it a gripping page turner but it held my interest to the end and I would definitely read another in the series. I would recommend this book to others.
This was a good read. It was hard to put down, the characters were well written and filled out. I've just gotten in to reading medieval mysteries and these were good.