Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity by Elizabeth C. Bunce

It was very satisfying to review the 5th Myrtle Hardcastle book as I had the privilege of reviewing the first two books of the series as well. From the first chapter of book 1, I knew Myrtle was destined for literary greatness. And book 5 did not disappoint!

Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity finds our young heroine packing for an excursion. Her governess, Miss Judson, had just been informed that she was heiress to an estate in Scotland and Myrtle will be accompanying her. From the moment they arrive, it becomes clear that someone does not want Miss Judson to inherit.

Miss Judson's uncle had died unexpectedly and Myrtle (of course) suspected foul play. The plot thickens as the body count increases and within the labyrinthine halls of the estate, Myrtle makes some surprising discoveries. As she and Miss Judson get closer to the truth, sinister forces continue working against them. But Miss Judson and Myrtle are not ones to back down from mystery or manipulation and they continue trying to discover the truth behind the mysterious happenings on the estate. 

The book offers stunning descriptions of Scotland's natural beauty and readers will pick up a nice assortment of Scottish vernacular (the author very helpfully provided a glossary at the back for translation). As Myrtle and Miss Judson peel back the layers of intrigue, readers will be taken on a wild ride through (possibly) haunted halls to solve clues for the ultimate treasure hunt: finding a part of the clan's ancestral history.

As the familial ties are revealed, Myrtle appreciates even more how much Miss Judson means to her and she hopes that she will not lose her governess to the charms of Scotland. I highly recommend this vocabulary-building, puzzle-solving mystery. While some characters do get killed, descriptions are not gory or overly detailed. Myrtle Hardcastle is a young sleuth worth meeting and I hope her adventures continue for many more books!

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received and the opinions expressed are mine alone.