A fantastic Victorian Holiday mystery from the queen of Victorian mysteries. This is a fast paced cozy that will put you in the mood for the holidays.

Worm's story ... Hope in the rookeries!

A Christmas tale with Dicksonian overtones. Squeaky Robinson (the Monk series), the accountant for the Portpool Lane Clinic, a man with a chequered past, is cast not as the curmudgeon he often is, but rather as a man who strives to assist a young street boy without wounding his dreams. The spirit of Christmas is surely lingering!
Worm sees a young woman (to him a vision of goodness), "... a lady who smiles, with the sun in her hair," being mishandled by two men and is determined to save her. Squeaky finds himself embroiled in not only looking at helping Worm's heroic stance come true but in facilitating a Christmas dinner for all at the refuge.
The spirit of Christmas truly comes alive via this old reprobate and a young street urchin. Worm and Squeaky's discussion about Christmas is a thing of splendour, funny and heart warming.
No one does Christmas stories quite like Perry. I look forward every year to what she gifts us with. Once again hope and redemption underpin her Christmas offering.
Another brilliant Christmas tale from Perry featuring one of my favorite miscreants.

A NetGalley ARC

A Victorian Christmas mystery.
A short story about Worm who thought a Lady was being kidnapping and wanted to help find her.
A little drama and suspense.

A Christmas Revelation is a nice Christmas story. This is a story about a young boy who is a orphan. He is watching out a window and watched two men grab and kidnap a women. If you like Christmas, historical and mystery then this book is for you. Enjoy and happy reading. :)

Worm is a nine year old orphan, who is a witness to an abduction. It is only a couple of days till Christmas and Worm is concerned for the woman. He asks the bookkeeper Squeaky to help him rescue the woman. Can they find and rescue the woman before Christmas and keep Miss Claudine from finding out what they are up to. I loved this book it had everything mystery, danger, with a sprinkle of Christmas magic.

"A Christmas Revelation" by Anne Perry is another in the long list of holiday stories she has authored. This is not just another typical Christmas story, but deals with the real spirit of Christmas: helping others. The characters are interesting people, and each has a "secret" past life. The story encourages the reader to envision life on the London streets, in the back alleys and byways, in a homeless shelter, on bitterly cold and foggy nights by the Thames and in abandoned warehouses. In some ways, the book includes elements of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," with its juxtaposition of good and evil, darkness and light, richness and abject poverty. Readers should prepare themselves for a roller coaster ride of emotions and scenes, not all of which point to a traditional Christmas celebration.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Anne Perry continues her Christmas novellas with A Christmas Revelation. Orphan Worm who has a shelter at Portpool Lane clinic has a Christmas mission to save Eloise, a mysterious lady who is being threatened by two men. Worm is assisted by Squeaky the bookkeeper at the clinic. Eloise endangers herself with plans to revenge her father's death on the two men. Will Worm and Squeaky success in saving Eloise from her dangerous plans and will there be a bright Christmas celebration for the three of them? Warm Victorian tale in old London.

I’m fairly new to novels by Anne Perry, having just started reading them in the last year. This is a short novel about a young boy, Worm, who is a character in at least one other series by the author.

Worm has just found his place in a women’s home. The bookkeeper there is, Squeaky, a former criminal who is meticulous in what he does.

Worm runs across a woman in distress and gets Squeak to help him to help her. Squeaky does but at the same time is aware of the possible heartbreak young Worm may find.

So Squeaky determines to show Worm about Christmas. From the traditions that revolve around it to the true meaning of the birth that is celebrated, Squeaky is the font of wisdom.

The story is about both – showing Worm a true Christmas and at the same time, trying to rescue a damsel in distress.

As with other books by this author, I enjoyed this book immensely. I’ll be reading her old series entries to see where these characters originated. The story absolutely can be read stand-alone with no need to read the prior books.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

A CHRISTMAS REVELATION by Anne Perry is an intriguing Victorian era Christmas novella with heart. This novella is written featuring secondary characters from Ms. Perry’s Monk series, the realism of the seamier side of Victorian London and a mystery to be solved. This Christmas story can easily be read as a standalone.

Nine-year-old urchin, Worm lives at the Portpool Lane clinic. He witnesses a beautiful blond haired woman being abducted by two men by force on the streets of London. When he returns to the clinic, he seeks the help of Squeaky, the clinic’s bookkeeper and former brothel owner. Squeaky knows better than to get involved in others’ business, but he hates to disappoint Worm.

As Worm and Squeaky learn more of the abducted woman and the mystery surrounding her, Ms. Perry intertwines the charming Victorian Christmas stories and traditions that Squeaky is sharing with Worm. These two unlikely rescuers work to help the blond haired woman and hopefully celebrate Worm’s first real Christmas with all their friends at Portpool Lane clinic.

This is a heartwarming Victorian Christmas novella that keeps the reader turning the pages to solve the mystery around the blond woman. Squeaky is a wonderfully flawed and realistic character. Worm is loving and caring even after having spent his early years homeless on the streets. I loved his worry for the blond woman and his amazement at the Christmas traditions. I enjoyed this addition to Squeaky and Worm’s stories.

Thanks very much to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eArc.

A Christmas Revelation by Anne Perry. If you like mystery and Christmas stories read A Christmas Revelation by Anne Perry.

A Christmas Revelation by Anne Perry is a tale of just what is the spirit of Christmas. The reader is introduced to Worm, a 9 yr old boy of the streets in London, who admires a young woman interacting with the street characters where he is at. Worm watches as the young woman argues with two older men and is taken off by them. Worm follows to see where they go and then goes back to where is living and tries to get help with rescuing her. Worm speaks with his friend Squeaky and a discussion of what the spirit of Christmas encompasses. Worm decides to go and find the lady to make sure she is okay and Squeaky goes with him. After finding the lady, they learn that while she is not quite a captive, the two men believe that she has something they want. Now the mystery takes and interesting turn as everyone is looking for what you would call a treasure. The story ends well but left me with a disconnect as to what the spirit of Christmas has to do with the rest of the adventure that ensues.

I love a good Christmas book. This book gives you the feel good Christmas along with the suspense that keeps you turning the pages. The entire book I was hoping everything would turn out well and that Worm would have his merry Christmas. Many times throughout the book I flip flopped over some of the other characters...were they good or bad?

A Christmas Revelation by Anne Perry is traditional Anne Perry. The story opens as Worm, a ten-year-old orphan, is struck by the most beautiful woman he has ever seen and decides to follow her. Moments later she is accosted by two men, one younger, one older, and forced to accompany them. Worm is concerned. Squeaky Robinson is the bookkeeper for a home for ex-ladies of the night, a position forced upon him by Oliver Rathbone, a lawyer who had forced Squeaky to turn his previously profitable brothels into this home for ladies. He had done it under protest but had grown to love his life as it was now. Claudine was a wealthy woman that spent her days at the home, caring for the women, Squeaky, and Worm. They all adored her.

Squeaky decided that this year they would celebrate Christmas and so he proceeded on his mission, dragging Worm with him, endearingly trying to explain Christmas to the little boy that had never known one. As they were running their Christmas errands, Worm convinced Squeaky to help him fine the beautiful woman and be certain she was safe. They did, indeed, celebrate Christmas but not quite as they had expected,

Anne Perry is the pinnacle of Historical mystery writers. She can hardly put pen to paper without turning out a masterpiece. A Christmas Revelation is not only a heart-warming Christmas tale, but also a compelling mystery that Squeaky and Worm must help solve. Enjoyable from beginning to end, it highlights a world of days past. One that, thankfully, we will only glimpse in books. The Characters are interesting and in keeping with the time. The description of the world around them is revealing and specific. I highly recommend this as part of holiday must-reads.

I was given a free ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. #netgalley #achristmasrevelation

Anne Perry brings another intriguing Christmas tale in A Christmas Revelation. A perfect title since there is more than one revealing in this story. With a young “Baker St” character to the damsel who is not in so much distress and then the older reformed crook, I enjoyed their story and the relationships formed. It is a fast read with a wonderful conclusion.

It is like reading a new Dicken’s tale in Anne Perry’s unique style. I recommend A Christmas Revelation for those looking for a different sort of Christmas story from the Hallmark Channel.

This was a cute little book featuring some of the side characters from Anne Perry's Inspector Monk series as they try to help a mysterious stranger and celebrate Christmas. One of the parts I enjoyed the most was the rough and cynical old man trying to explain to the former street urchin what Christmas is and how it is celebrated. The is my second Christmas book by Anne Perry (the first was one featuring Monk) and I hope she writes more!

I also liked the Victorian setting. The streets were often dark and grim, and we meet a variety of people. It was interesting, and made the story move quickly for me.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of the book to review. They did not require or influence any of my opinions

A Victorian Christmas Mystery

Worm, a river orphan, is now living in the women’s clinic founded by Harriet Monk. Although Harriet doesn’t appear in the story we get a taste of life at the clinic run by Harriet’s friend Claudine, a wealthy woman who spends much of her time at the clinic.

While out walking, Worm spots a beautiful woman with light on her hair. He can’t stop looking at her. When two men accost her and take her away with them, Worm is worried that she’s in trouble. Back at the clinic he tells Squeaky, a reformed pimp now the clinic accountant. Squeaky doesn’t want to get involved. He’s unsure whether the lady needs rescue or is running a scam of her own. He tries to distract Worm by telling him about Christmas which ends with them planning a Christmas for the clinic.

Worm is thrilled about having Christmas at the clinic, but it doesn’t make him forget about the lady. He sets off to rescue her, but is relieved when Squeaky catches up with him. Together they try to solve the mystery.

This is a lovely Christmas story. Worm is the perfect child to learn about the holiday. He hangs on Squeaky’s every word. Squeaky is also a delightful character. He grew up without a family and while he knows about Christmas, he’s not sure everything he’s telling Worm is accurate.

The plot involving Eloise, the woman, is somewhat confusing. The relationship to Christmas is tenuous which makes it seem disjointed from the rest of the story. However, the ending is satisfying and the interactions between Worm and Squeaky make you feel good about Christmas.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

4 stars

A Christmas Revelation by Anne Perry

While I haven't read Anne Perry's previous novels, I was very intrigued by the description of "A Christmas Revelation". How could one resist a Victorian-era holiday mystery? It is set in London during the 1860's

The story starts off slow as we learn about historical era and surroundings in which the book takes place. There is an interesting cast of characters. The pace picks up and leads the reader to a merely satisfying conclusion. While the title would lead you to believe that there would be a complete feeling of warmth and hope for Christmastime, it does not. I am a huge fan of Christmas novels/novellas but this one did not leave me with that wonderful happy feeling. To the contrary it left me flat. The atmosphere is dark and depressing. This story did not grab my interest.

I would like to thank the author, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, this will be a biased review. Anne Perry is one of my favorite authors. I love her Christmas series because the minor characters have a chance to come to life. This one is already one of my favorites.
Worm sees a woman who is more beautiful than any he's ever seen. She seems filled with light. Two men hustle her away. Is she being held against her will? As the adopted son of the Monks, Worm will not stand by and let a woman be mistreated. He enlists the help of Squeaky and Claudine. .will Worm be disappointed in the woman? Is she really an innocent? Squeaky's character comes to life in this novella. His worries over Worm's potential disappointment in Eloise, the beautiful woman, drive him. This is a heartwarming tale perfect for the holiday season.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review a book by Anne Perry.

A Christmas Revelation is the latest holiday offering by Anne Perry. Set in turn of the 20th century London, it focuses on young Worm (Warren) who has been taken in by Miss Claudine. He is now off the streets and lives at her ‘clinic’. On an outing just before Christmas, Worm sees a lady who looks like an angel to him. As he follows her, he sees two unsavory fellows seem to take her away.

When Worm returns home he shares what he has seen with Squeaky, an older fellow who once lived an unscrupulous life, but now is squeaky clean working as bookkeeper and also living at the clinic. Squeaky realizes that young Worm will try to help this woman with or without his help, so decides to help just to keep the boy safe. They make her acquaintance, learning her name is Eloise and the nature of her problems.

In an interesting, if sometimes confusing, ruse, Worm and Squeaky are able to save Eloise from the two men as Worm learns about and experiences Christmas for the first time. This is an interesting story, a quick read, and I did enjoy it.

Anne Perry was a favorite author of mine years ago. For reasons I cannot recall I stopped reading her mysteries. Thanks to NetGalley I have had the joy of reconnecting with Ms Perry by the offer of a Christmas story...which she writes annually. Story was great for the first 2/3 but slipped badly in the final third. I lost interest in the main characters and the plight of the “woman in distress.” I wish the story had been developed into more than a novella.