About This Book
Reach for this book when your adolescent is beginning to grapple with the realization that adults are flawed and that mental health struggles can affect even the most capable people. This historical mystery finds the former thief Montmorency navigating high-stakes espionage while supporting his friend, Dr. Robert Farcett, who is spiraling into a deep depression and opium addiction. Set against the backdrop of Victorian London and the Scottish Highlands, the story explores the heavy weights of shame and the courage required to ask for help. It is a sophisticated choice for readers aged 11 to 16 who enjoy gritty, realistic historical fiction. Parents will appreciate how it frames addiction and mental collapse not as moral failures, but as health crises requiring loyalty and professional care. It serves as a bridge for discussing how one handles life's darker turns without losing their sense of purpose or moral compass.
