In the second of the series, Dickens joins forces once again with Superintendent Sam Jones, this time to try to track down Scrap, the street boy who was such a character in the first volume. Scrap has disappeared and so has Poll, the beloved pet of the Brim family who Scrap guards against the perils of the times. They believe he has gone in search of the dog, which has probably been stolen - a big problem in Dickens' time - and fear he may have fallen into danger.

As the tale opens, Dickens and Jones are called to a derelict blacking factory near the Hungerford Stairs. The place holds old dread for Dickens who worked there as a boy after his father went to debtor's prison, an experience which haunts him and has had much to do with the forming of his character. A boy has been found dead there. They are relieved that it is not Scrap, but before long it becomes clear that the boy was murdered and more victims come to light, bringing tragedy for a bereft mother.

The setting of London during the period is vividly evoked with the squalor, smells and filth, the poverty and misery - and only a few hundred yards away in some cases the splendour and wealth of the privileged classes and of Bond Street shops. What I really enjoyed with this book and the first was the way Dickens is brought to life with his kindness, his ability to relate to others including women, the poor and the traumatised, and his secret depression and sense of unworthiness. I know that after the period depicted, Dickens separated from his wife and is generally reckoned to have acted with great unkindness, but in this the author drops a few hints that maybe the problem arose because of her mental issues and increasing tendency to become a recluse whereas Dickens craved and needed company and cheer to keep his own demons at bay.

One slight distraction is that the author frequently referred to the two men as 'Dickens and Jones' which reminded me of the long-lived but now closed down Dickins and Jones department store! I did work out who the murderer must be quite early on, but it is still a good twist and I enjoyed the story so much overall that I won't deduct a star for that. So a full five star rating from me. ( )

In London 1849 while looking for their young friend Scrap, Superintendent Jones and Charles Dickens are called to an old abandoned lacking factory where a body of a young boy had been found. Thankfully not Scrap, but the discovery that the boy had been murdered leads them to investigate. But this will not be the last body.
A well-written story with a lot of historical detail with some very likeable characters make up an enjoyable and interesting read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )

British-detective, serial-killer, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, suspense

I hate reading about murdered children and I think that serial killers are the very worst scum, yet I could not put this book down because it was so well written! The publisher's blurb is a warning teaser, and others have summarized the plot so I won't go there, but the characters are so clearly described and brought to life that the reader needs to know the redeeming factors of the story before going in. Enjoy is not a word that comes to mind about this read, but appreciate certainly is!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Saperebooks. ( )