“A complex mystery that cunningly explores how Dickens might have been inspired to write the plot of his most well-known book, A Tale of Two Cities.” —Anna Lee Huber, bestselling author of the Lady Darby Mysteries
In the winter of 1835, young Charles Dickens is a journalist on the rise at the Evening Chronicle. Invited to dinner at the estate of the newspaper’s co-editor, Charles is smitten with … newspaper’s co-editor, Charles is smitten with his boss’s daughter, vivacious nineteen-year-old Kate Hogarth. They are having the best of times when a scream shatters the pleasant evening. Charles, Kate, and her father rush to the neighbors’ home, where Miss Christiana Lugoson lies unconscious on the floor. By morning, the poor young woman will be dead.
When Charles hears from a colleague of a very similar mysterious death a year ago to the date, also a young woman, he begins to suspect poisoning and feels compelled to investigate. The lovely Kate offers to help—using her social position to gain access to the members of the upper crust, now suspects in a murder. If Charles can find justice for the victims, it will be a far, far better thing than he has ever done. But with a twist or two in this most peculiar case, he and Kate may be in for the worst of times . . .
“Watching young Charles sniff out the connection between the two deaths is only part of the fun. Readers can travel through a historical London that’s vivid without being overcrowded with detail . . . Mystery fans and history buffs alike should cheer.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“For Dickens fans, this charming little puzzler will prove a delight.” —Booklist
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Redmond deftly transforms a young Charles Dickens and his future wife, Kate Hogarth, into Victorian sleuths in this first installment of a new series. With meticulous attention to historical details and the known elements of Dickens’s life, A Tale of Two Murders unfolds a complex mystery that cunningly explores how Dickens might have been inspired to write the plot of his most well-known book, A Tale of Two Cities. Sharp, incisive, and delightfully twisty. I’m sure I won’t be the only reader exclaiming, ‘What the Dickens?!’
I really enjoyed Redmond’s version of Charles Dickens. I thought the little touches in this book were genius when it came to transporting me back in time. Charles is always hoping for food–he’s a bachelor who doesn’t make a lot of money and he’s in his 20s, so I ended up rooting for him whenever he’d pay a call–will he get tea and biscuits? Will the tea be watery? Will the bread be stale?
There is a sweet romance that develops at a believable pace between Charles and Kate, his future wife. The mystery is compelling and I had no idea “whodunnit,” so this should please more seasoned detective novel fans.
Great voice in this book and the pacing really took me back in time. What a relief to pursue an investigation without phones, computers, and all the “conveniences” of modern life!
I am looking forward to more in this series.
A Tale of Two Murders is an all-over twisty read and a Dickens of a good mystery!
One suspects that Mr. Dickens himself would thoroughly enjoy this literary play on his early life and sleuthing abilities. Great fun to read!
With the mystery-weaving skill of Anne Perry and the tone of Dickens, Heather Redmond’s A Tale of Two Murders mixes raw suspense with flirtatious banter in a fast-paced historical mystery that keeps us guessing through a tour of 1830s London.
Dickens as investigator? How can it miss! Historic and entertaining!
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.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.
I really wanted to like these characters and get into a new series but while it’s an original idea, I found the story unexciting and the characters boring.
Great characters. Nice historical novel
While the story was engaging, the character of Dickers didn’t seem to be based in research about the historical person beyond the most superficial details.
I enjoyed the setting, Edinburgh, the characters and the story, our book club read it and had a great discussion, too.