A fantastic Victorian set story full of creepy settings, ghostly people and some wonderful detective work by Violet Veil, the newest name to children's mysteries books!

Violet Veil is the daughter of an undertaker, which means she is well used to being surrounded by dead people. But despite this her parents will not allow her to become one herself, not the proper thing for young ladies. But when she finds a boy named Oliver alive in the graveyard, who was lying in a coffin dead only hours ago, she falls headfirst in a crazy mystery that becomes very personal the more she looks into it.

This is a wonderful story where the different elements of the Victorian age and living beside a graveyard mix to make this atmospheric and creepy mystery all the more thrilling. The characters are great, well suited to the era and the thinking of those times without getting too bogged down in it. Violet is a loveable character to root for as she desperately wants to break free of the restrictions placed on her by society. And of course Bones the dog is a wonderful companion, mixing a bit of humour into the scary story.

I look forward to see where the author Sophie Cleverly takes us next in this series!

Thank you to Harper Collins Children’s Books and Netgalley for the early eArc of the book!

This is a nice, fun middle grade mystery, which starts with corpse of a boy waking up in Violet's father undertaker business. Then things take a turn when Violet's father is arrested for four murders, all similar to the now-not-dead corpse called Oliver. The Police are positive that Violet's father is a murderer, but Violet knows he isn't. A murderer is out there, framing her father, and no one is going to stop her.

I'm not sure about Violet's gift that she can hear and talk to ghosts. This felt like an add-on and wasn't (pardon the pun) fleshed out. Plus, this gift didn't really help Violet solve the case.

But this is a nice Victorian middle grade mystery, and I'm intrigued to see what happens next.

I loved this mystery featuring and interesting and clever heroine.
It's well written, entertaining and the character development is excellent.
This is the type of mystery I would have loved as a child and appreciate as an adult.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I thought I'd love this book cause it promised a lot of fun and mystery. But I find myself bored with all the unnecessary detail and the lack of excitement. I thought the characters were cute. But listening to Violet complaining about being a woman and not being appreciated enough was bizarre. I know it is set at certain times, and it is trying to emphasize equality between sexes, but it was overdone and so became dull.

This was a fantastic and captivating story with an intelligent and feisty protagonist. Sophie Cleverly creates a very dark and suspenseful atmosphere that keeps the reader turning pages. Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to be buying books for my libraries at the moment, but I will be coming back to this book in the future.

Another brilliant mystery by Sophie Cleverly! A case of grave danger was exciting , thrilling murder mysteries. The stakes were high making the climax and build up amazing! I enjoyed the character of Violet, feisty and defying. She wants to prove herself more than a girl during the Victorian times. She was bold and daring- everything you would want in a detective! The writing was simple but great. The plot I enjoyed though I wish that it was more a grand reveal at the end rather than Violet and Oliver having a suspicion that they prove. That would have worked better and been more suspenseful. But overall it was a great read. I'd recommend it if you're into cozy mysteries! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

This was a delightful story! Sophie Cleverly is a wonderful and engaging writer, she had captured my attention right from the beginning!

A really good start to a new series that finds Violet Veil, Undertaker's daughter, both fighting Victorian ideas about girls, solve a series of murders as well as trying to save her father from the gallows. Violet is a strong protagonist, determined and intelligent, occasionally frustrated and above all very capable. The other characters are also generally well developed, as is the plot overall. While you do know who the killer is relatively earlier on, the question of why is trickier to unravel and key to saving Violets father and as far as the story is concerned, making Violet and the reader think a little more about the impact of poverty on people. I enjoyed it and it's certainly one I think will appeal.

What a breath of fresh air young Violet Veil is! This book is full of dark mystery and enough spookiness to keep readers on the edge of their seats but also cleverly manages to engage the reader in an awareness of life for a girl in Victorian times. As an educationalist I highly recommend this intriguing, well written book and look forward to more adventures with the gutsy Miss Veil.

With huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a ghostly gripping read.

Set in the Victorian era, Violet, the daughter of an undertaker, finds herself embroiled in a mystery after one of the bodies in the mortuary seemingly returns from the dead, convinced that someone tried to murder him.

Our heroine is spunky, shrewd and determined to prove that she can do everything a boy can do.

I wasn't as invested in the plot as I would have liked to have been, and I found myself skim reading large portions of it but I was satisfied with the ending and believe that this story will strongly appeal to the age group it's aimed at.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

IN SUMMARY: A CASE OF GRAVE DANGER is a delightful read, perfect for fans of SCARLET AND IVY and spooky, thrilling mysteries.

MY THOUGHTS:

Very much of the same vein of Cleverly's SCARLET AND IVY series, here sees a spitfire heroine in historical England burdening a spooky mystery on her shoulders, so I was immediately drawn to this series. Safe to say, I absolutely adored this book! It's spooky, thrilling and unafraid to touch upon the societal expectations of women at the time, but it's also plucky, upbeat and charming in its own right.

I loved heroine Violet in her quest to search for clues and evidence. Undeterred by the men making decisions around her, she valiantly sought justice not only because her father was on the line, but also because it was the right thing to do. She is hot-tempered and fierce, but also a brilliant character in her own right. With sidekick Oliver plus Bones the greyhound, they make a loveable trio with a great family dynamic.

A CASE OF GRAVE DANGER is joyous, despite its macabre setting. A high recommend!

I really enjoyed this mystery featuring the headstrong Violet Veil, a girl born in a graveyard, who struggles against society expectations of her role as a girl, when all she wants is to be taken seriously and help her father in his mortuary.
I loved the Victorian setting, the creepy graveyard, and the thoroughly unlikeable villains.
The mystery that Violet unravels with the help of Oliver and her dog Bones, was intriguing, and well written.
I think this book is perfect for fans of the 'Agatha Oddly' series or the 'Murder Most Unladylike' series.
I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for Violet's next case!

Violet Veil is more than just a girl, a daughter, someone to embroider, clean and stay quiet. She is a force to be reckoned with and when a hint of murder falls into her hands, she is determined to solve the case.
Being the daughter of an undertaker and living in a cemetery, Violet knows she has nothing to fear from the dead. At times they offer her warmth, welcome and words. Being overly familiar with the workings of the funeral parlour, even Violet is surprised to find a coffin empty late one evening.
Here begins the tale of Oliver and the hunt for a murderer! A plot that takes off quickly, features plenty of twists, turns and dangerous moments is one to be relished. Sophie Cleverly has created a true mystery, one the reader needs to closely follow. Clues are laid out but not always to be believed.
When someone close to her is falsely accused, Violet becomes ever more determined to find the answers. Working with Oliver and the incredibly smart dog, Bones, the pieces begin to fall into place.
Violet Veil is fabulously feisty, determined and absolutely sure she has more to offer the world than just being a girl. I love that she sets out to prove herself time and time again, forcing men, and her family, to begin taking her seriously. She has a long road ahead but has made some brilliant first steps!

I hope there will be more to come from Violet as she pursues her goal of being listened to, respected and “Consulting Detective”! “I was going to change how the world saw me”. With one mystery at a time!

Thirteen-year-old Violet is the daughter of an undertaker: born in the mortuary, living her whole life among the dead. With a cemetery for a back garden, dealing with loss and those in mourning is nothing new for her. She can sense the dead and listens to their messages.

Then, one day, a young man is brought in – a John Doe with no family, no friends, no story. He is one of a number of recently deceased who have met with a terrible accident. Or were they accidents at all? Strange noises in the night, a mysterious woman in black and a missing body signal the start of an incredible mystery that only Violet can solve.

This story is deliciously creepy. With Victorian gothic tones, it is full of darkness and foreboding. Ghostly occurrences, black roses, empty graves and a funeral train lead Violet and her faithful dog, Bones, on a journey they will never forget. “Just a girl” by Victorian standards, Violet has a lot to prove. She is strong, brave, intelligent and more than capable of solving the crime. As she searches for clues, suspects and leads, she discovers more than she ever expected. Corruption, blackmail, debts, grudges and revenge lead her on an adventure through the dark streets, inside ruined churches and through ancient graveyards. Determined not to be underestimated, will she be able to find the truth and solve the mystery before it’s too late?

My thirteen-year-old daughter is a huge Sophie Cleverly fan having adored the Scarlet and Ivy series. We knew this new book would not disappoint but it is even better than we hoped! With excitement and intrigue at every turn, I was gripped from beginning to end. We hope there will be more in the series.

Thank you to Harper Collins Children’s Books for this fantastic book!

This is a fun middle grade mystery starring Violet Veil. Her father is an undertaker. But when a corpse comes to life and Violet realizes Oliver (the corpse) isn't dead, and her father is jailed, there's a mystery to unfold.

This book would be v enjoyable to middle grade readers. It reads quickly and the suspense keeps you on your toes as Violet, Oliver and Violet's dog, Bones, try to uncover the mystery in their own way. Being children, there's not a lot clues that they can get easily but the trio snoops around, questions supects and solves the mystery. I liked Bones and Violet as a team that reads each other's minds.


There is a mention that Violet Veil can talk to ghosts but it isn't explored much. I wish it had, to add a spookier twist.
Overall, enjoyable.