Shop keepers in the lovely picturesque village of Dickens Junction are used to strangers and tourists in their closely knit community with its tradition of upholding many of the values and traditions inspired by one of England's great writers, especially now in the Advent season before Christmas! Even if one hadn't read Charles Dickens directly (Heresy in this town), just about everyone had heard off the story of Ebenezer Scrooge's heartwarming and ideological transformation after ghostly visits on Christmas Eve.

Yet, to Simon Alastair, owner of Pip's Pages, this stranger is different and isn't just his request of "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand, a writer whose ideas Simon has long ago dismissed. Fortunately for Simon, another newcomer customer proves to be much more appealing and not just in looks alone. Introducing himself as Zach Benjamin from Rainbows, a monthly gay and lesbian travel magazine, his mission is to do a feature on the holiday events and the charms of the Junction.

But the charms of that evening's Christmas Carol tableaux are shattered by the shocking discovery of the stranger's body! Why had he come to town? Why was he killed in such a shocking way? What was behind Marley Enterprises' sudden interest in Dickens Junction?

Before Detective Boggs gets a chance to solve this murder, more gruesome deaths start to threaten the holiday spirit of goodwill and the livelihood of the community. As a founding citizen, Simon feels a special obligation to investigate what is happening. But, when everyone could be a suspect, who can he trust?

Readers are fortunate indeed that Christopher Lord has launched this first book, THE CHRISTMAS CAROL MURDERS, as the start of a new series centered in the fictitious town of Dickens Junction, Oregon. It is a different, yet delightful, type of cozy mystery: full of human drama and suspense, coupling old fashioned values with au courant perspectives and literary interests.

As a new author, Lord has a deft hand with character development. The many and diverse characters (both main and secondary) are realistic in emotion, outlook and hidden (or not so hidden) secrets, ranging from the literary wittiness of George Bascomb, Simon's good longstanding friend, to Brock and his moonlighting to make extra income. I just loved the scene between Mavis Surlock, the owner of Bleak House Bed and Breakfast, and her response to her guest, Dagny Clack's outrageous demands for service.

Lord also dexterously balances the story line between Simon trying to read the clues of a potential relationship with Zach and in the murder investigation while skillfully seasoning the story with sage wisdom, literary references and seasonal sights and aromas. This contemporary uptake on the classical tale is sure to be alluring to any reader. As my cat notes, with a little more showtime in the future for Miss Tox, Simon's feline friend, this could end up being a real dickens of a series!

It is glad tidings indeed THE CHRISTMAS CAROL MURDERS is one treat you won't need to beg for! Just go out and get it or gift wrap it up for a friend!