Oh, No, Octavius!

by Michael Gallagher

Octavius Guy and the Case of the Quibbling Cleric.
London, 1853. The well-heeled residents of Highbury have a problem: the Reverend Allaston Burr, the rector who’s been foisted upon their congregation by an ancient yet legally-binding right known as an advowson. When a final appeal to Queen Victoria—as the head of the Church of England—fails to remove him from his post, they turn to Gooseberry for help.
Join fifteen-year-old Octavius and his ragtag bunch of friends as they investigate the detested cleric, only to discover that someone has a far more permanent form of removal in mind.

ebook

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Michael Gallagher is the author of two series of novels set in Victorian times. Send for Octavius Guy chronicles the attempts of fourteen-year-old Gooseberry—reformed master pickpocket—to become a detective, aided and abetted by his ragtag bunch of friends. The Involuntary Medium follows the fortunes of young Lizzie Blaylock, a girl who can materialize the spirits of the dead, as she strives to come to terms with her unique gift.
For twenty-five years Michael taught adults with learning disabilities at Bede, a London-based charity that works with the local community. He now writes full time. Find him online on Facebook, on Twitter @seventh7rainbow, and at his website michaelgallagherwrites.com. Follow Octavius Guy @sendforOctavius.

Reviews

[Barbara Heckendorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Octavius ​​Guy's fourth book and I personally received it from the author for Christmas. Thank you very much Michael, as always it was a great pleasure to read.
Octavius ​​and his companion George take over a case in Highbury. George works undercover in the boys 'school while Octavius ​​lives as a guest in Highbury House and attends the boys' school as a day student.
The point is that various residents want to get rid of the headmaster Reverend Burr and Octavius ​​and George have to prove that the headmaster is no longer sustainable. But everything turns out differently than planned because the Reverend is found murdered in the church. Who murdered him? Octavius ​​has his ideas there, but always has to find that he gets lost in something. He also soon realizes that various residents have their secrets and it is not that easy to uncover them.
For me as a reader it was exciting from the first to the last page, because with Octavius' considerations I only noticed at the end how and why it all happened.

[Anita Dow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having really enjoyed the previous three books in this series I was delighted to receive a copy from the author just after Christmas. Here in book four, teenage investigator Octavius Guy and his sidekick George, go undercover and get to mingle with the well heeled residents of Highbury, back then just a village beyond London. The plot is based on an actual person and the lads are engaged by a group of neighbours who want to find some reason to remove their clergyman from his post. When the Reverend is found conveniently dead, there are plenty of potential culprits and red herrings for Octavius and George to grapple with, aided by “Guys Dictionary of Detection for Budding Detectives”. As the pair gain more experience at investigating crime, so their working relationship has become more believable and there are some very amusing exchanges between them. The cast of characters is brilliantly drawn and the 1850s Victorian London setting is, as always, impeccably researched by the author. Some of the regular characters make an appearance too, and this fourth in the series beautifully demonstrates Gallagher's witty and very readable writing style. There is a clever nod to a famous author of the era towards the end of the story (and I was pleased that I correctly guessed his identity). At the back of the book Gallagher provides some interesting insights about the real clergyman on which the plot is based. This whole series would make a wonderful TV mystery drama for family prime time entertainment. If you like Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes, you will definitely enjoy this book and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

[Brittney Divine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Gallagher has become my favorite historical mystery writer. I have read all of this series and love them all. This one starts a little slow but gets really good and before you know it, you're coming up with your own theories. It's a fun read that's well written. I'm already on the lookout for the next one.

[Covadonga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Octavius Guy 4 – The case of the quibbling cleric.

I am lucky enough to be friends (so I consider) with the very agreeable author and get to review this very nice and entertaining series.

The action is set in the Victorian era, a few decades before Sherlock Holmes, but Octavius Guy could very well have worked for him.
He’s very young (in this installment he’s all of fifteen, but with a little brother and a dog in charge), has a privileged intellect and knows and manages very well and has contacts in the underworld of London (we have seen that in the previous volumes of the series, but here “Bertha” also makes an appareance).
It’s a criminal case all right, with the murder of the quite nasty cleric and all its implications and whodunits. I didn’t know the legal term of advowson, which doesn’t let them get rid (without physically eliminating him) of the quibbling cleric, but it seems very interesting… and in some cases it still exists!
But I like the touches of humor, like the rivalry between a very English cook and a very Indian manservant/cook; both contribute interesting things, but Octavius understandably favours the first... doesn’t like the “herbs” 
We see also Octavius very in love with his friend/colleague investigator George’s (not much older than he is) lovely sister Annie. But beware, young George is already married to Mary, and she’s quite a character !
He’s also finally getting a real educacion, even learning latin (‘his’ way), and all’s well that ends well because he convinces Bertha that ‘her’ protégé the child William will do much better with an education in a school.
All in all, as enjoyable as the other books in the series, the setting and the language are impeccable as always.

[Bethany Swafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once more, Octavius Guy is on the case! He is tasked with discovering some way of removing Reverand Allaston Burr from his post as all other avenues have been unsuccessful. This investigation, however, takes a deadly turn and then Octavius must apply all his detective skills to find a murderer.

It was an absolute delight to meet up with Octavius again! His previous exploits have built up his confidence and when he is approached by the residents of Highbury, he is confident he will be successful again. However, the case is not an easy one, and George is being stubborn.

There is an intriguing cast of characters in this story, and they all have their own secrets. Secrets they don't want Octavius to discover. This makes things especially interesting when a murderer is at work and any one of them could be a suspect.

While I had my own suspicions, I wasn't sure until the end. I love a mystery that keeps me guessing and is not immediately apparent. I very much look forward to seeing what is in store for Octavius in future books. More with a certain young lady, I hope?

For those looking for a fun and clever Victorian mystery, look no further!

While I received a free copy from the author, all opinions expressed are my own and I am voluntarily reviewing.

[Suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I start a new Octavius Guy story, I remember why I love this series so much! And this latest offering does not disappoint!

Octavius and George go undercover in the village of Highbury to investigate the Rector of the local church, a man by the name of Reverend Burr, who some of the locals are unhappy with. They are hoping the boys can dig up some dirt on him so they can use it to have him replaced, but before that can happen, someone decides to get rid of Reverend Burr another way... by murder! What starts off as a somewhat simple investigation turns into something much more complicated, and has Octavius and George using all their detecting skills to uncover the killer.

As usual, the author has some an amazing job with his research and detail. Set in Victorian times, the characters and their lifestyle comes alive, giving the reader a true feel for the way life was lived by some of the different social classes at the time. The mystery itself is intriguing and it kept me guessing right till the end. Octavius and George are such solid. and likeable characters that I found it easy to imagine them as I read, hearing their banter in my head, and enjoying the different aspects of their relationships with each other. The inclusion of George's sister. and her budding romance with Octavius, much to George's consternation, made for some humourous moments, and I look forward to seeing how that evolves in future books.

Octavius is clever and astute in his deductions, but has a hearts that cares about the people involved, and weighs justice with that in mind. He and George make a great pair and complement each other well in personality. I especially liked how the story was resolved in this case, and I really enjoyed having it set outside of London for a nice change of pace. Village mysteries with lots of interesting characters who all have a motive are always a favourite of mine, and the excellent historical research (and notes at the end) makes it perfect for anyone who, like me, is also a history buff who loves a glimpse into how people lived in the past. This series just gets better and better. I can't wait to read about their next adventure. Highly recommended!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know a series is a favorite when the author notes and extras are as enjoyable to the reader as the story! This series is a wonderful addition to any mystery lovers library. For fans of historical fiction, especially Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins and Sherlock Holmes and their contemporaries and authors inspired by them. Not only is this a great mystery but a fabulous look at the times and conditions. Included, as is popular in present day mystery books, are several recipes at the end!

Having established themselves as actual investigators, Octavious and guy pal George find themselves going under`cover in this latest installment of this Victorian era detective series. They are hired to find a way to remove an undesirable head master and Reverand from a local boys school, quite a step up from their own station in life. Octavious is poised as a distant relative of a client to attend the school while George is employed as a manservant. The daily meals are a bonus to this job.
Tough subject matter is spotlighted as well as questionable choices and behaviors made by a female member of the household. We also get to view more of George and Octavious's personal life, as the latter pursues his interest in George's sister.

There is so much in this series to love! From the storyline, to the characters I have fallen in love with, and, as mentioned above, all the wonderful extras author Michael Gallagher provides for his readers, FASCINATING stuff! Excellent job, as usual. A box set of these books would make a most wonderful gift for your own favorite reader. Be sure to buy copies for yourself as well. I suggest the print version so you can appreciate the wonderful covers.

[Dbloch50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Oh, No, Octavius, - Octavius Guy and the Case of the Quibbling Cleric" by Michael Gallagher

Oh, No, Octavius is a great mystery read and I highly recommend it. Set in Victorian London, its narrator is a 15 year old reformed pickpocket and now an investigator of missing cats, persons, and treasures. Octavius aka Octopus aka Gooseberry and his assistant George Crump are sent on a clandestine mission to ferret out compromising data about the Reverend Burr, the rector of Highbury Church and the headmaster of Reverend Burr's School for Boys. Why is the Reverend Burr's career in jeopardy? Because a few of his more important parishioners want him removed, each for his/her own unknown reasons. So as cover, Octavius is enrolled in the school as a day student, while George takes the role of a kitchen skivvy under the eyes of the suspicious school cook Mrs. Binn, and he must bunk in the cowshed with Pickles, the lad who empties the school's chamberpots, and with the cow.

A more delightful and colorful set of characters is hard to find and you will enjoy Octavius's struggles with school, encountering a dreadful bully and attempting to conjugate Latin imperfect subjunctive verbs.

The mystery develops when the Rev. Burr is found dead in his chapel with his face bashed in. Octavius, already on the scene and familiar with the potential suspects (his employers), stays on to investigate and also to enlarge his "Rules of Investigation" that he is developing for George's benefit. One rule is "Never let the police have any information that you have uncovered on your own" and the lads keep the official constabulary guessing and chasing " red herrings" or as Octavius phrases it "smoked haddock."

The story unfolds in unexpected ways and Michael Gallagher will have you guessing the truth until the very last page.

" Oh, No, Octavius" is the fourth book in a series of Octavius/Gooseberry books written by the author. I look forward to reading the earlier stories in the series and learning about his other adventures in solving mysteries.

[M.H. Thaung]

This is the fourth book in the Send for Octavius Guy series. I haven't read the previous books, but that wasn't a problem at all.

A group of Highbury residents ask Octavius and his buddy George to investigate their minister Reverend Burr. With luck, they'll find evidence about him that can be used to remove the unpleasant man from his office. Octavius takes on the role of day boy at the school where Burr teaches while George moves into the household staff. Not long into their job, Burr is murdered, and the investigation becomes more serious.

I found the first half readable but quite slow, as Octavius settles into his role as a pupil. I kept expecting him to come a cropper with his feigned education, but he never did. In fact, I don't remember him making mistakes or putting his foot in it (he feels a bit too good to be true), although it was amusing seeing his discomfiture in his interactions with George's family. The pacing speeded up with the arrival of Sergeant Gray and the start of the murder investigation. The clues came along at a decent pace, and everything came together nicely at the end.

In summary, a nicely constructed historical murder mystery.

I thank the author for a free copy of the book. This is my unbiased review.

[Ali Molenaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again Octavius Guy who is send to Highbury with his friend George to deal with the reverend Burr. The man is in the congregation due to a strange but very legal right called the advowson. People in the community want him removed, but Octavius didn't think it would be so permanent. The book is very amusing, I loved the earlier books by Michael Gallagher and this one is very nice. I even could follow all the detective stuff Octavius was going through.

[Leigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Octavius Guy and the case of the quibbling cleric. This time Gooseberry is called to help in the removal of the Reverend Burr as Rector from the local church, needless to say Burr is murdered and Octavius has a crime to solve. While the book was reasonably pleasant to read I found it very confusing and as a YA story rather uneventful. At the summing up of the case I was still mystified. Who was the Vagrant? I won't purchase the 5th in the series.