Review: Montmorency: Thief, Liar Gentleman

Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman
by Eleanor Updale
Publisher: Orchard, 2004

Summary in a Sentence:

In Victorian London, after his life is saved by a young physician, a thief utilizes the knowledge he gains in prison and from the scientific lectures he attends as the physician's case study exhibit to create a new, highly successful, double life for himself.

My thoughts:

"Sewage stinks, but rich people, on the whole, don't."

Allow me to introduce you to Scarper, a thief who sneaks around the sewers. Or is he Montmorency, the charming, wealthy gentleman living the high life of the well to do? Try both! This Jekyll and Hyde-esque novel is so wonderful. The plot is non-stop action and the characters are so very well-written.
Montmorency, a seasoned yet likeable criminal, is saved through scientific advances and cutting edge surgery by the prison physician, Dr. Farcett. While being displayed by the good doctor in a lecture one day, Montmorency overhears a discussion on London's sewer system and his alter ego Scarper is born, along with an elaborate plan to make him rich.

Although the book was published as a young adult novel, I do believe I enjoyed it more now than I would have as a teenager. It was a fast-paced and witty thriller and, lucky for me, there are 3 more in the series. Highly recommended :)

Rating: 5/5

Read Alikes:

• Try the rest in the series: Montmorency on the Rocks, Montmorency and the Assassins, and Montmorency's Revenge.
• SilverFin by Charlie Higson
  
• Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman by E.W. Hornung

 Other Reviews of This Book:

• An Adventure In Reading  
• Bookshelves of Doom 
• The Magic of Ink
  

Hear an excerpt read aloud on NPR here.