The Murder Of Patience Brooke (Charles Dickens Investigations Book 1) by J.C Briggs

 

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Sapere Books (17 Dec. 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1912786834
• ISBN-13: 978-1912786831

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

London, 1849

Charles Dickens has set up Urania Cottage as a sanctuary for fallen women.

But he is shocked when the matron’s assistant – Patience Brooke – is found hanging outside the property, covered in blood.

Desperate to protect the reputation of the Home and to stop a scandal from spreading, Dickens takes the investigation into his own hands.

With the help of his good friend, Superintendent Sam Jones of Bow Street, and a description of the suspect as ‘a man with a crooked face’, Dickens’s search takes him deep into the filthy slums of Victorian London.

Can Dickens save his reputation? Will he find out the secrets of Patience Brooke’s troubled past?

 

Or will the killer strike again …?

 

Review

The Murder of Patience Brooke is the first in a new series of historical crime dramas featuring Charles Dickens and his friend Superintendent Sam Jones by author J.C Briggs.  In this first book Dickens and Superintendent Jones are called to Uruania House, a sanctuary for fallen women set up by Dickens himself.  The assistant at the home has been murdered on the doorstep, and they need to tread carefully as to not bring any undue attention to the home.  The investigation takes Dickens from the houses of rich patrons, to the more poverty stricken slums, and just who is the man with the crooked face?

The Murder of Patience Brooke is set in 1849, and has the plot set against Dickens writing his eighth novel, David Copperfield.  C.J Briggs is obviously a fan of Dickens which shines through in her writing.  Dickens’s intellect and understanding of the human psyche are brought to the fore in this novel.  He is a people person, he observes from a far and is very discerning and able to converse with people from all different classes.  The home for fallen women is important to him, he wants to help these girls start a new life, as maids or even going to Australia.  In charge of the home is the formidable but motherly Mrs Briggs. She is a wonderful character and has the respect of Dickens; she is the widow of a doctor and has has life experiences that most women never have so is un – shockable. and able to discuss matters that society may not seem fitting for a woman.  There are many interesting  and diverse characters in this book,  worthy of a place in Dickens’s own books; the villain with the crooked face, Scrap the street urchin, the young girl Nell and her brother who run their father’s shop after the death of their mother, the curate questioning his faith.

C.J Briggs writing is a feast for the senses, bringing nineteenth century London to life.  The sights and sounds of Covent Garden Market,  the private members clubs, the maze dirty narrow alley ways and tunnels where danger can lurk.  These twisty alley ways are also a metaphor for the twists and turns of the murder investigation, and the darkness that Dickens and Superintendent encounter inter search for the truth.

The Murder of Patience Brooke is a fast paced historical crime thriller, with an unforgettable cast of characters.  C.J Briggs captures the atmosphere and life of nineteenth century London, the sights and smells and the diverse society which makes it the perfect setting for this crime thriller. I am always wary of modern authors using famous historical characters in novels, but this book really works, and shows Dickens’s intellect, his humanitarian tendencies and gives an insight into his writing.  I loved this compelling and engaging read, with a dark it’s suspenseful plot line, and great attention to detail,  I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

 

I would like to thank Sapere Books and Caoimhe O Brien for my copy of this book to review in return for an honest review.  Thank you for taking the time to read my review and I hope I have inspired you to maybe give this book a go.