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mxsallybend's review
4.0
I've been a fan of Don's work ever since he introduced me to [b:The Misadventures of Ka-Ron the Knight - Second Edition|8272774|The Misadventures of Ka-Ron the Knight - Second Edition|Donald Allen Kirch|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311624397s/8272774.jpg|17136098]. This is a very different story from that one, but it has the same kind of imaginative twists and narrative strengths to draw you in. A sequel to Dicken's original take, this one catches up with the ghost of poor Jacob Marley a century or so later, this time in a home that is already rumoured to be haunted . . . and currently occupied by the Kringle family. When a fight breaks out between Kathy's parents, an idly muttered prayer from the family butler gives Marley a chance at redemption.
A sweet story (without being sappy), Marley offers up a well balanced mixture of supernatural chills and domestic tension, as well as an entirely satisfying conclusion. I will say the presence of the butler initially put me off (does anybody really have a proper butler anymore?), but he is quite endearing and, as it turns out, rather instrumental to the tale.
A sweet story (without being sappy), Marley offers up a well balanced mixture of supernatural chills and domestic tension, as well as an entirely satisfying conclusion. I will say the presence of the butler initially put me off (does anybody really have a proper butler anymore?), but he is quite endearing and, as it turns out, rather instrumental to the tale.
jenny_reads_horror's review
5.0
What a great little short story! We all know the story of Jacob Marley, Bob Crachett, and Mean 'ol Scrooge. This take on Marley is a present day read about love and loss, a never good enough hopeful novelist husband married to a bread-winning lawyer wife, Tobias their understanding butler, and a sweet daughter and her one Christmas wish. The Kringle family, having just moved to London, are the new residents of the house all of their neighbors call haunted. Weird shadows and noises are heard within and there is a creepy graveyard on the other side of the fence. After a huge fight between her parents, Kathy is awoken to some strange happenings in her bedroom and comes face to face with the ghost of Marley. The events that follow become an eye opener to Kathy's parents, who are faced with a choice of love or doom. Will Marley be able to save Kathy's family, not only granting her her Christmas wish but also releasing himself from the heavy chains he has carried as his punishment? Guess you will have to read for your self to find out;)
With the feel of reading an entire novel, Marley is a great novella not only for the Christmas season but any time! Kirch has done an excellent job of bringing a classic tale character into our present day!
With the feel of reading an entire novel, Marley is a great novella not only for the Christmas season but any time! Kirch has done an excellent job of bringing a classic tale character into our present day!
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