Friday, June 28, 2019

A Tale of Two Murders - A Review

Review


A TALE OF TWO MURDERS by Heather Redmond
The First Dickens of a Crime Mystery

Young journalist Charles Dickens is enjoying an Epiphany feast at the home of his employer, enjoying both the food and the company, especially that of his host's charming daughter. When dessert is disrupted by a scream emanating from a neighboring home Charles, along with Mr. Hogarth and his daughter Kate, go to investigate only to find a troubling scene. The seventeen year old daughter at the mansion has become suddenly, violently ill. By the morning she's dead. What could have happened to this healthy young woman? Food gone bad? Or poisoning of a more nefarious type? When Charles learns that a year prior, also on Epiphany, another seventeen year old girl died he begins to wonder if it's more than just a coincidence. As Charles and the intrepid Kate begin to investigate they uncover far more than they ever bargained for. 

I really enjoyed this mystery held on the cusp of the Victorian era. Young Charles Dickens makes a delightful protagonist with his keen intelligence, great curiosity, and fortitude. He also shows just a hint of naivete, at least when it comes to certain females, making him more human and relateable. Equally as charming is his partner in investigation, Kate, a determined young lady who knows her own mind and isn't afraid to go after what she wants. A rich tapestry of characters reside here from the members of the happy Hogarth family and Charles's younger brother to the members of high society, the theatre folk, and the Mudlark Children, a band of ragamuffin urchins, all imbuing the novel with great ambiance.

There's something in this first Dickens of a Crime Mystery for everyone, rich historical detail, humor, a bit of romance, all entwined in a great story.The mystery here is complex and motives most compelling. I appreciated how Charles investigated, puzzling through the clues and changing his opinions as more facts were uncovered.

A TALE OF TWO MURDERS is an atmospheric historical mystery that brings to life one of the greatest authors of all time.

2 comments:

  1. When I first came across this book on NetGalley, I decided then and there that A Tale of Two Murders was a book that I needed to read.I was not wrong, I enjoyed every minute of this book so much that I purchased an audiobook version!

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  2. I enjoyed every minute of this book. So much so that I purchased the audiobook to accompany the text.

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