Miss Marley: The Untold Story of Jacob Marley’s Sister

‘Exquisite’ Veronica HenryBefore A Christmas Carol there was… Miss MarleyA seasonal tale of kindness and goodwillOrphans Clara and Jacob Marley live by their wits, scavenging for scraps in the poorest alleyways of London, in the shadow of the workhouse. Every night, Jake promises his little sister ‘tomorrow will be better’ and when the chance to escape poverty comes their way, he seizes it despite the terrible price.And so Jacob Marley is set on a path that leads to his infamous partnership with Ebenezer Scrooge. As Jacob builds a fortress of wealth to keep the world out, only Clara can warn him of the hideous fate that awaits him if he refuses to let love and kindness into his heart…In Miss Marley, Vanessa Lafaye weaves a spellbinding Dickensian tale of ghosts, goodwill and hope – a perfect prequel to A Christmas Carol.Praise for Miss Marley:‘Exquisite’ Veronica Henry, author of The Forever House and A Family Recipe‘A warm return to some of Dickens’ greatest characters – delivered with care, confidence and a vibrant heart, but most of all, with love.’ Jason Hewitt‘An absolute gem of a story… vivid and emotional on so many levels. It deserves to be in everyone’s Christmas stocking.’ Juliet West, author of Before the Fall‘Love, disappointment, kindness and greed all play their parts in this delightful companion piece to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.’ Woman & Home‘A charming, finely detailed and beautifully written jaunt through Dickens’ London – a tale of heartbreak, love, kindness, and avarice. With Lafaye at her finest it’s seamlessly finished by Mascull; this book is a total, total joy.’

Fionnuala Kearney, author of You, Me and Other People ‘A moving companion piece to the classic A Christmas Carol, with all the traditional echoes of the Dickensian festive season woven through, and with tragedy and joy in equal measure. A delight.’

Essie Fox, author of The Somnambulist