Last DickensBy Matthew Pearl
Random House, 2009. 386 pgs. Mystery
James Ripley Osgood is a partner in the respected publishing firm of Fields & Osgood. Their recent success as the official American publisher for Charles Dickens is threatened by the author’s untimely death. Now Dickens’ unfinished serial, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”, is found to be surrounded in a mystery of its own and, when Osgood’s clerk is found dead in the streets of Boston, Osgood finds himself searching desperately for clues to why those involved with the publication are finding themselves in mortal danger.
In The Last Dickens, Matthew Pearl presents a cast of interesting characters, many of whom actually existed, and an intriguing story. Pearl’s books aren’t ‘edge of your seat’ but they keep a good pace and satisfactory ending. I can easily recommend this to mystery and literature lovers, especially anyone wanting something clean.
CZ
Pearl’s research shows in the many details of the period as well as in the characterizations of some of the main players in the story. The Last Dickens is an intricately-plotted and thoroughly entertaining biblio-mystery with plenty of plot twists, murder & mayhem. I do agree that it's not quite "edge-of-your-seat," but there is plenty to keep the reader engaged.
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