Friday, December 11, 2015

December 11th's Book Beginnings and Friday 56

We've made it to another Friday, and you know what that means.  It's time for Book Beginnings and Friday 56.

I'm in a festive mood this week since I'm reading The Humbug Murders by L. J. Oliver.




This is the first in a new series that features Ebenezer Scrooge as the main character.  Oh, and one of the supporting characters?  A young reporter named Charles Dickens.  I'm not as far along as I had wanted to be today, but that's just because I haven't had the reading time I'd envisioned.  I'm definitely enjoying it and the references to A Christmas Carol, one of my favorite Christmas stories.

For example, there's this opening:

Fezziwig was dead to begin with.  Had I known that, had I been among those first few to discover his bloodied corpse and seen the brutal, rage-fueled manner in which he'd been murdered, I would have been far more alarmed when he walked through the door to my office only a few hours after his demise.

On page 56, Scrooge is being held captive by the heads of a criminal gang.  One of them is speaking, and we get this great quote:

"We've heard so much about you, Mr. Scrooge.  You're what some call a legend in the making, you are."

I should point out that this book is Scrooge in his 30's, so before Dicken's classic tale.  And, obviously, it makes a few tweaks to the original, but it's fun to see someone reinvent the character like this.

Hope you have some reading time in the middle of the crazy month that is December.

13 comments:

  1. Sounds like a fun twist on a classic. Love your 56!
    My Friday post features FEVER SEASON.

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  2. Oh this sounds so interesting! Thanks for spotlighting it.

    Stormi
    Friday Memes

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  3. I love the opening! Makes me want to read it.

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  4. I tend to like stories that put familiar characters in new settings. I hope you enjoy this one. This week I am spotlighting The Royal Ranger by John Flanagan and Once Shadows Fall by Robert Daniels. Happy reading!

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  5. The Humbug Murders sounds like a great mix and I love hearing you say it has references to A Christmas Carol. Happy Friday!

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  6. This sounds really fun. Love the characters in it. Gives it extra appeal:)

    My 56 - http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/12/11/the-friday-56-88-somewhere-only-we-know/

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  7. I love how this Christmas classic has a dark twist!! Very cool!
    Happy weekend!

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  8. I love the cover for this and it sounds like a fun and inventive take on the classic tale. Great choice - hope you get to finish it before Christmas. Here's my Friday post

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  9. What a way to spread the holiday cheer. LOL
    I have Jennifer on my reading list and this does sound like a good one and a series I need to get started on.

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    Replies
    1. Sorry about pasting the comment for Jennifer's book, was supposed to be my link. :-)
      sherry @ fundinmental My Sunday Memes

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