Murder in the Mist

My Review📖✒️
Murder in the Mist is book five in the historical Gaslight mystery series. Like the other books in the series, Murder in the Mist can be read as a stand-alone novel.
Spending Christmas at Gads Hill, the Kentish country home of Charles Dickens, is looked on fondly for Wilkie Collins. But this year, the festivities are interrupted when a body is found on the snowy marshland. Timmy O'Connor was invited to the gathering with his four nephews after a chance encounter with Dickens but is now dead.
With a prison ship full of convicts close by, the guests and even Timmy's nephews under suspicion, there is no shortage of suspects for the murder, but which of them is a cold-blooded killer? It's up to amateur sleuths Dickens and Collins to find out.
The blend of real-life characters and historical surroundings brings this clever and fascinating murder mystery to life. The actual true-life close friendship of Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins is brought to the fictional table in these unique mysteries.
There is plenty of misdirection, along with a few neat twists within the narrative, as well as the usual shenanigans that precede the duo. As I said in a review of a previous book in the series, maybe not Sherlock Holmes or Doctor John Watson, but they both brought their particular individuality and skills to the table.
Murder in the Mist is well-crafted, well-conceived and, as with the previous books in the series meticulously well-researched. Maybe a tad slow-paced at times but livened up as things navigated their way towards the nitty gritty and climactic conclusion to events.
Murder in the Mist by Cora Harrison is an atmospheric, uniquely addictive murder mystery, a fine addition to the series and definitely worthy of a read. Recommended.

I thought this book looked and sounded like something that I would enjoy.

This was a Victorian mystery, and it was excellent. Something that sparked my interest from the start, was the fact that this book featured fictionalised representations of two significant figures in classic literature. The story was narrated by Wilkie Collins, and Charles Dickens also featured as a main character. It always interests me to see how well-known historical figures are portrayed in works of fiction, and I felt that both Collins and Dickens were portrayed wonderfully. I loved the friendship between them; that was something that went to my heart.

I was drawn in by Collins' narration from the first two pages, and I wanted to read it all. I would also say that it was light to read in one sitting. It was very good indeed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

"Tis the season of goodwill, and Dickens extends the hand of friendship to a stranded stranger and his nephews for Christmas, with deadly consequences...

Wilkie Collins is looking forward to spending Christmas at Gads Hill, Charles Dickens' Kentish country home, but the festivities are cut short when a body is found on the snowy marshland. Timmy O'Connor was invited to the gathering with his four nephews after a chance encounter with Dickens, but is now dead.

Dickens is convinced the murderer is one of the convicts from a nearby prison ship, but Collins is not so sure. Who was this mysterious and unpleasant stranger from Cork who turned Christmas cheer to fear? With the convicts, guests and even Timmy's nephews under suspicion, there is no shortage of suspects for such a violent act, but which one of them is a cold-blooded killer?"

I so want Collins to have like a bizarre theory that proves to be correct to Dickens' consternation.

This was a murder mystery that seems tailor-made to be read over Christmas in the best tradition of Dickens and Wilkie Collins.
The story is centred around a Christmas House party held by Dickens to which the novelist Wilkie Collins is also invited. Dickens also has some unexpected Irish guests who he has offered a place to stay to. On a visit to a local graveyard, one of the Irishmen is found murdered. It turns out that he was a well known money lender and many of the people staying with Charles Dickens might have good reasons to want him dead.
I always love Cora Harrison’s books although I hadn’t read any of this series before. This one works well as a stand alone and is short enough to easily be read in one night in front of a warm fire. The setting is brilliantly described and the contrast between the church and the surrounding marshes with the warm hospitality offered by Dickens is really effective. I enjoyed the way that we see Dickens begin to get ideas for Great Expectations during the course of the story too.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers, Severn House, for my ARC.

At Christmas in 1859, Charles Dickens’ country home of Gad’s Hill is full to bursting. Dickens, his wife and ten children, plus friends, colleagues, and writers including Wilkie Collins, are gathered in celebration. The strangers in this cosy camaraderie are Timmy O’Connor, an unpleasant man Dickens met in Cork, and his nephews, all of whom seem thoroughly cowed by their uncle. Wilkie senses immediately that something is amiss, and his dear friend, Georgina, a young heiress now deprived of beautiful accoutrements by the fact that she has frittered away her fortune and gone borrowing, apprises Wilkie of the real O’Connor. Behind the façade of the generous uncle―bequeathed his brother’s money with the empty promise that he would take care of his four orphaned nephews―is an unscrupulous moneylender who will stop at nothing to root out secrets with the express purpose of blackmailing his clients and wallowing in their misery. His sudden death near Cooling Churchyard isn’t of particular concern to anyone. The suspect list is long, including convicts from a prison ship, most of Dickens’ guests, his staff, and Georgina herself.

While Victorian life is beautifully drawn here, and interesting facts about usury, prison ships, and protagonists Dickens and Collins abound, I found this whodunnit slow going. It feels repetitive and flat, and the writing didn’t fit my expectation, having read many highly enjoyable Burren and Reverend Mother mysteries by the author. The identity of the murderer isn’t immediately obvious, but Wilkie’s plodding thought processes do little to propel the plot forward, and Dickens shows more interest in parlour games and carol-singing than a possible murderer under his roof. Of most interest is Dickens’ musing about the man who would become Abel Magwitch. This is the fifth in the Dickens and Collins Gaslight Mystery series.

Know that Harrison takes liberties (a lot of them) with the lives of Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens but this is still a pretty good historical mystery. It's the Christmas season and the pair team up to solve the murder of Tim (really?) whose body is found in the marsh. The atmospherics are good and the identity of the villain might come as a surprise. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of the genre.

An aspiring authors invitation to the home of Charles Dickens leads to a solved murder.

Charles Dickens is an established author who enjoys holiday gatherings with family and friends. Wilkie Collins is an aspiring writer invited to spend Christmas with Dickens at his magnificent home. Tim O'Connor and his three nephews are also Dickens guests. Tim O'Connors underhanded tactics with his nephews finances does not bode well for him. Wilkie learns that Tim made many enemies due to his owning a convict ship and being a loan shark. Wilkies inquisitive mind helps to solve a case of who done it.

A "Murder in the Mist" takes readers to England and Ireland. I enjoyed the character of Wilkins who thinks of what material to use in future books while solving the murder. A recommended read for those interested in UK mysteries.