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Charles Dickens & Superintendent Sam Jones #5
At Midnight In Venice
It’s a tricky case for Charles Dickens and Superintendent Jones! Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Victorian crime mysteries, A Christmas Carol and David Copperfield…
Two cities, two skeletons, linked by a mysterious vision…
London, 1850
An Italian music master and an English governess disappear from the house of Sir Neptune Fane, a prominent Member of Parliament.
A female skeleton is found in a disused water tank behind a house which has been empty for five years.
Her neck had been broken and found with a jewelled chain around it.
Charles Dickens is reminded of his time in Venice a few years earlier, when he thought he saw a monk with his hands on a girl’s neck, the glimpse of jewels in fleeting torchlight, a cry of fear.
And later he read that a girl was found drowned at the spot where he had his vision.
Are the two corpses connected? And what is the link to Sir Neptune Fane?
Charles Dickens and Superintendent Sam Jones must find the link between the backstreets of London and the mysterious canals of Venice…
At Midnight In Venice is the fifth urban mystery in J. C. Briggs’ literary historical series, the Charles Dickens investigations, a traditional British detective series set in Victorian London.
The Charles Dickens Investigations Series:
BOOK ONE: The Murder of Patience Brooke
BOOK TWO: Death at Hungerford Stairs
BOOK THREE: Murder by Ghostlight
BOOK FOUR: The Quickening and the Dead
BOOK FIVE: At Midnight In Venice
Two cities, two skeletons, linked by a mysterious vision…
London, 1850
An Italian music master and an English governess disappear from the house of Sir Neptune Fane, a prominent Member of Parliament.
A female skeleton is found in a disused water tank behind a house which has been empty for five years.
Her neck had been broken and found with a jewelled chain around it.
Charles Dickens is reminded of his time in Venice a few years earlier, when he thought he saw a monk with his hands on a girl’s neck, the glimpse of jewels in fleeting torchlight, a cry of fear.
And later he read that a girl was found drowned at the spot where he had his vision.
Are the two corpses connected? And what is the link to Sir Neptune Fane?
Charles Dickens and Superintendent Sam Jones must find the link between the backstreets of London and the mysterious canals of Venice…
At Midnight In Venice is the fifth urban mystery in J. C. Briggs’ literary historical series, the Charles Dickens investigations, a traditional British detective series set in Victorian London.
The Charles Dickens Investigations Series:
BOOK ONE: The Murder of Patience Brooke
BOOK TWO: Death at Hungerford Stairs
BOOK THREE: Murder by Ghostlight
BOOK FOUR: The Quickening and the Dead
BOOK FIVE: At Midnight In Venice
375 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 23, 2019
145 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Briggs
18 books59 followersJean Briggs taught English for many years in schools in Cheshire, Hong Kong and Lancashire. She now lives in a cottage in Cumbria, a non-metropolitan county in North West England.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 2, 2021
I adore this series and have bought them off Amazon because I could not resist. I love the English setting specially the contrast between the so very rich and aristocratic society always brought into the stories (as in this one) and then you get the stark contrast with the bone shattering poverty and crime that seemed to abound in London just metres away from the rich and famous. The poor were brought into the rich homes as menials in domestic service, in suppliers of all goods and services and how a rebellion did not happen earlier is a mystery!
Two cities - one vision. Venice a few years before where Charles saw a vision of a murder and then fast forward to London where a young woman employed in an aristocrats house goes missing at the same time as the young music master. Add to this the case of the missing daughter of the house "sent to the country" due to ill health, the terrified nature of the Lady of the house and Dickens knows there is more to unravel.
Very slowly unravelled with a host of characters, these stories are not for the ones who want fast paced action. This is slow detection work against the odds of having to be very careful when dealing with the high and mighty who have no compunction in using whatever powers that be to protect their name and family to the detriment of everyone else. It further highlighted the hopelessness of the poor and those who did not have family support and these people inhabiting the stories did not have much.
Victorian London at its best with a mystery murder thrown in.
Two cities - one vision. Venice a few years before where Charles saw a vision of a murder and then fast forward to London where a young woman employed in an aristocrats house goes missing at the same time as the young music master. Add to this the case of the missing daughter of the house "sent to the country" due to ill health, the terrified nature of the Lady of the house and Dickens knows there is more to unravel.
Very slowly unravelled with a host of characters, these stories are not for the ones who want fast paced action. This is slow detection work against the odds of having to be very careful when dealing with the high and mighty who have no compunction in using whatever powers that be to protect their name and family to the detriment of everyone else. It further highlighted the hopelessness of the poor and those who did not have family support and these people inhabiting the stories did not have much.
Victorian London at its best with a mystery murder thrown in.
August 26, 2019
Congratulations!
I really enjoyed this book which arrived as a lovely surprise because I had pre-ordered it and forgotten about it. The author keeps up her standard of writing and plotting and I can’t wait for the next in the series...
I really enjoyed this book which arrived as a lovely surprise because I had pre-ordered it and forgotten about it. The author keeps up her standard of writing and plotting and I can’t wait for the next in the series...
May 3, 2020
good mystery a little melodramatic
it was complicated in a good way, but too much “dreaming” on the part of dickens. i feel like sam should have held his feet to the fire a little bit more for not sharing all the info he had received. why do i feel like i need to yell “just tell dumbledore” to all of my main characters these days?
it was complicated in a good way, but too much “dreaming” on the part of dickens. i feel like sam should have held his feet to the fire a little bit more for not sharing all the info he had received. why do i feel like i need to yell “just tell dumbledore” to all of my main characters these days?
March 16, 2020
Beautiful writing, as always. But I found the plot a bit too convoluted, which prevented me from becoming completely immersed in the story.
August 19, 2023
This is the fifth book in this historical crime fiction series featuring Charles Dickens and his policeman friend Superintendent Jones. I do enjoyed this series as it feels like meeting up with old friends.
This story was quite involved as there seemed to be two distinct cases, one in Venice and other in London, but were they be somehow connected? I enjoyed following Charles Dickens and his good friend Superintendent Sam Jones, as they went about discovering what happened to the woman whose body was found in the water tank. As they come across more bodies Charles keeps thinking back to that incident in Italy and was more convinced that the cases were definitely linked.
Just like in the first book the descriptions of Victorian London were so vivid, that at times I felt like I was reading a Dickens novel, especially with some of the characters names! It did make me very glad to be living now rather than in Victorian times when life was so bleak for everyone.
I didn’t have a clue who the murderer was so just enjoyed where the story took me instead.
I highly recommend this series to lovers of historical crime fiction, particularly if you enjoy books set in Victorian times.
August 10, 2020
Charles Dickens has another crime on his hands. This time the murder brings memories of a murder in Venice years ago. Are they connected? Charles and Superintendent Sam Jones work hard to find the link. Two cities are featured in this book, not just London, but Venice as well.
Just as I have thoroughly enjoyed all the previous novels in this series, this book proves to be just as enjoyable. Sadly, the murder at hand is not the only one the pair work hard to solve. Proof of other young women's bodies have been found, and a pattern soon becomes clear.
These stories are not easy reads. At that time in history, especially where crime was rampant, there was poverty, lack of good sanitation and other things that I could not imagine experiencing. As murder is always the crux of these stories, that level of darkness only increases. I think the draw to these stories is Dickens himself, but also the talent that J. C. Briggs lays on the table.
Just as I have thoroughly enjoyed all the previous novels in this series, this book proves to be just as enjoyable. Sadly, the murder at hand is not the only one the pair work hard to solve. Proof of other young women's bodies have been found, and a pattern soon becomes clear.
These stories are not easy reads. At that time in history, especially where crime was rampant, there was poverty, lack of good sanitation and other things that I could not imagine experiencing. As murder is always the crux of these stories, that level of darkness only increases. I think the draw to these stories is Dickens himself, but also the talent that J. C. Briggs lays on the table.
August 31, 2020
Another enjoyable tale in the company of ‘old friends’. I’m getting to know and care about our characters, Sam Jones and his loving clever wife Elizabeth, Dickens and his huge brood and many friends, young Scrap the aspiring detective, Sergeant Rogers and wife Molly and so on.
Here we have murders in London that bring back memories of his time in Italy to Dickens.
Jones and Dickens must work out what is happening with no clues as such and with people who tell half truths. But Dickens calls on friends and I particularly liked Jane (wife of Thomas) Carlyle. Nice to see her come across as a clever astute woman.
There are quite a lot of females to remember, both dead and alive. Got a little confused at times.
At the end of this story we do not just find who the culprit is but how the trial goes.
I very much enjoy these stories, good characterisation and sense of time and place.
Here we have murders in London that bring back memories of his time in Italy to Dickens.
Jones and Dickens must work out what is happening with no clues as such and with people who tell half truths. But Dickens calls on friends and I particularly liked Jane (wife of Thomas) Carlyle. Nice to see her come across as a clever astute woman.
There are quite a lot of females to remember, both dead and alive. Got a little confused at times.
At the end of this story we do not just find who the culprit is but how the trial goes.
I very much enjoy these stories, good characterisation and sense of time and place.
September 26, 2021
I love this series, however, I struggled with this book at first. The first pieces from Venice were perplexing (written by Dickens I believe) and I found new characters were coming along too 'thick and fast', I couldn't work out the relationships. I think if I had not read the first four I would have given up. I persevered and enjoyed it by the end, although it is my least favourite of the five so far, but that may partly be my disappointment that it was not actually set in Venice (as someone who loves Venice). I am also not sure what the thrilling twist was (see cover).
It is good to see the development of the ongoing characters and, comments aside, the book is well written. Onto the next!
It is good to see the development of the ongoing characters and, comments aside, the book is well written. Onto the next!
March 11, 2023
I had expected to enjoy this as much as the rest of the series, but for some reason it didn't jell for me. The beginning is strange and dreamy: a flashback to Dickens' time in Italy some years previously and his apparent witnessing of a murder. Then it appears that perhaps the same murderer has come to England and is carrying out similar killings, of women who physically resemble each other.
The problem is there was a huge cast, given the victims and all the characters linked to each. It was hard to keep track of who was who, there were so many servants, laundrywomen, night-watchmen, coal deliverers and ad infinitum. The parts I enjoyed - where the story really came to life - were two short sequences where Dickens and Scrap work together, especially where they go undercover and become involved in a pub brawl. But otherwise I found it a bit disappointing and can only rate it as 3 stars, my lowest rating yet for this series.
The problem is there was a huge cast, given the victims and all the characters linked to each. It was hard to keep track of who was who, there were so many servants, laundrywomen, night-watchmen, coal deliverers and ad infinitum. The parts I enjoyed - where the story really came to life - were two short sequences where Dickens and Scrap work together, especially where they go undercover and become involved in a pub brawl. But otherwise I found it a bit disappointing and can only rate it as 3 stars, my lowest rating yet for this series.
January 22, 2020
Another truly enjoyable book from J.C. Briggs who has the idea of "Dickens Investigates" down to a "fine art". Atmospheric, historically accurate and perfectly constructed, this book takes the reader on an absorbing tour of the back alleys and seamier parts of Victorian London. It's not a spoiler to say that there are murders aplenty; enough to keep the most avid thriller readers hooked.
Go on, read it and give yourselves a treat.
Go on, read it and give yourselves a treat.
January 25, 2020
I liked this author and this series a lot, an awful lot. It let me to binge reading this complete series within a week.
I felt that the character of Charles Dickens is portrayed quite correctly from what we know about his life and his activism in real life.
If you like detective/mysteries and you like a historically accurate description of living in 1840-1855 this series is definitely for you.
I felt that the character of Charles Dickens is portrayed quite correctly from what we know about his life and his activism in real life.
If you like detective/mysteries and you like a historically accurate description of living in 1840-1855 this series is definitely for you.
January 11, 2025
When Scrap, a character from earlier in the series appeared throughout this book the story became enlightening. This however was short lived. The authors love of Dickens is without question and the writing is excellent but trying to convey this passion in the storyline which is based around real characters detracts from the story itself. Over 392 pages and 50 chapters the book becomes an enduring marathon rather than a pleasant literary strole.
December 28, 2019
Another great read from JC Briggs. So well researched, great plotting, excellent characterisation. You don’t need to have read others in the series, it stands up on its own. This author really has a passion for Dickens and it shows. An intelligent, readable, witty in places gothically grizzly read. Highly recommended.
January 23, 2022
Hook line and sinker
I am totally in awe of the authors way of leading the reader into a web of beautiful storylines twisted with exquisite visions of history. Painting the imagination into a world that reflects both the light and darkness of victorian living. Anchored hook line and sinkered with the humour and sadness of the complex characters.
I am totally in awe of the authors way of leading the reader into a web of beautiful storylines twisted with exquisite visions of history. Painting the imagination into a world that reflects both the light and darkness of victorian living. Anchored hook line and sinkered with the humour and sadness of the complex characters.
January 10, 2025
I love this series, so well written, well researched, J C Briggs describes the places and her characters so beautifully and her characters are strong and not infallible. There’s always a twist, loved it.
January 2, 2020
What a great series of books.
Much fun to read. This author brings Mr Dickens to life in Victorian London. Please say your working on another novel!
Much fun to read. This author brings Mr Dickens to life in Victorian London. Please say your working on another novel!
November 13, 2019
“At Midnight In Venice”. Another great J.C. Briggs mystery where she has Charles Dickens and Superintendent Sam Jones, working together, solving the murders of young girls found in water, but strangled first. So much historical fiction and good description of sites and all his great friends. I only hope this series never ends.
October 4, 2019
1850 Charles Dickens is asked by a friend to look for a missing servant, Violet Pout a governess. But the investigation leads to the finding of a body of a female, dead for 5 years. But this is not the last. What is the connection to sights Dickens saw when he visited Italy six years earlier. Dickens and Superintendent Jones investigate.
Another enjoyable mystery in this well-written series with its very likeable characters. I have enjoyed all five in the series though I could wish for less use of the vernacular in the dialogue.
Another enjoyable mystery in this well-written series with its very likeable characters. I have enjoyed all five in the series though I could wish for less use of the vernacular in the dialogue.
September 23, 2019
Excellent!
Very interesting situation! Young women are found in a watery grave but have been strangled prior to being placed in the water. Thus, they were murdered and are not suicides. Charles Dickens and Superintendent Sam Jones have a monumental problem to solve--- they do so with their usual diligence and perseverance.
Very interesting situation! Young women are found in a watery grave but have been strangled prior to being placed in the water. Thus, they were murdered and are not suicides. Charles Dickens and Superintendent Sam Jones have a monumental problem to solve--- they do so with their usual diligence and perseverance.
September 13, 2019
Excellent series
I have enjoyed all five of the books in this series. In this one Charles Dickens takes the central role. The author’s attention to detail and historical accuracy are beautifully incorporated into the mystery. This fifth volume is my favorite so far. 💙📚
I have enjoyed all five of the books in this series. In this one Charles Dickens takes the central role. The author’s attention to detail and historical accuracy are beautifully incorporated into the mystery. This fifth volume is my favorite so far. 💙📚
September 9, 2019
I have thoroughly been entertained by all the mystery books by C.J. Briggs. The housework has not been done but oh the pleasure I have had emersing myself in these books
January 10, 2026
Excellent, though my least favorite thus far. Just a personal thing. Still same fascinating, atmospheric, and horrifying murders with great characters and historical details.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews