I cannot imagine my holiday season without a new Anne Perry Christmas mystery to sink my teeth into. This year’s novel, A CHRISTMAS DELIVERANCE, features a pair of terrific main characters who just demand to be cheered for: Dr. Crowe, who runs a free clinic near the banks of the River Thames, and his apprentice, Scuff, the adopted son of William and Hester Monk.

"A CHRISTMAS DELIVERANCE gives readers all they possibly could want from an Anne Perry Christmas mystery: great characters, scenes of old London during this classic time of the year, and a heartwarming ending..."

At the start of the book, we find Crowe, who has never charged anyone for his medical services, stitching up the finger of a young orphan girl. Scuff takes an instant liking to Mattie and lets her stay at the clinic. Plus, there’s a new kitten who needs taking care of, and Mattie is more than willing to assume that responsibility. Crowe soon finds himself in a bit of a dilemma as he has grown quite fond of Ellie Hollister, who is already engaged. Her fiancé is Paul, the son of the nefarious Silas Dolan, a wealthy villain who may be holding something over the head of her father, Albert.

When Crowe learns of a violent warehouse fire that took the life of an innocent night watchman, he becomes concerned. The warehouse belonged to Albert, and word on the street is that it was a case of arson and insurance fraud that Albert and the Dolans cashed in on in a major way. Crowe immediately makes it his business to look into this further --- not only to get justice, but to find a way to free Ellie from her marital obligation to Paul so they finally can be together.

The problem is that Crowe is no detective. He is not equipped to safely protect himself from the villainous sorts he is likely to come across, which instantly puts him in harm’s way. It is no surprise that it will take the cunning and street smarts of his young colleague to bail him out of some jams. This forces Scuff to involve his father in the case, though Monk doesn’t have the power to do anything as there is no clear evidence of arson or fraud. However, this being an Anne Perry novel, our protagonists will do whatever they can to see that the moral compass is pointed in the right direction and everything might be safely and soundly wrapped up by Christmas Day.

A CHRISTMAS DELIVERANCE gives readers all they possibly could want from an Anne Perry Christmas mystery: great characters, scenes of old London during this classic time of the year, and a heartwarming ending that completely satisfies and reminds us what the holiday season is really all about.