“Perry’s Victorian-era holiday mysteries [are] an annual treat.”—The Wall Street JournalIn this intriguing, uplifting holiday mystery from bestselling author Anne Perry, an orphan boy investigates a woman’s kidnapping—and discovers there’s more at stake than a disappearance. It wouldn’t quite be Christmas without a holiday mystery decorated with all the Victorian trimmings, as only New York Times … Victorian trimmings, as only New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry can render it. Now the tradition continues as mayhem is once again found under the mistletoe, and intrigue stalks the cobblestone streets and gaslit parlors of old London Town.
Formerly a river urchin living on the banks of the Thames, nine-year-old Worm has never experienced a family Christmas. But thanks to a job at Hester Monk’s clinic in Portpool Lane, he’s found a makeshift family in kindly volunteer Miss Claudine Burroughs and curmudgeonly old bookkeeper Squeaky Robinson.
When Worm witnesses the abduction of a beautiful woman by a pair of ruffians just days before Christmas, he frantically turns to Squeaky for help. A one-time brothel owner, Squeaky knows the perils of interfering in nasty business, but he can’t bear to disappoint Worm—or leave the boy to attempt a rescue on his own. What neither of the would-be saviors expects, however, is that the damsel in distress already has her dilemma well in hand . . . and is taking steps to bring her captors to justice for crimes far worse than kidnapping. But the rogues, as cunning as they are deadly, are not to be underestimated. The aid of cynical old Squeaky and hopeful young Worm just might make the difference between a merry triumph over evil and a terrible yuletide tragedy.
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The Meaning of Christmas
How do you explain Christmas to an urchin who’s spent most of his first nine years on the mean streets near the mid-19th century mudflats and docks of London? And with that background how is it he is unaware the woman he feels compelled to rescue is probably “no better than she ought to be”? This story of rescue and redemption features movie-worthy chase scenes and a surprisingly complex mystery.
A Christmas Revelation by Anne Perry is the sixteenth novel in The Christmas Stories series. Worm lives at the clinic on Portpool Lane thanks to the kindly Claudine Burroughs. Worm is out and about one day when he witnesses a lovely lady get kidnapped by two men. Worm runs back to the clinic and reports the problem to Squeaky Robinson, the clinic’s accountant. Squeaky tries to distract Worm with preparations for Christmas, but he is not to be deterred. The next morning, the pair set out to find where the kidnappers are hiding the woman. They soon find her and learn that she has the situation well in hand. Eloise has plans for bringing the two men to justice for more serious crimes, but she could use their help. With the assistance of Worm and Squeaky, Eloise sets out to bag the criminals and make sure their stockings are filled with coal by local prison warden.
A Christmas Revelation is part of The Christmas Stories series, but it can be read as a standalone (I have not read any other book by this author). I found A Christmas Revelation to be a charming story. Worm is grateful to have a warm, safe place to live plus food in his belly. He has never experienced Christmas before and Squeaky wants to make sure Worm gets the full experience. I enjoy the interactions between Worm and Squeaky. I especially liked the scene where Squeaky was trying to explain Jesus to Worm. When Squeaky could not distract Worm from Eloise’s dilemma, he sets out to help the young lad. Squeaky is familiar with the ways of the street and has connections that can help them. I liked seeing Squeaky and Worm grow closer. I also appreciated that Worm is developing a sense of wrong and right now that he is living at the clinic. A Christmas Revelation contains good writing and steady pacing. I felt the author captured the time period with the language, clothing, buildings, conveyances, and how Christmas is celebrated during that time. I liked the reference to how they needed to obtain a Christmas tree thanks to Queen Victoria’s husband. I did feel the mystery was slightly disappointing and there was a loose thread or two at the end. It is a short book with only 177 pages which makes it the perfect type of book to read on a cold afternoon. A Christmas Revelation is an enticing Victorian Christmas mystery.
A CHRISTMAS REVELATION by Anne Perry is an intriguing Victorian era Christmas novella with heart. This novella is written featuring secondary characters from Ms. Perry’s Monk series, the realism of the seamier side of Victorian London and a mystery to be solved. This Christmas story can easily be read as a standalone.
Nine-year-old urchin, Worm lives at the Portpool Lane clinic. He witnesses a beautiful blond haired woman being abducted by two men by force on the streets of London. When he returns to the clinic, he seeks the help of Squeaky, the clinic’s bookkeeper and former brothel owner. Squeaky knows better than to get involved in others’ business, but he hates to disappoint Worm.
As Worm and Squeaky learn more of the abducted woman and the mystery surrounding her, Ms. Perry intertwines the charming Victorian Christmas stories and traditions that Squeaky is sharing with Worm. These two unlikely rescuers work to help the blond haired woman and hopefully celebrate Worm’s first real Christmas with all their friends at Portpool Lane clinic.
This is a heartwarming Victorian Christmas novella that keeps the reader turning the pages to solve the mystery around the blond woman. Squeaky is a wonderfully flawed and realistic character. Worm is loving and caring even after having spent his early years homeless on the streets. I loved his worry for the blond woman and his amazement at the Christmas traditions. I enjoyed this addition to Squeaky and Worm’s stories.
Thanks very much to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eArc.
What a wonderfully poignant Christmas story. If you have read this author’s William Monk series, you will be familiar with most of the characters in this book. The story is a wonderfully written tale of redemption and caring at Christmas.
Since last summer, nine-year-old Worm (Warren) has been living and working at the clinic in Portpool Lane. The clinic was established to provide medical care, etc. for women on the streets. He’d always lived on the riverbank before someone rescued him. He doesn’t know if he ever had a father, but he does have vague memories of his mother.
Worm was out and about one morning and looked across the street at the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. A woman who was all light, warmth, and softness. When a sunbeam came down from the sky and fell on her hair, it glowed like gold. Her smiles seemed to make everyone around her feel good. Then, there were two men who approached her, grabbed her and forced her away. Worm wanted to help her. He raced across the street and followed them as far as he could and then they disappeared. He needed help and he knew just who could either help him or tell him what he needed to do.
Squeaky Robinson will only admit to being somewhere in his sixties. He is the former owner of the two buildings that now house the Portpool Lane clinic. The houses were brothels when he owned them, and quite profitable. However, he’d found himself in a bit of serious legal trouble and made a deal to turn the houses over for the clinic and stay on as its bookkeeper. Secretly, he’s glad about that, but he’d never openly admit it.
Worm runs into Squeaky’s office and tells his tale of the beautiful lady. Squeaky tries to distract him by telling him tales of Christmas – mostly making it up as he goes along because – well – what does Squeaky know about Christmas. When the distraction doesn’t work, Squeaky knows that if he doesn’t help the boy, he’ll just go out on his own. This begins an adventure filled with bad guys, lovely ladies who are not what they seem, explosions and a joyous Christmas.
I hope you’ll give this lovely novella a read this Christmas.
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
Anne Perry is on my list of top British authors, and this book does not disappoint. Well-developed characters and great plot.
Not one of her best
This is a historical fiction story; approx. 1876 – 1878 in England, outside of London. I liked the setting and the main character, young Worm, an orphan currently residing at a “home” for those less fortunate (mostly ladies of the evening) run by an aristocratic woman. The main characters are well written and seem true to the era this is taking place in. The setting is done well, so you get a feel for the time/space. It’s an interesting story about young Worm (he’s about 9) and this woman he sees at the market who seems to be taken against her will by two men. Worm’s imagination runs wild about what might be happening. He involves an adult in his troubles, Squeaky, the accounts manager for the home where Worm stays. Squeaky wasn’t always a reputable man. Squeaky tries to dissuade Worm from attempting to do anything about the woman they really know nothing about; by spinning stories about Christmas and what they should do, at the home, to celebrate it. So this story is mostly about this mysterious woman and a little bit about Christmas. All-in-all a very enjoyable story.
This is a typical Anne Perry story. It takes place during the Christmas season and has a mystery to it. Worm is a young boy that has been taken in by the clinic run by Hester. Neither Hester or Monk make an appearance is this story. Worm sees a young woman who appears to being forced to go with two men. He thinks she is an angel. Squeaky, the resident bookkeeper is trying to protect Worm has they set out to rescue the young woman.
If you love Anne Perry, you will love this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
Different interesting unusual couldn’t put it down .I new it was what I understand but wanted to in unusual way.
I am an avid fan of Anne Perry. I love the way that she always knits in well remembered characters, it gives her books continuity. It is like coming home to family and old friends, quite apart from the new story involved. Wonderful.
Perry, Anne
A CHRISTMAS REVELATION
Adventure, danger, mystery, friendship, celebration . . . what a treat! Like Christmas itself, Anne Perry’s A CHRISTMAS REVELATION has something wonderful for everyone. Worm reminds me of Oliver Twist, willing to believe the best of others, despite the many hard knocks that could have made him cynical. He appreciates the good things, tries to help, and seems to bring out the best in friends and allies. This is a lovely, well-written, perfect Christmas tale. Thanks, NetGalley, for introducing me to a wonderful author, new to me but now a favorite.
I wanted to like this book but I can’t lie: it was a painful read for me. Worm and Squeaky were definitely my favorite part of the story and were the main reason why I did not give up, put down the book, and give up in utter defeat. The entire story is incredibly boring and though it is a short story, I took me over a week to finish it if that tells you anything. I felt like there were two different stories going on and the only thing tying them both together were Worm and Squeaky, even though their characters lacked development, which was heartbreaking.
I felt like the entire story was disjointed, lacked flow, and there was nothing to really bond the characters to the readers. It was a Christmas story and a crime story and they should’ve been separated and since this is considered a short story, for the price, it’s just not worth it to me.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Ballantine Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
A Christmas Revelation by Anne Perry is traditional Anne Perry. The story opens as Worm, a ten-year-old orphan, is struck by the most beautiful woman he has ever seen and decides to follow her. Moments later she is accosted by two men, one younger, one older, and forced to accompany them. Worm is concerned. Squeaky Robinson is the bookkeeper for a home for ex-ladies of the night, a position forced upon him by Oliver Rathbone, a lawyer who had forced Squeaky to turn his previously profitable brothels into this home for ladies. He had done it under protest but had grown to love his life as it was now. Claudine was a wealthy woman that spent her days at the home, caring for the women, Squeaky, and Worm. They all adored her.
Squeaky decided that this year they would celebrate Christmas and so he proceeded on his mission, dragging Worm with him, endearingly trying to explain Christmas to the little boy that had never known one. As they were running their Christmas errands, Worm convinced Squeaky to help him fine the beautiful woman and be certain she was safe. They did, indeed, celebrate Christmas but not quite as they had expected,
Anne Perry is the pinnacle of Historical mystery writers. She can hardly put pen to paper without turning out a masterpiece. A Christmas Revelation is not only a heart-warming Christmas tale, but also a compelling mystery that Squeaky and Worm must help solve. Enjoyable from beginning to end, it highlights a world of days past. One that, thankfully, we will only glimpse in books. The Characters are interesting and in keeping with the time. The description of the world around them is revealing and specific. I highly recommend this as part of holiday must-reads.
I was given a free ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. #netgalley #achristmasrevelation
This is a delightful Christmas story
In true Anne Perry fashion she bring the atmosphere of the Victorian age to life. The characters aren’t that much concerned about the religious part of the season but truly want to create an atmosphere to bring some happiness to each other. Trying to be good and avoid going back to their previous lifestyles. Within this mystery there is bit of danger that the good intentions can not be kept and that they fall back into old habits.
I love the new characters Squeaky and Worm Ms. Perry introduces to us in this latest Christmas story. Worm spots a woman in trouble, and can’t let it go that she needs help. Fortunately, Squeaky is willing to help him help her, and through thick and thin, the story ends with everyone enjoying Christmas.
A Christmas Revelation is the latest holiday offering by Anne Perry. Set in turn of the 20th century London, it focuses on young Worm (Warren) who has been taken in by Miss Claudine. He is now off the streets and lives at her ‘clinic’. On an outing just before Christmas, Worm sees a lady who looks like an angel to him. As he follows her, he sees two unsavory fellows seem to take her away.
When Worm returns home he shares what he has seen with Squeaky, an older fellow who once lived an unscrupulous life, but now is squeaky clean working as bookkeeper and also living at the clinic. Squeaky realizes that young Worm will try to help this woman with or without his help, so decides to help just to keep the boy safe. They make her acquaintance, learning her name is Eloise and the nature of her problems.
In an interesting, if sometimes confusing, ruse, Worm and Squeaky are able to save Eloise from the two men as Worm learns about and experiences Christmas for the first time. This is an interesting story, a quick read, and I did enjoy it.