A Christmas Odyssey: A Novel

I joined a bookclub and this was the book selected for this month. It definitely was a quick easy read (read it in one weekend) BUT I thought it was depressing and pointless. Maybe it was well-written but the storyline to me was stupid. Maybe I just don't like reading about opium and cocaine use in the london slums and prostitution and everything else that goes on in the depths of london hell. Maybe that is just a different world that I have no interest in.

First Sentence: Henry Rathbone leaned a little farther forward in his armchair and regarded his visitor gravely.

Henry Rathbone is asked by a good friend to find his son, Lucian. Lucian has been lost in the world of gambling, drugs and dangerous sex. Although Henry gives his word to find Lucian, this is a world about which Henry has no knowledge. With the help of Squeaky Robinson, former brother-keeper; Crow, an unlicensed doctor who works in the slums, and Bessie, a brave teen who lives on the edges of that dark world, the four set out to fulfill Henry's promise.

Anne Perry's Christmas novellas are my annual gift to myself. They allow me to re-visit Victorian England, as she so accurately displays it, visit the secondary characters in her Monk and Pitt series and read a book with a subtle Christmas message that doesn't preach or push. While this year's book may not have ended up being my favorite so far, as it is very dark, it once again demonstrates just what a fine writer is Perry.

Perry creates characters about whom you really care and she creates them from all walks of life. She truly demonstrates that it's not one's social or economic status that defines them, but what kind of person they are and the philosophies that define them. Henry talks about friendship and Perry quantifies it in a way we each can understand. She talks, though her characters, about the ingratitude of those who have, and how relevant is that to today, and shares her observations on homeliness, again without preaching.

This is not at all a sweet, light Christmas story. Perry takes us from the home of wealth to places no one should ever have to go amongst people no one would ever want to meet. Parts are dark, gritty and vile. This is a tale of facing the devil and making a decision, of holding to your promises. There is redemption but there is also a question left open at the end. It is classic Perry and it is worth reading.

A CHRISTMAS ODYSSEY (Hist Mys-Henry Rathbone/Squeaky Robinson-England-1865) - Good
Perry, Anne - 8th in series
Ballantine Books, ©2010, US Hardcover - ISBN: 9780345518583

First Sentence: Henry Rathbone leaned a little farther forward in his armchair and regarded his visitor gravely.

Henry Rathbone is asked by a good friend to find his son, Lucian. Lucian has been lost in the world of gambling, drugs and dangerous sex. Although Henry gives his word to find Lucian, this is a world about which Henry has no knowledge. With the help of Squeaky Robinson, former brother-keeper; Crow, an unlicensed doctor who works in the slums, and Bessie, a brave teen who lives on the edges of that dark world, the four set out to fulfill Henry's promise.

Anne Perry's Christmas novellas are my annual gift to myself. They allow me to re-visit Victorian England, as she so accurately displays it, visit the secondary characters in her Monk and Pitt series and read a book with a subtle Christmas message that doesn't preach or push. While this year's book may not have ended up being my favorite so far, as it is very dark, it once again demonstrates just what a fine writer is Perry.

Perry creates characters about whom you really care and she creates them from all walks of life. She truly demonstrates that it's not one's social or economic status that defines them, but what kind of person they are and the philosophies that define them. Henry talks about friendship and Perry quantifies it in a way we each can understand. She talks, though her characters, about the ingratitude of those who have, and how relevant is that to today, and shares her observations on homeliness, again without preaching.

This is not at all a sweet, light Christmas story. Perry takes us from the home of wealth to places no one should ever have to go amongst people no one would ever want to meet. Parts are dark, gritty and vile. This is a tale of facing the devil and making a decision, of holding to your promises. There is redemption but there is also a question left open at the end. It is classic Perry and it is worth reading.

A CHRISTMAS ODYSSEY (Hist Mys-Henry Rathbone/Squeaky Robinson-England-1865) - Good
Perry, Anne - 8th in series
Ballantine Books, ©2010, US Hardcover - ISBN: 9780345518583

The only thing Christmasy about this book is that it takes place in December and is cold. A few hansom drivers say Merry Christmas to each other. Absolutely no character development. Seems to be written just to cash in on a Christmas title. DO NOT waste your time nor money.

I have the books in this Christmas series and look forward to reading one every year as part of my holiday preparations. I wish I had read the reviews before I purchased "Christmas Odyssey". It is a dark story filled with sexual deparvity. I did not like it at all. If I could give it zero stars I would.

I'm not so naive as to believe that Christmas is all sweetness and light--I'm aware of the horrors that humans inflict, whatever the time of year. I do, however, believe that Christmas represents hope and the possibility of redemption. Although this book purports to embrace those philosophies, I found the dreary and sometimes horrifying descriptions--which other readers accurately described as sordid, depressing, etc.--to be troubling and not what I wanted to read in a book associated with Christmas. And, although I'm familiar with the technique of irony, regarding the book's stark descriptions detailing the darker side of human nature, I found it ludicrous that the cover portrayed a quaint, cozy Christmas scene. As already noted, a few "Happy Christmas" wishes do not a yuletide story make.

I'm so glad I didn't purchase this book. I borrowed it from our library and I'm even happier that I didn't purchase it as a gift. The story was disappointing and quite dreadful. I kept reading hoping that things would change but every page from start to finish was about drug addicts and the depravity and dreadful descriptions weren't much fun to read about. I was truly disappointed at this effort by Ms Perry. I've read all her books and they certainly have changed since her earlier ones and definitely not for the better. This will be my last read from her.

If you are looking for an upbeat, feel good, put you in the mood for Christmas story, don't look here. This should not in any way have Christmas in the title.

Anne Perry is an author that I can depend upon for an interesting story and I have truly enjoyed her Christmas offerings in the past. While I haven't read all of them, the ones I have, have been good. This time out, we meet James Wentworth as he is talking with his friend Henry Rathbone in the days leading up to Christmas. Wentworth's adult son (Lucien) has disappeared into the streets of London to pursue drugs and passion. Having become so caught up in his body's desires, he is lost to his father and the affluent/comfortable life he should be living. Henry Rathbone agrees to try to find Lucien and return him to his family. The story that unfolds involves this search and Mr. Rathbone enlists a few other characters along the way to help him in the search. Once dead bodies are reported and massive amounts of blood found, the group's inquiries take a darker turn as they try to unravel the mysteries of who has been killed and by whom. Is Lucien among the dead or is he still alive?

This is a hard review to write since I have very conflicted feelings about it. The writing that reflects the experiences in the London underworld is excellent. The author definitely has the ability to draw the picture in the reader's eye and allowed me to "see" what was happening. I have to politely disagree with the other reviewers that the novel does a good job of contrasting the upper-crust experience and the underclass/criminal element of the time. I would estimate that ninety percent of the novel is dedicated to the underclass theme and searching for Lucien in desolate, horrible places. Only about ten percent is spent setting up the narrative with a few brief mentions (really only a few sentences) dedicated to describing the contrasting world of the well-to-do. There are only glimpses at that world after the initial pages.

While I don't always need uplifting, Norman Rockwell-type Christmas stories, this one was very dark. Hopelessness is everywhere - drugs, alcohol, and women. It also really has nothing to do with Christmas other than the story is set in that time of year. A few references are made to the holiday decorations of London, but other than an occasional reference, it isn't that relevant to the story and the narrative could have taken place anytime in winter as well as these days prior to Christmas.

Overall, nicely written which gives it a 4-star but the dark nature of the narrative when marketed as a holiday read brings it to a 3-star in my opinion.

Note: This is really a novella versus a full length novel. It's less than 200 pages and the book itself is small.

Every year Anne Perry has been writing a novella featuring characters from her Monk or Pitt novels and placing the characters in a situation to help around Christmas time. They are quick reads and for those of us who are long time Perry fans, look forward to who she will feature in these novellas.
A Christmas Odyssey features lesser but important characters from the William Monk series.
Mrs. Perry's knowledge of the Victorian Era is amazing - from the young Victoria to the ending of the era, and she describes the culture perfectly.
There were the noblemen, the gentry, the good families, the servants, then the lesser of the people of London - England's sordid underground, where just about everything evil from drugs to perverted behavior is the norm.
A dear friend of Henry Rathbone, James Wentworth, has asked Rathbone to help him find Wentworth's son, Lucien, who has fallen into the darkness of opium dens, and loose women, especially Sadie. At his wits' end, the desparate father appeals to another father (Rathbone is Sir Oliver Rathbone's father in the Monk series) for help.
Sir Oliver had at one time been in love with Hester Latterly, who eventually married William Monk. She was a nurse under Florence Nightengale and had been a private nurse, and eventually created a type of hospital to serve women of any repute, but mostly those of the street. He initially goes to talk to her at her clinic, but Squeaky Robinson, once pimp, now manager of the clinic, interceeds and tells him he can help Rathbone better than Hester and after telling Hester he'd be gone a few days, they go off to find Lucien in the dregs of London.
They also draft a slum doctor Crow, who also ministers to the common folk. The three go into the nastiest parts of London to find Lucien.
In Mrs. Perry's books, you see the total picture of the society, and how far some folks, who like Squeaky can rise from the darkness to helping people and working with good folks, or gentry, once tasted the dark side can fall.
It is a quick read and the descriptions are as dark as the underground truly was, but is beautifully written and maintains the dignity Mrs. Perry writes about the era.
Another excellent offering from the wonderful Anne Perry.