I was intrigued by the description of this book--Charles Dickens invites Wilkie Collins to spend Christmas at his home, along with many other people. He accepts. The festivities take an unexpected and decidedly unfestive turn when a Scro0ge-like guest is found dead during a group outing. No one was particularly sad about his demise, but it's not exactly how anyone wanted to spend Christmas. Dickens and Collins try to consider who could have committed the dastardly deed. It didn't seem like an investigation, exactly, but more an exchange of ideas.

The book is narrated by the Wilkie Collins character, so readers see things from his point of view. At the time the book is set, he is just becoming more well known due to the success of The Woman in White and is shortly to publish The Moonstone. Dickens is a famous author and working on Great Expectations. The book is part of the author's Gaslight Mystery series. I have not read any previous books in the series, but didn't find that to be a hindrance to my reading experience. It's a fun, quick, quirky, light read (albeit slightly repetitive in places). I enjoyed it.