Sophia Rose is here with another novel in Anne Perry’s Christmas Stories series. Curl up with some hot cocoa and check out her five star review of A Christmas Deliverance.
by Anne Perry
Series: Christmas Stories #19
Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
A courageous doctor and his apprentice fight to save London's poor--and discover that the hearts of men can be colder than a winter chill--in this gripping holiday mystery from New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry.
Scuff has come a long way from his time as a penniless orphan scraping together a living on the banks of the Thames. Now he's studying medicine at a free clinic run by Dr. Crowe. Lately Crowe has grown distracted after witnessing an altercation between a former patient of his named Ellie--a woman he not only treated but grew to love--and her controlling fiancé. It seems someone is forcing Ellie to marry the man, and as Crowe's emotions come flooding back, he sets out to uncover the troubling connection between Ellie, her father, and her betrothed.
With Crowe engrossed in his investigation just weeks before the holidays, Scuff is left to fend for himself, performing surgery after surgery on London's poor and vulnerable. He is desperate for help, so when a needy young girl named Mattie comes to the clinic for treatment, Scuff offers her a place to live in exchange for assistance with his medical work. Together, Scuff and Mattie must not only run the clinic but also fend off the police, who are growing suspicious of Crowe's amateur sleuthing. Will Crowe be able to help Ellie, and will Scuff and Mattie ensure all of their patients--and they themselves--can manage to have a peaceful Christmas?
Sophia Rose’s Review
Victorian London during the Christmas season conjures up warm, nostalgic feelings of glowing lights, greenery and berries, holiday parties, roasted chestnuts… but Anne Perry’s latest takes the reader to the bleak streets and back alleys, a clinic for the poor, and a rush to get answers to a mystery that might save a sweet young woman from a cruel fate for Christmas.
In this nineteenth Christmas stories release, A Christmas Deliverance returns us to the world of William Monk mysteries and focuses on engaging side characters, Crowe and Scuff. Readers don’t have to have read the William Monk series to enjoy the story, but long-time fans of the series will be well-rewarded to see what has come along since the events of the last book for the man practicing medicine without his degree in the meaner parts of London and the one-time mudlark orphan taken in by William and Hester Monk who wishes to follow his adopted mother into medicine.
Crowe finds himself in what he believes is a one-sided unrequited love for a sweet daughter of a wealthy London businessman who owns warehouses and a wharf along the Thames. He knows she’s out of his class and he tries to be content with thinking of her fondly. But then her father plans to marry her to the cruel, abusive son of his business partner. Crowe knows the only way to save her might not save her at all- but he has to try. He has to return to the mysterious events of the fire that consumed one of her father’s warehouses and his business partner’s goods, the death of the night watchman, and the subsequent insurance payout that increased their wealth. Scuff backs him completely even though they both face danger from someone who doesn’t want the incident brought back to light again since Monk and his River Police didn’t find evidence at the time of foul play.
I love how the author blends sweet elements like the little street girl and her kitty, the homey feeling at the clinic that Crowe and Scuff run together and then the harder biting mystery they must solve out on London’s streets and along the Thames set against the holidays. It was all so marvelously done and I was reluctant to let the book go when the last page was reached.
In A Christmas Deliverance, Anne Perry blends sweet elements with a hard biting mystery set against the holidays. #ChristmasStories #SophiaRose #bookreview Share on XAbout Anne Perry
Juliet Hulme a British historical novelist took the name "Anne Perry," the latter being her stepfather's surname. Her first novel, The Cater Street Hangman, was published under this name in 1979. Her works generally fall into one of several categories of genre fiction, including historical murder mysteries and detective fiction. Many of them feature a number of recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt, who appeared in her first novel, and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in her 1990 novel The Face of a Stranger. As of 2003 she had published 47 novels, and several collections of short stories. Her story "Heroes," which first appeared the 1999 anthology Murder and Obsession, edited by Otto Penzler, won the 2001 Edgar Award for Best Short Story.
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About Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
Oh, nice to know you don’t necessarily have to read the previous stories to enjoy this one. I’ve been wanting to try Anne Perry since seeing how much you love her stories, Sophia. I’ll request this at my library. Wonderful review!
Sophia Rose
Her Christmas stories are all separate entries that connect to the main series. Hope you like it when you get the chance, Rachel. 🙂
Katherine
I’ve only read a few Anne Perry books and none of the Monk books. I’m glad to see how much you enjoyed this one. I really should give this series a try.
Sophia Rose
Yes, definitely give these a try. Each of her Christmas novellas are standalone so you could pick and choose for characters you might recognize from the books you’ve already read. 🙂
Greg
I miss these. I used to read her holiday novellas every year but then the last few I just stiopped getting them. I’m so glad she’s still doing these.
Sophia Rose
Yes, she’s still going strong. 🙂
Mary Kirkland
I don’t usually read this genre but this sounds really good.
Sophia Rose
She does a great job of giving the Christmas feels with a gritty mystery.
Lover of Romance
I know how much you have really enjoyed Anne Perry! Love seeing a review for this one. It just sounds like such a homey read and I ADORE the title, it just delivers such a cozy feel.
Lovely review!
Sophia Rose
You know me well, Renee. 🙂 Oh yes, the cozy feeling was there and blended well with the stark dangers outside, too.
Wendy
Christmastime is a great time to read short stories and novellas for me. Another wonderful review, Sophia.
Sophia Rose
I agree. My reading and even listening time is so limited the week or so before Christmas so I need the shorter ones about then.
Anne - Books of My Heart
I really love these holiday novellas. Anne Perry does an excellent job of developing the characters and adds to the main series by expanding these supporting characters. I loved this one, too.
Sophia Rose
You said it, Anne! She’s got a gift at it with these Christmas stories- well all her books, really.