[.ca] Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman? (ISBN 0807223697)

Montmorency:
The latest in a growing number of Victorian historical teen books. Sounds boring, doesn't it? Not a chance. The protagonist is a petty thief. Upon pursuit by the police, he crashed through a skylight, and was patched back together by a physician with something to prove. He's been the showpiece in a never-ending whirl of academic lectures for the past few years, and his jail time is nearly up. One lecture in particular caught his interest-- the one on London's brand-new sewer system. He's nothing if not ambitious--this is going to be his ticket to a career as a master thief. And while he's at it, he sets out to forge himself a new identity as the gentleman Montmorency. Fast-paced and fun, with an unpredictable yet satisfying conclusion.

Looking for sequels:
Fast paced and elegant, this novel packs plenty of believable detail into this story of a thief's transformation into a decent 'gentleman'. Quite enjoyable and well worth reading. I look forward to a sequel.

Hoping for a sequel:
Just finished this book and am hoping the author will bring her character back in future stories. Set in Victorian England, this thief almost dies in a fall during a burglary. The doctor "puts him back together" and after serving his prison sentence, our thief becomes not only a "gentleman" but a daring burglar as well. Using the sewer system of London the burglar is very successful. He redeems himself with an act of courage and begins a new, honest, life.

A DEVILISHLY DELIGHTFUL VOCAL PERFORMANCE:
What more can one possibly say about British wunderkind Stephen Fry? He's actor, director, novelist, journalist, comedian, raconteur, philanthropist, and he wears all of these hats with apparent ease. His credits for radio, television, and stage would fill a large volume. Most recently he adapted and directed Evelyn Waugh's novel Vile Bodies for film under the title of Bright Young Things. Having had the pleasure of watching him as Jeeves in the 1990s BBC series Jeeves and Wooster, I was delighted to see his name on this audiobook. My delight was doubled as his inimitable voice related an imaginative, original adventure, a first novel from British TV producer Eleanor Updale. Set in London during the Victorian era we meet an inept thief who has run out of luck - he tumbles through a glass roof in an aborted effort to escape the police. However, that's not the end of him - far from it. A skilled doctor puts his poor body back together, and then he is released from prison. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? No more roofs for this fellow - he takes to London's underground sewer system, and using this labyrinth becomes the city's most mysterious burglar. Eventually, he masquerades as not one man but two - a rich, respected upper class gentleman, Montmorency, and his rapscallion servant, Scarper. What a balancing act, and therein lies the tale.

A DEVILISH, DELIGHTFUL VOCAL PERFORMANCE:
What more can one possibly say about British wunderkind Stephen Fry? He's actor, director, novelist, journalist, comedian, raconteur, philanthropist, and he wears all of these hats with apparent ease. His credits for radio, television, and stage would fill a large volume. Most recently he adapted and directed Evelyn Waugh's novel Vile Bodies for film under the title of Bright Young Things. Having had the pleasure of watching him as Jeeves in the 1990s BBC series Jeeves and Wooster, I was delighted to see his name on this audiobook. My delight was doubled as his inimitable voice related an imaginative, original adventure, a first novel from British TV producer Eleanor Updale. Set in London during the Victorian era we meet an inept thief who has run out of luck - he tumbles through a glass roof in an aborted effort to escape the police. However, that's not the end of him - far from it. A skilled doctor puts his poor body back together, and then he is released from prison. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? No more roofs for this fellow - he takes to London's underground sewer system, and using this labyrinth becomes the city's most mysterious burglar. Eventually, he masquerades as not one man but two - a rich, respected upper class gentleman, Montmorency, and his rapscallion servant, Scarper. What a balancing act, and therein lies the tale. - Gail Cooke