In the third book of Redmond's reimagining of the life of Charles Dickens, the young reporter must find a murderer and find an orphaned infant a home, that is unless he becomes the next victim.
Charles Dickins is out caroling with his fiancée Kate and friends when a body plummets out an upper window from a house. It is identified as Jacob Harley, the business partner of the home's resident, Emmanuel Screws, an unpleasant codger who owns a counting house.
Before Charles can get to the bottom of this dastardly deed, Harley's corpse is stolen. Then Charles is visited by what seems to be Harley's ghost. Kate and he are at odds over Mr. Screws' ability to toss his partner out the window, but their relationship is tested in a new way by the unexpected arrival of an orphan when Charles feels he must find a home for the poor babe. Can Charles find the murderer and renew Kate's faith in him?
I will be the first to admit I requested this book because of its connection to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickins. It is my favorite holiday story. I had no idea, therefore, that A Christmas Carol Murder by Heather Redmond is the third book of a series featuring a young Charles Dickens and Kate Hogarth. That said, I didn't feel I missed much since this is a total stand-alone novel.
This refreshing twist on Dickens' classic novel is a murder mystery that engages the reader from the very beginning. It has a slow and steady pace, which I expected considering the time period and the book which it harkens back to, though there are a few heart-racing moments. It wrapped up nicely, and I hope the author has more stories planned for this historical character; an Oliver Twist or maybe a David Copperfield adaptation? I am eager to go back and read the previous two installments in Redmond's A Dickens of a Crime series.
This review first appeared at The Book Connection. I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.
No comments:
Post a Comment