The December Rose Hardcover – June 30, 1987

The December Rose was purchased as a gift.

A chimneysweep called Barnacle because of his ability to adhere to the inside of the chimney accidentally overhears an ominous conversation. Dislodged by a poke from his employer, Barnacle grabs some silver spoons and a locket and runs away, now caught in a web of international intrigue and murder. The story is scary and funny at the same time, with an endearing hero surrounded by wonderful Dickensian characters, including the kind-hearted Mr. Gosling, Mrs. McDipper and her daughter Miranda, and the menacing Inspector Creaker. The suspense-filled plot comes to a surprising climax.

A very good book to read. Not too much information on the author but the story itself is a very good science fiction story. I would recommend this story to people who like science fiction.

A lady is murdered for her locket, Barnacle is up a chimney sweeping soot and listening, he falls into their fireplace, Inspector Creaker tried to grab him, Mr Roberts his boss tried to grab him, Barnacle grabbed 5 spoons and a locket and jumped through the window, he runs into a man called Gosling who pushes him into a pub whilst warning Mr Roberts off, Creaker told Roberts he wnted what Barnacle had taken, Gosling scrubbed Barnacle until he was white, he lived on a barge next to his lady friends barge, the barges left with Barnacle on board, Mr Hastymite was angry at Creaker for losing the locket, he was told to find it and kill the boy, Gosling bought Barnacle new clothes, Creaker knew Barnacle was on board the Lady of the Lea with GoslingCreaker was expecting a man to arrive on the December Rose, Barnacle was being watched, a man from the December Rose asked Clara to take him to St Catherines Stairs, the passenger Brodsky asked where Barnacle got the locket, Roberts would not tell which house Barnacle had seen the locket in, Barnacle had been declared dead and Roberts had a new boy, back at the barge Brodsky was stabbed and blood was everywhere, the murderer had not taken the bag Creaker wanted, it was full of money, Gosling and Clara take a letter for Brodsky to Lord Mounteagle, Mounteagle said people were being killed in the name of the state and the money going into private pockets, Barnacle was in danger and Gosling raced back to the barge, someone tried to kill him but Claras daughter Miranda knocked him out and he died in the riverAs the book continues Barnacle risks his life to protect Gosling, can Creaker kill Barnacle, a highly respected Lord comes into the plot, as the story twists and turns it finally comes to its conclusionMy verdict, great story, enjoyed this one

I remember seeing watching this on television as a child and loved it. I bought the book as I wanted to see if it was as good as I remembered. It is! Excellent story. Very readable. The cover is quite plain but the story is great