A Beautiful Blue Death (Charles Lenox Mysteries)

First in what is hopefully a continuing series featuring Charles Lennox, a Victoria gentleman, who has solved crimes that Scotland Yard seems to take credit for. Set in England 1865, Lenox is called by his next door neighbor and childhood friend Lady Jane Grey when Prudence Smith, Grey's former employee, is found dead in the home of her new employer. Things just don't add up in Jane's mind, but Charles can figure it out, he's clever that way.

Since Pru was found in the home of George Barnard, the current director of the Royal Mint, with a secret of his own; Lennox's instincts are set in high gear and a wonderful who-done-it-and-why leads the reader on a brilliant journey.

A great cast of characters that leave you smirking and curious, making this an interesting addition to the Historical Fiction genre.

But the best part -- this book seems to start in the middle of the whole Charles Lennox experience with references to the past that makes you wonder exactly where Lennox came from and where Finch is going to take him. Will more of the past be explained or will Finch just leave that up to the reader's imagination

I am a huge fan of Victorian murder mysteries and finding a new author is like winning the lottery. I absolutely loved A Beautiful Blue Death. Charles Finch's writing is rich, descriptive, and engaging. The mystery itself is fascinating and draws you right in. You'll find yourself rooting not only for Charles Lenox - the brilliant yet reluctant detective - but for his friend, Lady Jane, and his loyal butler, Graham.

Finch does not get bogged down in everyday details of Victorian life, so if you're not a big fan of Victorian era books, don't worry.

I highly recommend this book not only to Victorian mystery fans, but to all history fans.

The author, Charles Finch, has a winner with this new cozy mystery set in Victorian England. The characterization is suburb. Lenox is a very likable well rounded amateur sleuth who lives comfortably in London next door to his childhood friend,a widow, with whom there is just a hint of romantic interest. He has a brother who is a parliamentary figure and a loyal, intelligent butler who helps with the "leg-work" of solving the mystery. Finch has included domestic scenes that make the story comfortable and keep the characters grounded. He adds historical detail about the current political events of the era without detracting from the plot. The plot is intriguing and believable. He doesn't rely on ghoulish forensics or psychotic killers - the reader has to actually think about motive! One of the best mysteries to come along in quite awhile. I highly recommend this book!!

Victorian gentleman Charles Lenox recently assisted Scotland Yard in solving the Isabel Lewes case; a simple case the Yard should have easily solved despite their appalling lack of imagination. Now, on a bitterly cold late afternoon, all Lenox wants to do is sit in his library and enjoy the bliss of a warm fire. So when he receives an urgent message from Lady Jan Grey, his closest friend and next door neighbor, he ventures forth to brave the cold, despite his inadequate boots.

Lady Grey's former servant, Prue Smith, has apparently committed suicide-by-poisoning at the home of her new employer, George Barnard, the current director of the Royal Mint. At Lady Grey's request, Lenox visits the crime scene and is quickly convinced that Prue's death is murder, despite assurances from the Yard and Barnard that it is suicide. Thomas McConnell, a surgeon and close associate of Lenox, determines the cause of death to be a rare poison called bella indigo (beautiful blue). The Yard does not welcome Lenox's assistance, and that leaves him little access to the Barnard household, forcing him to investigate discreetly and utilize the services of Graham, his butler and friend. It is not until a second death occurs that Lenox begins to piece together the puzzling crime.

A Beautiful Blue Death is Charles Finch's delightful debut novel. The pairing of Lenox and Graham brings to mind Lord Peter Wimsey and his valet Bunter. Similar to Dorothy Sayer's creations, Lenox and Graham share more than a purely professional relationship. Despite the friendship and amity they feel for each other, the barriers of class keep them separated.

What elevates A Beautiful Blue Death is the relationships Lenox has with the people around him. While the central mystery is fascinating, what captivates readers is the exploration of Lenox's relationship with Lady Jane and the glimpse it provides of a gentleman of leisure's life. Their habit of taking tea together illustrates the depth of their relationship, unusual for a time when men and women's lives had little intersection.

Armchair Interviews says: It is the man these relationships illuminate which will draw readers to future volumes about Charles Lenox.

In 1865 London, Prudence Smith, a maid at the home of the director of the Royal Mint George Barnard, dies. Scotland Yard believes she committed suicide by taking poison. Prue's previous employer Lady Jane Grey refuses to accept that the young vivacious Prue Smith killed herself. She pleads with her best friend Charles Lenox to investigate the death. Charles prefers to drink tea while reading a book in his den, but reluctantly agrees to look into Prue's death although that means leaving the comfort of home for field work. He only acquiesce for his life long friend Jane.

Lenox quickly finds evidence that punches holes in the official ruling as the poison proves to be an exotic, difficult to find and to expensive for a maid to obtain; he believes someone murdered Prue. However, the police detectives ridicule the armchair sleuth while Barnard ignores his homicide theory. The private sleuth, with the aid of his butler Graham, decides who the person with a jealousy motive and having the means of obtaining the poison and the opportunity to use it most likely is, but Lenox is stunned when his prime suspect becomes victim number two.

A BEAUTIFUL BLUE DEATH is a superb Victorian mystery starring a reluctant debonair hero whose preference is to be a couch potato rather than a field detective. The whodunit is cleverly designed so as Lenox finds a clue he ends up taking either a sidestep or two steps backwards as his case is far from linear as he had initially believed when he drew a jealousy line from the victim to the men salivating after her. The historical tidbits that make 1865 England come to life actually enhance the investigation that will elate sub-genre fans as Charles Finch provides a great first act.

Harriet Klausner