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J.C. Briggs
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At Midnight In Venice: A Victorian mystery with a thrilling twist (Charles Dickens Investigations Book 5) Kindle Edition

by J. C. Briggs (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 458 ratings
It’s a tricky case for Charles Dickens and Superintendent Jones! Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Victorian crime mysteries, A Christmas Carol and David Copperfield…

Two cities, two skeletons, linked by a mysterious vision…

London, 1850

An Italian music master and an English governess disappear from the house of Sir Neptune Fane, a prominent Member of Parliament.

A female skeleton is found in a disused water tank behind a house which has been empty for five years.

Her neck had been broken and found with a jeweled chain around it.

Charles Dickens is reminded of his time in Venice a few years earlier, when he thought he saw a monk with his hands on a girl’s neck, the glimpse of jewels in fleeting torchlight, a cry of fear.

And later he read that a girl was found drowned at the spot where he had his vision.

Are the two corpses connected? And what is the link to Sir Neptune Fane?

Charles Dickens and Superintendent Sam Jones must find the link between the backstreets of London and the mysterious canals of Venice…

At Midnight In Venice is the fifth urban mystery in J. C. Briggs’ literary historical series, the Charles Dickens investigations, a traditional British detective series set in Victorian London.

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
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  1. Book 5 of 11
    Charles Dickens Investigations
  2. Print length
    395 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    August 23, 2019
  6. File size
    2.1 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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There are 11 books in this series.

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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07V4SCL1W
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sapere Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 23, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.1 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 395 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1913028800
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 5 of 11 ‏ : ‎ Charles Dickens Investigations
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 458 ratings

About the author

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J.C. Briggs

J.C. Briggs

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I write historical crime fiction. My amateur detective is the great Victorian novelist, Charles Dickens. Dickens was fascinated by crime and murder. He went out with the London Police into the grim slums of London and visited the police stations to see how they all worked. According to a recent biographer, Dickens would have enjoyed being a detective. I gave him his wish. He makes a good detective - he is very observant, very clever at working out motive and following the clues with his partner, Superintendent Jones of Bow Street.

Victorian London is a great setting for a murder mystery - all that fog and very sinister alleys. It is fascinating to research the period from Dickens's own novels, the biographies and Dickens's letters. I like to know what he's up to in the periods of his life when the stories take place. All the books are based on something which really happened in Dickens's life. He set up a home for fallen women. I wondered what he would do if one of the girls was murdered and that was the idea for the first book.

When I'm not reading Dickens or writing Dickens, I give talks about him and other Victorian novelists and enjoy my garden in the Yorkshire Dales.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
458 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the book's mystery elements, with one noting how historical accuracy is beautifully incorporated into the plot. The writing style receives positive feedback, and customers find the book enjoyable to read. They appreciate the character development, with one mentioning that the names reflect the characters' personalities.

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Mystery qualityWriting styleCharacter developmentReadability
6 customers mention "Mystery quality"5 positive1 negative

Customers enjoy the mystery elements of the book, with one mentioning how historical accuracy is beautifully incorporated into the plot.

"...The author’s attention to detail and historical accuracy are beautifully incorporated into the mystery. This fifth volume is my favorite so far. 💙📚..." Read more

"Great book, excellent series!! Loved the humor and true mystery of this book!! J.C. Briggs is a wonderful author!!..." Read more

"Great historical fiction!..." Read more

"good mystery a little melodramatic..." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing style"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, with one mentioning the author's attention to detail.

"I loved the author's writing style and the characters she developed to tell each story...." Read more

"...These books are very well written and make them enjoyable to be read. Write more J.C. Briggs." Read more

"...In this one Charles Dickens takes the central role. The author’s attention to detail and historical accuracy are beautifully incorporated into the..." Read more

"...Loved the humor and true mystery of this book!! J.C. Briggs is a wonderful author!! Looking forward to reading book six now!!" Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one mentioning that the names reflect the personalities of the characters.

"I loved the author's writing style and the characters she developed to tell each story...." Read more

"...No surprising twist in the end. Great journey, strong characters, but left you wanting in the end...." Read more

"I love these books. Atmospheric, smart, loads of great characters, and the names are descriptive of the personalities. I devoured them." Read more

3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable to read.

"Excellent read, but disappointing end. No surprising twist in the end. Great journey, strong characters, but left you wanting in the end...." Read more

"...These books are very well written and make them enjoyable to be read. Write more J.C. Briggs." Read more

"Much fun to read. This author brings Mr Dickens to life in Victorian London. Please say your working on another novel!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • DS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great historical fiction!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I loved the author's writing style and the characters she developed to tell each story. I found myself hoping that some characters would be used again and further developed, and the author didn't disappoint me! The research and author's use of Charles Dickens' life transports the reader back in time.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Needs a stronger ending...
    Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent read, but disappointing end. No surprising twist in the end. Great journey, strong characters, but left you wanting in the end. Also was expecting more on Venice, which is why I bought the book. Overall, a good mystery.
    One person found this helpful
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  • C. Holliday
    5.0 out of 5 stars The best!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I have read all the books in this series. I thought at first that having Charles Dickens as a character would be cheesy. These books are very well written and make them enjoyable to be read. Write more J.C. Briggs.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Heather Black
    4.0 out of 5 stars good mystery a little melodramatic
    Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    it was complicated in a good way, but too much “dreaming” on the part of dickens. i feel like sam should have held his feet to the fire a little bit more for not sharing all the info he had received. why do i feel like i need to yell “just tell dumbledore” to all of my main characters these days?
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  • Pat Hanson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent series
    Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I have enjoyed all five of the books in this series. In this one Charles Dickens takes the central role. The author’s attention to detail and historical accuracy are beautifully incorporated into the mystery. This fifth volume is my favorite so far. 💙📚
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love these books !
    Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I love these books.
    Atmospheric, smart, loads of great characters, and the names are descriptive of the personalities.
    I devoured them.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a great series of books.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Much fun to read. This author brings Mr Dickens to life in Victorian London. Please say your working on another novel!
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  • Robyn McMillan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent series
    Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Great book, excellent series!! Loved the humor and true mystery of this book!! J.C. Briggs is a wonderful author!! Looking forward to reading book six now!!
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Déborah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely brilliant
    Reviewed in France on April 26, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I have this book 5 stars for many reasons. The Italian connection and history are wonderful and the characters are fascinating. Every detail is exquisite in this book. You must read it!
    Report
  • Vesper
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable mystery
    Reviewed in Canada on October 4, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    1850 Charles Dickens is asked by a friend to look for a missing servant, Violet Pout a governess. But the investigation leads to the finding of a body of a female, dead for 5 years. But this is not the last. What is the connection to sights Dickens saw when he visited Italy six years earlier. Dickens and Superintendent Jones investigate.
    Another enjoyable mystery in this well-written series with its very likeable characters. I have enjoyed all five in the series though I could wish for less use of the vernacular in the dialogue.
    Report
  • William Smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars Apparition, imagination or eye witness?
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 8, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The fifth in the excellent and immensely readable series narrating the fictional investigative exploits of Charles Dickens, principally as an accomplice to the redoubtable Superintendent Sam Jones. The initial premise of the story is based on an actual event in Dickens' life in which he is unsure what, if anything, he witnessed while in Venice.

    Before the book begins in earnest, there is what is effectively a prologue of 2 chapters narrating two letters Dickens wrote to a friend while he was in Venice. The relevance of these becomes clearer as the book progresses.

    The tale begins innocuously enough, as a favour, with Charles Dickens looking into the whereabouts of the daughter of his wife's maid who, while working for a prominent family, has gone off the radar. However, as matters unfold and once Dickens has spoken to Jones on a relatively casual basis, there grows a suspicion between them that there is something more sinister at work with the disappearance of other girls coming to light; one being discovered in a water tank 5 years after she has been strangled. Throw in a high ranking politician, several artists and an acrobatic thief to muddy the waters and the plot begins to thicken nicely like a mutton stew.

    Fast paced and descriptive of the age, it has obviously been impeccably researched, particularly the trial proceedings towards the end. The outcome of that came as something of a surprise. Well, it did to me!

    If you enjoyed any of the others in the series, you will certainly like this one. There are, as always, contemporary issues addressed such as mental health and criminal psychology and by placing them in what was a considerably less sympathetic time, it seems appropriate. Charles Dickens was nothing if he was not revolutionary; in thought as well as very often in action.

    Extremely enjoyable and very much recommended.
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  • NickiMags
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very Enjoyable Historical Crime fiction
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 2, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This is the fifth book in this historical crime fiction series featuring Charles Dickens and his policeman friend Superintendent Jones. I do enjoyed this series as it feels like meeting up with old friends.
    This story was quite involved as there seemed to be two distinct cases, one in Venice and other in London, but were they be somehow connected? I enjoyed following Charles Dickens and his good friend Superintendent Sam Jones, as they went about discovering what happened to the woman whose body was found in the water tank. As they come across more bodies Charles keeps thinking back to that incident in Italy and was more convinced that the cases were definitely linked.
    Just like in the first book the descriptions of Victorian London were so vivid, that at times I felt like I was reading a Dickens novel, especially with some of the characters names! It did make me very glad to be living now rather than in Victorian times when life was so bleak for everyone.
    I didn’t have a clue who the murderer was so just enjoyed where the story took me instead.
    I highly recommend this series to lovers of historical crime fiction, particularly if you enjoy books set in Victorian times.
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  • fictionreader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent historical mystery
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 10, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    At the beginning of this beautifully atmospheric book Dickens witnesses a murder in Venice - or does he? The vision haunts him once he has returned to London, and the bones of a young woman are found in a disused water tank. This is the first of several unconnected drowned young women, and it is soon apparent that they may be linked and that the murderer is still at large.

    Suspects abound. The large cast of over fifty unforgettable characters, with wonderful Dickensian names such as Fikey Chubb, the fence, and Violet Pout, the governess, is skilfully handled. A feat considering Briggs also includes well-known people of the Victorian era, such as the Carlyles, as well as the real Dickens household such as his wife and children. Dickens' penchant for a pretty face is explored in his relationship with the fictional Dolly Marchant, an inclusion that adds emotional depth to this whodunnit.

    Though firmly based on Dickens' actual life the fictional action manages to somehow move from dismal slums to a painter's studio, from Drury Lane Theatre to an asylum, and from a deserted old cottage to the Criminal Court. All the time Briggs is keeping the reader guessing. Does the plot connect up with Dickens' vision in Venice? Well, suffice it to say the ending is a really satisfying wrap up.

    This is a really well-researched and intricate murder mystery with all the flavour of Dickens himself. I have read three of these books now, and can safely say I'm a fan.
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