🔎 This is the second book in a series where Charles Dickens (the Victorian author) is solving crimes around London.

🔎 The story is written very much in the style of Dickens’ own novels and I absolutely loved that! I felt like I was reading new Dickens’ material – which is exciting because I think Dickens is an amazing author. To experience something new that feels so much like his books was refreshing and quite amazing.

🔎 Since Dickens is himself in this story, he talks a lot about his progress in writing David Copperfield – and that is my most favorite book ever! There are other details about Dickens included in the story, so in a lot of ways the story feels biographical, too.

🔎 The story is a good old murder mystery and the conclusion is satisfying.

🔎 Like Dickens own novels, the atmosphere of this book is almost a character itself! This author did a fantastic job of recreating the dark underbelly of Dickensian London.

🔎 Because of the style of writing, some may find this book tedious. There are a lot of descriptive scenes, quirky characters, and sometimes abrupt segues… but that is 100% Dickens! I personally think it is worth reading and I hope people give it a chance.

🔎 Now I am off to read book 3!

Thank you @NetGalley and Sapere Books for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Sapere Books and the author, J C Briggs for the opportunity to read Death At Hungerford Stairs in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
This book was full of mystery and intrigue and keeps you hooked.
The storyline was well written. The scenery was very vivid and the characters are well defined. Such a good read. 3.5 stars.
Worth the time to escape to London in the 1800's.

I enjoyed reading this book fantastic story could not put down until finished thank you for a brilliant book

It didn't take long for famous writer Charles Dickens to become an excellent detection. Mostly accompanied by Superintendent Sam Jones, Charles finds himself in the position to solve crimes, and they are usually murders. In this case, sadly the body of a boy is found drowned in a river. Charles barely has a chance to investigate things when even more young boys are killed. His search for the killer leads him to the darkness of Victorian London. Even when writing this book I have images of a foggy Victorian London from movies I had seen as a child.

Needless to say, this was a difficult story. Actually, any story - real or fictional - about the deaths of children are always tragic. This story focused on Charles innate talents when it came to getting to the bottom of things in order to find the elusive killer in this second book in the series. Whether it was due to a past nearly as dark as some of the boys in this story, even snippets from his own writing, and his role as a family man, Charles is more than equipped to work along with Superintendent Sam Jones to solve the case at hand.

Now having read the first two books in this well-written series, I just had to take a few days and read the rest.

Many thanks to Sapere Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

*Many thanks to JC Briggs, Sapere Books and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
This was not my first book of this series, and, although I do not read them in order, it seems that it does not influence the pleasure of following Charles Dickens and Superintendant Jones.
This time they are on a trail of a child murderer, which is an especially sensitive issue to Dickens, who, remembering his own childhood, always tries to expose the plight of children in the Victorian times.
Inserting the real bits of Dickens's life and writing into the series is a superb idea, and will draw me to it in future.

Title: Death at Hungerford Stairs

Series: Charles Dickinson investigations #2

Author: J.C.Briggs

Genre: historical fiction mystery

Rating:4



Boys are going missing from London’s slums…

London, 1849

When a boy is found drowned in the River Thames at Hungerford Stairs, novelist Charles Dickens and Superintendent Jones of Bow Street are mystified to discover that the child is not the missing youngster for whom they have been searching.

As Dickens and Jones delve deeper into London’s poverty-stricken backstreets, they stumble across two more bodies.

A serial killer is on the loose. And Charles is terrified that someone close to him may be one of the victims.

With a strange image of a mask sketched next to the corpses, could the murderer be leaving a trail for the detectives to follow…?

Or will the Death at Hungerford Stairs remain unsolved…?



My thoughts:

Would I recommend it? Yes

Will I read more of this series? Yes

Would I read more of by this author? Yes

Once again the author takes us back to London 1849, and this time it's a little bit darker and twisted then before because this time someone is praying on the innocent lives of children. And Charles Dickinson and his friend is off to find out who ,why and to out a stop to it before anymore more boys die. But not only does Mr Dickinson has that to figure out ,he has to find a list boy and his dog, and the story also shows how people's beloved pets where taking and either sold back to them for money or force to fight. It also brings to live how hard the lives of people was doing that time period as well. With that said I want to thank Netgalley for letting me read and review it .

This is a Charles Dickens murder mystery that uses the famous writer as a character in the story. The author adds facts that were part of the actual life of Dickens with fiction to weave together a story of a serial killer on the loose in London. Nothing is spookier than London in the fog and this story has giants, fog, sinister villains and wonderfully drawn heroes. At times characters from the pages of Dickens novels become part of the story and yet the telling seems seamless. I will hunt another book by this author because the characters are so human and likable that I want to know what is happening in their lives. I want them for my friends also. This was a good read.

I quite enjoyed this book, the second one in the series but really found the first one more interesting . I thought at times the story dragged a bit. The rest of the time it was pretty interesting very rich in detail sometimes maybe a little too much detail.

Thank you to Sapere Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Death at Hungerford Stairs is the second installment in the Charles Dickens Investigation series.

This time around Charles Dickens and Superintendent Jones found themselves looking for killer of several young boys.With each there’s an image, a sketch of a mask significant to the killings, but what does it mean?

What follows is a story full of of twists and turns, though the streets of
Victorian London as Dickens and Jones try to catch a killer before they stuck again.

I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy historical mystery, the book well written and the author has researched both the background of Charles Dickens and Victorian London thoroughly.

J. C. Briggs continues his series with Dickens as the detective in Death at Hungerford Stairs. Hungerford Market in a poor area of London was full of crime in Victorian England. Dickens explores the seamy side of London as he looks for a murderer and missing boys.

This was my introduction to the series. It was an enjoyable and satisfactory read. It seemed to give off a Dickensian vibe even apart from the lead character's name.

When the body of a young boy is found at Hungerford Stairs close to the River Thames, Charles Dickens is relieved to find that is not the missing child he has been searching for. Presumed drowned, Superintendent Jones of Bow Street soon has a murder case on his hands when a different cause of death is discovered. After more bodies are found, the detective’s worst fears are realised – they have a serial killer on their hands.

Death at Hungerford Stairs is the second book to feature the author Charles Dickens as one of the main characters, the first being The Murder of Patience Brooke. In the previous book, I was particularly impressed with how the author managed to paint a vivid picture of early-Victorian London, especially the more downtrodden areas. This has continued in the second book, making you feel that you are actually walking the London streets.

I like, again, how the author has merged fact with fiction, with true aspects of Dickens’ life providing an air of authenticity to the plot. Dickens is written as a generous man, keen to help the underprivileged and the down at heel, the references to his early life possibly providing a reason for his benevolence. There is a rich supporting cast, providing some tragic as well as some humorous moments.

The hunt for a child killer could be a difficult subject matter, but the author handles it in an informative yet sensitive way, culminating in a very different motive and culprit to most books of this genre. Although there were a few hints dropped throughout the book, the ending was still a surprise – a clever one at that.

I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next in the series.

First sentence: Charles Dickens remembered the rats.

Premise/plot: Death at Hungerford Stairs is the second novel in J.C. Briggs' mystery series starring Charles Dickens. Dickens is an amateur detective (of sorts) assisting the police--namely Superintendent Sam Jones. Dickens and Jones are on the hunt for a serial killer--someone is targeting young boys. Can these two figure out WHO and WHY? How many boys will have to die as they piece together all the clues and track down suspects?

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved the first book in the series The Murder of Patience Brooke. I loved the characterization and the writing. Did I love, love, love Death at Hungerford Stairs? Yes and no. No, I didn't love, love, love to the same degree. Yes, I still loved the characters and the writing. This one is "packed" with murders, but dare I say it's not an action-driven mystery novel?! I think this one is--for better or worse--a character-driven mystery novel. To me the mysteries are definitely secondary to the characters themselves. Because I have grown attached the characters--and many of the characters introduced in the first book are still around--I am attached to the book. I have to keep reading this series. I have to stay in touch with these characters. I want more, more, more.

I wasn't a huge fan of the first book in the series but I wanted to give it another shot. I like this one much more. The pace seemed faster and the details more interesting and engaging. I'm glad I gave it another shot and I'm looking forward to reading more. I read this in one sitting while traveling, maybe that made the difference.

This time it was personal. It sounds so corny but it's accurate. We begin with a murdered child. We soon learn that there are also missing children and that it is sadly common. Children go missing and no one notices. Not only Is Dickens looking for a child, and dog, that he knows, but the first body brings him back to a place from his own childhood. Thanks for giving me a second chance with the series.

This second book is a thoroughly enjoyable read, which kept me guessing until the very end. I loved the way the author combines both fact and fiction, about Dickensian London and the man himself, in a a most credible manner.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught.

Thoroughly enjoyable book, really good read. Would like to read more by this author. Full of twists and turns, and highly recommended.

Death at Hungerford Stairs is a fabulous mystery in old-time London. This is the second in the series and I will go and buy the first to read. I can't wait to read more from this author.

Charles Dickens and Superintendent Jones of Bow Street return to the streets of London. Opium dens where people tried to escape their life. Slums where people lived down dark alleyways in hovels life was hard and family was all that kept you going. Someone is killing young boys lost to their mothers. Dickens and Jones follow the trail from Paris to Brighton to solve this difficult case. Was a toff involved? This book takes you into a dark world but still has uplifting times of light.
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Death at Hungerford Stairs is a wonderful read – full of intrigue and mystery. It features novelist and amateur sleuth, Charles Dickens, and his friend, Superintendent Jones, who is investigating the death of a young boy.

This book is a treasure. It is full of memorable characters, with rich dialogues and street talk. The description of Victorian London and its poverty, crime and social issues is very well-done. Dickens is a likable protagonist and my only regret is that I have a somewhat limited knowledge of his writings. Even so, that didn’t prevent me from enjoying this novel. I highly recommend Death at Hungerford Stairs to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.