I have only read and reviewed two prior books in this series, which is a mystery in itself since I enjoyed them immensely and intended on reading more in this series. So many books, too little time I guess.
#3: The Fleet Street Murders (click here)
Prequel: The Woman in the Water (click here)
Copyright: Nov 2025 (Minotaur Books) 275 pgs
Series: 15th in Charles Lennox Mysteries
Sensuality: n/a
Mystery Sub-genre: Historical cozy, traditional detective
Main Character: Charles Lennox, upper-class Consulting Detective
Setting: 1879, Victorian London, England
Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review
Book Blurb: "It's 1879, and Lenox is convalescing from the violent events of his last investigation. But a desperate letter from an old servant forces him to pick up the trail of a cold case: the murder of an apothecary seven years before, whose only clue is an odd emblem carved into the doorway of the building where the man was killed. When Lenox finds a similar mark at the site of another murder, he begins to piece together a hidden pattern which leads him into the corridors of Parliament, the slums of East London, and ultimately the very heart of the British upper class.
At the same time, Lenox must contend with the complexities of his personal life: a surprising tension with his steadfast wife, Lady Jane, over her public support of the early movement for women's suffrage; the arrival of Angela Lenox, a mysterious young cousin from India, with an unexpected companion; the dizzying ascent of his brother, Sir Edmund Lenox, to one of the highest political posts in the land; the growing family of his young partners in detection, Polly and Dallington; and the return of the problems that have long bedeviled one of his closest friends, the dashing Scottish physician Thomas McConnell."
My Thoughts:
This is a great escapist novel to leave twenty-first century drama and crisis behind for a few hours. I usually don't comment on the writing style, but Charles Finch has a flare for writing this era and making the sentences flow with ease like a refreshing breeze.
Lenox is recovering from a near-death stabbing with lingering pain and emotional trauma. This novel presents him with a case that helps him work through some of that while his personal life sees changes, too,
Lady Jane is an outspoken and very public supporter of women's Suffrage, which is causing a stir among fellow high society members. Lennox is worried about the physical threats bubbling up against the movement.
Angela Lenox, twenty-year old second-cousin who's father, Charles' cousin Jasper, died of cholera and left her alone in the world with only her lifelong close friend Sari. Charles was declared her legal guardian in the will. Angela infuses the Lennox household with some new blood and a youthful touch as Charles and Lady Jane are getting older.
Sari is native to India and was raised much like a sister to Angela and they both refuse to be parted. Angela traded in her 1st class ticket to afford 3rd class tickets for both to travel to England. Sari is warmly accepted by the Charles and Lady Jane. Sari also brings some diversity and a freshness to the story. It isn't a reach since there were a few thousand from India residing in England at the time, either sailors, students, or professionals like lawyers and doctors.
Lenox receives a letter requesting help from his beloved old housekeeper, Mrs. Huggins. She is living in a house that had an unsolved murder of an apothecary occur inside its walls and now she is uncomfortable by a vagrant sleeping on her doorway and odd occurrences. Lenox discovers an unusual symbol carved into Mrs. Huggins' doorway. That symbol connects the unsolved murder of the apothecary seven years ago to a new murder.
This drags Lenox out of his general disinterest in cases since his injury and back into exercising his talents. The subplot of the new family situation gets him out of the doldrums in his private/emotional life because family (Mrs. Huggins included) are paramount for him and the exact medicine he needed.
Lenox investigates the cold case that leads him through East London slums, Parliament, and elite social circles. Author Charles Finch does such a sensational job of researching and re-creating Victorian life in London with his attention to era details.
The killer reveal doesn't follow the usual conventions. There is no tense confrontation or dangerous chase, which follows the overall reflective and more literary vibe of the novel. This also made portions seem a bit slower than expected for the series. I enjoyed this novel, but it won't be to everyone's taste. If you are a fan of the series you need to read this. I wouldn't recommend this novel in the series if you are new to it.
Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list
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