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Ebenezer Scrooge Mysteries #1
The Humbug Murders
Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol investigates a shocking murder—before he becomes the next victim—in this playful mystery in a new series from a New York Times bestselling author.
Scrooge considers himself a rational man with a keen sense of deductive reasoning developed from years of business dealings. But that changes one night when he’s visited by the ghost of his former boss and friend, Fezziwig, who mysteriously warns him that three more will die, and ultimately Ebenezer himself—if he doesn’t get to the bottom of a vast conspiracy.
When he wakes the next day, Scrooge discovers that not only is Fezziwig dead, but he’s under arrest as all evidence points toward Scrooge’s calling card was found in the cold, dead hand of Fezziwig’s body, and someone scribbled “HUMBUG” in blood on the floor nearby.
Now, Scrooge must race against the pocket watch to clear his name, protect his interests, and find out who killed his last true friend—before the “Humbug Killer” strikes again. Joining Scrooge in his adventures is a spunky sidekick named Adelaide, who matches his wits at every turn, plus the Artful Dodger, Fagin, Belle, Pickwick, and even Charles Dickens himself as a reporter dealing in the lurid details of London’s alleyway crimes.
Full of action and wry humor, The Humbug Murders is a fun take on a classic character—Scrooge as you’ve never seen him before.
Scrooge considers himself a rational man with a keen sense of deductive reasoning developed from years of business dealings. But that changes one night when he’s visited by the ghost of his former boss and friend, Fezziwig, who mysteriously warns him that three more will die, and ultimately Ebenezer himself—if he doesn’t get to the bottom of a vast conspiracy.
When he wakes the next day, Scrooge discovers that not only is Fezziwig dead, but he’s under arrest as all evidence points toward Scrooge’s calling card was found in the cold, dead hand of Fezziwig’s body, and someone scribbled “HUMBUG” in blood on the floor nearby.
Now, Scrooge must race against the pocket watch to clear his name, protect his interests, and find out who killed his last true friend—before the “Humbug Killer” strikes again. Joining Scrooge in his adventures is a spunky sidekick named Adelaide, who matches his wits at every turn, plus the Artful Dodger, Fagin, Belle, Pickwick, and even Charles Dickens himself as a reporter dealing in the lurid details of London’s alleyway crimes.
Full of action and wry humor, The Humbug Murders is a fun take on a classic character—Scrooge as you’ve never seen him before.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2015
40 people are currently reading
430 people want to read
About the author
L.J. Oliver
1 book13 followersL.J. Oliver is a pseudonym for New York Times best selling author Scott Ciencin and acclaimed author E.A.A. (Elizabeth) Wilson.
Ciencin was an American author of over ninety novels in the adult, YA, and children’s genres. A lifelong British mystery fan and Dickens aficionado, he began his career in the film and TV industry and continued in the business as an international film festival blogger, social media content provider, video game consultant, and creative consultant. He died in 2014.
Wilson was born in Scandinavia and studied criminology and journalism in England and was inspired by her mother, a personal historian specializing in Victorian-era Britain. Elizabeth lives in Florida with her husband and daughter.
Ciencin was an American author of over ninety novels in the adult, YA, and children’s genres. A lifelong British mystery fan and Dickens aficionado, he began his career in the film and TV industry and continued in the business as an international film festival blogger, social media content provider, video game consultant, and creative consultant. He died in 2014.
Wilson was born in Scandinavia and studied criminology and journalism in England and was inspired by her mother, a personal historian specializing in Victorian-era Britain. Elizabeth lives in Florida with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
January 24, 2020
Тази книга, издание на АртПлюс, ми попадна доста случайно и получава от мен две звезди.
Корицата на български е тази, която е и при оригинала, дано някой я качи някой път, понеже е симпатична и вероятно е едно от нещата, които ме убедиха да я прочета. Идеята на автора е друга причина. Той е използвал знаменития образ на Ебенайзер Скрудж за свой главен герой, запазил е лихварската му скръндзава душа и го е замесил в класически брутални британски убийства. Появяват се колоритни помощници на Скрудж, като един от тях се оказва беден журналист, чиято мечта е да стане добър писател и чието име е Чарлз Дикенс. Действието се развива в един мрачен, гнусен, гаден Лондон, изобщо чудесна атмосфера за класическа криминална история. Убит е един честен и добър човек, а убиецът е някой, представящ се за Мошеника - облечен като привидение или самата смърт - и заплашващ да убие още хора, за да постигне справедливост поради някаква причина. Скрудж е посетен от призрака на първата жертва и е принуден да се намеси или в противен случай и той ще умре накрая.
Изпълнението на идеята не започва чак толкова лошо. Атмосферата на града е уловена доста приятно, както си я знаем от всички други книги и филми. Скрудж и останалите, общо взето, се държат подобаващо лондонски мрачно. Но когато случаят започва да се заплита, героите започват да оглупяват интензивно, или поне Скрудж със сигурност. Може би е така, защото "те не виждат като читателя пълната картина на случващото се", но въпреки това резкият спад на историята към някакъв тип "боже мой, егати екшъна с огън-карети-престъпници" разваля нещата. Разваля ги. Пък да не говорим, че на моменти имахме, тъй да се каже, поетични изблици от страна на автора, който караше най-обикновени хора да се държат така, сякаш играят Шекспир в кантората си и целият им живот е трагедия в много действия. Чисто преиграване. Дикенс, честния кисел полицай, раздразнения китаец и гаврошовците като че ли крепяха всичко да не се сгромляса, кой както можеше.
Пак споменавам - преводът на книгата не го бива особено. Това е превод от типа "аз, аз, аз" във всяко второ изречение, тормозещ превод. Да не говорим, че ако не знам английски, ще ми убият интереса за това къде ходят героите през половината време. Толкова ли е трудно да се преведе името на улицата, странноприемницата, кантората... Когато взимаш да превеждаш нещо, превеждаш го цялото, не си оставяш имена, които не те кефят, на английски. Правиш превод, ако ще същите тия имена да са нашлякани с български букви (и това е много грозно, особено ако става въпрос за книга като тази, в която всяко име има хумористична нотка по начало. За мен имената, оставени на латиница, са важни на латиница в изключително малко случаи). Ако е термин, слагаш му звездичка и обяснителна бележка, колко трудно може да бъде? И съблюдаваме дали изреченията ни имат смисъл и дали не сме използвали някой диалект, моля...
Корицата на български е тази, която е и при оригинала, дано някой я качи някой път, понеже е симпатична и вероятно е едно от нещата, които ме убедиха да я прочета. Идеята на автора е друга причина. Той е използвал знаменития образ на Ебенайзер Скрудж за свой главен герой, запазил е лихварската му скръндзава душа и го е замесил в класически брутални британски убийства. Появяват се колоритни помощници на Скрудж, като един от тях се оказва беден журналист, чиято мечта е да стане добър писател и чието име е Чарлз Дикенс. Действието се развива в един мрачен, гнусен, гаден Лондон, изобщо чудесна атмосфера за класическа криминална история. Убит е един честен и добър човек, а убиецът е някой, представящ се за Мошеника - облечен като привидение или самата смърт - и заплашващ да убие още хора, за да постигне справедливост поради някаква причина. Скрудж е посетен от призрака на първата жертва и е принуден да се намеси или в противен случай и той ще умре накрая.
Изпълнението на идеята не започва чак толкова лошо. Атмосферата на града е уловена доста приятно, както си я знаем от всички други книги и филми. Скрудж и останалите, общо взето, се държат подобаващо лондонски мрачно. Но когато случаят започва да се заплита, героите започват да оглупяват интензивно, или поне Скрудж със сигурност. Може би е така, защото "те не виждат като читателя пълната картина на случващото се", но въпреки това резкият спад на историята към някакъв тип "боже мой, егати екшъна с огън-карети-престъпници" разваля нещата. Разваля ги. Пък да не говорим, че на моменти имахме, тъй да се каже, поетични изблици от страна на автора, който караше най-обикновени хора да се държат така, сякаш играят Шекспир в кантората си и целият им живот е трагедия в много действия. Чисто преиграване. Дикенс, честния кисел полицай, раздразнения китаец и гаврошовците като че ли крепяха всичко да не се сгромляса, кой както можеше.
Пак споменавам - преводът на книгата не го бива особено. Това е превод от типа "аз, аз, аз" във всяко второ изречение, тормозещ превод. Да не говорим, че ако не знам английски, ще ми убият интереса за това къде ходят героите през половината време. Толкова ли е трудно да се преведе името на улицата, странноприемницата, кантората... Когато взимаш да превеждаш нещо, превеждаш го цялото, не си оставяш имена, които не те кефят, на английски. Правиш превод, ако ще същите тия имена да са нашлякани с български букви (и това е много грозно, особено ако става въпрос за книга като тази, в която всяко име има хумористична нотка по начало. За мен имената, оставени на латиница, са важни на латиница в изключително малко случаи). Ако е термин, слагаш му звездичка и обяснителна бележка, колко трудно може да бъде? И съблюдаваме дали изреченията ни имат смисъл и дали не сме използвали някой диалект, моля...
December 30, 2015
Brilliant idea to focus on a young 30-year-old Ebenezer Scrooge and throw write into the middle of a murder mystery. In this case, the initial victim is his former employer --- Mr. Fezziwig.
L.J. Oliver (pseudonym for a writing team) shows great knowledge and respect for all things Dickens and this includes throwing in Fagin, The Artful Dodger and even a young newspaper reporter named Charles Dickens. The setting is great and the blend of characters from A CHRISTMAS CAROL with other denizens of the Dickensian world plus several newly created types makes for a highly entertaining read.
Though not necessarily dealing with the Christmas season it still felt right to read a book starring Scrooge during this time of year. Huzzah!
L.J. Oliver (pseudonym for a writing team) shows great knowledge and respect for all things Dickens and this includes throwing in Fagin, The Artful Dodger and even a young newspaper reporter named Charles Dickens. The setting is great and the blend of characters from A CHRISTMAS CAROL with other denizens of the Dickensian world plus several newly created types makes for a highly entertaining read.
Though not necessarily dealing with the Christmas season it still felt right to read a book starring Scrooge during this time of year. Huzzah!
October 26, 2015
"The Humbug Murders" is a suspense novel set in London in 1833 during the week before Christmas. The idea of Scrooge as a detective intrigued me, but I found none of the characters to be likable. Everyone was in it for what they'd gain for themselves and most were also rude and crude. The only way Scrooge was better than the villains was that he objected to women being abused by men. The story was grim and dark. It contained vice, torture, and abuse. Scrooge got beaten and tortured with nearly every attempt he made to uncover the truth, though happily for him it had no lasting effect.
The author made little effort to stay within historical fact. In reality, London streets were slick when damp and crowded even at night. The chase scene between a steam bus and a horse carriage should not have occurred on an empty street. Also, steam buses weren't used as roaming, widely available public transportation in London at that time. They could only go about 24 mph and a horse gallops 25-30 mph on average, so the horses should have won.
In the story, the police acted like detectives (though technically they weren't allowed to do so before 1842), they carried whistles (though they used hand rattles until 1884), and everyone carried a gun (though the police didn't regularly do so at this time). At times, the story seemed like a cross between steam punk fantasy and a gangster movie.
The author also had a dark house with one gas lamp on. That gas lamp was picked up and walked downstairs (even though gas is piped to the lamp, so they couldn't be moved). Police without lamps apparently search the entire house in the dark. These errors are found in the ARC, so they might be fixed in the final edition. But historical errors permeated the story, so don't expect historical accuracy.
There was some bad language. Every sort of vice was encountered, but the sex, drugs, abuse, torture, and violence were not described in gory detail. This book might appeal to fans of dark historical fantasy.
I received this ARC as a review copy from the publisher.
The author made little effort to stay within historical fact. In reality, London streets were slick when damp and crowded even at night. The chase scene between a steam bus and a horse carriage should not have occurred on an empty street. Also, steam buses weren't used as roaming, widely available public transportation in London at that time. They could only go about 24 mph and a horse gallops 25-30 mph on average, so the horses should have won.
In the story, the police acted like detectives (though technically they weren't allowed to do so before 1842), they carried whistles (though they used hand rattles until 1884), and everyone carried a gun (though the police didn't regularly do so at this time). At times, the story seemed like a cross between steam punk fantasy and a gangster movie.
The author also had a dark house with one gas lamp on. That gas lamp was picked up and walked downstairs (even though gas is piped to the lamp, so they couldn't be moved). Police without lamps apparently search the entire house in the dark. These errors are found in the ARC, so they might be fixed in the final edition. But historical errors permeated the story, so don't expect historical accuracy.
There was some bad language. Every sort of vice was encountered, but the sex, drugs, abuse, torture, and violence were not described in gory detail. This book might appeal to fans of dark historical fantasy.
I received this ARC as a review copy from the publisher.
December 27, 2021
3.5* rounded up to 4*
December 22, 2019
The writing duo known as L.J. Oliver had me at "an Ebeneezer Scrooge mystery." A mystery series that fills in the gaps between the ghostly flashbacks of Dickens's classic A Christmas Carol, showing how that most famed of misanthropist misers slides ever further into cynicism as he's confronted day in, day out with the evils that men do, in a world that mirrors Charlie's own and features cameos by the likes of Drood's John Jasper, Twist's Artful Dodger, and even the glorious Boz himself as more or less himself? Sign. Me. Up.
Unfortunately, Oliver lost me almost as soon as I made it past the cover and discovered the hot mess of plot and Palahniuk-level unlikable characters that populate The Humbug Murders.
It's Christmas 1833, ten years before Scrooge starts having issues with that undigested bit of beef, and Ebeneezer is hard at work trying to turn his usury practice into an investment firm when the ghost of his murdered mentor, Reginald Fezziwig, walks in the door. Without the obvious visual cues of dripping chains and a handkerchief-wrapped jaw, Scrooge fails to recognize this as a portentous visitation and proceeds to make Fezziwig cool his ghostly heels while he Sherlock Holmeses a con artist posing as a prospective investment partner (thus, presumably, establishing his detectival bona fides) and then does an on-the-spot interview of walk-in job seeker Adelaide Owen, who shows up interested in the position one day to belong to Bob Cratchit. Fourteen pages on, when Fezziwig finally realizes Scrooge has no intention of letting him get a ghostly proclamation in edgewise, he finally resorts to baldly announcing that he's dead. That one dramatic announcement apparently exhausts the spirit's supply of bluntness, because he then retreats into hand-wavy vagaries about a young man’s innocence, that many will die, and oh yeah, how the word chimera is going to be super important. Message delivered, he disappears in a puff of logic, and Ebeneezer and Adelaide are left to unspool the mystery and make era-appropriate googly eyes at each other.
The Humbug Murders is disappointing on many levels, chiefly due to the authors’ over-reliance on their source material, particularly when it comes to snappy one-liners (there's a fine line between homage and cribbing). Ghostly visitations are best left to stories told before Christmas fires; a regular murder would have been a better place to start, as it would have helped avoid the reader drawing mental comparison's with the original Dickens in which the current authors can't help but come up wanting as their plot careens from unconnected point to unconnected point in a story that feels like it was paid by the word.
Even had they avoided those pitfalls, though, there's still Oliver's inability to walk the fine line of delivering a Scrooge of Christmas Present that we can care about who's still recognizable as the Scrooge of Christmas Yet to Come. Instead, everyone here is so vile that the romantic climax of the book takes place when Scrooge gets swept away with passion after he walks in to find new clerk Adelaide promising the firm's grateful debtors that if they pay pence on the pound of what they owe they'll never heard from Scrooge again - which, as little Miss Sallie Mae points out cheerfully to Scrooge, is the God's honest truth, since she's sold their debt to another lending firm who'll be hounding them thus forth.
Despite a promising premise, the authors behind Oliver cling too closely to Dickens's coattails for their book to stand on its own, and even if it did you probably wouldn't want to stand next to it. To channel the inimitable Ebeneezer: Bah, it's humbug.
Unfortunately, Oliver lost me almost as soon as I made it past the cover and discovered the hot mess of plot and Palahniuk-level unlikable characters that populate The Humbug Murders.
It's Christmas 1833, ten years before Scrooge starts having issues with that undigested bit of beef, and Ebeneezer is hard at work trying to turn his usury practice into an investment firm when the ghost of his murdered mentor, Reginald Fezziwig, walks in the door. Without the obvious visual cues of dripping chains and a handkerchief-wrapped jaw, Scrooge fails to recognize this as a portentous visitation and proceeds to make Fezziwig cool his ghostly heels while he Sherlock Holmeses a con artist posing as a prospective investment partner (thus, presumably, establishing his detectival bona fides) and then does an on-the-spot interview of walk-in job seeker Adelaide Owen, who shows up interested in the position one day to belong to Bob Cratchit. Fourteen pages on, when Fezziwig finally realizes Scrooge has no intention of letting him get a ghostly proclamation in edgewise, he finally resorts to baldly announcing that he's dead. That one dramatic announcement apparently exhausts the spirit's supply of bluntness, because he then retreats into hand-wavy vagaries about a young man’s innocence, that many will die, and oh yeah, how the word chimera is going to be super important. Message delivered, he disappears in a puff of logic, and Ebeneezer and Adelaide are left to unspool the mystery and make era-appropriate googly eyes at each other.
The Humbug Murders is disappointing on many levels, chiefly due to the authors’ over-reliance on their source material, particularly when it comes to snappy one-liners (there's a fine line between homage and cribbing). Ghostly visitations are best left to stories told before Christmas fires; a regular murder would have been a better place to start, as it would have helped avoid the reader drawing mental comparison's with the original Dickens in which the current authors can't help but come up wanting as their plot careens from unconnected point to unconnected point in a story that feels like it was paid by the word.
Even had they avoided those pitfalls, though, there's still Oliver's inability to walk the fine line of delivering a Scrooge of Christmas Present that we can care about who's still recognizable as the Scrooge of Christmas Yet to Come. Instead, everyone here is so vile that the romantic climax of the book takes place when Scrooge gets swept away with passion after he walks in to find new clerk Adelaide promising the firm's grateful debtors that if they pay pence on the pound of what they owe they'll never heard from Scrooge again - which, as little Miss Sallie Mae points out cheerfully to Scrooge, is the God's honest truth, since she's sold their debt to another lending firm who'll be hounding them thus forth.
Despite a promising premise, the authors behind Oliver cling too closely to Dickens's coattails for their book to stand on its own, and even if it did you probably wouldn't want to stand next to it. To channel the inimitable Ebeneezer: Bah, it's humbug.
December 16, 2015
It’s the week before Christmas, and Scrooge is delighted to receive a visit from his friend Fezziwig. Only Fezziwig announces that he has been murdered and after three more murders, the killer will come after Scrooge. Unfortunately, Fezziwig really is dead. Can Scrooge figure out what is going on and stop the killer before he dies?
As a fan of A Christmas Carol, I had to give this book a try. There are multiple references to the famous story, and I completely enjoyed them. We also get cameos from other Dickens characters and Charles Dickens himself is a main character in the story. The plot wandered around a bit before really gaining focus, and the book was definitely more violent and darker than I normally enjoy. I’m glad I read it, and those who enjoy darker books might enjoy it.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
As a fan of A Christmas Carol, I had to give this book a try. There are multiple references to the famous story, and I completely enjoyed them. We also get cameos from other Dickens characters and Charles Dickens himself is a main character in the story. The plot wandered around a bit before really gaining focus, and the book was definitely more violent and darker than I normally enjoy. I’m glad I read it, and those who enjoy darker books might enjoy it.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
July 29, 2016
This is my final book of 2015 and what a book to end with.
I absolutely love Dickens and I absolutely love Victorian England, it is one of my favourite periods of history and so I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I adore A Christmas Carol so was somewhat curious as to how this story was going to hold up, but it was indeed brilliant.
A story of murder, crime, violence and love in a time less ordinary than our own. Along the way, Scrooge (and an aptly named Detective called Dickens) meet some of Victorian London's most precarious literary characters, including my favourites: Dodger, Nancy and Bill Sikes.
This is not just a re-telling of A Christmas Carol (in fact, it is not a re-telling AT ALL). If you've read any of Dickens' work, including A Christmas Carol (or even if you haven't) pick this book up for a great Victorian murder mystery, with some familiar literary faces along the way.
3 stars :)
I absolutely love Dickens and I absolutely love Victorian England, it is one of my favourite periods of history and so I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I adore A Christmas Carol so was somewhat curious as to how this story was going to hold up, but it was indeed brilliant.
A story of murder, crime, violence and love in a time less ordinary than our own. Along the way, Scrooge (and an aptly named Detective called Dickens) meet some of Victorian London's most precarious literary characters, including my favourites: Dodger, Nancy and Bill Sikes.
This is not just a re-telling of A Christmas Carol (in fact, it is not a re-telling AT ALL). If you've read any of Dickens' work, including A Christmas Carol (or even if you haven't) pick this book up for a great Victorian murder mystery, with some familiar literary faces along the way.
3 stars :)
December 22, 2017
Despite the apparent link to A Christmas Carol, this is NOT a warm, fluffy Christmas tale. It's actually pretty dark, with some fairly explicitly described violence and a lot of deeply unpleasant characters. I struggled with the first half of it - mainly because I'd been expecting something lighter and more Christmassy - but then I put it down for a couple of days, and picked it up again having mentally changed gear, and read the second half at one sitting.
I did like the idea of Charles Dickens as a secondary character to a character he created, populating the same world as many of his Dickens characters, including several of the cast of Oliver Twist, and I was interested that Poe's Dupin got a mention, as well.
I did like the idea of Charles Dickens as a secondary character to a character he created, populating the same world as many of his Dickens characters, including several of the cast of Oliver Twist, and I was interested that Poe's Dupin got a mention, as well.
December 28, 2015
This was a well written murder mystery that stars Scrooge, Dickens, and some other well known characters. The book moved at a good clip and the twists and red herrings kept me guessing. I always appreciate a book where I can't figure out who did it before the big reveal. I also appreciated how the book included some themes that would be familiar to anyone who has read or seen A Christmas Carol, yet it is entirely different from that story. The only criticism I have is that the book ends fairly abruptly and I didn't feel it provided a sense of urgency to be on the lookout for the next book. I think it would have worked out well as just a stand alone novel.
December 17, 2015
The Humbug Murders was my December book club read. What a great pick for this month! In it, we get to travel around dark areas of 1800's London with Ebenezer Scrooge and Dickens as his sidekick. Old Fezziwig has been brutally murdered so Scrooge sets out to find the killer while clearing his name as well. It's fun to see what other Dickens characters make an appearance, my favorite being the Artful Dodger. This is not a cozy mystery, but deeper and darker instead. I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next in the series.
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March 10, 2016I was concerned that I wouldn't like this book. I made the mistake of reading some other reviews that were not so good. I am glad that I didn't let those deter me. I did enjoy this book. It is not a lighthearted cozy type read. It was interesting to watch Scrooge struggle with morals. I am looking forward to more.
November 28, 2015
Although I enjoyed this book, I felt it was a little long & slow in parts. Interested for the next book in the series to see if it picks up.
December 15, 2017
I had a hard time getting into this one. Some chapters were better than others.
December 31, 2020
Intriguing concept here: Taking place in 1833, Ebenezer Scrooge, at 30 years of age, acts as an amateur detective to solve the murder of his own boss, Mr. Fezziwig. I had high hopes for this novel, given the setup and they were mostly fulfilled. I especially enjoyed the character of Miss Adelaide Owen who comes to work as a clerk for Mr. Scrooge and demonstrates a keen mind along with a refusal to put up with the antics of men who feel themselves superior to women.
The authors work hard to insert Dickens references and characters throughout the story, not the least of which is Dickens himself in his role as a reporter. Also included are cameos by Mr. Pickwick, Miss Havisham, and the Artful Dodger among several others. In addition, there are plenty of new characters thrown in which have a major impact on the plot and who also seem like genuine (i.e. odd) Dickens characters. In the end the novel works well. I did not quite solve the case on my own but when the big reveal occurred, I felt I should have seen it coming. That's pretty much an ideal result for a mystery novel as far as I'm concerned.
Reportedly, this was to have been the first in a series. That seems unlikely now since one of the two authors behind the "L.J. Oliver" pseudonym (Scott Ciencin) passed away around the time of publication. There do not seem to have been any more published since this one in 2015 either. That's too bad. I would have happily read the next and the next...
The authors work hard to insert Dickens references and characters throughout the story, not the least of which is Dickens himself in his role as a reporter. Also included are cameos by Mr. Pickwick, Miss Havisham, and the Artful Dodger among several others. In addition, there are plenty of new characters thrown in which have a major impact on the plot and who also seem like genuine (i.e. odd) Dickens characters. In the end the novel works well. I did not quite solve the case on my own but when the big reveal occurred, I felt I should have seen it coming. That's pretty much an ideal result for a mystery novel as far as I'm concerned.
Reportedly, this was to have been the first in a series. That seems unlikely now since one of the two authors behind the "L.J. Oliver" pseudonym (Scott Ciencin) passed away around the time of publication. There do not seem to have been any more published since this one in 2015 either. That's too bad. I would have happily read the next and the next...
June 2, 2021
Interesting premise but I felt there was too much chasing and thrashing and I'm never fond of a story where the villain sums it all up and slows down the big final scene. But that's just me. It helps if you've read a lot of Dickens.
January 7, 2016
I do not curl up to cozy mysteries… A look at my Goodreads shelves and reviews could tell you that. However, I had just recently enjoyed the “Dickens Fair, “and “t’was” the season. So when the wife plucked this book from the old brick and mortar bookstore, I had to read it.
Memories of the 1938 movie classic “A Christmas Carol” and the “Dickens Fair” set the stage for my imagination. The authors used a few of the characters from the original story, and took the tale in an interesting direction. Some characters make cameo appearances, some are portrayed similar to the original, and others are interpreted quite differently. Ebenezer Scrooge is still the charming money-lending miser with wit and attitude. His snarky and snide sarcasm had me cracking up throughout the book. I could not put an age on “Sherlock” Scrooge. He could be the oldster with his trademark walking stick and top hat, but considering the situations he finds himself in, he seems to have the endurance and durability of youth. Even more surprising, you have Dickens himself as an investigative journalist.
Story-wise, this is a darker tale then the original. There were a few historical inaccuracies, and the story became slow and drawn out in some parts, but overall this was a good book with an innovative take on the Scrooge character.
Memories of the 1938 movie classic “A Christmas Carol” and the “Dickens Fair” set the stage for my imagination. The authors used a few of the characters from the original story, and took the tale in an interesting direction. Some characters make cameo appearances, some are portrayed similar to the original, and others are interpreted quite differently. Ebenezer Scrooge is still the charming money-lending miser with wit and attitude. His snarky and snide sarcasm had me cracking up throughout the book. I could not put an age on “Sherlock” Scrooge. He could be the oldster with his trademark walking stick and top hat, but considering the situations he finds himself in, he seems to have the endurance and durability of youth. Even more surprising, you have Dickens himself as an investigative journalist.
Story-wise, this is a darker tale then the original. There were a few historical inaccuracies, and the story became slow and drawn out in some parts, but overall this was a good book with an innovative take on the Scrooge character.
December 25, 2015
This was a fairly enjoyable read (what I assume to be a typical cozy mystery but that's not my usual genre so I can't be certain), but I'm a little undecided about it.
It was well-written and well-plotted, and while I did kind of enjoy the visits of other crossover characters, that's also the part that leaves me feeling uneasy. I'm just not sure how I feel about reading this particular backstory of Scrooge. About how it may change him to a point that doesn't line up with the original story.
Now, I actually rather enjoyed the character of the newspaper reporter Charles Dickens. I liked the way he wasn't perfect and how him and Scrooge interacted, like when Scrooge called Dickens a chocolate teapot. There were quite a few scenes that made me laugh. But I didn't like the whole if-you-screw-this-up-I'll-write-a-book-about-you-that-will-make-you-infamous speeches. Yes. We get it. We heard you the first three times. Move on.
But (as silly as this sounds) I just felt uncomfortable about toying with Scrooge's past (his past in relation to A Christmas Carol, which is actually his present and future in regards to this character). I'm not sure if that makes any sense at all.
I guess my point is this: if you like cozy-type historical mysteries about violent crimes that are set during the holidays, then this will make a great Christmas read for you.
It was well-written and well-plotted, and while I did kind of enjoy the visits of other crossover characters, that's also the part that leaves me feeling uneasy. I'm just not sure how I feel about reading this particular backstory of Scrooge. About how it may change him to a point that doesn't line up with the original story.
Now, I actually rather enjoyed the character of the newspaper reporter Charles Dickens. I liked the way he wasn't perfect and how him and Scrooge interacted, like when Scrooge called Dickens a chocolate teapot. There were quite a few scenes that made me laugh. But I didn't like the whole if-you-screw-this-up-I'll-write-a-book-about-you-that-will-make-you-infamous speeches. Yes. We get it. We heard you the first three times. Move on.
But (as silly as this sounds) I just felt uncomfortable about toying with Scrooge's past (his past in relation to A Christmas Carol, which is actually his present and future in regards to this character). I'm not sure if that makes any sense at all.
I guess my point is this: if you like cozy-type historical mysteries about violent crimes that are set during the holidays, then this will make a great Christmas read for you.
December 30, 2016
I expected this to be a cozy mystery but it turned out to be more gritty like an Anne Perry novel. It delves into the seamier side of 1833 London and includes prostitution, torture, rape, and murder. So be prepared that it's realistic and not fluffy. That being said, it was a complicated and intricately woven plot that took the whole book to unfold and the mystery was very intriguing, although some of the subject matter was disturbing. The authors know a lot about Dickens lore and so Ebenezer Scrooge, the reluctant detective, works with reporter Charles Dickens and meets many people who end up as characters in his later books and stories. So it was totally fun to see those pop up. I would read the next book, if there is one, but since one of the writing partners passed away, I don't know if there will be any more.
September 2, 2025
What if Ebenezer Scrooge was visited by a ghost of his former mentor Fezziwig and then arrested for his murder? Thus starts The Humbug Murders.
He teams up with the journalist Dickens to help solve the murder. We get glimpse of many familiar characters, the Artful Dodger, Pickwick, Bill Sikes along with his beloved bulldog, and Miss Havisham is given a cameo.
While this is great fun, it is a bit grizzly and gruesome and of course, it is set at Christmas time.
He teams up with the journalist Dickens to help solve the murder. We get glimpse of many familiar characters, the Artful Dodger, Pickwick, Bill Sikes along with his beloved bulldog, and Miss Havisham is given a cameo.
While this is great fun, it is a bit grizzly and gruesome and of course, it is set at Christmas time.
February 18, 2016
Being a huge Dickens fan I was really intrigued when I saw this book on the shelf. It is a mystery with Scrooge and Dickens working together to solve the murder of Fezziwig. Many of the characters from Dickens' novels are in this book and that makes it fun to read for fans of Dickens. It is not the most compelling book to finish, but I pushed on to the end and the last page was quite fun. For a reader who is not a fan of Dickens, this book will not hold much interest for them. This is the first in a series. Pick this up if you are looking for a easy read you do not have to think about.
January 18, 2016
This rollicking book zipped along like a roller coaster from beginning to end. No paragraph passed without a tip of the hat to Dickens, lurid moment or a full-on murder.
However, while this sort of book usually appeals to me, I found myself slogging a bit. I finished it because I'd been on the waiting list from the library since October. However, I think I just wasn't in the mood for something so... murdery.
However, while this sort of book usually appeals to me, I found myself slogging a bit. I finished it because I'd been on the waiting list from the library since October. However, I think I just wasn't in the mood for something so... murdery.
December 23, 2015
I really enjoyed this. I like the cozie book genre in general and this was one of the better ones that I would rank up there with Agatha Christie. First in the series and was looking forward to others. Tragically, one of the authors has died so there might not be others.
December 12, 2015
This turned out better than I expected. I like the way this writer took the Christmas Carol into a mystery and used a really good person, Adele, to help out as a Clerk. Very good with the characters. Good plot and a book that is hard to put down.
January 27, 2016
Really interesting series, and very unique premise. Love the female protagonist along with Scrooge, and the inclusion of Dickens as a reporter along with many of his eventual book characters is really cool.
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January 28, 2016Loved this book. I thought it was well done incorporating the characters from other stories . I like how it was all pulled together (although I did guess one are two things it was still a wonderful book that I would recommend to the mystery reader
December 23, 2015
Totally unexpected story....nothing like any version of Scrooge or A Christmas Carol you've ever read. Keep an open mind and enjoy.
December 18, 2015
A few inconsistencies, but generally good. Fun, clever, nicely written. If they write a sequel (as the ending of this one seems to imply could happen), I'll read it.
January 18, 2016
It was a pretty good book. l liked all the references to characters of Dickens other novels and he himself was a character. It was slow to start but got better.
December 22, 2015
I love all the dickens characters
December 30, 2015
Interesting take on Scrooge's younger self. A little weird in places, but a thoroughly enjoyable read.
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