Humbug

by Luciano Marano

A terrifying new take on the most famous ghost story of all time.

From award-winning author Luciano Marano comes Humbug—a gruesome, noir-infused reimagining of A Christmas Carol that blends supernatural horror, crime thriller, and psychological suspense into one unforgettable holiday nightmare.

“Luciano Marano extracts the DNA of Dickens’s classic tale and rewires it for his own gonzo spin on the noir detective story."—Matthew Mercier, author of Poe & I

In modern-day Seattle, Detective Stuart (Scrooge) Caine is a jaded homicide cop on the edge of burnout. Every Christmas brings another murder, but this year’s case is different. A brilliant psychopath—dubbed “Humbug” by the press—has made a tradition of killing an entire family every December 25th. With the investigation going cold and his career slipping away, Scrooge receives a visitation on Christmas Eve that shatters his the ghost of his former partner, Marley, and three monstrous spirits—manifestations of history’s most notorious unsolved Jack the Ripper, Zodiac, and The Cleveland Torso Murderer.

As the line between nightmare and reality blurs, Scrooge is forced to confront his past, his sins, and the darkness waiting for him on Christmas morning.

Humbug is a chilling holiday horror novella—a macabre fusion of ghost story, police procedural, and psychological redemption tale—perfect for fans of A Christmas Ghost Story, Candy Cain Kills, and Hark! The Herald Angels Scream.

Sometimes, the ghosts of Christmas past don’t come to save you…they come to collect.

Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Where Stories Come Alive!

Genres: Horror, Christmas

132 pages, Paperback

Published November 30, 2025

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book started strong. Alternate version of Christmas Carol, the well known Dickens characters in a different light, an unsolved case of a serial killer ("Humbug") and its victims, Morley, the deceased partner of a cop called Scrooge... well, at the beginning this was intriguing but soon the plot was somehow stuck. References to the Zodiac Killer or Jack the Ripper didn't raise the tension. To the contrary. We got lost in repetitions and winded descriptions. Also the ghost of a serial killer showing us through the narrative wasn't the best element imaginable. Overall and interesting idea but a bit tedious at parts. Recommended for fans of the author or for those being completely fed up with the Dickens original.

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hardboiled cop dubbed "Scrooge" by the media, who hates Christmas, is on the hunt for the "Humbug" killer. So nicknamed due to his penchant for murdering an entire family every Christmas.
When he is taken off the case, he is visited by the spirits of three murderers, plus his deceased partner, Marley. Can they help him open his heart to the season? And more importantly, can they lead him to the killer?

This modern-day take on the Dickens classic is a much darker and gorier version. It has been decades since I read the original, but I still watch several of the movie versions every year. The spirits here are far less benign, and the streets more dangerous. If you like retellings with a malevolent twist or are a fan of holiday horror, this is for you. At its heart, this is still a story of redemption, but the path to get there is harsh.

4 out of 5 stars
https://wellwortharead.blogspot.com/2...
My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing for the e-ARC

[Michael Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

If some of your favorite things are binging serial killer documentaries, watching gritty crime shows, and reading classic moral parables, then Mariano’s Humbug will fit your literary appetite like a glove.

Enter Stewart “Scrooge” Cain, a jaded detective on the verge of retirement, haunted by regret and the weight of an unsolved case: the serial killer known as Humbug, who has murdered a family every Christmas the past five years.

But don’t worry, this is ultimately a redemption story. Humbug parallels A Christmas Carol, though it’s a far more transgressive and dark reimagining. Detective Cain—our modern “Scrooge”—is visited by three infamous serial killers from history: Jack the Ripper, the Cleveland Torso Killer, and the Zodiac. Each one takes on the role of a ghost, guiding Cain through encounters representing the past, present, and future.

Marano crafts a contemporary tale that intertwines Dickens’ timeless story full of lessons that we can all change for the better. Humbug, with the bleakness of true crime and the darkness of human nature, is a must read for any horror aficionado during the Christmas season.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humbug by Luciano Marano is a modern-day horror retelling of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The story takes place on the mean streets of Seattle, Washington. A serial killer called Humbug has killed an entire family on Christmas for five years in a row. Stewart Caine is the detective on the case, nicknamed Scrooge because of his bad attitude toward the press on Christmas. This Christmas is going to be worse with Marley, his partner, dying on Christmas of last year. But don't worry, he will see her again, along with 3 ghosts of serial killers past. This story is closest to the Bill Murray comedy Scrooged. They both take place in modern day, they both reference Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol, and Danny Elfman's dark score would fit for both. Humbug brings the horror with the ghosts. Ghosts are tortured souls that resemble an amalgamation of Clive Barker and Guillermo del Toro creatures. The serial killers all match Humbug as the case has remained unsolved, and he frequently taunts the press and the police. The descriptions of these killers that live in the shadows are very effective. Every glimpse brings a new horror. Marano has a way of describing and dialogue. The horror is Splatterpunk, where it lingers a little too long on the gore. Marano does have a way of describing the gore by only using one to two sentences. The Humbug killings are the worst. What he uses to wrap the gifts made me say "Awesome!" and "Gross!" Simultaneously. I did like the ending when Scrooge, the moody hard-boiled detective, wants to live again. It was funny to see those around him react to his change. The book is 70% horror and 30% mystery. The horror is great, while the mystery I felt was lacking. Who the killer turns out to be was okay, but the character is a little forgettable. But the mystery was over before it began. In a mystery, I like to think about what I'm seeing and come to a conclusion or take a guess. In Humbug, before I could think about anything, Scrooge solved it. Marano is not a mystery writer but a heck of a horror writer. Humbug by Luciano Marano was first published on December 2, 2025, by Crystal Lake Publishing.

Why did I read Humbug by Luciano Marano? The premise got me. Scrooge as a detective with Marley as his dead partner. Scrooge is visited by serial killers to stop a Christmas serial killer. This is my first ARC since joining the Crystal Lake Publishing Street Team. I love the show of support they are showing for their products and reviewers, too.

Plot Summary: Stewart Caine's nickname is Scrooge because he hates Christmas so much. He misses his old partner, Marley, and his new partner, Bobby, gets on his nerves. He is also dreading Christmas because of Humbug, the serial killer, who kills an entire family every Christmas. And Scrooge still has no clue who the killer is. But his old partner, Marley, is going to send 3 ghosts to talk about the past, present, and future. These ghosts are scary, haunted, and all former unidentified serial killers. They will show him true terror to stop the Humbug killer.

What I Liked: The language of the story is very good. The metaphors were eerie but fit the story well. My favorite metaphor is: "The faint evidence of dawn could be seen backlighting the distant mountains beyond the city, like a thin red slash cut across the world." The dialogue was good. The idea of merging A Christmas Carol with a serial killer story was great. The design of the haunted ghosts. Every one of the three ghosts had an aspect that I liked. My favorite was the Zodiac killer wrapped in newsprint from his headlines. I like what Marano did with the established characters like Bobby, for Bob Cratchett, the over-eager junior detective Scrooge treats like crap. And Tiny Tim, who is super skinny due to drugs. I did like the character of Belle, who has a good background, but I felt her character in the end was wasted. The gender swap on Marley was a good choice. The book length is the same as A Christmas Carol.

What I Disliked: The mystery aspect. I felt cheated out of a good mystery because the Killer does one thing, and Scrooge is like, That's the killer, no doubt. As a reader, I want a chance to solve it. The way it was written felt like someone who had already read the story and knew the ending, and was going to wait for this one moment to be right. I felt cheated. The names were a bit much. I can feel Marano having fun with the names. Stewart Caine was named after two actors who have played Scrooge, and there is another character named Murray. If he had stopped there, I might have been fine. But there is a character named Drood named after Dickens's last work. Plus, all of the characters from A Christmas Carol are taking on different names. I was left very distracted.

Recommendation: Humbug is a killer idea that is backed up by horrific images. Humbug reminded me of the film What A Wonderful Knife that retold What A Wonderful Life as a slasher. Marano is a fairly new author with a lot of promise. I think this story will scare the Dickens out of you. If you have Kindle Unlimited, Humbug is free, and if you do not, it is $3.99. I recommend my followers check Humbug out.

Rating: Humbug by Luciano Marano. I rated 3.5 out of 5 stars.

[Diana | Indie Book Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great retelling of A Christmas Carol. The author did a great job of putting several fun twists on the story. The atmosphere was great as were the characters. I'd say this is a must read when it comes to holiday horror.

[Bookishme_lisamarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn’t love some good Christmas horror? Humbug was a creepy read based on A Christmas Carol. The 3 ghosts that visit Scrooge(but don’t call him that) are versions of 3 famous serial killers. And while he is dealing with his past, present and future, he’s also dealing with the loss of his partner Marley and a serial killer that picks their victims during the Christmas season.

This was a quick read with some gruesome elements and a very dark sense of humor. I enjoyed this read and would definitely read more from this author.
4⭐️

Thank you to Crystal Lake Publishing for allowing me to have an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Chiara Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those wanting a bloodier Christmas story, this reimagining of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol is truly satisfying, from the characters to the plot. And all in just over 100 pages!

I was curious about this story as A Christmas Carol has been reinvented so many times, but I have to admit that this one is great and certainly a perfect match for my reading preferences! Although it’s pretty raw, there isn’t much uncalled for blood and gore, and the focus is more on the plot than gratuitous violence or graphic descriptions, although the ones that are in there are really good.

I loved the broken main character called Scrooge by everyone (you can imagine why) and how he tries to battle with his demons, almost losing. I also enjoyed the serial killer story and was surprised by how much has been put into this plot in so few pages!

Loved also the references to famous serial killers and their role in the awakening of Detective ‘Scrooge’.

If you are tired of the perfect white Christmas, this crime/noir/horror novella will definitely bring some colour in all the shades of red, but in a weird way will also make you reflect on the real Christmas spirit and how to feel it every day!

Thanks to the author and Crystal Lake Publishing for a copy and this is my honest opinion.

[John J Questore · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, as always, let me thank Joe Mynhardt and Crystal Lake Publishing for the opportunity to receive an ARC of HUMBUG in exchange for an honest review. I am very appreciative of their generosity.

When Joe posted about a modern day take on the Dickens' classic, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, I knew right away I couldn't pass up the opportunity. There are two books in my vast collection that I reread every year - FAHRENHEIT 451 and A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

I have to say that to take on such a well known story is dangerous, and a daunting task - not for the faint of heart. Only someone with a deep love of the story would attempt such a thing, and right from the Contents Page, I could see that Luciano Marano is such a person. I mean, there aren't "chapters", but staves - just like Dickens wrote. It's that attention to such a small detail that made me know I was in for something special.

Rather than waste your time with a recap of every stave - because obviously, if your unfamiliar with A CHRISTMAS CAROL [or at least the gist], you've been living under a rock and wouldn't be reading this review - I'll just say that Luciano succeeded in delivering what he set out to do. 


In the Preface, he states, "Familiarity breed contempt, as they say, and somewhere along the line, what with all the puppets and cartoons and plays and TV specials, Bill Murray and Patrick Stewart, I think we became just a little too familiar with the story. Scrooge's redemption is the ultimate point of the narrative, but damned if I didn't was more fearsome ghosts in this ghost story - I wanted to make it once again equally hopeful and scary."

Well, as I said, he succeeded. He added a very interesting twist to a redemption story, and will probably be a story I'll pick up once again when the days become shorter, and the twinkling of lights brighten that evergreen in the corner of my living room.



Happy Holidays, and Bah, HUMBUG !

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A CHRISTMAS CAROL is one of my favorite stories of all time, so when I saw this retelling with a horror-filled twist, I knew I had to read it. And it did not disappoint!! I especially loved the mystery surrounding serial killer Humbug embedded in the plot.

We follow our Scrooge, a detective tasked with bringing the murderer to justice. Along the way, he is visited by three ghosts, their cleverly shocking identities one of the most original aspects of the novella. For fans of Charles Dickens’s classic who love mysteries and won’t mind reading the graphic details surrounding Humbug’s gruesome murders, this is for you!

[Terry and dog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this warped and loose version of a Christmas Carol. The whole set up of the story and characters are different, but I was delighted by all the similarities that popped up. Even without the tie ins, it is a nice little, gory mystery with good characters. A fun, fast read that had me reading straight through and smiling the whole time because it was so enjoyable.

[Michelle Stockard Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas Carol is my favorite Christmas story. Technically, and also in my opinion, it is sort of a horror story, what with the ghosts. Especially the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Good thing I love horror because this is a horrific retelling of the original. For a fairly short book, the story packs a lot of punch. I loved the ghosts being famous serial killers...The Butcher, The Zodiac Killer, and Jack the Ripper. It gave an extra horror angle to the story. Ultimately, it is always a story of redemption. This one just has a lot of gore. If you love horror, and Christmas, you will enjoy this one.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A modern take on the classic Charles Dickens book. I really enjoyed the way the story unfolded and all the throwbacks to the original novel. Great read!

[Patrick Witts · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true-crime modernized twist on A Christmas Carol, with just enough wink-and-nod cheesiness to make this quick read a fun one.

[§amantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

story has been done before. it goes from you suck to here's why you should be a better person to yay im cured and not a jerk anymore but with a detective looking for a killer vibe.

[Ian Gielen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark retelling of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Humbug is a brilliant, short read that does the source material justice while succeeding in creating a captivating horror tale of its own.

Set in the modern day, Stewart Caine, nicknamed Scrooge is a broken character, haunted by his past and the loss of his partner Marley one year on. He is on the trail of a serial killer that targets families each Christmas Day, but it has been years and no progress has been made. Marley had been on the verge of a breakthrough but hadn't had a chance to tell Scrooge what she knew before she died. Frustrated by the lack of progress, he is replaced by a younger detective on Christmas Eve. Enter the ghosts of Christmas who take Scrooge on a journey through his past, present and future to try and show Scrooge what he has been missing both in his life and professionally.

It's a brilliant story that does well on its own even if the reader hasn't read A Christmas Carol before. The writing is top notch and its a short, easy read that manages to hold onto the mystery of who the killer is as the reader is taken on a journey through Scrooge's past. The ghosts of Christmas in this case are famous serial killers that were never caught, Jack the Ripper, the Cleveland Torso Killer, and the Zodiac, each one disturbing in the way they are presented and fitting well into the story.

It's a bleak foray into human nature as well as keeping the true heart of the story, how forgiving yourself for the past and letting go of regrets can help heal your life no matter what stage you are in. A fantastic Christmas season read.

[Horror Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a modern day Scrooge story that nails all the beats of the original while giving us a terrifying modern take on it.

There's a killer on the loose. He visciously slaughters a random family every Christmas. A hard boiled detective has been on the case for years with no success. This year, he's had enough. His wife and kid are gone, he's depressed and angry and he lost his partner and only true friend earlier. He thinks maybe ending his life is the solution.

But, just as in the original tale, he'll be visited by three spirits. These are the ghosts of some horrific serial killers from the past and they're not exactly nice.

You'll have to read about how this one ends but it's probably not going to be what you might expect! It's a gruesome bloody imagining of the original and it'll give you chiils. I highly recommend it.

[Michelle Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Humbug
Luciano Marano

A Christmas Carol with the twist of a serial killer mystery- don’t mind if I do!

Detective “Scrooge” Caine is trudging through some very dark times when he’s suddenly visited by three unexpected figures, each one pushing him to rediscover the value of life, family, and purpose while also help him unravel the case of a notorious serial killer terrorizing Seattle.

Marano delivers an exceptionally descriptive narrative that pulls you straight into the scenes, letting you experience everything right alongside Scrooge. The book is well written, maintaining the same dark holiday spirit as the classic while adding a fresh, suspenseful twist that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Books_with_shell

[NH MotherTucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humbug is a wonderful retelling of A Christmas Carol, horror style! A cranky detective, given the name Scrooge by his associates, is trying hard to catch a psychopath dubbed "Humbug" that k*lls a whole family every December 25th. All the ghosts....past, present AND future are here and more creepy than ever! Can they help Det. Caine with solving this case before Humbug strikes again?
It's a smaller book, so you can certainly curl up on the couch with a blanket, your favorite warm drink and snuggle in for a gruesome tale that you are going to want to read in one sitting! This was my first book by Luciano but will NOT be my last!

[Crys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhhh 😍😍 I love Christmas horror so much! I always like to load my Decembers up with holiday reads and the fact that this is a twist on the old Christmas Carol story PLUS horror, PLUS serial killers.. I was so excited to get my hands on this one as an ARC. This scratched that holiday horror itch that had been building up all year. This is a must read for any horror lover who likes to add a little holiday flavor to the mix. No, it’s not the same ol’ rehashed Scrooge story. This one was a great spin on that with a little homage to the original. Don’t miss this one, yall!

Thank you Crystal Lake Publishing for the early read! 💜

[Chad Anctil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sharp, inventive, and impressively grim reimagining of A Christmas Carol. The worldbuilding is vivid, tactile, and unapologetically rough around the edges, creating a setting that feels both familiar and freshly unsettling. Scrooge himself is rendered with such immediate, visceral distaste that you understand from page one why the story must unfold as it does—and the payoff is worth it.

From Marley’s first chilling appearance to the eerie visits of the three terrifying spirits, the narrative honors Dickens’ original structure while infusing it with its own grotesque energy and intensity. If you appreciate holiday stories with a dark twist, this is a standout recommendation.

[Bookworm2277 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humbug
I enjoyed this book and so will you if you like horror, crime, a Christmas carol (but grotesque) and suspense. Also it’s only 114 pages! 👌

The story follows a homicide detective who has to find the serial killer known as humbug that kills a family each Christmas in very grotesque ways.

The story was so well written and I wish it was longer because it was very interesting. I really liked Scrooge as a character and his development over the course of this book. I think the author did such a great job writing this book and incorporating a Christmas carol lore in it

[Jen Ramsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A retelling of the classic Christmas Carol, this story has been brought kicking and screaming into a more modern, but much darker retelling. Scrooge has been transformed into the sort of hard boiled detective that noir films dream about, tackling both the loss of his partner Marley, and a serial killer intent on ruining Christmas. Only with the help of three of the unlikeliest spirits can he hope to solve the case. Dark, fun, and festive, this story was an excellent read of both crime and horror, with strangely likeable characters and some incredible twists on such a well known tale.

[Tiannah J♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely obsessed with this retelling/reimagining of the classic tale A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

This story follows a detective trying to catch a Christmas Day murderer and it takes a dark twist into horror.

I have seen so many screen adaptations of the original story because it is one of my favorite Christmas stories but this is my first time reading one and with such a different twist.

I had a great time and flew through it. I honestly already wish I could read it over again for the first time.

My favorite Christmas themed read...well ever!

[K.L. Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like Dickins? Do you like Serial Killers? Well this is the book for you. "Scrooge" is a detective with a tendency for violence, who was just gotten taken off The Humbug case. Where wealthy family's keep being found dead on Christmas.
Visited by his old partner and a whose who of serial killers he works through his issues to find the perfect suspect.

This is an intense read , and you will never pick who the killed is!

Five stars, get it today

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so hyped to read this, I have been since I first saw details and pre-ordered, and I was not disappointed. This book takes A Christmas Carol and does some kind of magic with it that gives you a comforting familiarity while also weaving a whole new tale at the same time. I loved the characters in this book, especially the three spirits. The way they were portrayed was so, so clever. I’ll definitely be rereading it on Christmas Eve!

[Harvey Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale as old as time with a modern dark twist...Dikens A Christmas Carol was never more badass!!!! I absolutely loved this book!...the story was well hashed out and I absolutely love the three ghost who came to visit Scrooge in this tale...I also loved that each time a new ghost came the author took the time to give us the history of the ghost via Wikipedia!! I 100% recommend this book if you want a fun spooky holiday read!!

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strippers, murders, and gore. oh my!
This is not your grandma's Christmas Carol. It is the modernretelling we have all been waiting for. This was fast-paced and horrific in the best ways. I loved this novella, and I can't wait to have the opportunity to scream, "It's christmas f-ing day" at anyone who will listen.Overall, this retelling is one that every day, a horror fan will enjoy

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

A jaded detective and a gory serial killer certainly made for an interesting spilin on Dickens's A Christmas Carol! The descriptions of the killings are brutal and the Ghosts were interesting in their interpretation. I can't say much with how short this is, but this story is a great, quick read for those of us who like a dark winter story.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great twist on the Dickens classic! I personally loved the way serial killers are placed in the story and the particular ones the author used, I think were perfect! Marano did a fantastic job weaving in aspects of the original story while also bringing the characters and horror of his story "alive".

[David Keyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't think it was possible to do this story from the angle of a crime thriller, but boy does it work! Luciano Marano's style and prose not only propel this narrative, but also make the material almost visceral. I couldn't put it down, and dare I say it, I wanted more. Really looking forward to reading his next outing!