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.

My low score is not a reflection of the quality of the book. I simply didn't connect with the novel. Sometimes you click with a plot, sometimes you don't. And forcing yourself to read something that doesn't speak to you is never advisable. As for the format, I just wanted to ask the publisher to consider including a TOC in the files going forward, it will allow a better navigation in the book. It's a bit frustrating to not have one. Thanks in advance!

This third reframing of Charles Dickens as a detective hits many good notes for holiday reading.

The author has neatly flipped Dickens' classic Christmas tale into a plausible story-that-inspired-a-story. Journalist Charles Dickens makes a credible sleuth, with some personal stakes to add urgency to his various quests. The familiar characters are recognizable under different names and with slightly altered spellings and personalities; their interactions are credible as real Victorians and as the seeds of Dickens' further characters. The language has a nicely gauged air of the era without sounding quite so long-winded as the original.

Overall, an enjoyable read whether you're looking for a historical mystery or a Christmas evening's entertainment..

"A Christmas Carol Murder" combines elements of Victorian England and the works of Dickens, with several mysteries to be solved. While caroling at Christmas time with several friends, Charles and company witness a man falling from a window to his death. His fiancee Kate takes a great interest in the mystery of this occurrence, and Charles also becomes involved in solving the crime. In addition, Charles must discover the identity of the father and mother of a baby, whose aunt claims Charles is the actual father. Charles aims to avoid complications with his fiancee Kate, embroiling himself in finding the baby's parents.

This novel is part of a series of crimes that feature Dickens and aspects of his novels, although it can be read as a stand-alone novel. They skillfully evoke the sights and sounds of Victorian London, which to me was the best part of the novel. Although the pacing of the novel seems slow at times, the descriptions of characters and settings add to the atmosphere and tone of the novel. Readers who enjoy novels by Dickens will find this one to be a welcome addition to their collection. Those who treasure pastiche novels will also find this to be an intriguing mixture of Dickens characters with a curiously modern take on crime detection methods in an atmospheric setting. (Discussion questions are included.)

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

A Christmas Carol Murder
A Dickens of a Crime #3
Heather Redmond
Kensington Books, September 2020
ISBN 978-1-4967-1717-7
Hardcover

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.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, December 2020.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL MURDER by Heather Redmond
The Third Dickens of a Crime Mystery

An evening of Christmas caroling turns tragic when Charles Dickens and his friends witness a man plummet to his death from a second story window. While Kate doesn't believe the old man physically capable, Charles is convinced that the disagreeable homeowner is a murderer. Charles is keeping busy trying to work on his book, find a good home for an orphaned baby, and help a growing mudlark, but when the body of the dead man disappears, the situation has the very makings of a novel!

A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens is a tale of redemption, and so it is with A CHRISTMAS CAROL MURDER by Heather Redmond. In this case, the redemption portion is a secondary story to the murder. Charles, falsely accused, is nonetheless faced with losing his fiance, his job, and his very livelihood and place in society. His future is in peril due to a misunderstanding and the commission of a good deed, causing him to look to redeem himself while trying to solve a murder.

That's not the only similarity you'll find to the classic Christmas story. It was one thing when Mr. Jacob Harley falls to his death wrapped in chains, but when the cranky Emmanuel Screws came on scene I had to giggle. Of course there's a baby Timothy and a Mr. Cratchit too! Charles is also visited by three specters...or at least three mysterious figures during dressed like phantoms.

The third Dickens of a Crime novel is an atmospheric Victorian mystery that highlights the differing mindsets, foibles, and dangers of this bygone time. I enjoy seeing Charles Dickens struggling to find his place in the world and witnessing what could have been his inspiration.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL MURDER is a complex mystery that haunts a young Charles Dickens at Christmastime. Grab a cup of mulled wine and settle in for a delightfully literary holiday treat.

Princess Fuzzypants here: There are a couple of series that use Charles Dickens as the main character. This particular one focuses on young Charles while he was a journalist and just starting in his storied career. He is engaged to the daughter of his employer but the course of true love will not run smoothly this time out. He is in Hatfield reporting on a fatal fire when a young woman presents him with a baby whom she says is his illegitimate child. Charles knows not only has he never met the mother but he has never been to the area before. But the woman says the mother has perished in the fire.

Rather than leave the baby to the tender mercies of society at that time, he brings the baby to London where his troubles begin. He does not confide in his fiancé or her family for fear of their reaction. He is determined to save the child until he can find either the father or family. When Kate’s sister tattles to her parents, the engagement is off and Charles is fired, his reputation as a gentleman in tatters. What is most frustrating is he is being maligned because he is trying to do the right thing.

He also gets involved in two mysterious deaths, one literally fell at his feet while he and his friends were carolling. This is where the story gets very creative. The characters bear names very similar to the ones in A Christmas Carol, There are so many allusion and similarities to the Dickens classic, had this been anything but fiction, the reader might consider this the inspiration. I have to admit I enjoyed the interweaving of A Christmas Carol even more than the actual murder mystery which is almost anti-climactic. It made for an entertaining light read.

Four purrs and two paws up.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I confess as an English major Charles Dickens is on my list of authors I do not like. However, I have read and enjoyed A Christmas Carol and it's various re-tellings and I did enjoy this book.

The plot is quite similar to A Christmas Carol but cleverly disguised as a mystery and Dickens is the detective. The character names are all plays on Carol names, such as Jacob Harley and Mr. Screw. However, there was a lot of intrigue woven into the characters and the mysteriousness that was captured by the ghosts in Dickens' original novel.

I think this is an original spin on a timeless classic and kudos to the author for her creativity. I would seek out the others in the series and add them to my TBR pile.

A Christmas Carol is one of my favorite Christmas tales and it was clever how the characters of Scrooge and co were "inspired" by the fictional Dickens in this book. This was a slow burn mystery that had a very Sherlock Holmes feel. It took me a little bit to get through as it was very slow paced, but it was a decent read overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and PICT for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

As a longtime fan of Dickens classic work A Christmas Carol, this imaginative tale offers some clever and just plain fun speculation on the inspiration for the story. 

This is my first foray into the author's Dickens series. I found a story full of lively, interesting characters, led by Mr. Dickens himself. I appreciate a series that a reader can step into past the first entry and still be able to follow the plot. There are some story threads that have carried over from previous books, but they are inconsequential to the plot and only prompt the reader to go find those earlier books and read them!

While there are many historical mysteries that feature famous people, often they fall flat because the author excels at historical accuracy or writing mysteries, but not both. Redmond, fortunately, does both equally well. The story is peopled with colorful characters, from Dickens to his fiancee and her family, to a frail but loud infant and a set of fast friends. I applaud the author for writing strong female characters who can lead as easily as follow. 

I will be seeking out Redmond's earlier entries in this series and recommending this to fans of historical mysteries.

Do you love Dickens? (I know very few people who can answer no to that question! ) Then A Christmas Carol Murder is the mystery for you! It's an intriguing whodunit that will keep you enthralled as you enjoy living a few fictional days in the life of one of history's favorite authors.

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.

I enjoyed this entertaining historical mystery. While entirely fiction, it was fun to wander London in the 1830s with Dickens. It was interesting to see how Redmond wove themes from Dickens' A Christmas Carol into the plot of this novel. And I liked the way Redmond crafted the setting. I felt Dickens fall into the mud and slop of London streets and could almost smell it. The character crafting was good too. Redmond did a good job of highlighting the norms of the day through character actions. It was fun to imagine Dickens as an amateur sleuth. I am not so sure of the actual physical reality of how the first murder happened but, then again, this is fiction.

This is a good novel for readers who enjoy fiction centered on an actual historical characters. It's also a good read for those who enjoy a cozy mystery.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Wow, this was such a great read. What an awesome storyline. This book grabs you at page one and doesn't let you go. I really like her writing style. This is an author I will definitely continue to follow. I highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed.

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!

I can’t put into words how much I have enjoyed this book! A perfect murder mystery that will keep you at the edge of your seat! I have enjoyed taking a tour into Charles Dickens mind in his pursue in finding the truth.

2.5 stars

I didn't realize that this was the third book in the series. I haven't read the prior books.

I found the pace to be way too slow, making it difficult to get through, and it could've benefitted from a lot more action. The dialogue also seemed incorrect for the time period, though the writing itself was okay. The premise is that Charles Dickens is solving a murder, but it's hard to envision him using the language in this book. I really enjoy A Christmas Carol, so I'd hoped for more with this book. I did like the references in the story, however.

The mystery was just okay. It didn't pull me in as much as I'd hoped. There wasn't really anything for me to grab onto and attempt to sleuth out with the characters. I was also surprised that Dickens' fiance Kate wasn't a part of this story.

I really enjoyed reading this Christmas themed murder mystery book based on the characters of the book with the same name by Charles Dickens! It has exquisite writing in a classic style. It has the same feeling as the original story. The characters have problems to solve and trials to overcome which helps them to grow as a character throughout the story. It is a charming, feel-good read that leaves the reader filled with hope and Christmas spirit! I would highly recommend this book for murder mystery or cozy mystery fans!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks to Kensington Books & Netgalley for a digital copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

When I saw a description of this book I couldn't wait to read it - a mystery with Charles Dickens as a young amateur detective! The premise of this fictional story, which takes place during the Christmas holidays in Victorian London, is that the mystery Charles solves is the inspiration for his classic A Christmas Carol - one of my favorites.

Although this was the third in the series of A Dickens of a Crime mysteries, it's the first one I've read and was easy to follow without having read the earlier novels. The only complaint I have is the characters and plot points based on Dickens' classic were predictable - names slightly changed (Jacob Harley for Jacob Marley, Mr. Screws for Mr. Scrooge, a ghost, a baby boy name Timothy, Bah Humbug!)

Charles is a likeable character and at this point is still a wanna-be novelist while making his living as a newspaper reporter. He is engaged to Kate Hogarth, who is living with her parents until the wedding, and assists him in solving the mystery of a man who appears to have been pushed out of a second story window, with chains around his body. I especially liked the recreation of the Victorian era - the horse-drawn carriages, the food and drink, the morals, the clothes, and customs.

Despite two murders, and being set in the cold of sooty London, this is a light, holiday cozy with a happy ending.

I was thrilled with this mystery starring Charles Dickens. The parallels to A Christmas Carol were well done and believable. I felt like I was with Charles Dickens in Victorian England and meeting the real Mr. Scrooge and all the familiar characters.

The murder mystery solved by dear Charles as well as his own little mystery made for a fantastical foray into the work. I loved the attention to details from A Christmas Carol that made it a cozy mystery with all the magic of a Charles Dicken's novel.

While you won't meet the ghosts of past present and future, you will meet Charles and a cast of familiar characters trying to solve the murder of Jacob Harley. Can you figure it out before they do?

I received a complementary copy of this book and this is my honest review.