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A Dickens of a Crime #3
A Christmas Carol Murder
In the third installment of Heather Redmond’s historical mystery series that cleverly reimagines Charles Dickens’s life, he and fiancée Kate Hogarth must solve the murder of an old miser, just before Christmas…
London, December 1835: Charles and Kate are out with friends and family for a chilly night of caroling and good cheer. But their blood truly runs cold when their singing is interrupted by a body plummeting from an upper window of a house. They soon learn the dead man, his neck strangely wrapped in chains, is Jacob Harley, the business partner of the resident of the house, an unpleasant codger who owns a counting house, one Emmanuel Screws.
Ever the journalist, Charles dedicates himself to discovering who's behind the diabolical defenestration. But before he can investigate further, Harley's corpse is stolen. Following that, Charles is visited in his quarters by what appears to be Harley's ghost—or is it merely Charles’s overwrought imagination? He continues to suspect Emmanuel, the same penurious penny pincher who denied his father a loan years ago, but Kate insists the old man is too weak to heave a body out a window. Their mutual affection and admiration can accommodate a difference of opinion, but matters are complicated by the unexpected arrival of an infant orphan. Charles must find the child a home while solving a murder, to ensure that the next one in chains is the guilty party…
London, December 1835: Charles and Kate are out with friends and family for a chilly night of caroling and good cheer. But their blood truly runs cold when their singing is interrupted by a body plummeting from an upper window of a house. They soon learn the dead man, his neck strangely wrapped in chains, is Jacob Harley, the business partner of the resident of the house, an unpleasant codger who owns a counting house, one Emmanuel Screws.
Ever the journalist, Charles dedicates himself to discovering who's behind the diabolical defenestration. But before he can investigate further, Harley's corpse is stolen. Following that, Charles is visited in his quarters by what appears to be Harley's ghost—or is it merely Charles’s overwrought imagination? He continues to suspect Emmanuel, the same penurious penny pincher who denied his father a loan years ago, but Kate insists the old man is too weak to heave a body out a window. Their mutual affection and admiration can accommodate a difference of opinion, but matters are complicated by the unexpected arrival of an infant orphan. Charles must find the child a home while solving a murder, to ensure that the next one in chains is the guilty party…
321 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 2020
168 people are currently reading
1255 people want to read
About the author
Heather Redmond
14 books466 followersHeather Redmond is an author of commercial fiction and also writes as Heather Hiestand. First published in mystery, she took a long detour through romance before returning. Though her last known British ancestor departed London in the 1920s, she is a committed anglophile, Dickens devotee, and lover of all things nineteenth century.
She has lived in Illinois, California, and Texas, and now resides in a small town in Washington State with her husband and son. The author of many novels, novellas, and short stories, she has achieved best-seller status at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Her 2018 Heather Redmond debut, A Tale of Two Murders, has received a coveted starred review from Kirkus Reviews.
She has lived in Illinois, California, and Texas, and now resides in a small town in Washington State with her husband and son. The author of many novels, novellas, and short stories, she has achieved best-seller status at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Her 2018 Heather Redmond debut, A Tale of Two Murders, has received a coveted starred review from Kirkus Reviews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
September 20, 2020
A cosy mystery based quite cleverly on the life of Charles Dickens and his fiancee Kate Hogarth.
I enjoyed this book especially the way it presented Dickens in a fictional tale but with biographical facts about his life as well. I am sure he did not act as an amateur detective in real life though but he certainly does here. Events drag him into not one but two related murders and after a great deal of bumbling around he does in fact solve them.
I enjoyed the background of Dickensian London with its smells, overcrowding, poverty and fog. I liked many of the characters as well as Charles and Kate and will be happy to read more about them.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I enjoyed this book especially the way it presented Dickens in a fictional tale but with biographical facts about his life as well. I am sure he did not act as an amateur detective in real life though but he certainly does here. Events drag him into not one but two related murders and after a great deal of bumbling around he does in fact solve them.
I enjoyed the background of Dickensian London with its smells, overcrowding, poverty and fog. I liked many of the characters as well as Charles and Kate and will be happy to read more about them.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 23, 2020
THE MYSTERY DIDN'T CAPTIVATE ME, BUT I LIKED IT ALL THE SAME
This is one of those rare books where I have a long list of things I didn't enjoy. And yet, overall, I liked this book. It certainly had flaws in my opinion, but it was still enjoyable. The thing is, though... I can't exactly pinpoint what it was, that made it enjoyable 🤷♀️
👍 What I Liked 👍
A Christmas Carol: I absolutely adore A Christmas Carol and I really liked seeing all of the references to that story, disguised here as 'inspiration' for Dickens. I liked that the story was sort of constructed in a way that implied that this story was actually what inspired Dickens to write A Christmas Carol.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Secrets: One of my big reading pet peeves is secrets that blow up in the characters face. Whenever I encounter a character, who decides to keep a secret, however well meaning, from someone they love, I know how it's going to end. It will be exposed, there will be a fall out, and then they will get back together again in the end. It just doesn't work for me. I see through it every time. It's so tired.
Mystery: I'll admit that the mystery did not do it for me either. It was just not thrilling or exciting. Mostly, it was Dickens going back and forth between the same people over and over again. There weren't really any leads, evidence or anything to go on, it was just a string of slightly boring conversations.
Pace: The pace was really slow and it almost felt like the story never really god started. Probably because a lot of the story was just dialogue between the characters. I needed something more. Some more action.
No Kate: What I really liked about the previous installment was Dickens' fiance, Kate. Sadly, she was missing for most of this book and the story really suffered from her absence.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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This is one of those rare books where I have a long list of things I didn't enjoy. And yet, overall, I liked this book. It certainly had flaws in my opinion, but it was still enjoyable. The thing is, though... I can't exactly pinpoint what it was, that made it enjoyable 🤷♀️
👍 What I Liked 👍
A Christmas Carol: I absolutely adore A Christmas Carol and I really liked seeing all of the references to that story, disguised here as 'inspiration' for Dickens. I liked that the story was sort of constructed in a way that implied that this story was actually what inspired Dickens to write A Christmas Carol.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Secrets: One of my big reading pet peeves is secrets that blow up in the characters face. Whenever I encounter a character, who decides to keep a secret, however well meaning, from someone they love, I know how it's going to end. It will be exposed, there will be a fall out, and then they will get back together again in the end. It just doesn't work for me. I see through it every time. It's so tired.
Mystery: I'll admit that the mystery did not do it for me either. It was just not thrilling or exciting. Mostly, it was Dickens going back and forth between the same people over and over again. There weren't really any leads, evidence or anything to go on, it was just a string of slightly boring conversations.
Pace: The pace was really slow and it almost felt like the story never really god started. Probably because a lot of the story was just dialogue between the characters. I needed something more. Some more action.
No Kate: What I really liked about the previous installment was Dickens' fiance, Kate. Sadly, she was missing for most of this book and the story really suffered from her absence.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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Blog Post: 10 Tips to Help You Wrestle that Pesky TBR Pile
October 11, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
A mystery series involving famed British writer Charles Dickens working as a detective? Yes, please! Although the third installment of Heather Redmond's A Dickens of a Crime series, I didn't feel lost one bit and enjoyed reading about Dickens's England. Redmond gives CD quite a bit of conflict in both his personal and professional life and a mystery that takes its influence from his popular novella A Christmas Carol.
We have a Jacob Harley that is found dead and his partner, Mr. Screws that wishes desperately for journalist Charles Dickens to help him. Throw in an illegitimate baby named Timothy and an intriguing storyline is born.
Definitely glad to have taken a chance on this light mystery.
Goodreads review 11/10/20
Publication Date 29/09/20
A mystery series involving famed British writer Charles Dickens working as a detective? Yes, please! Although the third installment of Heather Redmond's A Dickens of a Crime series, I didn't feel lost one bit and enjoyed reading about Dickens's England. Redmond gives CD quite a bit of conflict in both his personal and professional life and a mystery that takes its influence from his popular novella A Christmas Carol.
We have a Jacob Harley that is found dead and his partner, Mr. Screws that wishes desperately for journalist Charles Dickens to help him. Throw in an illegitimate baby named Timothy and an intriguing storyline is born.
Definitely glad to have taken a chance on this light mystery.
Goodreads review 11/10/20
Publication Date 29/09/20
November 7, 2020
This is the third book in the A Dickens of a Crime mystery series. It is 1835, and a young Charles Dickens is working as a journalist for a paper belonging to his fiancée’s father. While covering a devastating fire, he is approached by a young girl who says her sister is dead, and that Dickens is the father of her sister’s baby. She hands him the baby and departs, leaving him to try and find the real father. He also decides to hide this shocking turn of events from his fiancée, Catherine “Kate” Hogarth. At the same time, a death has occurred at the house of the miserly Mr. Screws. His partner, Mr. Harley, has plummeted from a window, chained at the neck. Was he murdered, or was this a suicide?
A Dickens of a Crime is a fascinating cozy mystery series that takes events and characters from the novels of Charles Dickens and uses them differently. While this is the third book, it can be read as a standalone novel. In this third installment, A Christmas Carol is retold as a murder mystery. The reader will take delight in finding the many references to the classic Christmas novella, re-imagined, and with names slightly changed. The mysteries are well-thought-out, and there are plenty of twists and turns. What I enjoyed most was the fact that the characters created by Dickens interacted with Dickens himself, and with people from his actual life. It becomes a fusion of both mystery and biography of the early life of this great writer. Recommended for fans of murder mysteries, classic literature, and Charles Dickens.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Historical Novels Review magazine. My opinions are my own.
A Dickens of a Crime is a fascinating cozy mystery series that takes events and characters from the novels of Charles Dickens and uses them differently. While this is the third book, it can be read as a standalone novel. In this third installment, A Christmas Carol is retold as a murder mystery. The reader will take delight in finding the many references to the classic Christmas novella, re-imagined, and with names slightly changed. The mysteries are well-thought-out, and there are plenty of twists and turns. What I enjoyed most was the fact that the characters created by Dickens interacted with Dickens himself, and with people from his actual life. It becomes a fusion of both mystery and biography of the early life of this great writer. Recommended for fans of murder mysteries, classic literature, and Charles Dickens.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Historical Novels Review magazine. My opinions are my own.
July 21, 2020
On one of Charles Dickens’ journalist assignments, a baby is thrust upon him claiming he is the father. Charles asks friends to care for it in secret. Out caroling with family and friends, Charles and his fiancée Kate witness the body of counting house partner Jacob Harley falls out of a window wearing chains around his neck. Before the body can be buried, it vanishes and what appears to be Jacob Harley’s ghost shows up at Charles’ home. He also tries to find the baby’s relatives without his fiancée finding out.
A Christmas Carol Murder is the third and final installment of A Dickens of a Crime by Heather Redmond, published by Kensington Books. The story is set in London England 1835. It is about Charles Dickens when he works as a journalist. Christmas draws close and Charles, his family and friends decide to go caroling to raise money for their charity. Outside counting house owner’s Emmanuel Screws property, the body of Jacob Harley falls out of a window wearing chains around his neck. While in the undertaker’s care, the body vanishes. What appears to be the ghost of Jacob Harley turns up at Charles’ lodgings attempting to scare him off the case. Charles tries to find Timothy’s relatives without ruining his engagement to Kate.
Main character young Charles Dickens tries to support himself as news paper journalist. When on breaks from his money paying endeavors he works on his book. I find him a well crafted, believable main character who cares for others around him and he is my favorite in this story.
Supporting character Emmanuel Screws is the counting house owner. As the story progresses I felt unsure what he was about. One minute he was on my suspect list, the next I felt he seemed just a nice old grandpa. He was my least favorite character of this story, but I think his character played a vital part in the drama of the story.
The writing style and dialogue I felt was fantastically unique. With a definite modern vibe it still felt authentic, helped by descriptions of interesting (but pretty unreliable) methods to find a murderer’s identity.
The story included fascinating descriptions of life in London at the time. The writing was so vivid, I felt almost a like a fly on the wall near Charles Dickens and the people around him. I particularly enjoyed reading about family life when Charles was invited to dinner at his in-laws.
Conclusion: The plot had me all baffled and confused towards the end and I could not stop reading until I knew who the culprit was. I read this story as a standalone, which worked perfectly. I enjoyed the hints to previous books, and I am excited to read the two previous installments in the series.
Fans of Heather Redmond will love this final installment in A Dickens of a Crime. Readers of crime fiction would also enjoy this book. Similar authors to explore might be Victoria Gilbert or Joanne Fluke
Thank you to publisher Kensington Books and NetGalley for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions in this review are completely my own.
A Christmas Carol Murder is the third and final installment of A Dickens of a Crime by Heather Redmond, published by Kensington Books. The story is set in London England 1835. It is about Charles Dickens when he works as a journalist. Christmas draws close and Charles, his family and friends decide to go caroling to raise money for their charity. Outside counting house owner’s Emmanuel Screws property, the body of Jacob Harley falls out of a window wearing chains around his neck. While in the undertaker’s care, the body vanishes. What appears to be the ghost of Jacob Harley turns up at Charles’ lodgings attempting to scare him off the case. Charles tries to find Timothy’s relatives without ruining his engagement to Kate.
Main character young Charles Dickens tries to support himself as news paper journalist. When on breaks from his money paying endeavors he works on his book. I find him a well crafted, believable main character who cares for others around him and he is my favorite in this story.
Supporting character Emmanuel Screws is the counting house owner. As the story progresses I felt unsure what he was about. One minute he was on my suspect list, the next I felt he seemed just a nice old grandpa. He was my least favorite character of this story, but I think his character played a vital part in the drama of the story.
The writing style and dialogue I felt was fantastically unique. With a definite modern vibe it still felt authentic, helped by descriptions of interesting (but pretty unreliable) methods to find a murderer’s identity.
The story included fascinating descriptions of life in London at the time. The writing was so vivid, I felt almost a like a fly on the wall near Charles Dickens and the people around him. I particularly enjoyed reading about family life when Charles was invited to dinner at his in-laws.
Conclusion: The plot had me all baffled and confused towards the end and I could not stop reading until I knew who the culprit was. I read this story as a standalone, which worked perfectly. I enjoyed the hints to previous books, and I am excited to read the two previous installments in the series.
Fans of Heather Redmond will love this final installment in A Dickens of a Crime. Readers of crime fiction would also enjoy this book. Similar authors to explore might be Victoria Gilbert or Joanne Fluke
Thank you to publisher Kensington Books and NetGalley for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions in this review are completely my own.
December 25, 2023
A very nice Dickensian mystery.
The author of this book (installment #3 in a series named "A Dickens of a Crime", but readable as a standalone) introduces us to a young, friendly and affable Charles Dickens, not yet a writer (but with a book almost ready to be published), journalist and sketch artist, full of energy and enthusiasm.
The plot of the book cleverly mixes fact and fiction, borrowing characters from his own very famous Christmas story: A Christmas Carol, but changing the names slightly, as if those were the people who inspired him to tell his Christmas tale .
The concept, as I expressed it, may seem convoluted, but if you read the book you will understand what I mean.
__ THE PLOT ___ London, December 1835: Charles and Kate, two of their brothers and a couple of friends are singing Christmas carols to raise money for charity for poor children living on the streets.
Suddenly a man's body, with chains wrapped around it, falls from a window.
The group is involved in the suspicious death as witnesses, but above all, after the magistrate declares the death as accidental, Charles, as a good journalist, decides to see clearly and discover the truth.
Together with the investigation into the murder, we follow the personal events that enter the life of our young Dickens, who finds himself in such an ambiguous and complicated situation that it could ruin his engagement and planned wedding with Kate.
___MY OPINION ___
I have to admit that the murder mystery was interesting to uncover, but not as completely engaging and intriguing as I expected this book to be. And this is why I didn't give 5 stars.
However, on the whole, the Dickensian atmosphere of London made up of poor dirty and barefoot children, food stalls and taverns, rich and greedy people, scoundrels and actresses of dubious morality, the enthusiasm of the young Dickens, the disinterested affection of his friends and his brother, the small moments of family life... it's all described so well, that the story kept me good company page after page until the end, without ever getting tired.
I really liked seeing this mix of real characters with fictional characters taken from Dickens' story and placed in this book as if they had been real.
I also liked the strong feeling that unites Charles and Kate. Dickens's strong desire to have not only Kate's love, but also her trust...however, I couldn't stop thinking for a moment that then he, in reality, later in the marriage, betrayed that trust, having a lover for many years and my knowledge of reality has prevented me a little from enjoying the romantic side of the protagonist.
Up to three quarters of the book it is not possible to find out who the murderer could be, then thanks to some attitudes and jokes one comes to guess, but an unexpected surprise still remains and at the end there's also an action scene that made things more compelling.
It would have been nice if there had been more action scenes spread throughout the story.
The conclusion to the book was satisfying, so for me, overall, the 4 stars are well earned.
Thanks for reading my review and forgive my bad English, it is not my native language. :-)
Merry Christmas everybody !
The author of this book (installment #3 in a series named "A Dickens of a Crime", but readable as a standalone) introduces us to a young, friendly and affable Charles Dickens, not yet a writer (but with a book almost ready to be published), journalist and sketch artist, full of energy and enthusiasm.
The plot of the book cleverly mixes fact and fiction, borrowing characters from his own very famous Christmas story: A Christmas Carol, but changing the names slightly, as if those were the people who inspired him to tell his Christmas tale .
The concept, as I expressed it, may seem convoluted, but if you read the book you will understand what I mean.
__ THE PLOT ___ London, December 1835: Charles and Kate, two of their brothers and a couple of friends are singing Christmas carols to raise money for charity for poor children living on the streets.
Suddenly a man's body, with chains wrapped around it, falls from a window.
The group is involved in the suspicious death as witnesses, but above all, after the magistrate declares the death as accidental, Charles, as a good journalist, decides to see clearly and discover the truth.
Together with the investigation into the murder, we follow the personal events that enter the life of our young Dickens, who finds himself in such an ambiguous and complicated situation that it could ruin his engagement and planned wedding with Kate.
___MY OPINION ___
I have to admit that the murder mystery was interesting to uncover, but not as completely engaging and intriguing as I expected this book to be. And this is why I didn't give 5 stars.
However, on the whole, the Dickensian atmosphere of London made up of poor dirty and barefoot children, food stalls and taverns, rich and greedy people, scoundrels and actresses of dubious morality, the enthusiasm of the young Dickens, the disinterested affection of his friends and his brother, the small moments of family life... it's all described so well, that the story kept me good company page after page until the end, without ever getting tired.
I really liked seeing this mix of real characters with fictional characters taken from Dickens' story and placed in this book as if they had been real.
I also liked the strong feeling that unites Charles and Kate. Dickens's strong desire to have not only Kate's love, but also her trust...however, I couldn't stop thinking for a moment that then he, in reality, later in the marriage, betrayed that trust, having a lover for many years and my knowledge of reality has prevented me a little from enjoying the romantic side of the protagonist.
Up to three quarters of the book it is not possible to find out who the murderer could be, then thanks to some attitudes and jokes one comes to guess, but an unexpected surprise still remains and at the end there's also an action scene that made things more compelling.
It would have been nice if there had been more action scenes spread throughout the story.
The conclusion to the book was satisfying, so for me, overall, the 4 stars are well earned.
Thanks for reading my review and forgive my bad English, it is not my native language. :-)
Merry Christmas everybody !
October 24, 2020
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
A christmas carol murder is warm captivating read about Charles Dickens and his fiance Kate Hogarth. I loved this book and it has got me all geared up for Christmas festivities already.
The book starts as Charles has been investigating a fire and upon his return he gets a visitor who claims the babe in her arms is Charles's illegitimate son. Charles hasn't a clue who she is and is adamant the child isn't his. He entrust close friends to the babies care while he tries to track down the aunt and real family of the baby. During a jolly evening Christmas caroling with his fiance, brother and friends, a murder happens to fall at their feet. That is when we meet the famous character of scruge (Mr Screws).
The story enfold of Charles trying to not only find the aunt of this baby but trying to solve a murder mystery and clear his name from scandalous gossip and rumours and be with his fiance Kate again.
This book is fantastic and so cosy yet gripping too. I loved how the author mixed Charles Dickens real life within the fantasy of fiction. Superbly done!
A christmas carol murder is warm captivating read about Charles Dickens and his fiance Kate Hogarth. I loved this book and it has got me all geared up for Christmas festivities already.
The book starts as Charles has been investigating a fire and upon his return he gets a visitor who claims the babe in her arms is Charles's illegitimate son. Charles hasn't a clue who she is and is adamant the child isn't his. He entrust close friends to the babies care while he tries to track down the aunt and real family of the baby. During a jolly evening Christmas caroling with his fiance, brother and friends, a murder happens to fall at their feet. That is when we meet the famous character of scruge (Mr Screws).
The story enfold of Charles trying to not only find the aunt of this baby but trying to solve a murder mystery and clear his name from scandalous gossip and rumours and be with his fiance Kate again.
This book is fantastic and so cosy yet gripping too. I loved how the author mixed Charles Dickens real life within the fantasy of fiction. Superbly done!
January 4, 2021
I am grateful to Partners in Crime Tours for bringing this book and series to my attention. A mystery novel set early 19th century with Charles Dickens as a journalist who solves murders? That sounded like something I would really enjoy.
It is time for Christmas, and Charles Dickens is out with friends and family for caroling. But there good times are interrupted as they witness a man being thrown off out a window. Ofcourse, having witnessed it first hand, our protagonist could not NOT investigate the matter - especially when he is 'visited by the dead man's spirit'. The victim in this case is Jacob Harley, co-owner of a dodgy counting house. The mystery thickens as the body goes missing and the prime suspect seems too frail of a man to have done the deed. To complicate things in Charles's life, a orphan boy with questionable parentage is thrust into his life. Will Kate find out about her fiancé's secret? And will Charles be able to navigate the dangers involved or does he have one too many balls in the air?
Read the full review on Bookish Indulgences with b00k r3vi3ws
Giving this one a 3.5 Stars.
It is time for Christmas, and Charles Dickens is out with friends and family for caroling. But there good times are interrupted as they witness a man being thrown off out a window. Ofcourse, having witnessed it first hand, our protagonist could not NOT investigate the matter - especially when he is 'visited by the dead man's spirit'. The victim in this case is Jacob Harley, co-owner of a dodgy counting house. The mystery thickens as the body goes missing and the prime suspect seems too frail of a man to have done the deed. To complicate things in Charles's life, a orphan boy with questionable parentage is thrust into his life. Will Kate find out about her fiancé's secret? And will Charles be able to navigate the dangers involved or does he have one too many balls in the air?
Read the full review on Bookish Indulgences with b00k r3vi3ws
Giving this one a 3.5 Stars.
September 30, 2020
The third in a series; This one Charles Dickens has to solve a murder and is the first one I have read. Whilst the book was well written is was slow and torturous to read. The language used was all wrong for the time period and if we are to believe this is the well written Charles Dickens I expect him to be well spoken as well. If you can forget that it is not written as a period piece then you will find it a decent little mystery.
February 22, 2025
Lubię te historie o Dickensie detektywie. Kolejny tom, tym razem poznajemy "źródło" przyszłej słynnej "Opowieści wigilijnej", a przy okazji jesteśmy świadkami zagadki kryminalnej i zamieszania w relacjach głównych bohaterów. W tle Londyn z XIX wieku z wszystkimi jego wadami (bo zalet raczej nie znalazłam 🤔). Dla miłośników cosy crime i Dickensa to całkiem przyzwoita lektura.
December 26, 2021
I haven't read the rest of the series and jumped right in the third not knowing it was a series. Just saw the title and thought it was a perfect follow up to the original "A Christmas carol". It didn't matter much that I skipped the first two, it stood very well on its own. A good and engaging story that was very fresh and fun kind of Christmas kind of novels. Been quite the much romance Christmas books this year
December 20, 2020
(I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
A Christmas Carol Murder is the third book in A Dickens of a Crime series and I regret to say I did not read the first two novels with curious titles: A Tale of Two Murders and Grave Expectations. So if you’re a Dickens fan, you should definitely check them out.
As you can guess, the main protagonist in the series is Charles Dickens and his fiancee Catherine Hogarth. The murder mystery series has a balanced combination of facts and fiction but as I’m not familiar with the life of Dickens, it was a little difficult for me to figure where facts ended and fiction started. However, I loved the idea of Dickens coming to life, solving mysteries while trying to focus on his work and publish books. I decided to save this novel for this Christmas season but I have to say I could not find much of the seasonal spirit in here. The story is intriguing but a little slow-paced and there were too many people to keep track of, most of whom obviously come from the prequels of the book, which were unfamiliar to me. I felt like I was missing something but enjoyed the overall concept. Definitely recommended for Dickens fans, literary-fiction and historical fiction lovers; a cozy book with lovable characters.
A Christmas Carol Murder is the third book in A Dickens of a Crime series and I regret to say I did not read the first two novels with curious titles: A Tale of Two Murders and Grave Expectations. So if you’re a Dickens fan, you should definitely check them out.
As you can guess, the main protagonist in the series is Charles Dickens and his fiancee Catherine Hogarth. The murder mystery series has a balanced combination of facts and fiction but as I’m not familiar with the life of Dickens, it was a little difficult for me to figure where facts ended and fiction started. However, I loved the idea of Dickens coming to life, solving mysteries while trying to focus on his work and publish books. I decided to save this novel for this Christmas season but I have to say I could not find much of the seasonal spirit in here. The story is intriguing but a little slow-paced and there were too many people to keep track of, most of whom obviously come from the prequels of the book, which were unfamiliar to me. I felt like I was missing something but enjoyed the overall concept. Definitely recommended for Dickens fans, literary-fiction and historical fiction lovers; a cozy book with lovable characters.
September 19, 2020
A Christmas Carol Murder
A Dickens of a Crime Series #3
Heather Redmond
https://heatherredmond.com
Release date 09/29/2020
Publisher Kensington Books
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
The latest novel from Heather Redmond’s acclaimed mystery series finds young Charles Dickens suspecting a miser of pushing his partner out a window, but his fiancée Kate Hogarth takes a more charitable view of the old man's innocence . . .
London, December 1835: Charles and Kate are out with friends and family for a chilly night of caroling and good cheer. But their blood truly runs cold when their singing is interrupted by a body plummeting from an upper window of a house. They soon learn the dead man at their feet, his neck strangely wrapped in chains, is Jacob Harley, the business partner of the resident of the house, an unpleasant codger who owns a counting house, one Emmanuel Screws.
Ever the journalist, Charles dedicates himself to discovering who's behind the diabolical defenestration. But before he can investigate further, Harley's corpse is stolen. Following that, Charles is visited in his quarters by what appears to be Harley's ghost—or is it merely Charles’s overwrought imagination? He continues to suspect Emmanuel, the same penurious penny pincher who denied his father a loan years ago, but Kate insists the old man is too weak to heave a body out a window. Their mutual affection and admiration can accommodate a difference of opinion, but matters are complicated by the unexpected arrival of an infant orphan. Charles must find the child a home while solving a murder, to ensure that the next one in chains is the guilty party . . .
𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
As my first read by this author and the by in this series, because of the famous main protagonist, I googled Dickens biography, as an eternal romantic, I just hope this fictional self and his soon-to-be wife have a better ending than their real counterparts.
While I had difficulties to enter fully the story, I loved the little hints peppering the pages as many clues about how A Christmas Carol came to life. From the staged ghost to the names of the protagonists and so on. It was so fun to pick up the tiny or not so tiny details sprinkling the tale.
Then at half mark I was finally in there. Once everything was on the table, I was glued to Dickens’ steps.
While in some ways I understand Dickens’ choices, I do not agree with him about not confiding in his betrothed and brother, it would have saved him some heartaches. I hated that Kate was relegated to be a side-character, she has no voice in this tale but it was alas the place of women in this time. The Victorian area was a Puritan one, full of hypocrisy. I much disliked his future-in-laws (but his father was close-by), how self-righteous they acted, ready to condemn and blame without even a trial.
He is a better man than me, I am a full of empathy woman but I would not have so easily forgiven to have been so quickly dismissed without even a hearing.
I much liked his friend William and his wife Julie and their new ward Lucy. But how sad is the treatment of Johnny Dorset. It is even a miracle he was not sent to an asylum as it was the place for the misunderstood, the insanes or those suffering from down syndromes or autistic disorder.
4 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Kensington Books and Netgalley, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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A Dickens of a Crime Series #3
Heather Redmond
https://heatherredmond.com
Release date 09/29/2020
Publisher Kensington Books
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
The latest novel from Heather Redmond’s acclaimed mystery series finds young Charles Dickens suspecting a miser of pushing his partner out a window, but his fiancée Kate Hogarth takes a more charitable view of the old man's innocence . . .
London, December 1835: Charles and Kate are out with friends and family for a chilly night of caroling and good cheer. But their blood truly runs cold when their singing is interrupted by a body plummeting from an upper window of a house. They soon learn the dead man at their feet, his neck strangely wrapped in chains, is Jacob Harley, the business partner of the resident of the house, an unpleasant codger who owns a counting house, one Emmanuel Screws.
Ever the journalist, Charles dedicates himself to discovering who's behind the diabolical defenestration. But before he can investigate further, Harley's corpse is stolen. Following that, Charles is visited in his quarters by what appears to be Harley's ghost—or is it merely Charles’s overwrought imagination? He continues to suspect Emmanuel, the same penurious penny pincher who denied his father a loan years ago, but Kate insists the old man is too weak to heave a body out a window. Their mutual affection and admiration can accommodate a difference of opinion, but matters are complicated by the unexpected arrival of an infant orphan. Charles must find the child a home while solving a murder, to ensure that the next one in chains is the guilty party . . .
𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
As my first read by this author and the by in this series, because of the famous main protagonist, I googled Dickens biography, as an eternal romantic, I just hope this fictional self and his soon-to-be wife have a better ending than their real counterparts.
While I had difficulties to enter fully the story, I loved the little hints peppering the pages as many clues about how A Christmas Carol came to life. From the staged ghost to the names of the protagonists and so on. It was so fun to pick up the tiny or not so tiny details sprinkling the tale.
Then at half mark I was finally in there. Once everything was on the table, I was glued to Dickens’ steps.
While in some ways I understand Dickens’ choices, I do not agree with him about not confiding in his betrothed and brother, it would have saved him some heartaches. I hated that Kate was relegated to be a side-character, she has no voice in this tale but it was alas the place of women in this time. The Victorian area was a Puritan one, full of hypocrisy. I much disliked his future-in-laws (but his father was close-by), how self-righteous they acted, ready to condemn and blame without even a trial.
He is a better man than me, I am a full of empathy woman but I would not have so easily forgiven to have been so quickly dismissed without even a hearing.
I much liked his friend William and his wife Julie and their new ward Lucy. But how sad is the treatment of Johnny Dorset. It is even a miracle he was not sent to an asylum as it was the place for the misunderstood, the insanes or those suffering from down syndromes or autistic disorder.
4 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Kensington Books and Netgalley, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
November 14, 2023
Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I tried to read it, then switched to the audiobook, then back to reading, but I just could not get into this story. I actually made it to 60% in, but then I packed it in. Perhaps it was that I did not read the previous two in this series, or perhaps it was because I was in the midst of reading upbeat Christmas stories, but this one just did not get me interested. I can't pinpoint a particular problem, but this book was just not for me.
September 10, 2020
I will say this was a better book read than the previous ones were when I listened to them. That said, it was still not a great book [not horrible by any means, just not fantastic. Maybe it was reading about Christmas when it was 85 degrees. Who knows?] for me. Probably some of the issue was that I am so very familiar with The Christmas Carol story that this story felt weird to me [and I did spend a considerable amount of time wondering how the character "Charles Dickens" was going to write ACC from the murder he solved; because I am weird like that] and I struggled with some of it I think because of that. I also had huge issues with Kate and her family in this one. To not believe someone who is not only in your employ, but engaged to your daughter - to not even let him defend himself and then to besmirch his good name...NOT OKAY!!! I get that Dickens loves Kate, but man, I would have walked away from that hot mess in a minute with no looking back. Especially at the end. SO rude. I know it was a different time, but the idea that the character of a man could change so abruptly seemed ludicrous to me.
The mystery part was good; I was pretty sure I knew the who and the why, but there were a few surprises that were fun and I liked how Charles persevered, even in the face of losing all he loved. I also loved how Julie [and William] stepped up and took on the responsibility of two charges and thrived. They are turning into excellent side characters and I enjoyed the limited time we had with them in this book. I also am liking Fred more and more; he is maturing and really starting to be a good companion for his brother and I hope we see more of him in future books.
Overall, it was a decent read. I wish they were about 50-60 pages shorter, but even that I can get around. I am not sure what is missing exactly to keep these from being 4 [or above] star reads, but it is something. But whatever it is isn't enough to make me NOT want to read these and I will be looking forward to reading her next one after its written.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The mystery part was good; I was pretty sure I knew the who and the why, but there were a few surprises that were fun and I liked how Charles persevered, even in the face of losing all he loved. I also loved how Julie [and William] stepped up and took on the responsibility of two charges and thrived. They are turning into excellent side characters and I enjoyed the limited time we had with them in this book. I also am liking Fred more and more; he is maturing and really starting to be a good companion for his brother and I hope we see more of him in future books.
Overall, it was a decent read. I wish they were about 50-60 pages shorter, but even that I can get around. I am not sure what is missing exactly to keep these from being 4 [or above] star reads, but it is something. But whatever it is isn't enough to make me NOT want to read these and I will be looking forward to reading her next one after its written.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2020
December 1935.
Charles Dickens works as a journalist for the newspaper of his fiancée’s father and is working on his first novel “Sketches by Boz” When he is out in Herefordshire, reporting on a fire that wrecked the local mansion, he’s approached by a young servant girl. She tells him that her sister worked for the marchioness and is dead now. This sister had a baby and he is the father. She hands him the child and disappears. He’s shocked as he’s never been in the vicinity before and certainly didn’t father any child. He doesn’t know what to do and plans to find the real father. For the time being, he takes the infant with him to London and asks his friends William and Julie to look after little Timothy. Afraid that his fiancée and her family will misinterpret the situation, he hides it from them.
It’s almost Christmas time and one night when he goes carolling with his fiancée Kate and his other friends to raise money for the mudlark children, they witness a body with chains around the neck fall from a 2nd-floor window. The unfortunate victim is Mr Harley and the house belongs to the unpleasant Mr Screws. They own a countinghouse where a Mr Cratchit works. (Notice how similar the names are to those of the main characters in Dickens’ Christmas Carol) When the body goes missing and the man’s ghost pays him a visit, Charles suspects foul play and he starts to investigate the case. He needs help from his girlfriend who’s most interested in this new mystery.
This is the third book in the series and unfortunately, I missed the first two. This book stands completely on its own, although there are references to things that happened in the earlier books. The colourful cast of characters are already well-known from history and in front of the book is a list of ‘personae dramatis’. I always like that and more authors should provide this service.
I like the premise of Charles Dickens as a detective; he was a journalist in real life so, what’s the difference with investigating things for an article? He’s been portrayed very much as a child of the time he lived in with very preposterous ideas of what’s becoming for a ’gently reared female’. It’s great to read an old-fashioned mystery from before the age of CSI and DNA, even fingerprinting wasn’t recognised.
Do you feel nostalgic sometimes for a time of a simpler and more prudish mentality? Where are the days that thinking about a woman’s knees was thought indecent? We don’t have to return to those attitudes, but the other extreme that we see today with chirurgical enhanced body parts into the indecent extreme isn’t necessary for me at all. So while I do enjoy the quaint expressions of time-relevant sentiments and opinions, I don’t necessarily agree with them. I shake my head in disbelief for a newly widowed woman that’s not allowed to leave her house, and certainly not to attend the funeral or interment.
Kate says to Charles that it is unnatural for a wife to kill her husband -and although there are more wives killed by their husbands than vice versa- history is full of evidence to the contrary. And I personally know several women who’d gladly strangle their husband at times.
We meet a more gentle-hearted Screws than the later Scrooge is. Kate is the first to recognise his better side. He was a genuine friend to the late Harley, who’s seen here as the real cold-hearted scrooge. Also, his attitude towards caring for his nephew’s widow and for Harley’s son, speak louder than words.
About the mystery itself, it’s well-integrated and there are actually 2 of those. However, the case concerning the baby was a little too easily wrapped up. Just like in certain Dickens’ books, in the end, a stranger turns up to explain the whole matter. I had a fairly good idea who was the murderer but shifted in my suspicions as the story cast its shadows on several suspects all in their own turn. It’s well put together and pleasant to read. It’s very interesting to see how the author integrates the original Dickens’ story with her own imagination and mystery. I assume that this is the case for the other books as well. So, I’m really interested to read more of this series.
I thank Kensington Books and Netgalley for a free copy of this book and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.
Charles Dickens works as a journalist for the newspaper of his fiancée’s father and is working on his first novel “Sketches by Boz” When he is out in Herefordshire, reporting on a fire that wrecked the local mansion, he’s approached by a young servant girl. She tells him that her sister worked for the marchioness and is dead now. This sister had a baby and he is the father. She hands him the child and disappears. He’s shocked as he’s never been in the vicinity before and certainly didn’t father any child. He doesn’t know what to do and plans to find the real father. For the time being, he takes the infant with him to London and asks his friends William and Julie to look after little Timothy. Afraid that his fiancée and her family will misinterpret the situation, he hides it from them.
It’s almost Christmas time and one night when he goes carolling with his fiancée Kate and his other friends to raise money for the mudlark children, they witness a body with chains around the neck fall from a 2nd-floor window. The unfortunate victim is Mr Harley and the house belongs to the unpleasant Mr Screws. They own a countinghouse where a Mr Cratchit works. (Notice how similar the names are to those of the main characters in Dickens’ Christmas Carol) When the body goes missing and the man’s ghost pays him a visit, Charles suspects foul play and he starts to investigate the case. He needs help from his girlfriend who’s most interested in this new mystery.
This is the third book in the series and unfortunately, I missed the first two. This book stands completely on its own, although there are references to things that happened in the earlier books. The colourful cast of characters are already well-known from history and in front of the book is a list of ‘personae dramatis’. I always like that and more authors should provide this service.
I like the premise of Charles Dickens as a detective; he was a journalist in real life so, what’s the difference with investigating things for an article? He’s been portrayed very much as a child of the time he lived in with very preposterous ideas of what’s becoming for a ’gently reared female’. It’s great to read an old-fashioned mystery from before the age of CSI and DNA, even fingerprinting wasn’t recognised.
Do you feel nostalgic sometimes for a time of a simpler and more prudish mentality? Where are the days that thinking about a woman’s knees was thought indecent? We don’t have to return to those attitudes, but the other extreme that we see today with chirurgical enhanced body parts into the indecent extreme isn’t necessary for me at all. So while I do enjoy the quaint expressions of time-relevant sentiments and opinions, I don’t necessarily agree with them. I shake my head in disbelief for a newly widowed woman that’s not allowed to leave her house, and certainly not to attend the funeral or interment.
Kate says to Charles that it is unnatural for a wife to kill her husband -and although there are more wives killed by their husbands than vice versa- history is full of evidence to the contrary. And I personally know several women who’d gladly strangle their husband at times.
We meet a more gentle-hearted Screws than the later Scrooge is. Kate is the first to recognise his better side. He was a genuine friend to the late Harley, who’s seen here as the real cold-hearted scrooge. Also, his attitude towards caring for his nephew’s widow and for Harley’s son, speak louder than words.
About the mystery itself, it’s well-integrated and there are actually 2 of those. However, the case concerning the baby was a little too easily wrapped up. Just like in certain Dickens’ books, in the end, a stranger turns up to explain the whole matter. I had a fairly good idea who was the murderer but shifted in my suspicions as the story cast its shadows on several suspects all in their own turn. It’s well put together and pleasant to read. It’s very interesting to see how the author integrates the original Dickens’ story with her own imagination and mystery. I assume that this is the case for the other books as well. So, I’m really interested to read more of this series.
I thank Kensington Books and Netgalley for a free copy of this book and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.
December 6, 2024
It's good... but... convenient. I think the author missed a few opportunities. I thought the "who" was pretty obvious. And the obvious...was kind of annoying. Too reliant on stereotypes for my liking.
That said, the writing went well and there was good characterization.
There's just not much to be said that isn't much of a giveaway. However, I am not sorry I read it, and I am tempted to give another book in the series (how did I not realize it was a series!!!) a chance.
That said, the writing went well and there was good characterization.
There's just not much to be said that isn't much of a giveaway. However, I am not sorry I read it, and I am tempted to give another book in the series (how did I not realize it was a series!!!) a chance.
August 14, 2020
Reading this book, I determined that it runs flat. I read the book hoping that it would get to the part of a murder or at least a billed up. I found the characters had a good dialogue. Although the dialogue was ok, I felt they discussed random things that provided no contribution to the issue at hand. I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free gifted copy. 
January 8, 2024
this was alright, i don’t actually really understand why this was written or why charles dickens was an amateur sleuth but i guess whatever floats anyone’s boat. the mystery was good and i loved the characters
December 10, 2020
When Charles and Kate are out with friends on a cold Victorian winter’s night and a body literally falls at their feet, we’re immediately off on the hunt for a killer and a bit of a jolly romp. Ms. Redmond didn’t exactly create the protagonist since Charles Dickens was a real person but it’s always fun when an author creates a story around such a character. In this case, it’s even more fun because of the way a mystery has been intertwined with the Dickens tale, A Christmas Carol, and I really appreciated the punnish names such as Emmanuel Screws and Jacob Harley; in fact, they put me on high alert looking for other takes on that classic story.
As a journalist, Dickens has a natural bent for looking for the truth but Kate is just as involved, having her own ideas about what might have really happened to Jacob, and the pair find themselves in the midst of more than just a murder investigation. Plenty of unexpected twists kept me interested and I’m now a devoted fan not only of the characters but also of the very clever plot. I’m definitely going to have to get the first two books in this charming series.
As a journalist, Dickens has a natural bent for looking for the truth but Kate is just as involved, having her own ideas about what might have really happened to Jacob, and the pair find themselves in the midst of more than just a murder investigation. Plenty of unexpected twists kept me interested and I’m now a devoted fan not only of the characters but also of the very clever plot. I’m definitely going to have to get the first two books in this charming series.
December 25, 2024
Loved this! I’m not sure if I’m biased in liking this book, as I’m a big fan of A Christmas Carol to begin with, but I thought this adaptation was great. The writing and characterizations definitely feel of-the-time and I was decently caught up in the mystery. It might also help that I just read The Man Who Invented Christmas, which gave me some extra insight into the life of Charles Dickens himself, who is the protagonist of the book. I’m definitely going to give more books in the series a shot!
December 17, 2022
Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, December 1, 1835. Heather Redmond’s A Christmas Carol Murder (A Dickens of a Crime #3) is a cleverly crafted mystery using Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol as a basis and incorporating his early life reimagined by the author, a dedicated Anglophile such as I. The characters’ names play on the names in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol such as Emmanuel Screws/Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Harley/Jacob Marley. As Charles, his fiancée, Kate, and friends go caroling before Christmas, a body wrapped in chains falls from a window and lands at the young Charles Dickens feet. The body wrapped in chains points to Marley’s ghost and his visitation to Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Young Charles is a writer for a newspaper. The author illustrates young Dickens dedication to his writing referring to the adult Dickens plethora of writing for magazine articles and writing his books which appeared in series form in a particular magazine. An intriguing approach. There are two other books in this series: A Tale of Two Murders and Grave Expectations.
4 stars.
4 stars.
August 8, 2020
It's Christmas time in 1835 and a young Charles Dickens, on assignment outside London, is approached by a young woman with a baby. She claims the baby is his and her sister's who died in a fire. Trouble is, he has never been in this town before and he has never met her sister. Unfortunately, she shoves the baby in his arms and leaves before he can explain this which leaves him with a huge dilemma - he is engaged to his boss' daughter and, if his boss or his fiancee even hears about this, he will surely lose both his job and, worse, the woman he loves. On returning to London, he asks close friends if they will take the boy, Timothy, until he can find the baby's real father.
As if this isn't enough to keep him busy, while carolling with friends outside the house of Emmanuel Screws, Screws' business partner, Jacob Harley falls from an upstairs window with a chain wrapped around his neck. Dickens, with the encouragement of his fiancee, is determined to find out just what happened that night - suicide or murder.
A Christmas Carol Murder (A Dickens of a Crime) by author Heather Redmond was apparently the third installment of the series but the only one I have read. Still it worked well as a stand-aloneThere were plenty of red herrings and danger to keep me entertained and, if it felt a bit forced in a few places trying to make it fit within the limits of the original A Christmas Carol, it was a whole lot of fun to read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
As if this isn't enough to keep him busy, while carolling with friends outside the house of Emmanuel Screws, Screws' business partner, Jacob Harley falls from an upstairs window with a chain wrapped around his neck. Dickens, with the encouragement of his fiancee, is determined to find out just what happened that night - suicide or murder.
A Christmas Carol Murder (A Dickens of a Crime) by author Heather Redmond was apparently the third installment of the series but the only one I have read. Still it worked well as a stand-aloneThere were plenty of red herrings and danger to keep me entertained and, if it felt a bit forced in a few places trying to make it fit within the limits of the original A Christmas Carol, it was a whole lot of fun to read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
November 4, 2020
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated in any way and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
Where has this book series been all my life? I love Charles Dickens. I adore "A Christmas Carol." Throw in a cozy murder mystery, and I am completely enthralled! I was unfamiliar with the author and the series, but I commend the author for detailing a story that fits perfectly into the time period of Dickens himself. Furthermore, the fact that she has crafted something based on one of the most beloved Christmas tales in existence and executed is so impeccably quickly makes this my favorite Christmas mystery to date!
Readers of cozy mysteries should find nothing offensive in this book. There are a couple of words here and there that might upset a few more sensitive readers, but they are not even worth mentioning. This is the perfect cozy mystery for those cold winter evenings heading up to Christmas. Plot and character development are handled impeccably, and I cannot conceive of anything to make this book better. I had no idea this was a series when I picked it up, and it is perfectly acceptable to read this as a stand-alone mystery. It does make me curious to check out the rest of the series, however.
Some of my favorite elements in the book are the homages to "A Christmas Carol" itself. I may not have noticed all the references, but the ones I caught made me smile and cheer. Stylistically, this book is written in an easy-to-read format with enough of the elements of Victorian England to please a lover of the classics as well as more modern mysteries. I give my full stamp of approval on this exceptional book!
Where has this book series been all my life? I love Charles Dickens. I adore "A Christmas Carol." Throw in a cozy murder mystery, and I am completely enthralled! I was unfamiliar with the author and the series, but I commend the author for detailing a story that fits perfectly into the time period of Dickens himself. Furthermore, the fact that she has crafted something based on one of the most beloved Christmas tales in existence and executed is so impeccably quickly makes this my favorite Christmas mystery to date!
Readers of cozy mysteries should find nothing offensive in this book. There are a couple of words here and there that might upset a few more sensitive readers, but they are not even worth mentioning. This is the perfect cozy mystery for those cold winter evenings heading up to Christmas. Plot and character development are handled impeccably, and I cannot conceive of anything to make this book better. I had no idea this was a series when I picked it up, and it is perfectly acceptable to read this as a stand-alone mystery. It does make me curious to check out the rest of the series, however.
Some of my favorite elements in the book are the homages to "A Christmas Carol" itself. I may not have noticed all the references, but the ones I caught made me smile and cheer. Stylistically, this book is written in an easy-to-read format with enough of the elements of Victorian England to please a lover of the classics as well as more modern mysteries. I give my full stamp of approval on this exceptional book!
December 12, 2020
DNF at p. 65. I was so taken by the cover of this book that I didn’t notice it was third in a series. References to previous books are frequent. And the book is less focused on the mystery and more focused on other issues. Moving on . . .
December 23, 2021
The gist: This is a fictional tale of the real Charles Dickens who solves a murder mystery that ultimately becomes the genesis of his seminal masterpiece “A Christmas Carol.” What a novel idea—ha! Sorry, couldn’t help myself. Anyhoo, we have three mysteries to solve here: who murdered Jacob Harley (a miserly countinghouse businessman and partner of the equally reprehensible Emmanuel Screws? Clever use of names, eh? Who hid his dead body and why? And why is a strange woman claiming Charles is the father of her sister’s baby? Oh my! Charles Dickens with baby mamma drama? This sounds saucier than a spiked bread pudding!
What I liked: I loved so much about this book, particularly the idea that “A Christmas Carol” was spawned by murder and mayhem! There’s even a dash of spookiness when Jacob Harley’s ghost makes an appearance. This really is genius work, I tell you! Bravo to Ms. Redmond for pulling off this inventive nod to the late, great Charles Dickens!
Might I also add that the author clearly does her research on the mean streets of Victorian London. She really gives readers another perspective of how brutal—and freezing cold—life could be for the “have nots” of London society. It really makes me appreciate all of my blessings in life, and the fact that I’m typing this out on my computer on a cushy chaise lounge in a climate-controlled home. Just reading some of those scenes of Londoners with frost-bitten appendages had me reaching for my puffer jacket. BRRRRR!
What didn’t work: I was very disappointed in Kate, Charles’ fiancé, when she found out about the baby mama drama and didn’t even give him a chance to explain. Nope, instead she shut herself in her room and let her mean ol’ dad fire him from his newspaper job and toss him out into the frozen streets. That’s cold! Literally cold!
Favorite and least favorite character: Primary murder suspect Emmanuel Screws is the most repugnant yet fascinating character in this book. There are just so many layers to this Christmas trifle! It’s hard to find any forgiveness for a man who denied Charles’ father a life-saving loan, leaving him with no other option but to send his son to a workhouse ran by cruel, merciless child abusers. But yet, there’s a possibility of forgiveness that sends home a message that not all hope is lost. Ah, the miracles of Christmas! God bless us, every one!
Overall: Although the pace is a little on the slow side, this mystery is worth reading—especially for historical fiction buffs.
What I liked: I loved so much about this book, particularly the idea that “A Christmas Carol” was spawned by murder and mayhem! There’s even a dash of spookiness when Jacob Harley’s ghost makes an appearance. This really is genius work, I tell you! Bravo to Ms. Redmond for pulling off this inventive nod to the late, great Charles Dickens!
Might I also add that the author clearly does her research on the mean streets of Victorian London. She really gives readers another perspective of how brutal—and freezing cold—life could be for the “have nots” of London society. It really makes me appreciate all of my blessings in life, and the fact that I’m typing this out on my computer on a cushy chaise lounge in a climate-controlled home. Just reading some of those scenes of Londoners with frost-bitten appendages had me reaching for my puffer jacket. BRRRRR!
What didn’t work: I was very disappointed in Kate, Charles’ fiancé, when she found out about the baby mama drama and didn’t even give him a chance to explain. Nope, instead she shut herself in her room and let her mean ol’ dad fire him from his newspaper job and toss him out into the frozen streets. That’s cold! Literally cold!
Favorite and least favorite character: Primary murder suspect Emmanuel Screws is the most repugnant yet fascinating character in this book. There are just so many layers to this Christmas trifle! It’s hard to find any forgiveness for a man who denied Charles’ father a life-saving loan, leaving him with no other option but to send his son to a workhouse ran by cruel, merciless child abusers. But yet, there’s a possibility of forgiveness that sends home a message that not all hope is lost. Ah, the miracles of Christmas! God bless us, every one!
Overall: Although the pace is a little on the slow side, this mystery is worth reading—especially for historical fiction buffs.
September 12, 2020
"A Christmas Carol Murder" is a mystery set in 1835 in England. It's the third in a series. You don't need to read the previous book to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the previous mysteries.
Vivid historical and setting details were woven into the story. The author tried to stay true to what is known about Charles Dickens' career and lifestyle in his early twenties. The main characters were interesting and acted realistically. I cared about what happened to them. Charles asked questions and otherwise investigated, but the other characters weren't able to help him. Kate hardly played a role in this one. Charles was busy trying to prove that he was not the father of an illegitimate son, save the mudlarks from a bad situation, and juggle all of the jobs he had to do, so I suppose it's not surprising that he took a while to catch on to what I guessed near the beginning. However, the exact details weren't guessable until the confession (especially as even the murderer wasn't sure how ).
There were a couple uses of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical mystery.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.
Vivid historical and setting details were woven into the story. The author tried to stay true to what is known about Charles Dickens' career and lifestyle in his early twenties. The main characters were interesting and acted realistically. I cared about what happened to them. Charles asked questions and otherwise investigated, but the other characters weren't able to help him. Kate hardly played a role in this one. Charles was busy trying to prove that he was not the father of an illegitimate son, save the mudlarks from a bad situation, and juggle all of the jobs he had to do, so I suppose it's not surprising that he took a while to catch on to what I guessed near the beginning. However, the exact details weren't guessable until the confession (especially as even the murderer wasn't sure how ).
There were a couple uses of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical mystery.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.
November 15, 2020
This is a mystery Christmas series with Charles Dickens and his fiance Kate. When out with family and friends a murder literally falls at their feet. Jacob Harley was thrown out of the window above and oddly wrapped in chains. Charles has another mystery on his hands when a baby is brought to his door step and they claim that Charles is the father. I love a Christmas Carol. This is my first time reading this author and the story is a stand alone read. I really loved the mystery and the Christmas spirit of it.
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte Review
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte Review
Hudson Valley NY
December 14, 2020
I really enjoyed this book! It was such a fun concept, weaving Charles Dicken's life with those of his characters in A Christmas Carol, with just a little bit of a twist! I also loved the murder mystery, along with the other mysteries that popped up along the way. Very well written and enjoyable characters. I'll definitely be reading more from this author in the future!
December 30, 2022
3.5 stars… interesting plot, but the pacing was quite drawn out at points. The baby Timmy storyline felt incongruous with what was going on with the mystery and kept pulling me away from the main story. Overall, a fun reimagining of Dickens as an amateur sleuth, I just wish it had a little more pizazz!
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