An intriguing detective series featuring Charles Dickens! Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Victorian crime mysteries, A Christmas Carol and David Copperfield… A brutal murder in Victorian London forces a famous writer to solve the mystery… London, 1849 Charles Dickens has set up Urania Cottage as a sanctuary for fallen women. But he is shocked when the matron’s assistant – Patience Brooke – is found hanging outside the property, covered in blood. Desperate to protect the reputation of the Home and to stop a scandal from spreading, Dickens takes the investigation into his own hands. With the help of his good friend, Superintendent Sam Jones of Bow Street, and a description of the suspect as ‘a man with a crooked face’, Dickens's search takes him deep into the filthy slums of Victorian London. Can Dickens save his reputation? Will he find out the secrets of Patience Brooke’s troubled past? Or will the killer strike again…? The Murder of Patience Brooke is the first urban mystery in J. C. Briggs' literary historical series, the Charles Dickens investigations, a traditional British detective series set in Victorian London. 'Charles Dickens himself must turn sleuth when death occurs on the steps of Urania Cottage, the home for fallen women he founded. Suspenseful, brimming with atmosphere, and full of vividly drawn characters – first and foremost a complex, endearing, wonderfully human Dickens, caught between his social ardour and his writer's imagination.' – C. P. Giuliani, author of The Road to Murder "Snippets from his novels stalk the pages as J C Briggs turns Dickens into a highly plausible sleuth . Intriguing glimpses into his life and writerly mind fascinate while the mystery unfolds. An engrossing read ." – Elizabeth Bailey, author of the Lady Fan Mystery Series ‘a well-written and engaging novel… the pages keep turning , and the evocation of foggy Victorian London is excellent’ – Historical Novel Society ‘In this gripping murder mystery, South Lakeland author Jean Briggs explores how Charles Dickens might have acted in the role of detective’ – The Westmorland Gazette ‘I enjoyed the depth of atmosphere evoked and the convincing depictions of Dickens and his family. The excitement of the investigation and its speeding tension is palpable . This is an excellent read on many levels’ – Promoting Crime Blog ‘an extremely engaging read. Jean Briggs is proving herself to be a crime writer to watch out for’ – Crime Fiction Lover ‘Fast-paced and well-written , The Murder of Patience Brooke is sure to draw in fans of mysteries, Charles Dickens, and Victorian London alike’ - Dickens Blog ' Impeccable historical detail, beautifully written and highly atmospheric ' - Eric Summers, Aberdeen Dickens Fellowship 'Formidable historical research and a gift for ingenious story-telling . Truly Dickensian.' - Professor Jeffrey Richards, Lancaster University The Charles Dickens Investigations Series: BOOK ONE: The Murder of Patience Brooke BOOK TWO: Death at Hungerford Stairs BOOK THREE: Murder by Ghostlight BOOK FOUR: The Quickening and the Dead BOOK FIVE: At Midnight In Venice BOOK SIX: The Redemption Murders BOOK SEVEN: The Mystery of the Hawke Sapphires BOOK EIGHT: The Chinese Puzzle BOOK NINE: Summons to Murder BOOK TEN: The Jaggard Case BOOK ELEVEN: The Waxwork Man