A Fifth Visitor Or How Scrooge Kept Christmas: A Sequel To A Christmas Carol

by John D. Payne

An old man with a murky past.A desperate man with nowhere to run.A bitter ghost with a dark secret.Reformed miser Ebenezer Scrooge is in big trouble. He's been whisked into the future by a secretive new ghost who claims that all he’s done to atone for his past sins has been for nought. He has one last chance to save his Save Grace, a nurse from the 21st century, who’s destined to die on Christmas Eve.Carl Phillips is a man on the edge. He’s just lost his job at the supermarket, and if he doesn’t act fast, he’ll lose his family. He’s being forced to commit an abhorrent crime, but he may have a way out.With time against them and the elusive Silent Partner pulling the strings from behind the scenes, can either of them survive? Scrooge and Carl will have to work together to defeat the forces of darkness conspiring against them, or they risk losing everything.Don't miss this epic, twist-filled sequel to Charles Dickens' classic “A Christmas Carol”.

355 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 8, 2019

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

John^D.^^Payne

Reviews

[Lee Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sequel worth the wait

Wow. Just wow! What an awesome novel. I have long loved ‘A Christmas Carol’ – especially the muppet version – but have always laboured through the reading of it. Obviously Dickens’ language has something to do with that. Which is why I found Payne’s continuation of Scrooge’s story so very enjoyable. It is easy to consume, with Scrooge’s dialogue being the link that keeps the Dickens elements alive. It is well crafted and enthralling with modern day references to make you laugh and heartfelt messages about the plight of the modern day characters that are not do very different to those of Scrooge's time. The same core messages about right and wrong and atonement continue, as well as an commentary about modern relationships and love – though they don’t repeat the same scenarios as Scrooge himself experienced in the original tale. I really enjoyed this piece from start to end, and am truly hopeful that the right people read this so that Payne’s story can be shared far and wide. A wonderful read, highly recommended!

[P.G.R. G. R. Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

I choose this book to read over Christmas, to get into the spirit but what I found was so much more. Scrooge is sent on a thrilling ride with Jack. If you like quality writing, you should read this book. If you like adventure, you should read this book. If you like a thrilling story line, read this book. If you like love, read this book. And if you like stories that are thought provoking, read this book. Basically it has everything and more you want in a story. I especially enjoyed the story of Carl and his troubles and how Scrooge's life connected, very clever. I would highly recommend this book, read how scrooge's life becomes so much more complicated than the first.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Payne’s ‘The Fifth Visitor’ picks up the story of Ebenezer Scrooge where Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ leaves off, but you'll never be able to predict where his roller-coaster story will take you from that basic premise. Whilst staying true to the human heart of the original ‘The Fifth Visitor’ inventively brings in more contemporary elements and is an ideal read for anyone jaded by the superficiality of a modern Christmas. Genuinely moving and funny by turns with a plot to make you reflect on your own life decisions this is a super book.

[Chelsea May xxx · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled to read this book as I couldn’t get a grip of the story or understand what was meant to be happing at all. The dialogue in this book wasn’t that good either and unfortunately the characters were annoying and so dull and boring and repetitive to me. The two different time lines in this book didn’t make sense and didn’t add up. I was so glad to finish this book. I can understand some people will like this book but it wasn’t for me. Xxx

[Shelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thought this would be a fun read during Christmas. The premise was good but the execution missed the mark. As a Bible believing Christian the “heaven” nonsense was just awful. That whole part should have been skipped and it would have been a better story. I did finish it but it almost went into the DNF pile. Would not recommend.

[K.E. Heaton]

I've read Payne's "A Fifth Visitor Or How Scrooge Kept Christmas" for a second time recently. And I enjoyed the book, a great deal more, this second time. It made me laugh... I don't know why? ... perhaps I knew what was coming. Payne's writing is interesting and very thought-provoking. It's definitely worth a read. Well done to the author. ... Keep writing!