A Christmas Odyssey

by Anne Perry

In her beloved Christmas novels, Anne Perry brings readers both the authentic Victorian charm and the nail-biting suspense that have made her Thomas Pitt and William Monk tales bestsellers for a generation. Though rife with intrigue, these special seasonal stories beam with the blessed light of the holiday.
Ten days before Christmas, as an icy wind cuts through London, wealthy James Wentworth feels not joy but grief. His reckless son, Lucien, has been lured into a deadly world of drugs and wild passion. Wentworth's only hope, he believes, is his old friend Henry Rathbone, who volunteers to search for the prodigal son. Rathbone knows nothing of the sensation-obsessed underworld where Lucien now dwells, but he acquires two unexpected new companions who do: Squeaky Robinson, a reformed brothel-keeper who now works in Hester Monk's medical clinic, and Crow, a mysterious slum doctor who turns no one away, however undeserving.
Slowly this odd trio gathers clues--about Lucien's mad infatuation with a beautiful woman named Sadie, and about Shadwell, the ruthless man who owns her and, like the Devil, never lets go of one of his own. Rathbone, Squeaky, and Crow even welcome into their little band a most valuable recruit: young Bessie, a teenager whose courage holds fast even in the depths of the slum. And so they set forth on their odyssey into London's dark streets, on a mission whose outcome they cannot begin to guess.
Anne Perry's novels are supreme masterpieces of suspense, and "A Christmas Odyssey" ranks with the very best. The days leading up to Christmas may prove to be fraught with challenges, but 'tis the season for comfort and joy and miracles.

Genres: Christmas, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Audiobook, Historical

193 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2010

About the author

Anne Perry, born Juliet Hulme in England, lived in Scotland most of her life after serving five years in prison for murder (in New Zealand). A beloved mystery authoress, she is best known for her Thomas Pitt and William Monk series.

Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".

Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.

Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope nope nope
Lucian Wentworth is a fine gentleman's son and has lost himself in the London underworld. A murder mystery drives the prodigal's tale forward. However, the path is through such a nasty underworld of drugs and sex that I had to fast forward through the entire middle of the book. I expect clean stories out of Anne Perry. This isn't clean and it isn't Christmasy either. Disappointed.

Content: descriptions of London underworld and what goes on there; heavy drug use; profanities

[Jason Koivu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jesus, that was pretty frickin' rough for a Christmas book! A Christmas Odyssey is a gruesome dumpster dive into Victorian London's sewers and drug dens. It's a world of depravity peopled by pimps, whores, transvestites, smackheads, thieves and murderers. The only thing Christmassy about this book is a paragraph's worth of holiday decor description at the very end. So yeah...good stuff!

[Fred · Rating 3 out of 5]

Other years were better in this series.

[Cookie M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not one for Christmas romances. I don't watch the Hallmark Channel, I don't like Christmas horror stories, not a fan of "Home Alone," and that movie with the leg lamp. I have one movie I watch each year. "White Christmas" with Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby.
But every year, I do treat myself to a couple of Anne Perry Christmas stories. I especially like the audiobook versions read by Terrence Hardiman.

This one features Lady Vespasia venturing through the bitter, rugged Highlands of Scotland to help a friend atone for a great wrong she committed. It had me looking back over things I have done in my life, wondering how far I would go to seek expiation for harms I have done people I have encountered in this life.

Traditionally, in the Anglican Church, we do look upon Advent as a season of penance and reflection in preparation for the Holy season to come. This was a good, although secular book to read this week.

[Bobbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I ran across this book at the library in a Christmas display and checked it out on impulse. It was certainly not what I expected in a Christmas book, when I want to read something uplifting. This was my first Anne Perry book and I was disappointed. I wish I had started with a different one by her as I have heard really good things about her books. I do intend to try another because she writes novels set in Victorian times in London and my favorites are historical novels set in England, Scotland and Ireland.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I checked this book out before Christmas thinking that it was a nice little story of Christmas and redemption in Victorian England. Some of that is true, but it is a very dark tale a wayward son that has been lured into a world of drugs, murder, and wild passion. Most of the story centers on the three men that are trying to track down the prodigal son.
In fairness, this is not the type of book I enjoy reading.

[Eszter · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this book because, citing a review from the Glasgow Evening Times, the dust jacket says: "If Christmas puts you in the mood for a good Agatha Christie, try Perry." As a hardcore fan of Agatha Christie, who has read all of her novels, I have to say that, in retrospective, I am offended by this claim. Perry's crime is so boring that I was not able to finish it. I just skipped half of the book and read who the murderer was. That would never happen to me with Christie...

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an excellent story.

I’m not sure how the author thought: opium, cocaine, prostitution, sexual depravity, murder, and the underground make for a great Christmas novel. But it did.

[Lara Maynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I'd go outside my comfort zone and give a chance to a commercial cozy Christmas book in the sappy spirit of the season, but instead got something grittier than advertised. In fact, there's little Christmas content at all. I dislike the cover -- far too flat-cozy-cute for the Victorian underworld content of the story, which is complete with crime, deviant sex and drug addiction, and the title is lame. The outsides do not match the insides, which was a happy surprise.

This book is a prime example of how an an excellent audiobook narrator takes things up a notch. English actor Terrence Hardiman performs the heck out of this one, elevating it, and I’d listen to more books in the series on the strength of the writing and narration in combination. Based on that experience, four stars.

[Brent Soderstrum · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 8th book from Perry's Christmas Stories series-the series that really has nothing to do with Christmas with the exception of the time the story takes place.

A very dark Christmas season is upon you in reading this selection from Perry. We are in the 1800's in London ten days before Christmas when James Wentworth comes to his old friend Henry Rathbone and asks him to find his son, Lucien, who has turned to the dark side of London's underbelly. Drugs, drink and prostitutes abound. Henry gets help from Squeaky Robinson and Dr. Crow (although he isn't really a doctor). The pickup and young girl named Bessie after they begin. Murder and many disgusting things are seen by the search party. A showdown presents itself at the end to save the story. Before that the story basically describes various gross things as the search continues for Lucien.

Not a joyous read for the holidays.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Longer than it needed to be - liked the idea of a story of Christmas redemption, but not enough of that side of it for my taste

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is very little Christmas in this book, but it is a good story. Henry promises a friend that he will try to find his friend's son who had seemingly disappeared shortly before Christmas into the drug infested underworld of Victorian London . Henry has no idea how to go about his search so he turns to Squeaky a reformed brothel owner who now works as an accountant at Hester Monk's clinic. Squeaky in turn asks Crow, a non-licensed but, none the less, practising doctor who treats the needy souls and bodies of the underworld for assistance and the three embark on their quest including as they progress Bessie, a young girl whom they befriend and who has agreed to help them. The little bit of traditional Christmas that there is in the book comes in at the ending, but if you are looking for a cheerful holiday book, this is not for you.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne Perry uses these Christmas books to expand upon the characters in her main series, often highlighting the secondary characters. Here "Squeaky" Robinson, the brothel keeper turned accountant for Hester's hospital, Oliver Rathbone's father Henry, and Crow, the almost-doctor adventure together, and develop in some interesting ways. One of the best books in this series, you could read it without knowing the main story lines,but knowing them adds to the pleasure of the read.

[Annemarie Pedersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The start of my Christmas books- this one was a bit darker then others in her series. The seedy underbelly of London in 19th century London was vividly portrayed but as usual, you like the main characters and want them to succeed on their quest. A good quick read.

[Nancy Cook-senn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry Rathbone has to rescue a friend's son from a life of degradation, with the help of a reformed pimp and a well-meaning unlicensed doctor.

[Shiloah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very dark. But I like the characters and the twisty tale.

[Andie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t let the lovely snow-covered scene on this book’s cover fool you. The real Odyssey here is Henry Rathbone’s journey through the underbelly of London in search of the son of an old friend. Short & sweet as are most of Perry’s Christmas offerings and an interesting depiction of the Victorian underworld.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chouette roman mais fin tirée par les cheveux

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good seasonal read. As always, Anne Perry is a masterful writer with a truly talented ability to develop characters and set a mood for her books that makes you feel that you are standing right next to the characters and experiencing the story with them, rather than simply reading it.

In this Christmas story, James Wentworth is heartsick over his son Lucien, who has taken up with a very bad group of people and left his life with his family for debauchery, drugs and other bad choices.

James is determined to find his son and bring him back to his family and his life, so he enlists the aid of his friend Henry Rathbone to search for Lucien. Henry gathers a group of companions who know the darkside of London well, and who agree to help him search for Lucien.

The story that ensues will take the reader on a dark journey through despair, bad choices, and dangerous people, but will ultimately result in a Christmas happy ending. A fast, easy and entertaining read perfect for the holiday season!

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading Anne Perry and was not disappointed in this novel dealing with the darker side of Victorian England. James Wentworth is not feeling the Christmas joy this year. His son, Lucien, has been lured into the world of drugs and sex. He asks his friend, Henry Rathbone, to help him locate his son. With the help of Squeaky Robinson, a reformed brothel keeper and Crow, a mysterious slum doctor, he finds himself in a London that he knows nothing about dealing with people has sunk so low that they don't want to get out of the gutter.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gift from dear friend Bettie which just arrived safely home. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

This is my first book on the series "Christmas stories" and I really liked it.

This is the story of James Wentworth's search for his disappeared son. He asks for the help of Sir Henry Rathbone who was also helped by Squeaky Robinson and Doctor Crow. Their search delves into the underworld of drugs and prostitution in order to rescue Lucien.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

For such a famous author I was expecting a lot more. There was nothing that really intrigued me that much from the beginning and the characters were hard to keep up with. In the end, I just didn't care to wade through the underworld of drugs and sex to try to find this prodigal son. I'd rather read something less dark at Christmas. Okay, maybe just a different kind of dark. I'll try another of her books; I did like A Christmas Beginning, after all.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Anne Perry--her detailed descriptions from facial expression to mannerisms to dress are incredible. The book was interesting because it really delved into the darker side of life.

[Nancy Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful entry in this Christmas series! Henry Rathbone searches for his friend's missing son in the sinister depths of underworld London. Thoroughly enjoyable as always!

[Kathy Albright · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very tedious read. Twist on the Prodigal Son.

[Irina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a type of story I would describe as Christmassy. Nor something I'd like to read over festive season.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars rounded up to 3 Stars.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I love Christmas, non-modern settings, and murder mysteries, I've always had a fondness for the late Anne Perry's Christmas stories, and I'm glad I still have a backlog to enjoy for several Christmases to come. Sadly, however, this was not one of her better outings.

The plot is essentially a take on the Prodigal Son, with Henry Rathbone (a minor character from her William Monk series who has also shown up in a couple other of the Christmas stories) endeavoring to find a friend's son and bring him back from the life of vice he has fallen into. To do this, he teams up with Squeaky Robinson (another side character, it seems, though not one I knew since I only read the Christmas stories), and a street doctor named Crow, and begins combing the London underworld.

It takes around half the story (already a short story) for an murder that needs to be solved to appear, and even then, almost the entirety of the "investigation" is them trying to figure out who got murdered. There's no satisfying laying out of clues or snap of the pieces clicking into place, and so it does not really function as a murder mystery at all. The "adventure" bits of investigating in the seamy underbelly of London society functions little better. Perry clearly couldn't decide how dark and detailed she wanted to go with depicting the vices and depravities of that world, so we get a few disturbing details, but mostly a morass of generic drunkards and references to prostitution and opium usage. The "power structure" of that world is left so vague it confuses the ending greatly. People are supposed to be afraid of the "Shadow Man," a powerful figure called Shadwell, but it's not clear why. He controls one character through cocaine, but what his hold over Lucian Wentworth is goes unexplained - a terrible flaw when the entire climax hinges on it. Is Lucian afraid Shadwell will kill him? Kill his loved ones? He doesn't seem to use drugs and despite his feelings for Lily seems perfectly willing to leave her behind if needed. What beyond his own shame is keeping him in Shadwell's world?

The themes of redemption fare better in Perry's exploration of Squeaky's character. Once the owner of a brothel, now on the road to "respectability," the adventure brings him face to face with the kinds of suffering his past actions were responsible for, forcing him to realize he can't pretend to have been "not that bad." His emotional journey is compelling and the protective bond he forms with Bessie is touching, even if the girl's inclusion in the story only highlights the madonna/whore dichotomy throughout the book. Where men get to be morally complex characters who deserve redemption arcs, women are either high-minded innocents who need protection or they are lost souls who deserve equal measures of pity and disgust, but not redemption. I know from reading Perry's other works that this is not characteristic of her work, otherwise I would have let it bother me more, but it soils and spoils this one.

The very crux of the story threw my opposition with Perry's beliefs into sharp relief. A continual theme of the book is that for someone to be redeemed, they must "climb out of hell," perhaps with some help, but ultimately under their own power. They have to earn their forgiveness by making amends, and it is entirely possible to trangress so far that no redemption or forgiveness is possible. While cloaked in metaphor, it seems clear that Perry means this both in a social (human relationships) and a spiritual sense. Seeing Perry's view so laid out made me inexpressibly grateful for grace, richly and freely given, divine grace that rescues the most sordid sinner, as well as the power of the Holy Spirit which enables us to live out our faith. The idea of trying to "bootstrap" one's way to redemption, and then to desperately try to cling on to "goodness" is both terrible and sad.

While I didn't really enjoy the book, it did prompt me to think deeply about my faith, redemption, and the meaning of Christmas, and that can only ever be a good thing.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into A Christmas Odyssey expecting a cozy Victorian holiday mystery with some light crime-solving and perhaps a few charmingly decorated drawing rooms. What I got was a bleak, morally complex journey through the worst corners of London, where Christmas is barely a suggestion and the real theme is how far a person will go for redemption—or destruction. The setup is deceptively simple: wealthy and desperate father James Wentworth seeks help finding his missing son, Lucien, who has vanished into the city’s criminal underworld. Enter Henry Rathbone, an aging gentleman with more kindness than street smarts, who takes on the search even though he is comically unqualified for this kind of work. But this is not a one-man job, so he enlists Squeaky Robinson, a former brothel keeper with a conscience, and Crow, a mysterious slum doctor who has definitely seen some things. Together, this unlikely trio sets off on a ten-day trek through opium dens, gambling halls, and brothels, hoping to find Lucien before the city eats him alive.

And when I say this book is dark, I mean DARK. If you’re looking for cozy Christmas charm, you will not find it here. The London Perry describes is ruthless, brutal, and dripping with corruption, and the people they encounter along the way are as desperate as they are dangerous. But somehow, in the midst of the filth and moral decay, there are moments of humanity that shine through—especially in Bessie, a teenage girl they meet who has no reason to help them but does anyway, because unlike many of the people in this book, she still believes in something better. Her character adds a much-needed flicker of hope to a book that sometimes feels one tragedy away from being a straight-up Dickensian horror novel.

A Christmas Odyssey is part of Perry’s Christmas Stories series, but don’t worry—you can dive in without reading the others since each book stands on its own. However, if you’re a longtime Perry fan, you might recognize Henry Rathbone from her Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series. Knowing his backstory isn’t necessary to enjoy the book, but if you’re already familiar with him, it adds an extra layer of depth to the story. That said, if you’re just here for a dark, atmospheric Victorian mystery, you can absolutely dive in without prior knowledge. Just don’t expect any festive warmth or easy holiday miracles—this one leans much more crime thriller than Christmas cheer. 3.5 stars for the rich historical setting, the sharp character work, and the reminder that sometimes, the only holiday magic you get is the ability to survive another day.