Murder by Ghostlight
By: J. C. Briggs
Publisher: Sapere Books
5 Stars
As a lover of mystery books about books and authors, this series immediately caught my attention, especially since it features Charles Dickens as the protagonist. In Murder by Ghostlight, the third installment in J.C. Briggs' series, Dickens teams up with his friend Superintendent Sam Jones to solve yet another intricate mystery. While the stories are fictional, Briggs does an excellent job of infusing Dickens’ character with traits and values true to the real-life Dickens. Known for his strong ideals about society and justice, these values are subtly woven into the fictional Dickens without feeling preachy—though perhaps Dickens himself wouldn’t have minded a bit of preaching!
In this particular novel, Dickens finds himself in Manchester, participating in a play. After an evening out with the theater company, he returns to the stage house alone, only to discover a murder. When the police arrive, Dickens becomes the prime suspect. This twist adds an intriguing layer to the story, as Dickens now experiences the fear and uncertainty of being on the other side of a murder investigation. It’s a humbling experience for a man already known for his deep empathy, giving him an even greater understanding of the plights of those he seeks to help.
The mystery itself is masterfully written, with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. The ending is far from predictable, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. I highly recommend this entire series, but Murder by Ghostlight stands out with its strong characters, thoughtful character development, compelling plot, and well-crafted mystery. A must-read for any mystery enthusiast!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for an ARC of this book.
#NetGalley #MurderByGhostlight
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