Scrudge & Barley, Inc.

John Inman is a very favorite author of mine and the thought of reading his version of the classic Charles Dickens tale 'A Christmas Story' had me beaming with joy. I could only begin to imagine what the author was going to bring to the table for this one so I was turning pages like a whirlwind. I can guarantee that 'Scrudge & Barley' is well worth reading and rereading during the holiday season.

"Absolute and total subservience, that’s what he required. Not to mention a goodly dose of adoration, feigned or otherwise. And God help those employees who faltered in their devotions."

E.B. (Ebbie) Scrudge is worse than Ebenezer Scrooge. Years before Ebbie became the owner of Scrudge & Barley, Inc., an insurance firm, he was the personal secretary (read: flunky) of old man Barley, and Scrudge worked his way into the old man's bed and his will, getting everything when Barley died. Now he rules the company with an iron fist and Willie, his own flunky, is in love with him and happy for the meager scraps of attention he receives on his knees behind Ebbie's desk.

Willie lives a very lonely, sad life caring for his mother with advanced dementia and truly having no life beyond work and home. He may not be innocent in body but his soul shines with its innocence and belief in the good of others. A definite complete opposite from Ebbie who is going to experience a Christmas Eve unlike any other and, in fact, unlike anything Mr. Dickens could have imagined. I am not going to go into detail regarding Ebbie's visitors as those are spoilers. However, believe me when I say it was a very painful past, present, and future.

"Dying alone is not the worst of fates, Scrudge. Dying unredeemed is what the living should fear most.”

Much like the classic, 'Scrudge & Barley' left me feeling a little sad, a little melancholy, and very introspective. I adored the author's rendition and it's certainly not his fault I felt that way, it was just the nature of the beast. A wonderful take on an old classic!

NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews

This is a great modern retelling of a familiar Christmas favorite. Ebbie learns the hard way to let love and compassion into his life.

I absolutely love this modernized version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Scrudge is the Scrooge in this story and may I just say I love the play on character names that John Inman uses in this.
A Christmas Carol is a tradition in my house, just like everyone elses. Now this is ABSOLUTELY a more adult themed version but the moral of the story is the same. The three ghosts, the character, the point.
It really is a brilliant way to bring a classic to this genre. John Inman is such a talented author. He made this his own. Cute and creative changes. Giving you the warm holiday feels. Making you even question the choices you’ve made and asking yourself what YOU can do to be a better person.
This is a magical and beautiful (and a little scary) story!!