Montmorency series

Young adult novel series by Eleanor Updale (2003–2013)

The Montmorency series, or simply Montmorency, is a series of five young adult historical crime novels written by Eleanor Updale and first published from 2003 to 2013. It features Montmorency, an English ex convict turned gentleman detective and spy, for whom both the first book and the series are named. The first book is set in London, frequently in its sewers, and London remains a primary setting. The latest novel was released in 2013 after a six year break.

London, England, 1875. The main character falls through a glass roof onto a grinding machine below while fleeing from the police. Doctor Robert Farcett, hoping to prove himself an accomplished doctor by working on the criminal's complex wounds, saves the thief's life by performing surgery on him. Farcett continues to work on the thief after he is imprisoned and given the temporary name "Prisoner 493". The prisoner has no name other than "Montmorency", which was the name on the bag he had when he was captured. He adopts this name and slowly begins to craft a persona to match. During his sentence, Montmorency becomes a chief exhibit at the Scientific Society. It is at one of these gatherings that Montmorency comes across Sir Joseph Bazalgette, who is the planner and supervisor of the ongoing London sewer project. Montmorency realises that the sewers are the perfect escape route for his daring robberies. He has high hopes for living as a gentlemen by selling the expensive items he could steal via the sewers. Montmorency realises that rich people do not normally smell like sewer water or wear ratty clothes, he finds himself in need of an accomplice—a fellow thief with knowledge, capability, and secrecy to perform the robberies. He develops a second identity—Scarper—to mask his true identity. Scarper, the thief, poses as a servant to the extravagant and wealthy Montmorency. Montmorency is released after three years in prison. At this point, all communications between Dr Farcett and Montmorency cease. Scarper accomplishes many robberies (including burgling Doctor Farcett), and is never caught. During this time, Scarper rents a room in the slums to stash the particularly valuable goods. The place he stays is run by Vi Evans, who later becomes one of Montmorency's close friends. Meanwhile, Montmorency rents a room out at the Marimion Hotel. The robberies committed by Scarper make the papers. Eventually the police pick up a man named "Freakshow", a friend of Montmorency's from his prison days, and pin Scarper's robberies on him. He is hanged for Scarper's crimes. The hanging becomes a great source of guilt for Montmorency/Scarper. Outside the Marimion, Montmorency saves George Fox Selwyn from a carriage accident. He and Fox Selwyn hit it off immediately and they become friends, and after a bet forces him to put all of his criminal skills to good use breaking into the Mauramanian Embassy to spy for information, Fox Selwyn gives Montmorency a job as a spy for the British government. His first assignment is to break into the Mauramanian embassy and listen for information that could prevent European war, which earns him a permanent position in the British government. Eventually, Montmorency sheds the Scarper persona and returns all the stolen goods that remain in his possession, resolving to be an honest man.

Five years after the first book ended, Montmorency, the ex thief and liar, and Lord George Fox Selwyn have long become established as undercover agents for the British Crown. Through their numerous dangerous exploits in the far reaches of war torn Europe, the two men have come to depend on each other for their sacred lives. The book begins in the aftermath of dangerous intelligence gathering trip in Turkey, where George Fox Selwyn has come to note that among fine art pieces and Turkish rugs, Montmorency has also picked up a strange Turkish drug. By the time the agents return to London, Montmorency is heavily addicted to the drug. The drug has severely affected his character and influenced his judgment, frequently landing Fox Selwyn and himself in danger as well as leaking state secrets. Meanwhile, Dr Robert Farcett accidentally kills one of his patients in an unnecessary gall bladder removal, in front of a live audience in an operating amphitheatre. Sickened that his ethics have been overshadowed by his ambition, Farcett resolves to leave his practice. With Farcett about to give up medicine, and Montmorency near death from his drug addiction, Fox Selwyn decides that the only way to save them both is to reunite the two men. Fox Selwyn invites his both Farcett and Montmorency to his family castle in Scotland, owned by his brother Augustus Fox Selwyn (Gus). By bringing both men to the open air of Scotland, he hopes that Farcett will be able to cure Montmorency of his addiction, and regain his own confidence in medicine. Arriving in Scotland's Glendarvie Castle, Montmorency suffers from severe drug withdrawal. Barely conscious, he is reintroduced to Farcett who helps rehabilitate him from the addiction. From Farcett's accounts on Prisoner 493 and Fox Selwyn's portrayal of Montmorency, the men begin to gain a complete picture of Montmorency's bizarre past. As the three friends spend time in Scotland, the bombing of a London train station summons Fox Selwyn back to England. Too weak to travel, Montmorency joins Farcett in escorting a young maid named Morag from the castle to Tarimond, a remote island in the Scottish Isles, following the death of her younger brother. On the island Tarimond, of Doctor Farcett is mystified by an unknown agent that has been killing an entire generation of children. Working with Maggie Goudie, the island's school teacher and midwife he tries to get to the heart of the mystery. After a period of recovery, Montmorency and Farcett are summoned back to London by Fox Selwyn to assist in the investigation. The trio encounters Vi Evans, the daughter of Scarper's old land lady, and finds her to be a key witness in the case. The lives of Scarper and Montmorency now intersect, and Montmorency reveals his criminal past and bizarre background to Fox Selwyn, Farcett and Vi Outside a second terrorist bombing takes place. Through evidence provided by Vi and Scarper's skills the investigation comes to a close as the bombers are caught, and the three return to Tarimond with Vi for celebration. Over the course of the adventure, the three men become close friends with Vi. The book ends with the announcement that Vi is pregnant.

The fourth book in the series was released in March 2007, and takes place about a year after the events of Montmorency and the Assassins. In this book, Montmorency heads to London to seek out those responsible for the death of Lord George Fox Selwyn at the end of the previous book, assisted by George's nephew, Francis, taking on the disguise as Jack Scarper. Meanwhile, Robert Farcett, has become obsessed with cleaning after the death of Maggie Goudie on Tarimond. To assist Robert Farcett and protect Francis, Robert is sent to an asylum to be treated under the guise of Francis Fox Selwyn, to throw off the terrorists. He is accompanied by Vi and her and Montmorency's son Tom, who finally learns the truth about his real father, Montmorency. After being attacked by one of the anarchists Montmorency is left near death and recovers slowly as the anarchists responsible for several assassinations, and George's death, flee to America. Montmorency and Jack (Frank) go to America, where they track down Moretti in a library, where he accidentally kills himself. Afterward, Montmorency asks for a hand in marriage. She says yes but Montmorency insists on writing down his life story, as he is doing so a man in a black cape walks into the room and Montmorency feels a gun against the back of his head.

The fifth and final book in the series was released in 2013. It picks up immediately after the events of book four and chronicles the fallout from the events therein. Armitage blackmails Montmorency into serving as bait to lure Malpensa to New Jersey, forbidding him to relay the information that Malpensa is on the loose in America and not, as was previously thought, under lock and key in Scotland. Robert Farcett is also ensnared in Armitage's web of lies to serve to bait Malpensa and keep Montmorency in line, under the guise of studying the psychology of the local silk factory's Italian immigrant population. Montmorency's inability to explain the situation to his friends creates an emotional rift between them leading Tom to run away and explore the Canadian wilderness as an apprentice filmmaker, and pushes Mary away. Eventually, Montmorency makes an appearance in a parade to lure out Malpensa, who is killed. Montmorency and company return to London, enjoying a dinner party at Bargles where he catches up on family gossip, including the birth of Alex Fox Selwyn's twins while continuing to hide his deep emotional turmoil. It is then revealed that Armitage has been intercepting his letters to Mary in order to prevent Montmorency from explaining himself and healing the rift in their relationship caused by events surrounding Malpensa. This leads to her wedding Bayfield, the owner of the silk factory. Montmorency elects not to intervene and leave her to a life in America. He receives an offer of work from an American Secret Service man named Fraser at Bargles and keeps it in mind for later, though he is leery of returning to America lest he cross paths with Armitage again. The novel closes out on Montmorency taking a tour of London to see how the city has changed in his absence and walking off down the street alone.

The books received positive reviews. For the most part, it has been recommended by educators and critics for a teenaged audience, although some reviews recommended it for adults.

The novels have been translated into several languages, most recently Portuguese.