One of my new all-time favorites, right up there with David Copperfield by the same author. Perhaps one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much is because Charles Dickens and I both love to hate the legal system, especially never-ending civil litigation. Dickens does what Dickens always does with his beautiful prose; litany of distinctive and humorous characters, from the saintly to the scoundrel to the evil and everyone in between; circuitous mystery plot; and mostly happy ending for most of the virtuous characters. This is one I will have to read again to fully appreciate. Another masterpiece! The late, great Charles Dickens has done it again!