I've enjoyed several of Michelle's stories now, and enjoy the depth of her characters. This story is no different. It was lovely to get to know the characters and I enjoyed the story.

I have to admit that I haven’t read either “Bleak House” by Charles Dickens or “Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie as mentioned by other reviewers but I enjoyed “12 Days at Bleakly Manor” nonetheless. And yes, I would like to read both of those books if only to understand their references here.

The gorgeous cover prepares the reader for a delightful Victorian Christmas adventure with just a hint of darkness inside but oh my, some of the characters and happenings were quite unexpected. It was such fun watching what transpired and anticipating what might happen next. Everything about this book was so clever and I loved the surprises at the end!

I cannot say more because I fear I might give everything away. Just take my word for it, do yourself a favor, and pick up a copy of “12 Days at Bleakly House” for your holiday reading. I warn you though that you might not want to wait that long to read it.

When I first started this book, I did not know what to expect. This book was a book that I thought was a very good read. Once I started reading the book, I could not put it down as it really kept me interested in what was going to happen next..

Opening line:
"Christmas or not, there was nothing merry about the twisted alleys of Holywell."

Clara Chapman and Benjamin Lane were both in places of hurt, anger and disappointment. Clara was abandoned at the alter and Benjamin was unjustly sent to prison, both believing the other to be the cause of the pain.
Clara receives a strange invitation to live at Bleakly Manor for the Twelve Days of Christmas and at the end she will be rewarded financially.
Ben receives the same invite while living in a cell. He jumps at the chance to get out. His reward will be his freedom. But he must stay the duration for the reward too.
There are other house guests as well and in true Dickens fashion have names that totally fit their personalities. They were fun to read.
But all is not as it seems as "accidents" start to happen and one guest after another leaves. Who will be the last person standing?
I love Christmas stories and books. Because I love them I will forgive the inconsistencies and loose threads and neatly tied up coincidences in the story.

Just sit back with a cup of cocoa and enjoy the story.

Thanks to netgalley for the read.

Such a charming, Christmassy read that is rather gothic, distinctly odd in its own right but nonetheless, whimsical! I loved it.
It was something unlike any book I've read before- what with the plethora of unique characters and storyline. I also loved the sweet symbolism's and gifts each person received- or didn't- as the mystery unfolded.
It's such a good read- especially the week before Christmas!
And of course, my only complaint is I didn't get more time to see Ben & Clara's relationship play out more!!! I can't wait for book 2- the excerpt at the end of the book reeled me right in like a sea bass :)

"A mysterious invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home may bring danger...and love?

England, 1851: When Clara Chapman receives an intriguing invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home, she is hesitant yet feels compelled to attend—for if she remains the duration of the twelve-day celebration, she is promised a sum of five hundred pounds.

But is she walking into danger? It appears so, especially when she comes face to face with one of the other guests—her former fiancé, Benjamin Lane.

Imprisoned unjustly, Ben wants revenge on whoever stole his honor. When he’s given the chance to gain his freedom, he jumps at it—and is faced with the anger of the woman he stood up at the altar. Brought together under mysterious circumstances, Clara and Ben discover that what they’ve been striving for isn’t what ultimately matters.

What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.

Pour a cup of tea and settle in for Book 1 of the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series--a page-turning Victorian-era holiday tale--by Michelle Griep, a reader and critic favorite."

A manor house? Christmas? Charles Dickens? This is on my TBR pile come December.

12 Days at Bleakly Manor #1 Once Upon a Dickens Christmas
by Michelle Griep

A number of eccentric characters agreeing to stay at the English manor home, Bleakly Manor, for 12 days is not your usual Christmas tale. The characters did not know each other prior to arriving at the manor with the exception of Clara Chapman and Benjamin Lane. Their past is one of heartache and betrayal and lends tension to an already tense atmosphere. There are surprises in store for the visitors as well as the reader. I especially liked the surprise at the end. A fascinating story filled with intrigue, suspense and mystery, learning to let go of past hurts and trust again and forgive, a little romance and learning what matters most….you will have to read it find out what that is.

~I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author/NetGalley (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255~

Reading this book was like having a cup of tea with an old friend. Loved the character development - I felt like I knew each of them and was rooting for my favorites. Plot was deep enough to keep the reader guessing but not so complicated it was hard to keep track of the characters. Am a fan and will look for more books by the author.

This is a Wonderful Christmas book. It is a very heart warming story that will leave you in a great holiday mood. I would recommend to anyone. I love the characters and how they come together. How they figure out the trial life has given then. Great book!

I may be dense, or just need to brush up on my classic literature, but I didn't realize that this book was related to a Dicken's classic until I was reading about the next in the series at the end. This story is the same style as the movie Clue. I love Clue. All of the essential reasons of why I love Clue, Michelle did in such a creative fashion in this story.

I can't say I was suprised by the ending, but that is because I suspected EVERYONE at some point, it's the nature of the story arc. But, I also was suprised because it was brought together and the motivations behind it weren't what I was puzzling together in my imagination. The mystery of who will die next and who was behind it all is what kept me turning pages becuase I had to know. Also the anxiety of knowing there could be only one winner, but we have both a hero and a heroine! I want them both to win! It was agonizing.

For regular readers of reviews, you will be happy to know I DID NOT read the end until I got there. In this case, I just knew it would ruin the mystery and allure of everything and Michelle wrote it in such a way with clues coming steadily that I didn't feel the all consuming desire to know how it turned out before I got there. So, that should tell you something. If you're a fan of mystery, give it a try.

Side note: If you're looking for a fluffy cheery Christmas read, this isn't it. It's a bit morose, but a very satisfying read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are honest and my own.

If you have not had the opportunity to read a Christmas book this month, I highly recommend checking this story out. The title alone caught my eye, because the words "Dickens Christmas" are penned underneath a beautiful manor that is dusted with snow. Yet I was also intrigued by the mysterious synopsis. How can danger and peril be attached to such a lovely setting--and at Christmas time? The conflicts that arise within the pages of this text will definitely surprise the reader, and will leave a person longing for the next book in the series.

Curious invitations are sent out to a random set of people--including Clara Chapman and Benjamin Lane. Once Clara enters the manor, she wonders why such an odd group of individuals are spending Christmas together. Since she has nothing to offer anyone, she does not understand why someone would bother to invite her. Her life has taken turns she never wanted to entertain, and Clara feels she is at the bottom of everything, because she knows she is one step away from poverty.

Benjamin has spent his days in prison--falsely accused. He is determined to find out and understand why he was charged, because he does not even know the details surrounding his case. Strangely, instead of being taken to his punishment, he is summoned to a manor in the country. Things grow even more difficult when he realizes Clara Chapman is among the crowd. Anger, resentment, and confusion hit him almost instantly, and he wonders how he will endure the next twelve days.

The journey these people take is quite incredible and there are many surprises in store for the reader. Grace and forgiveness mark the path for some while understanding and defeat lie in store for others. Considering one's own personal gain governs the choices many characters make, which will help the reader ponder what the Christmas season should be about--giving instead of receiving.

Happy reading and Merry Christmas!


"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."

Loved this book and definitely recommend it to others. It was a perfect holiday read, and the author did a great job of creating memorable characters, a fine sense of place, and plot surprises galore. Lovely!

This book was so very interesting !! It has many plot twists.
I do like how Ben and Clara are continually brought together.
I also found how this whole getting together at the manor very interesting as well. At the end of the book the reader will find out how everything was out into motion and why and by whom. I will not spoil this for the reader. Another surprise is how a very famous author of that time period is part of this as well.

Michele Griep has a new fan! Fans of historical mysteries should welcome this series. It's a realistic portrayal of Victorian England spiced with humor and intrigue. Some characters are quirky enough to almost go beyond believabity, but the two main characters - Clara and Ben - quickly work their way into the reader's heart. I look forward to seeing what happens in the next book! Thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for overnight Ccess before publication.

I enjoyed this book! It was a fun read. I thought it was an interesting twist on the Christmas Carol. It was a story of love, loss, mystery and second chances. The character’s were interesting and aptly named. Each person was described well. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

I recommend this book to my family and friends.

I received this book from the publisher to read and give my honest review.

What my family had to say about the book 12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep as we enjoyed this as a family read aloud. It was intriguing, mysterious, and scary in parts. It was superfluously majestic and makes you want to read on. It was also surprising, captivating, and very well written. I really liked that it brought out an element of forgiveness in a freeing way. This book has all these things and more to it!! If you’re looking for a great Christmas read, you’ll want to remember to check this one out.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Everything about this book appealed to me when I first saw complimentary advanced reader copies of it being offered - I love the cover and I love a good historical mystery. I didn't even see the part about it being the first book in a new series, Once Upon a Dickens Christmas. I'm actually kind of glad I missed that part because I might have decided not to read it because I haven't actually read very many Dickens books, and none since high school which was a very long time ago!

But I would have had nothing to worry about as this book stands alone perfectly well. The author has created amazing characters and a clever and mysterious plot line. I enjoyed reading it so much and had a very hard time putting it down because I just had to know what was going to happen!

This book was very interesting. It was full of mystery and intrigue and I never knew what was going to happen next. I had an immediate suspect for all the incidents at the manor, but I quickly shifted my suspicions and they turned out to be correct. I don't think it was easy to figure out, I just made a lucky guess. As all the pieces started to fall into place, I was excited to finally find out what was going on just like Ben and Clara. I liked the faith thread woven through the story and the growth that the main characters exhibited. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.


I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received.

A manor house mystery in the tradition of Agatha Christie set against the back drop of a Victorian Christmas. Add a love story and this novel has all the elements of a lovely holiday read.

This is a wonderful tale of unexpected twists, suspense, mystery and an air of romance. Set in England in the 1800's and with references to Charles Dickens, the story was well crafted and the descriptions of Bleakly Manor brought the story to life for me.

The characters were a variety of some quirky, some cold and calculating, and then Clara (the main character) brought sweetness and caring to the mix. They were all summoned to spend 12 days at the manor and the last one to stay there wins their prize. When you add the fact that none of them knew there would be anyone else there, it made for a fun read, especially when mysterious happenings start to take place.

The story was a cross between Dickens and Agatha Christie, but pulled off well. I can't wait to read the next one in this Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series.