When everyone's favourite reformed miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, errs from the path of goodness, he starts seeing spirits again - this time of a girl, whose murder he must solve if he is to avoid the dreaded vision of The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

'A WONDERFULLY ATMOSPHERIC TALE TO SAVOUR BY THE FIRE THIS FESTIVE SEASON' My Weekly

Last Christmas, Ebenezer Scrooge was visited by three festive spirits, and the bleak vision of his future has haunted him ever since. He wants to be a good man, and he never wants to see another ghost as long as he lives.

But changing your ways for a day is easy. Changing your ways for ever is a little trickier. Almost a year on, Scrooge is slipping back into bad habits.

When a lucrative business opportunity comes his way, he jumps at the chance to make some quick money . . . to give to the poor, obviously . . .

But then Scrooge sees her. Another ghost, silent and terrifying. Then Bob Cratchit is arrested for the woman's murder, and Scrooge sees only one way to save both his loyal employee and himself: he must solve this crime.

Scrooge's investigation takes him from the heights of business on the Royal Exchange to the depths of London's criminal underworld alongside the formidable Widow Tassell, boot-boy Jem and Tiny Tim. And as Christmas draws closer, Scrooge begins to realise there's more at stake than his own soul.

'A COMPLETELY COMPELLING CHRISTMAS READ' Jonathan Whitelaw

'AN ABSOLUTE CHRISTMAS CRACKER' Fiona Leitch