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Mr. Dickens #2
The Highwayman and Mr. Dickens
"Bravo, William Palmer, on a superb performance, bring back Dickens and Collins for an encore."
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
SERIES DEBUT
The ghastly double murder of a society doctor's beautiful wife and her maid reuintes celebrated novelist Charles Dickens, his protege Wilkie Collins, and formidable Inspector Field of the Metropolitan Protectives in another brilliant quest for justice. They manage to defend old friend ex-burglar Tally Ho Thompson who's arrested at the scene, but then the case takes the men from the pestilential cells of Newgate to the city's steamiest dives. Gamblers, thieves, swells, whores, and Collins's fiery lover, Irish Meg, all join the chase of a killer who is the stuff of nightmares....
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
SERIES DEBUT
The ghastly double murder of a society doctor's beautiful wife and her maid reuintes celebrated novelist Charles Dickens, his protege Wilkie Collins, and formidable Inspector Field of the Metropolitan Protectives in another brilliant quest for justice. They manage to defend old friend ex-burglar Tally Ho Thompson who's arrested at the scene, but then the case takes the men from the pestilential cells of Newgate to the city's steamiest dives. Gamblers, thieves, swells, whores, and Collins's fiery lover, Irish Meg, all join the chase of a killer who is the stuff of nightmares....
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
About the author
William J. Palmer
36 books10 followersWilliam J. Palmer (born 1943) is a professor of English and the author of the "Mr. Dickens" series of Victorian murder mysteries. The "Mr. Dickens" series of four Victorian murder mysteries -- The Detective and Mr. Dickens, The Highwayman and Mr. Dickens, The Hoydens and Mr. Dickens, and The Dons and Mr. Dickens -- is going to be re-released by Diversion Books in April 2015.
He has written seven novels thus far, including his Wabash Trilogy. These three novels, a sports novel, a crime novel, and a comic novel about theater, are all set in the Wabash valley of Indiana. Academically, Palmer has written books and articles on the nature of literary criticism and the history of film.
Dr. Palmer received his doctorate in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1969, and taught at Purdue University beginning in 1969. He attained the rank of full professor there and is now professor emeritus. He received Purdue's "Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award" for academic year 1998-1999, and he was a member of the elite "Purdue Teaching Academy"
He has written seven novels thus far, including his Wabash Trilogy. These three novels, a sports novel, a crime novel, and a comic novel about theater, are all set in the Wabash valley of Indiana. Academically, Palmer has written books and articles on the nature of literary criticism and the history of film.
Dr. Palmer received his doctorate in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1969, and taught at Purdue University beginning in 1969. He attained the rank of full professor there and is now professor emeritus. He received Purdue's "Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award" for academic year 1998-1999, and he was a member of the elite "Purdue Teaching Academy"
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 28, 2012
Interesting enough to read because the author does know his Dickens' history and is good at painting the time period however the text was sometimes heavy and predictable.
September 13, 2008
I thought this book had potential. I love Dickens and well-written mysteries. This book is about Dickens and Wilkie Collins getting wrapped up in a murder mystery; so it seemed like a perfect combination.
Unfortunately, it was very poorly written and all mystery was removed from the book about half-way through the text once two of the three suspects were murdered. The author named the villain after himself - really! Finally, the book ended in a footnote, as if the author couldn't find a nice way to finish it with an interesting twist.
I wouldn't recommend this book.
Unfortunately, it was very poorly written and all mystery was removed from the book about half-way through the text once two of the three suspects were murdered. The author named the villain after himself - really! Finally, the book ended in a footnote, as if the author couldn't find a nice way to finish it with an interesting twist.
I wouldn't recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2018
The idea of a literary historical figure being a detective character intrigued me (I love the Jane Austen mysteries) but this was a major disappointment. The story was obvious and it was clear the author was just creating filler to get to the end - and the end was lackluster.
March 24, 2026
Who is Embedocles? Why does he want a volcano? What does this have to do with the story?
NOTHING!!
I have never read a book by such an arrogant author as Mr. William J. Palmer. I read as far as page 95 (out of 272) and couldn’t go any farther. Mr. Palmer repeated his description of Tally Ho (the Highwayman) with the exact same paragraph six times by page 95. I supposed St. Martin Press pays by the word and Mr. Palmer was trying to increase his wordage. His description of Tally Ho was adequate and only needed once.
His inclusion of Embedocles longing for a volcano, Strauss (David. . . . Who???) looking for Jesus,
Boswell, Greenland Sea Whales and so, so many more obtuse references have nothing to do with the plot but shows Mr. Palmer as a well read person. When a well read person is also an ass it comes out through his pen.
The only reasonable cause for Mr. Palmer’s obtuse references is that he is a full believer of dramatist Bertolt Brecht’s practice of alienating the audience. Because that’s what Mr. Palmer accomplished.
Doesn’t St.Martin Press use editors? By this book, I’d have to say no.
Plus Mr. Palmer misspelled the Irish whiskey Tullamore Dew.
I wasted my money on this book. I’ve only done that once before.
I can’t throw books away. I have the original 1960s series of Nancy Drew and it sits on my shelf because I can’t throw books away. For “The Highwayman and Mr. Dickens” I’ve made an exception. Chunk.
-30-
NOTHING!!
I have never read a book by such an arrogant author as Mr. William J. Palmer. I read as far as page 95 (out of 272) and couldn’t go any farther. Mr. Palmer repeated his description of Tally Ho (the Highwayman) with the exact same paragraph six times by page 95. I supposed St. Martin Press pays by the word and Mr. Palmer was trying to increase his wordage. His description of Tally Ho was adequate and only needed once.
His inclusion of Embedocles longing for a volcano, Strauss (David. . . . Who???) looking for Jesus,
Boswell, Greenland Sea Whales and so, so many more obtuse references have nothing to do with the plot but shows Mr. Palmer as a well read person. When a well read person is also an ass it comes out through his pen.
The only reasonable cause for Mr. Palmer’s obtuse references is that he is a full believer of dramatist Bertolt Brecht’s practice of alienating the audience. Because that’s what Mr. Palmer accomplished.
Doesn’t St.Martin Press use editors? By this book, I’d have to say no.
Plus Mr. Palmer misspelled the Irish whiskey Tullamore Dew.
I wasted my money on this book. I’ve only done that once before.
I can’t throw books away. I have the original 1960s series of Nancy Drew and it sits on my shelf because I can’t throw books away. For “The Highwayman and Mr. Dickens” I’ve made an exception. Chunk.
-30-
June 25, 2026
"The ghastly double murder of a society doctor's beautiful wife and her maid reuintes celebrated novelist Charles Dickens, his protege Wilkie Collins, and formidable Inspector Field of the Metropolitan Protectives in another brilliant quest for justice. They manage to defend old friend ex-burglar Tally Ho Thompson who's arrested at the scene, but then the case takes the men from the pestilential cells of Newgate to the city's steamiest dives. Gamblers, thieves, swells, whores, and Collins's fiery lover, Irish Meg, all join the chase of a killer who is the stuff of nightmares...."
Well written, and the local dialect was expertly presented. But it just wasn't my cuppa.
Well written, and the local dialect was expertly presented. But it just wasn't my cuppa.
Read
September 11, 2025An interesting account
The story is good, but a little long in the telling. Dr.Palmer enters pretty late in the chase. I want to read another one to get a better idea of this author's storytelling technique. I liked the use of Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins.
The story is good, but a little long in the telling. Dr.Palmer enters pretty late in the chase. I want to read another one to get a better idea of this author's storytelling technique. I liked the use of Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins.
June 14, 2025
Another suspenseful, well written story
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews