Really enjoyed this book. Great plot and engaging, believe characters. I was drawn right into the story. Would definitely recommend.

It's 1853 Victorian London and the true-life inspiration behind Charles Dickens' Inspector Bucket, Charley Field has just retired from the police force and started his own private investigation firm. But business is dismal until the death of his friend, a prostitute named Rosa. Her death is deemed a suicide but Charley doesn't believe it, especially when her last client was one of his old foes, a murderer, who escaped death. As Charley works on solving Rosa's death, he investigates small, often frivolous-sounding jobs for various clients, such as Charles Dickens himself, a poor but heart-broken poet, and a beautiful but vindictive actress, while trying to avoid visiting his wife and her nasty mother.

Bucket's List is driven by the character of Charley Field. He is down-to-earth, funny, and a smooth-talker, who can finagle his way into any situation. He also has a big heart, which makes him a sucker for a sob story and willing to take on any job, however outlandish it may sound. But the main plot, solving Rosa's murder, is thin and lacking in any urgency. It is sprinkled throughout the novel, sometimes appearing forgotten. The novel is bolstered by the various little crime-solving jobs Charley accepts, which are for the most part extraneous to the main plot. Some are eventually weaved in to aid in solving the main plot. Some subplots, such as who killed the actress's lover, may have been introduced to set the stage for future novels in the series

Charley and the cast of interesting secondary characters, such as his wife Jane and Constable Mull, make the novel entertaining to read. Otherwise, Bucket's List is just that. A list of random crimes to be solved until Charley has all the evidence to solve the overriding one.

Reviewed for Historical Novels Society

Gary Blackwood initiates the Charley Field Victorian mysteries with Bucket's List. Charley Field, retired Detective Inspector, has opened a detective agency and is using Bucket as his nom de plume after Charles Dickens' character Inspector Bucket(of course based on Field's experience). In 1853 a prostitute is murdered and a new policeman beaten up. The prostitute's child disappears from an orphanage, ostensibly adopted out of London, but there is something wrong with the orphanage placements out of London. An actress is the mistress of a wealthy man who trips on the stairs and breaks his neck. Lots of crimes some of them connected. A real feel for London in 1853.

This mystery starts with the death of a woman that is dear to our detective's heart because of course it does. It's lazy and I was off this one from the first. A hard pass.

An murder mystery starring Charley Field, the true-life private detective who was the inspiration for Charles Dickens' Inspector Bucket, the police detective from Bleak House. Engaging story line and excellent character development made this an enjoyable Victorian period piece.

This is first in a series of books about a likeable fellow, Charley Fields, who gets along well with the ladies, except for his wife. After retiring as a police detective, he is the inspiration for Dickens' Inspector Bucket and opens a private enquiry agency. Charley takes us on a stroll through his days, as he goes about trying to solve a murder of a doxie he was particularly close to interwoven with the people, places, and things (Coffee!) that Charley finds important in life, and aids those who come to him seeking his assistance. I found this book to be a light and pleasant mystery and after reading several "dark" Victorian mysteries a welcome relief. The pacing is good, Charley and his band of cohorts likeable. The book was enjoyable, and I think I shall look in on Charley the next time he is in town with his next literary adventure.

This is a nicely done historical mystery that hews to the tradition of Dickensian storytelling by enlivening a minor character in a Dickens novel! Charley Field is off the force and now a private investigator. He's not the best family man- the prostitute whose death he investigates after she's found dead in the Serpentine is well, someone he knows quite well. Poking around into her death opens up a can of worms bigger than he imagined. There are threads here that might lead to additional books, especially with regard to the treatment of the poor and, more importantly, there are some interesting other members of the cast. Constable Mull, for one, is a well drawn side kick who I hope we see more of. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Thanks Severn House and netgalley for this ARC.

Enduring, positive, and gruesome all at once. Can't wait to read more.

In 1853 ex-police Inspector Charley Field is now a private inquiry agent at the age of 48, and working for himself. Apart from having a list of criminals he wishes to catch for their past deeds, the death, or as he sees it, the murder of a prostitute takes up most of his time. But it is not as straightforward as he believes, while also investigating other cases as his agency work takes off.
A good cast of characters setting up the series, with some decent crimes to solves. All in all an interesting read.

An interesting twist on the Victorian mystery but a little too much was going on at once which downplayed the mystery element.

Bucket's List is the first of a new series by Gary Blackwood, due out 1st December, 2017 from Severn House publishing. It's set in 1853 in London and environs. The main character, Charlie Field, has been forced out of the police for refusing to be taken off a case and causing embarrassment to the powers that be by solving it. Finding himself out of a job, his friend Charles Dickens (yes, that Charles Dickens) suggests that he use the fictitious name Inspector Bucket, since it was he who originally served as the inspiration for the fictional inspector from Dickens' Bleak House, to set himself up as a private enquiry agent.

This is a fun period mystery, introducing a handful of characters who are well written and believable. There are poignant reminders of the social inequalities and conditions for the poor and exploited in Victorian London. The book manages to avoid being preachy despite the serious and melancholy nature of Charley's investigations, including the murder of a friend who's a prostitute.

He enlists help from several friends including Isam Jones, a chemist turned photographer (and former counterfeiter), who provides a nice scientific counterpoint to Charley's more traditional investigative methods. He's also aided by a young constable named Mull whom I hope to see in upcoming books.

There are a number of interwoven story-lines in this book. The plotting and dialogue are comfortable and believable. The author manages to sew up most of the subplots while leaving enough loose threads to lay the groundwork for an overarching plotline which will support the following volume(s).

I'm a huge fan of period mysteries, especially Victorian and Edwardian English mysteries, so this was right to my taste. Other fans of period London will likely also enjoy this holiday mystery.

Three and a half stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn Publishing for a digital galley of this novel.

I have to give author Gary Blackwood credit for trying to do something different with a mystery novel. This one is set in Victorian London, 1853 to be precise, and features Charley Field, retired Inspector of the Detective Branch of the police force. When Charley retired he decided to become a private inquiry agent but the clients haven't exactly been thick on the ground. Charley's friend, Charles Dickens, suggests that he needs something to call attention to his business and changing the name will do the job. After all, Charley is the police inspector Dickens used to pattern his Inspector Bucket after for his novel Bleak House. Why not take advantage of that free publicity?

The story is told by a narrator using present tense who tells readers at the beginning of the novel that he cannot be trusted to always tell them the truth. Charley is presented as a kind of Sherlock Holmes expert at deduction because he can look at someone and tell where they are from, what kind of work they do and what their problem is. This "ability" didn't work nearly as well for Mr. Blackwood as it did for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The title comes into play because Charley made up a list of those-who-got-away while he was on the force but who can be pursued now that he isn't tied to the force. Therefore - Bucket's List is where Charley goes to look to match the description he has for a likely suspect in a murder disguised as a suicide. This murder is the main thread of investigation in the novel, but there are many other mysteries large and small which occupy Charley's attention. In this case, more is not better.

Victorian London is shown well in all its sprawling grime and glory with Charley spending his days and most of his nights going from one problem, large or small, to another which needs righting or solving. The story was muddled by being sent in so many directions at the same time and by keeping me from being able to tell if some of it was tongue in cheek or if it was supposed to be serious. There are a large number of characters remaining after all the mysteries are solved and Charley has a mission to help orphaned children being used as slave labor in mills. Those are indicators that there is plenty of material which can be used in future novels.

3.5 stars

This novel features retired Detective Inspector Charley Field, now famous as Dickens' Inspector Bucket, and operating a private detective agency.

The main plot concerns his investigation of the murder of Rosa, a prostitute friend. There are numerous subplots.

The book is very character-driven. We get a clear picture of Charley's relationship with his wife, Jane and other women in his life. Minor players such as Lochinvar Mull, the young constable, and Hanora, the Fields' servant are nicely-drawn. Dickens himself appears.

The feeling of mid-Victorian London comes over quite well, and there are several passages dealing with important social issues, such as child labour, adulteration of food and working and living conditions.

However, for me the book was a bit hum-drum and lacked sparkle.. I found the playing around with verb tenses rather irritating.

I take it this is the start of a series as there were plenty of characters whose stories could be pursued.

A solid, if uninspired debut for Charley and Co.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the review copy.

Having become a minor celebrity after the character of Inspector Bucket in “Bleak House,” was based on him, and retired from the police force, Charley Field has set up as a ‘Private Enquiry Agent.’ It is 1853 and, at forty eight, the former Inspector Field, is feeling his age. Charley lives with his wife, Jane, and her mother. His marriage is not a happy one and, when we first meet Charley, he is tucked up with the lovely Rosa, at Mrs Brambles ‘introducing house.’ Rosa tells him about an unsavoury client, and Charley immediately recognises him as Thomas Tufts, nick-named, ‘Neck,’ after surviving a hanging. When Rosa is later found dead, a suspected suicide, Charley suspects she has been killed and sets off in search of her murderer.

Although this investigation is at the heart of the novel, we also follow Charley’s attempts to make his agency a success. Charles Dickens makes an appearance, giving Charley the task of protecting his reading of, “A Christmas Carol,” from potential sabotage. There are also further cases, involving opium dens, séances and a mysterious, vanishing betting shop…

Overall, this is a very interesting introduction to the former Inspector Charley Field and a whole host of characters that suggest this could easily become a fascinating series. I particularly liked new Constable Lochinvar Mull, who Charley takes under his wing and the author does an excellent job of setting the scene and showing various aspects of Victorian London. There was quite a lot going on in this novel and think there could have been fewer plot threads. Saying that, I would certainly like to read more about Charley Field and hope there will be a sequel. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.