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hannas_heas47's review
4.0
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC to read and give my honest opinion.
A Victorian London murder mystery and nicely done. Three fated women who are linked with three separate fates. A tale told by the Charles Dickens Investigations series, was a unique and interesting story.
What did I like? I love a good mystery every now and then and this one caught my eye. Charles Dickens the author plays the investigator in this series, along with a London cast of characters. I read almost all of it in one sitting, my only setback was that this was my first in the series and there is quite the cast of characters without a character list. Otherwise this was an interesting and intriguing mystery.
Would I buy this book? Yes, Id start with book one in this series though and just work my way up. I hate starting mid series but the title, cover, and description....I couldn't pass it up.
Thoughts for the author? This was a solid idea and great as a stand alone, but I would give people a character list since there are so many. I was glued to the pages, such an interesting idea. Four mysterious stars of entertainment!
A Victorian London murder mystery and nicely done. Three fated women who are linked with three separate fates. A tale told by the Charles Dickens Investigations series, was a unique and interesting story.
What did I like? I love a good mystery every now and then and this one caught my eye. Charles Dickens the author plays the investigator in this series, along with a London cast of characters. I read almost all of it in one sitting, my only setback was that this was my first in the series and there is quite the cast of characters without a character list. Otherwise this was an interesting and intriguing mystery.
Would I buy this book? Yes, Id start with book one in this series though and just work my way up. I hate starting mid series but the title, cover, and description....I couldn't pass it up.
Thoughts for the author? This was a solid idea and great as a stand alone, but I would give people a character list since there are so many. I was glued to the pages, such an interesting idea. Four mysterious stars of entertainment!
kirkw1972's review
4.0
I read this at the same time I’m reading Bleak House for open uni and I loved the parallels and cameos of past book characters as I went along. In this series Dickens is still a novelist but solves murders along with Superintendent Jones. This time they are on the hunt for for the murderer of a man that turns out to be less than decent. There’s a whole host of despicable characters they meet along the way.
It’s the 4th in the series bit works as a stand alone. I don’t think there was anything in here that confused me being brought over from past books. There are biographical elements of the real Dickens which definitely adds to the character world building. The historical accuracy continues with London descriptions. I found it so easy to be in Victorian London with all it’s dirt and poverty. Sometimes the book is pretty creepy and all of it is atmospheric. I really enjoyed this and have already added some of the previous books onto kindle for later
It’s the 4th in the series bit works as a stand alone. I don’t think there was anything in here that confused me being brought over from past books. There are biographical elements of the real Dickens which definitely adds to the character world building. The historical accuracy continues with London descriptions. I found it so easy to be in Victorian London with all it’s dirt and poverty. Sometimes the book is pretty creepy and all of it is atmospheric. I really enjoyed this and have already added some of the previous books onto kindle for later
tasmanian_bibliophile's review
4.0
‘And the dead shall be raised.’
London, November 1850. Lavinia Gray disappears the day before her wedding and is later found drowned. Evie Finch dies of infection in a filthy lodging house. Evie was pregnant and had been abandoned by her lover. Annie Deverall, a fifteen-year-old milliner’s apprentice is accused of the murder of Doctor Lancelot Plume, and is remanded to Newgate.
Three young women, three deaths. Is there a connection?
A woman who visits Annie is concerned for her welfare, and contacts Charles Dickens, who visits her. Charles Dickens is convinced that Annie is innocent. Circumstances enable him to enlist the aid of Superintendent Sam Jones to try to find out who murdered Dr Plume before Annie goes to trial.
‘No varnish can hide the grain of the wood.’
If Annie didn’t murder Doctor Lancelot Plume, who did and why?
This is the fourth novel in Ms Briggs’s series featuring the novelist Charles Dickens and Superintendent Sam Jones. While the mystery is self-contained and the book could be read as a standalone, it is worth reading the novels in order because of the way Ms Briggs develops several of the supporting characters. London herself is a major character: the fog, the lack of sanitation, the desperate circumstances of many of the poor and underprivileged. I enjoy Ms Brigg’s depiction of Dickens, the way in which she brings the darker side of London to life.
Highly recommended.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
London, November 1850. Lavinia Gray disappears the day before her wedding and is later found drowned. Evie Finch dies of infection in a filthy lodging house. Evie was pregnant and had been abandoned by her lover. Annie Deverall, a fifteen-year-old milliner’s apprentice is accused of the murder of Doctor Lancelot Plume, and is remanded to Newgate.
Three young women, three deaths. Is there a connection?
A woman who visits Annie is concerned for her welfare, and contacts Charles Dickens, who visits her. Charles Dickens is convinced that Annie is innocent. Circumstances enable him to enlist the aid of Superintendent Sam Jones to try to find out who murdered Dr Plume before Annie goes to trial.
‘No varnish can hide the grain of the wood.’
If Annie didn’t murder Doctor Lancelot Plume, who did and why?
This is the fourth novel in Ms Briggs’s series featuring the novelist Charles Dickens and Superintendent Sam Jones. While the mystery is self-contained and the book could be read as a standalone, it is worth reading the novels in order because of the way Ms Briggs develops several of the supporting characters. London herself is a major character: the fog, the lack of sanitation, the desperate circumstances of many of the poor and underprivileged. I enjoy Ms Brigg’s depiction of Dickens, the way in which she brings the darker side of London to life.
Highly recommended.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
robinlovesreading's review
5.0
Charles Dickens finds more crimes to solve. This time it is three women who have been murdered and yet another woman has been accused of murder. Charles has always championed the cause of those less advantaged. When it comes to these women, Charles, along with Superintendent Sam Jones work hard to set matters right.
As this is the fourth book in the series, I have gotten to know a lot about Charles Dickens. In this book the deeper part of London life in the mid 1850s helps reader to learn more about the man himself, especially when it came to certain facts about his childhood. I cannot help but feel like I am reminiscing while reading these books. There is a vibe, the vibe that I never lost after seeing the movie The Christmas Carol when I was a child. There was a certain atmosphere in that move that left an impression on me. While there are times we think of imagining ourselves in the past, London at that time definitely does not appeal to me.
As this book delves into that time period, it becomes easy to imagine Charles growing up, even though among difficult circumstances. As Charles and Sam work hard to tie the murders together, having come to know the man through the pages of this series thus far, it is easy to see why he was so talented.
I am sort of a stickler for reading books in order whenever possible. I think they way these books are written, especially as we get to see Charles's home life with his wife and children, they would better read in order.
Many thanks to Sapere Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
As this is the fourth book in the series, I have gotten to know a lot about Charles Dickens. In this book the deeper part of London life in the mid 1850s helps reader to learn more about the man himself, especially when it came to certain facts about his childhood. I cannot help but feel like I am reminiscing while reading these books. There is a vibe, the vibe that I never lost after seeing the movie The Christmas Carol when I was a child. There was a certain atmosphere in that move that left an impression on me. While there are times we think of imagining ourselves in the past, London at that time definitely does not appeal to me.
As this book delves into that time period, it becomes easy to imagine Charles growing up, even though among difficult circumstances. As Charles and Sam work hard to tie the murders together, having come to know the man through the pages of this series thus far, it is easy to see why he was so talented.
I am sort of a stickler for reading books in order whenever possible. I think they way these books are written, especially as we get to see Charles's home life with his wife and children, they would better read in order.
Many thanks to Sapere Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
octoberbabye's review
5.0
The portrayal of Charles Dickens may not be exactly what he was like, but in this series he is a grand fellow. Along with Jones another mystery is solved.
Such true to live characterizations, and London can be smelled and seen in Briggs descriptions.
Such true to live characterizations, and London can be smelled and seen in Briggs descriptions.
vesper1931's review
4.0
November 1850, Lavinia Gray fails to turn up for her wedding and is later found dead. Annie Deverall has been charged with the murder of a Dr. Plume. Evie Finch is pregnant and been abandoned by her lover. But is there a connection between them. Superintendent Jones with the help of novalist Charles Dickens investigates.
Easily read as a standalone story but I would recommend reading the first three well-written mysteries.
Another enjoyable and well-written mystery in this series with some delightful characters.
A NetGalley Book
Easily read as a standalone story but I would recommend reading the first three well-written mysteries.
Another enjoyable and well-written mystery in this series with some delightful characters.
A NetGalley Book
helenh's review
4.0
And again J.C. Briggs has crafted an historical mystery that will keep you enthralled until the next page. The descriptions of Victorian London are spot-on, if as always depressing; you may want to hit up a puppy and/or kitten video or two after reading this book, with its underlying reasons for the murder of a prominent doctor.
And as Dickens and his helpers, and Inspector Jones and his fellow policemen crisscross London and farther flung environs searching for the truth, readers are treated to descriptive passages that are breathtakingly beautiful and terribly dark at the same time. And brush up on your English poets. You will find Tennyson and William Blake within these pages.
The ending will satisfy and sadden. Looking very much forward to the next in the series.
And as Dickens and his helpers, and Inspector Jones and his fellow policemen crisscross London and farther flung environs searching for the truth, readers are treated to descriptive passages that are breathtakingly beautiful and terribly dark at the same time. And brush up on your English poets. You will find Tennyson and William Blake within these pages.
The ending will satisfy and sadden. Looking very much forward to the next in the series.
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