Name: Miss Marley: a Christmas Ghost Story - a Prequel to a Christmas Carol
ISBN: 9780008306113

Vanessa Lafaye

Rebecca Mascull

'Exquisite' Veronica Henry Before A Christmas Carol there was... Miss Marley A seasonal tale of kindness and goodwill

Miss Marley: a Christmas Ghost Story - a Prequel to a Christmas Carol

I actually think this is one of the most depressing books I've ever read...

For what looks like it would be a feel-good Christmas story, Miss Marley is a sad tale. It does its best to pay homage to A Christmas Carol, but it's missing the charm and heart of Dickens' classic tale. There's no happy ending. No lessons learned or lives changed for the better. It did not leave me in the Christmas spirit.

The writing style was a bit different but not bad, and it was an easy, quick read. I thought it brought Victorian London to life, especially the darker parts of this time period. The timeline compared to A Christmas Carol also feels a little off. There were some standout moments throughout, but from the very beginning I felt sad and depressed reading this.

Amanda

I actually think this is one of the most depressing books I've ever read...

For what looks like it would be a feel-good Christmas story, Miss Marley is a sad tale. It does its best to pay homage to A Christmas Carol, but it's missing the charm and heart of Dickens' classic tale. There's no happy ending. No lessons learned or lives changed for the better. It did not leave me in the Christmas spirit.

The writing style was a bit different but not bad, and it was an easy, quick read. I thought it brought Victorian London to life, especially the darker parts of this time period. The timeline compared to A Christmas Carol also feels a little off. There were some standout moments throughout, but from the very beginning I felt sad and depressed reading this.

Katharina Hoffmann

Oh, this story was an absolute delight and I read it in one sitting!

Miss Marley tells the formerly untold story of the siblings Clara and Jacob Marley, the latter who would later on become the business partner of the feared and infamous Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge. The book is divided into three parts that tell the story of Clara and Jacob – firstly as orphaned children fighting for their survival on the streets of London, then as teenagers running a money-lending business and ultimately, as adults, telling a tale of love and tragedy.

I hope that Miss Marley will become a little modern classic. It keeps the Dickensian spirit alive by adding another layer and extra depth to the beloved story of Mr. Scrooge and the spirits of Christmas past, present and future and focusing on some of its minor characters. It is a perfect tale for a cosy December evening and will enchant children and adults alike.

Miss Marley: a Christmas Ghost Story - a Prequel to a Christmas Carol

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