A Tale of Two Murders

Series: A Dickens of a Crime Series, Book 1

By: Heather Redmond / Narrated By: Tim Campbell

Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins

Maybe not the strongest start, but hey! I’m really getting to like Mysteries!

Some time ago, long before this, I HAD to preface my reviews for Mysteries with: I’m sooooo new to Mysteries that I never even looked for the villain, never looked for clues, just kinda sorta experienced everything as it all unfolded. I know, SAD, right?!

But now I’ve a weeee bit of experience with how they’re all crafted, and I zealously look for clues and appreciate the little red herrings; I do so love to be thrown off track as I try to piece together whodunnit. And I have indeed come to the point where I can honestly say that I’ve developed some druthers. So, good cow, was I thrilled that the killer came as a complete surprise -AND- that A Tale of Two Murders did NOT have the killer confessing to all in a room packed with potential victims/law enforcement, or what?!

Our story opens with 23-year old Charles Dickens sharing grub with Hogarth, his editor for the newspaper he works for, and his family. A scream shatters the night, followed by more, and it’s off to the neighbor’s house to assist/see what-all has happened. Christiana, the neighbor’s 17-year old daughter, has cast up her accounts (Barfed) and is in a swoon. Instantly, Dickens takes charge, and through his efforts, the young girl is taken to her own room, and many many doctors are sent for/see her. Alas, there’s nothing to be done, and by morning, Dickens is with her family as she breathes her last. Tragic death? Or muuuuurder?!

It all just gnaws at Dickens, and soon he’s skulking around, tracking down suspects, all in the company of Hogarth’s comely daughter, Kate. She’s a good head on her shoulders, plus her eyes twinkle with mischief, and soon Dickens is somewhat enamored with her (By the way, my least favorite parts of this story were when he woos her with extreeemely pushy comments that don’t give the poor thing a chance to catch her breath).

Round and round the two go, and even when Kate’s NOT by his side, Dickens searches, interviews, seeks out info with other good friends and his young brother. Along the way, he meets up with verrry young mudlarks, and he garners specific info from them, all while noting their deplorable condition.

Throughout this book, and what I liked most especially, was author Heather Redmond’s attempts at showing Dickens becoming aware of the environment, of the state of people, the poverty that surrounds him, tho’ his own prospects are looking up. Also, the writing is spot on for how Dickens will one day write of wretched weather for wretched people, how they suffer, how they endure. Of course, Redmond can’t comPLETEly capture his style (There’s a bit in A Christmas Carol that engages my heart, my imagination, each time I read it: Patches of filthy ice, inspiring SUCH abject misery and hopelessness… Love that!), but she does try.

Narrator Tim Campbell is, I confess, new to m’ ears (I fess up cuz after close to 1000 reviews here in September of 2021, one would HOPE I’d be at least aware of him however peripherally, esPECially as he turns in quite a fine performance). His is a nuanced performance, with just a subtle chortle in the laugh of Dickens, or the tiniest bit of dismay. Add to that, the Hogarths are Scottish, so there’s QUITE a burr to be added, AND he has to manage the burr all whilst taking character gender, character age into account as well. Well done, sir!

Yup, liked the audiobook and am looking forward to the sequel, tho’ I’m shuddering to listen to the growing love between Dickens and Kate Hogarth. When one considers that Dickens tossed Kate off to the side in favor of his mistress, after 20-years of marriage, after she was knocked up for oodles of children and even a couple of miscarriages, I’m kinda viewing their love story with a squid’s eye. I dunno how Redmond will manage it all, but I sooo hope that in this series, Kate gets to have LOTS of fun, lots o’ sleuthing and plenty of romance.

I’m hoping that knowledge of their sorry end does NOT impede my future enjoyment of the story as it unfolds. So for now?

Go Kate, go! I’m looking out for you, girl!