Book set in London, Miss Marley by Vanessa Lafaye

Submitted: 23rd November 2018

A Christmas treat set in London

Book set in London – Miss Marley – Vanessa Lafaye/Rebecca Mascull

This is a a lovely cosy read with a sad twist to the tale. Set in London, it’s an ode to Dickens, what happens to Marley’s sister before the tale of Scrooge begins. The London of Dickens is well known but the story of Marley’s ghost less so. This is the story of the ghost’s sister. So many delicious literary treats in one book.

Sad as the lovely Vanessa died before she could finish the manuscript. Fellow author Rebecca Mascull took up the pen and worked her own magic. A literary double act if you will!

Books set in London – Miss Marley – Vanessa Lafaye

Book set in London – Miss Marley – Vanessa Lafaye/Rebecca Mascull

This is a lovely little book. A real homage to Dickens in my mind. When this first arrived on the doorstep, I was emotional before I had even opened the book. I have other books by Vanessa Lafaye and I have enjoyed each and every one. Evocative and stylish in equal measure. Sadly she died before she could finish this story, so Rebecca Mascull took up her magic pen and finished the story.

Kudos to both of them as this is simply magical. I can’t imagine how hard it is to write a book with someone else let alone finish someone else’s story whilst adding your own author magic to it. Rebecca should be really proud.

I love stories which look at minor, or in this case fictional, characters from books and then examine their backstory. Wild Sargasso Sea predates the antics of Mr Rochester before he met Jane Eyre. In Miss Marley, Jacob Marley’s sister takes centre stage and I loved it. It brings a real magic to the world of Dickens, Scrooge and those snowy London streets.