This is the third in the author's series of whodunnits where the young Charles Dickens is solving murders in mid 1830s London as he attempts to start a writing career, and is gathering his material for what would become Sketches by Boz. Here he becomes involved in murderous events surrounding the counting-house of Emmanuel Screws and Jacob Harley, after the latter's body is found dead dangling in chains from the former's upper window. All family members of both elderly bankers come under suspicion as Dickens attempts to solve the killings without the help of his fiancée Kate Hogarth, from whom he is temporarily estranged due to a misunderstanding over a baby whom he has temporary acquired in odd circumstances involving a fire and a case of mistaken identity. I enjoyed this book and the links between this and Christmas Carol are of course much more obvious and ubiquitous than for the previous two novels. I was disappointed that Mr Hogarth Snr was not prepared to trust Charles and I could see how this breach would be difficult for he and Charles to ever fully mend. All turns out well in the end though, with some colourful characters along the way. The Americanisms here were a bit less grating too, so that was a plus. ( )

Charles Dickens has yet to write A Christmas Carol or reach any real level of fame but he is known for solving a murder or two. Dickens and his fiance happen upon a man who has fallen out of a window but Dickens believes something feels off. Throughout the story, we meet such characters as Emmanuel Screws who owns a countinghouse along with Mr. Harley (the man who fell out the window). The counting-house also has a dependable employee named Cratchit. We see the development of all the beloved characters in A Christmas Carol come to life.

I was looking for a Christmas story to help get me in the holiday mood and I thought this one would help, especially since it was so different than your regular holiday story. While the premise of the story was interesting, I didn't find it to be enough to put me in the holiday mood or hold my attention for long periods of time. The story was slow going and there were a few times I was not sure I was going to finish but I appreciated the storyline and the ending was decently done. ( )

December 1835. While covering the fire at Hatfield House, reporter Charles Dickens is given a four month old baby called Timothy Dickens. The childs aunt, Madge Porter, convinced that Dickens is the father.
Back in London, while out caroling he and his friends witness a man, Jacob Harley, fall from a second floor window, complete with chains around his neck. The house is owned by his business partner Emmanuel Screws. Dickens investigates but this will only be the first death, what could be the possible motive.
An enjoyable mystery, a well-written story with its very likeable characters. A good addition to the series.
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

London, December 1835: Charles and Kate are out with friends and family for a chilly night of caroling and good cheer. But their blood truly runs cold when their singing is interrupted by a body plummeting from an upper window of a house. They soon learn the dead man at their feet, his neck strangely wrapped in chains, is Jacob Harley, the business partner of the resident of the house, an unpleasant codger who owns a counting house, one Emmanuel Screws.

Ever the journalist, Charles dedicates himself to discovering who's behind the diabolical defenestration. But before he can investigate further, Harley's corpse is stolen. Following that, Charles is visited in his quarters by what appears to be Harley's ghost—or is it merely Charles’s overwrought imagination? He continues to suspect Emmanuel, the same penurious penny pincher who denied his father a loan years ago, but Kate insists the old man is too weak to heave a body out a window. Their mutual affection and admiration can accommodate a difference of opinion, but matters are complicated by the unexpected arrival of an infant orphan. Charles must find the child a home while solving a murder, to ensure that the next one in chains is the guilty party . . .

This was the first book for me in this series and this author and I really enjoyed it. Great character cast and who doesn't love Dickens and Christmas. I did not figure out who done it, until the reveal. I was entertained and it kept me wanting to read more. The descriptions of London during this time period made me feel transported to there. I now want to go back and read book one and two. Even thought this is book 3 the author did a great job of bringing the reader up to date. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good historical fiction mystery, Christmas and/or Charles Dickens. ( )

"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.

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