A captivating and amusing reinterpretation of the destiny of a renowned literary figure.
By Lyn Squire ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 26, 2023
In this historical novel, Squire imagines the murder of Charles Dickens. The novel begins with the great British author suffering a stroke and dying in Kent, England, but in this inventive fiction, he is poisoned with strychnine. Dunston Burnett, a distant relative of Dickens and a retired bookkeeper, believes the theft of Dickens’ notes for The Mystery of Edwin Drood is connected to the murder. He starts an investigation that uncovers family secrets, more murders, and leads him to pertinent information. Meanwhile, Dickens’ sister-in-law Georgina Hogarth is trying to protect his reputation. A sweet secondary story follows the romance between Georgina’s stableboy, Isaac, and parlour maid, Dulcet. At the end of the novel, Burnett and Scotland Yard Chief of Detectives Archibald Line are allies. The novel is a reimagined history with references to Dickens’ works and real figures from his life. It is an intriguing mystery, one worthy of one of the greatest writers in literary history.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9781685123581
Page Count: 262
Publisher: Level Best Books
Review Posted Online: June 27, 2023