Dr. Crowe finds himself utterly taken with Ellie, a young woman he treated after an accident, and he's distressed to see her arguing with a man who turns out to be her fiance, Paul. Something doesn't sit right with him so of course he must poke around. This latest Christmas novella by Perry isn't particularly imbued with Christmas-y details but it's an entertaining read, especially when it turns to Scuff, who works with Crowe in his clinic. Scuff takes in Mattie, an orphan and the two of them quickly form a bond, working together to keep the police from Crowe and villains from the street children. I'm hoping to see more of the two of them. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. For her fans.

I always read Anne Perry’s Christmas books. This one had William Monk in it and several charming characters solving a mystery. My favorite is Mattie, a young orphan girl and her Kitty who find a home. Hopeful for the holidays.

October 28, 2022
I love Ann Perry’s Christmas stories and look forward to reading them every year. Dr Crowe has set up his practice along the water front. He treats everyone regardless if they can pay or not. His assistant, Will Monk also known as Scruff, is trying to learn everything he can from Dr Crowe to help him get through medical school. You are right in thinking this is William and Hester Monk’s adopted son.

This story revolves around a wealthy young woman who Crowe had treated when she was in an accident near his clinic. He was greatly affected by her and periodically walked by her home on the off chance he would see her. One day he saw a man holding her arm and slapping her around. Come to find out the man is her fiancé and this is the story of how Dr Crowe gets the young woman away from him.

Intriguing story!

A Christmas Deliverance is the story of Dr. Crowe and his apprentice "Scuff" who run a free clinic to help those who need it most.

"Scuff" was adopted when he was abandoned by his mother by William Monk and his wife Hester. Now he's studying medicine at a free clinic. Dr. Crowe has been distracted, after witnessing an altercation between a former patient and a man. The man states he can do whatever he likes with his wife. Ellie states that she is not his wife but will be soon. Paul the fiancé lets it slip that she has no choice if she wants her father to recover his business and fortunes. Dr. Crowe is worried that she is being forced against her will and sees her home after Paul is injured after the incident. He tries to discuss it with Ellie's father but is abruptly told to mind his own business.

Dr. Crowe is determined to discover what events have caused Ellie to be engaged against her will. Dr. Crowe is on a deadline to save Ellie and her father if he can before she is forced to marry Paul just after Christmas.

Meanwhile, "Scuff" is left in charge while Dr. Crowe is busy saving Ellie. Mattie, a young child, was injured and as repayment she returns with a kitten as payment for her care. Realizing that she has nowhere to go, he makes a deal that he will accept the kitten but only if she is willing to stay and take care of it for him. "Scuff" and Mattie must also fend off the police, who have gotten word of Crowe asking questions about Ellie's father and a burned down warehouse. It seems that they have asked for trouble in trying to help.

This is a sweet story about good people trying to help others in the spirit of Christmas. I really enjoyed this story. It was a quick afternoon read with wonderful characters. I really enjoy these stories. They are warm and uplifting.

A courageous doctor helps London’s poor as he fights for love and justice. Dr. Crowe is teaching his apprentice to treat patients while he is solving a nursery mystery to help one of his former patients.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I always look forward to Anne Perry's Christmas stories and this one did not disappoint. It was a fast paced read and although it really wasn't too "Christmasy" the mystery was a good one. Highly recommend.

Anne Perry’s mystery of a debt between two families involving fraud and murder reminds readers that the people we love are vulnerable and possess human frailties. Dr. Crowe’s quest to unwrap a case that seems to be tied up whisks readers from the surgery table to the blustery docks, barges, and warehouses on the River Thames. Dr. Crowe is reminded that Christmas is about family and love so get cozy near a crackling fire and revel in Anne Perry’s A Christmas Deliverance.

3.5 Stars.
Dr. Crowe and his apprentice Scuff, run a free clinic to service London’s poor population. Worried about a former patient, Ellie, Dr. Crowe starts investigating a connection between Ellie’s wealthy father and an unscrupulous businessman. Time is of the essence as Crowe suspects Ellie is about to be forced into a marriage against her will. Crowe must find the evidence he needs to solve this mystery and save the woman he loves, but will he find what he needs in time?
Although part of the Monk series this story primarily focuses on Dr. Crow, and Monk is only a side character. This was a good stand alone Novella. I thought that there was a bit too much of the main character wondering about the investigation, it did become a little redundant. I feel that there were missed opportunities for conversations that could have included that info instead. There wasn’t anything really Christmasy about this story either. What really saved this for me was the characters, they were endearing and authentic. The ending was satisfying and overall I enjoyed it. Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to review this novella.

Anne Perry’s latest Christmas novella’s main characters are Dr. Crowe and Will Monk, aka Scuff. Perry’s usual attention to a fully developed setting, plot detail, and character development, as well as social commentary are on full display. I’ve always wanted to know more about Dr. Crowe and his work with the poor of London. Scuff’s inclusion is an added bonus. It was a pleasure seeing him as a young adult and growing into adulthood. Thank you Ms. Perry for another excellent read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The holiday novellas of gifted mystery writer, Anne Perry, are treasures to which this reader looks forward each year. This twentieth offering of her Yuletide mysteries is certainly another fine piece. There's mystery, superlative mise en scène with its spot-on historic detail as well as a strong Dickensian feel.

True to form, Ms. Perry has drawn on a secondary character of her William and Hester Monk mystery series, to act as the protagonist within her holiday story. The story opens with Dr. Crowe attending the wounds of a young street orphan, Mattie. He treats her with tenderness, respect and concern. Crowe operates a clinic which mostly attends to the poor in its vicinity. Most people pay for their services with food and the occasional donation helps to procure the medicines and bandages necessary to treat the clientele. On occasion, a well to do client is attended to at the clinic as urgency requires. Such was the case 8 months prior when Crowe attended to Ellie, a victim of a nearby road accident. Thoughts of her continue to tease his mind. He had cared for her through her convalescence. She, however, was the daughter of a wealthy man and Crowe, with his meager means, stood no chance of courting her. He finds himself strolling near Ellie's home on his way back to the clinic after procuring supplies. He observes a man treating Ellie rather harshly. The man is Paul, Ellie's supposed fiancé and son of a notorious, wealthy and dangerous man. Crowe intercedes and has immediately made an enemy. As Crowe wanders back to the clinic, he wonders how Ellie's father could permit Ellie's engagement to such a brute and decides he's going to get to the bottom of things and try and save Ellie from her unfortunate fate. Thus begins this holiday mystery.

The writing of fulfilling short stories is never an easy task. Yet, Ms. Perry is a master of her craft and has again, delivered an atmospheric and compelling mystery within a modest number of pages. Her scene descriptions are rich and her characters, amazingly well developed. The humanity of the characters is palpable and the reader is afforded an escape from the current world into another of a distant time. As the protagonist goes about his sleuthing, the tension gradually builds and ultimately, to a fevered pitch. As the tension relaxes, the story is drawn to a satisfying conclusion. Although set in the days leading up to Christmas, the references to the holiday are few, yet tasteful.

I am grateful to Ms. Perry and her publisher, Ballantine Books, for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: November 8, 2022
No. of pages: 224
ISBN: 9780593359105

This is a fast read. It's a wonderful Christmas novella that hooks you on the first page and keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next. It's a heartwarming read that you don't want to miss.
I received a complimentary copy from Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Four stars from me. Not my favorite book by Anne Perry. Still a nice Christmas book to enjoy around the holidays.

This was not my favorite Anne Perry novel, but it is an unusual Christmas story set in Victorian England. It has the requisite romance, poor vs rich and good vs bad. All in all, an enjoyable holiday read.

I was given an early ebook in exchange for an honest review. This was an ebook which is a cut above the rest. Once I began this book, I never put it down, quite the page turner. It was a perfect historical fiction. A little romance, there was a warehouse fire the first of this part year (It’s almost Christmas). Anyway it involved two of the richest men in the town first a man that owns all the warehouses (Albert Hollister and his daughter Ellie) and the man that uses those warehouses to store all his fine silks, Alaskan furs paintings, etc.(Silas Dolan and his son Paul Dolan) Seems to look like one of the men must have given the orders to set the warehouse fires. Contents of the warehouse were put onto seven river barges and moved up by the tidewaters to another warehouse for safe keeping. Both men were paid by their insurance companies for their total losses.before the fire, Hollister was indebted to Silas Dolan and had to promise his daughter Ellie to Paul Dolan. It is a bit of a suspense waiting to find out all the answers. I will definitely be recommending this book to anyone who enjoys a good historical fiction. Thanks to #NetGalley, #PenguinRandomHouse, #AnnePerry, #AChristmasDeliverance,for allowing me to review early.

This is not your typical cozy Christmas mystery, but it's an enjoyable story overall. It's a quick read, and there's the right amount of danger to keep the reader turning the pages. The setting is charming, but it does show the differences between the classes in Victorian England. The book is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone novel. However, if you've read prior books, you will enjoy seeing familiar characters. The true meaning of Christmas does shine through, along with the fact that family is not always determined by blood.

This is an interesting book- booklet. It was set in London and had a little of the mafia in it. I was a little confused because it started out with a little girl from the streets going to a clinic for an injury she had and in the very next chapter it was about some thugs stealing furs and things. The story does get back to the little girl but I felt like it was incomplete. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

It's always a pleasure to read Anne Perry's annual Victorian Christmas novella, although I have to say there's nothing particularly 'Christmasy' about this year's mystery except that it is set in the days leading up to Christmas.

Dr Crowe and his assistant Scuff run a medical clinic for London's poor. One day he is called to the scene of a carriage accident where he finds a young woman pinned with a severe injury to her leg. After treating the wound, he has her brought back to his clinic where she must stay for several days while she recovers. Crowe becomes enamored but unfortunately for him, she is Ellie Hollister, the only child of a wealthy businessman, and far above him in class. But Crowe can dream and tries to find as many opportunities as possible to stroll past her home hoping to catch a glimpse of her.

On one such outing, Crowe sees her having words with a young man and when the argument turns violent, he steps in. He is shocked to learn the man is her fiancee. He cannot fathom why Ellie would consent to such a match. Is she being coerced by her father? Crowe decides to investigate and leaves his young apprentice in charge of the clinic.

The story is a quick, heart-warming read with a touch of danger and much evil-doing leading to a very exciting ending. I enjoyed the historical setting and the interactions between these characters.

I received an arc of this new novella from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

A proper Christmas novella by an author who delivers them each year. This one warms the heartstrings as a new family is created when Dr. Crowe comes to the rescue of one of his patients and as Scuff welcomes a kitten and his caretaker into their small impoverished clinic. There is violence and the intercession of William Monk and a proposal or two in the offing and a holiday dolly and emergency surgery, so plenty of action and excitement. And a murderer is brought to justice in the nick of time. Be still my beating heart. A joy to read.

A Christmas Deliverance by Anne Perry
Starts out with Dr. Crowe and he's helping injured people in the river area of the city. Most do nto have a home nor meals so eh does what he can for them.
Scuff is his apprentice and is able to tend to people who walk in.
He recalls helping Ellie and took a liking to her. He's recently seen her and her fiancée but he's ill treating her and he starts investigating who the guy really is...
Crowe walks around trying to get information about the fire investigating and the police questioned the doctors actions.
Love the gift Mattie gives to the men.
Love all the clues Crowe collected and how de deciphers them all into what really happened....
Love hearing of the turmoil and how Crowe and many others are involved and on the trail to find the furs and other goods.
Before they knew what was upon them the shots ring out.....Can't believe she had to be the one to ask....
Never saw this happening at the end, wonderful. Dedication page and about the author and highlights her other works.
Received this review copy from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This is such a lovely story! Sure, there are bad guys and underhanded dealings that must be sorted out, but the rest is 100% heartwarming goodness. Familiar characters are Will Monk (formerly known as Scuff) and William Monk. Scuff has come a long way from mudlarking on the Thames: he's studying to become a doctor. To that end, he assists a Dr. Crowe who runs a clinic for the poor.

Add to that a beautiful young woman seriously hurt in a traffic accident, a homeless little girl, and a kitten and you have a recipe for a wonderful read. I finished it in one sitting. I could just not put it down.

Yes, I was very glad that crimes were solved and that miscreants got their just rewards, but mostly I just really enjoyed the doctor, the doctor-to-be, the little girl, and-- of course-- the kitten.