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A Beautiful Blue Death: The First Charles Lenox Mystery (Charles Lenox Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 3,353 ratings

Equal parts Sherlock Holmes and P.G. Wodehouse, Charles Finch's debut mystery A Beautiful Blue Death introduces a wonderfully appealing gentleman detective in Victorian London who investigates crime as a diversion from his life of leisure.

Charles Lenox, Victorian gentleman and armchair explorer, likes nothing more than to relax in his private study with a cup of tea, a roaring fire and a good book. But when his lifelong friend Lady Jane asks for his help, Lenox cannot resist the chance to unravel a mystery.

Prudence Smith, one of Jane's former servants, is dead of an apparent suicide. But Lenox suspects something far more sinister: murder, by a rare and deadly poison. The grand house where the girl worked is full of suspects, and though Prue had dabbled with the hearts of more than a few men, Lenox is baffled by the motive for the girl's death.

When another body turns up during the London season's most fashionable ball, Lenox must untangle a web of loyalties and animosities. Was it jealousy that killed Prudence Smith? Or was it something else entirely? And can Lenox find the answer before the killer strikes again—this time, disturbingly close to home?

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in England in 1865, Finch's impressive debut introduces an appealing gentleman sleuth, Charles Lenox. When Lady Jane Grey's former servant, Prue Smith, dies in an apparent suicide-by-poisoning, Lady Jane asks Lenox, her closest friend, to investigate. The attractive young maid had been working in the London house of George Barnard, the current director of the Royal Mint. Lenox quickly determines that Smith's death was a homicide, but both Barnard and Scotland Yard resist that conclusion, forcing him to work discreetly. Aided by his Bunter-like butler and friend, Graham, the detective soon identifies a main suspect, only to have that theory shattered by that man's murder. Finch laces his writing with some Wodehousian touches and devises a solution intricate enough to fool most readers. Lovers of quality historical whodunits will hope this is the first in a series. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"A fine specimen of the genre...Particularly good is [Finch's] delineation of Lenox's cozy-but-proper relationship with Lady Jane."

-- "Washington Post"

"Langton's posh accent is well suited...and his narrative sparkles."

-- "AudioFile"

"The best sort of historical mystery--clever, charming, full of period detail, and a delight to read."

-- "David Liss, author of The Whiskey Rebels"

"Vividly capturing the essence of Victorian England, Finch presents us with a unique sleuth who combines the deductive powers of Sherlock Holmes with the people skills of Thomas Pitt. A sparkling achievement."

-- "Library Journal (starred review)"

"Langton gives each of the book's prominent characters a distinctive voice, but his main success is the vocal personality he provides Lenox."

-- "Publishers Weekly Audio Review"

Vividly capturing the essence of Victorian England, Finch presents us with a unique sleuth who combines the deductive powers of Sherlock Holmes with the people skills of Thomas Pitt. A sparkling achievement.-- "Library Journal Starred Review"

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003JH866G
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Minotaur Books; Reprint edition (June 26, 2007)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 26, 2007
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4435 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 340 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 3,353 ratings

About the author

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Charles Finch
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Charles Finch is the author of the bestelling Charles Lenox mystery novels, including the forthcoming "The Inheritance." His first standalone novel, "The Last Enchantments," about a group of students at Oxford University, was published in 2014. He's a regular book critic for the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, and USA Today, and was a finalist for the 2014 National Book Critics' Circle award for criticism.

Come find out more at facebook.com/charlesfinchauthor or twitter.com/charlesfinch!

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
3,353 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the mystery content enjoyable and engaging. They enjoy the characters and their altruistic qualities. The book is described as lovely, beautiful, and breathtaking. Readers appreciate the realistic world-building and vivid descriptions of Victorian England. Opinions are mixed on the writing style - some find it thoughtful and unique, while others find it irritating or stilted.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

194 customers mention "Mystery content"155 positive39 negative

Customers enjoy the mystery content. They find the story engaging with unexpected twists and well-crafted research. The book is set in Victorian England, with intriguing murders and period details that make it an enjoyable read.

"...Strong women and men and a well laid out and explained puzzle. I even kind of liked the murderer...." Read more

"...If you enjoy British mystery, a tightly plotted and well-written puzzle, and a detective with a strong sense of justice and compassion, you really..." Read more

"...Graham, Lenox's indefatigable butler, has a flair for investigative work and an unexpectedly close past with his employer, but his character remains..." Read more

"...I was taken at once by Mr. Finch's imagination and prose...." Read more

147 customers mention "Enjoyment"132 positive15 negative

Customers enjoy the book and find it engaging. They appreciate the series and find it well-written, with an interesting plot that keeps their attention throughout.

"...and altruism of the main character, Lenox, and his friends are a soothing read in these chaotic and angry times. A touch of humor...." Read more

"...and a more tightly-plotted story, the pieces are in place for an enjoyable series -- and seeing that this novel is Finch's debut, I have hopes that..." Read more

"...the fogs and chilly rains of a London season and this makes a fine read all round." Read more

"...I devoured this book quickly and my only disappointment here is that it had to come to an end...." Read more

112 customers mention "Character development"91 positive21 negative

Customers enjoy the characters and their development. They find the main character, Charles Lenox, charming, smart, and likable. The British manners and altruism of the main characters are appreciated. The detective with a strong sense of justice and compassion is also praised.

"...Yes and no. The British manners and altruism of the main character, Lenox, and his friends are a soothing read in these chaotic and angry times...." Read more

"...plotted and well-written puzzle, and a detective with a strong sense of justice and compassion, you really ought to give the Lenox series a try...." Read more

"...idiosyncrasies, make him a wonderfully human protagonist -- not particularly charismatic (at this juncture, at any rate), his appeal lies in his..." Read more

"...All in all, an excellent story, juicy mystery, memorable characters and one reader who is ravenous for more." Read more

39 customers mention "Beauty"39 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's style and flow. They find the characters likable and warm, with a promising flair for portraying late 18th-century London. Readers appreciate the Victorian setting and atmosphere.

"...Finch possesses a promising flair for bringing late 18th-century London to life, from the rich comforts of Lenox's home to the apothecaries and..." Read more

"...Perhaps the best summary of this book is that it is moderate in its beauty, greatness of content, and execution, and contains practically nothing..." Read more

"...But overall, the mystery part of "A Beautiful Blue Death" is very nice with clues given and red herrings tossed...." Read more

"...I like his over all style and flow of the plot line. Is this a Novel or Novella? Novel Is this book priced correctly?..." Read more

24 customers mention "Realism"20 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the vivid descriptions of Victorian England and the great setting of mid-19th century London. They appreciate the imaginative plot that provides an adventurous slice of life, with colorful characters. The world-building is realistic, though a bit stilted at times.

"...Lenox is an excellent detective, both observant and imaginative, but his vocation is not entirely accepted by either society or the police...." Read more

"...down the pace, and gave Lenox and the more minor characters a distinct air of realism...." Read more

"...It’s a bit different being set in London in 1865. It takes within its pages the much different social strata of the era...." Read more

"...His world-building is realistic and not overdone, but it seems a trifle stilted...." Read more

89 customers mention "Writing style"61 positive28 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style. Some find it thoughtful and easy to read, with a unique voice and an easy-to-follow plot. Others feel the writing is irritating, with Victorian English dialogue and descriptions that seem awkward. The language used is not Queen's English, but American English, and the hero seems condescending to others.

"...A touch of humor. Healthy relationship between brothers...." Read more

"...If you enjoy British mystery, a tightly plotted and well-written puzzle, and a detective with a strong sense of justice and compassion, you really..." Read more

"...far as beauty goes, Finch seems just a trifle uncomfortable with Victorian English dialogue and description...." Read more

"...charmer, thoroughly aristocratic in his manner and morals but wonderfully accessible, a bachelor set in his ways with unique academic interests and..." Read more

41 customers mention "Pacing"26 positive15 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some find it well-paced and easy to read, with a smooth story flow. Others feel it's slow-paced, tedious, and frustrating at times.

"...The mystery is well-written, with good pacing, an intelligent plot, and just the right blend of clues and red herrings...." Read more

"...nothing really memorable or unique whatsoever, but shows good enough promise that it is reasonable to hope that the next installment will be an..." Read more

"...As in most all crime novels set in the UK, the pace is slow at times and scenes very descriptive, yet these are very well thought out...." Read more

"...The detective and hero of this book is a man of education, well bred, a lot of money and only spare time. Yet he dresses himself?!!???..." Read more

29 customers mention "Information quality"20 positive9 negative

Customers have different views on the information quality. Some find it engaging with good period details and history to pique their interest. Others feel it moves slowly, is filled with unnecessary details, and has convoluted mysteries. The characters seem sketchy and there are inaccuracies and errors that are annoying.

"...Lenox is an excellent detective, both observant and imaginative, but his vocation is not entirely accepted by either society or the police...." Read more

"...They mystery was well-done with lots of avenues to search...." Read more

"...the next two, but I have to warn you that not only is it not a tightly plotted mystery, but the author doesn't have much of an "ear" for different..." Read more

"...In order for this to happen, the writing must be clean, the research well done, and the story must take a hold of mr in such a way that I am..." Read more

Bought this used to support small businesses and is in great condition
5 out of 5 stars
Bought this used to support small businesses and is in great condition
I love books written by Charles Finch, I first found out about him thru my library online account under mysteries. I was not disappointed I listened to the audio book first and was hooked. I bought this in paperback for my Aunt to read, and now she's hooked also. Book was in perfect condition! See pics.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2021
    I've been hooked on the two series written by Charles Todd and was led to believe this author was similar. Yes and no. The British manners and altruism of the main character, Lenox, and his friends are a soothing read in these chaotic and angry times. A touch of humor. Healthy relationship between brothers. A budding romance between Lenox and Lady Jane Gray or at the least a friendship of mutual like and respect. Strong women and men and a well laid out and explained puzzle. I even kind of liked the murderer. If any weakness, maybe a lack of development of everyday people. The people downstairs are one dimensional. But then again we read British mysteries for the aristocracy and their feudal system. And the main characters are multifaceted. Maybe best of all, this is the first in a series with many more books yet to read.
    Much of what I like about the Charles Todd books can be found here. Although set in different eras, the characters demonstratecan similar strengths. Maybe that's the draw: honorable characters standing up for law and equality and doing what's right. And solving murder cases.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2015
    When we first meet Charles Lenox, he is already established as a detective. A gentleman of independent means, Lenox takes no payment for his efforts, and sometimes finds himself at odds with Scotland Yard. A Beautiful Blue Death, the first mystery in the series, opens when Lenox’s dear friend and neighbor, Lady Jane, asks him to look into the apparent suicide of her former parlormaid. His investigation leads to hints of a much larger crime which could threaten the stability of the nation.

    The mystery is well-written, with good pacing, an intelligent plot, and just the right blend of clues and red herrings. Charles Finch writes with a quite sensitivity and a reserve that reflects both Lenox’s character and the formality of upper- and upper-middle-class Victorian society. Neither Lenox nor the text itself are without emotion, but it is understated, as indeed a gentleman’s feelings would have been in that era.

    Lenox is an excellent detective, both observant and imaginative, but his vocation is not entirely accepted by either society or the police. He is much less flamboyant in personality than two of the other fictional gentlemen detectives with whom he might be compared: Lord Peter Wimsey and Albert Campion. Instead, he is more akin to Ngaio Marsh’s Roderick Alleyn. Campion and Wimsey tend to hide their intelligence behind a joking, somewhat foolish facade that often makes others underestimate them. Alleyn and Lenox are quietly brilliant, neither self-effacing nor drawing attention to themselves. They also share both a compassion for those involved in a case and an ability to remain somewhat dispassionately observant and analytical, a combination that serves each well in their work. And neither – in fact, none of the four I mentioned – allows class or social position of victim or perpetrator to influence their pursuit of justice.

    The supporting characters are well-drawn, particularly Lenox’s closest friends, Lady Jane and Thomas McConnell, a doctor married to Lady Jane’s friend Toto. McConnell is a useful ally, of course, with his medical knowledge – especially since Lenox can’t always rely on getting information from the police or coronor. I also enjoyed Charles’s older brother Edward, an MP; the brothers have an affectionate, supportive relationship. More surprising is the mutual respect and friendship shared by Lenox and his manservant Graham. Though Graham never allows himself to become over-familiar, it’s clear that Lenox confides in and relies on Graham in his work and does, in fact, consider him a friend despite the disparity in their station and their official relationship as employer and servant. Like McConnell, Graham serves as a useful confederate, particularly in gathering information from household staff.

    I actually started reading the Lenox mysteries with the two most recent books, both of which I loved enough that I decided to read the whole series in order. Book one is just as good as the later books, and that is saying something. (You can see my other reviews by clicking the “other books in this series” links at the top of this post.) If you enjoy British mystery, a tightly plotted and well-written puzzle, and a detective with a strong sense of justice and compassion, you really ought to give the Lenox series a try.

    REVIEW ORIGINALLY POSTED on The Bookwyrm's Hoard (blog), 2/19/2015
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2012
    Charles Lenox is a consummate Victorian gentleman -- fond of good books and good food, pleasant company, and a warm fire. But unlike most gentlemen of his social class, Lenox doesn't just visit his clubs and attend dinner parties -- he solves crimes. His wealth and status allow him to pursue his twin passions of academic research and travel as well as staying abreast of the latest in investigative methods and research, earning him a reputation for resourcefulness, discretion, and results. When Lady Jane Grey, his closest friend and neighbor, learns that her one-time maid, Prue, has died in suspicious circumstances, she turns to Charles for assistance. Unable to resist the charms of his lovely neighbor and the thrill of a new case, Charles accepts her commission and is thrust into the world of the enigmatic Barnard's household, where nothing is as it seems and everyone is suspect. As the director of the Royal Mint, Barnard is eager to see his maid's death rule a suicide. But when Lenox learns that Prue died from bella indigo -- an extremely rare poison known as the "beautiful blue" -- all evidence points to a killer with money and connections, and a plot that if left unchecked could shake the foundations of the British economy.

    Finch's debut introducing gentleman sleuth Charles Lenox is a cozy mystery lover's delight, replete with colorful characters, shadowy motives, and an investigator whose charm, persistence, and dedication to his craft promise a tidy resolution by the final chapter. Lenox is a charmer, thoroughly aristocratic in his manner and morals but wonderfully accessible, a bachelor set in his ways with unique academic interests and a determination to ferret out the truth of a case, no matter the cost. A cross between Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey, with a dash of Wodehouse-ian warmth and humor, the character of Lenox is without a doubt this novel's greatest strength. A gentleman in every sense of the term, Lenox's warmth and moral center, his well-placed idiosyncrasies, make him a wonderfully human protagonist -- not particularly charismatic (at this juncture, at any rate), his appeal lies in his unabashed, straightforward sincerity and unflagging loyalty to those individuals and causes closest to his heart.

    Compared to Lenox, the other characters populating his world are rather colorless, with only hints of promise and greater depth beneath the barest of hints granted on the page. McConnell, the tortured Scottish doctor and Lenox's forensic expert of choice, has a tantalizing backstory that is only hinted at. One hopes that in subsequent volumes of the series Finch explores McConnell's character and marriage to his polar opposite -- the vivacious Toto, a leading light in Lenox's social circle. Graham, Lenox's indefatigable butler, has a flair for investigative work and an unexpectedly close past with his employer, but his character remains frustratingly just out of reach, solely defined by his loyalty with the impetus for such left undefined. And while there is the promise of romance between Lenox and his long-time friend Lady Jane, sadly she is a cookie-cutter, colorless presence -- supposedly much in-demand socially, I was left with no idea why -- Lenox likes her and thinks she's pretty, but that one-sided, shallow perspective does not a compelling relationship make.

    Finch possesses a promising flair for bringing late 18th-century London to life, from the rich comforts of Lenox's home to the apothecaries and slums he visits as part of his investigation. Plot-wise, the storyline could use some finesse -- Lenox spends a great deal of time mulling over this clue or that development, which makes for a pleasant, leisurely-paced read as he is such a likeable fellow. But the text suffers from an inordinate amount of "info-dumping," a good portion of the final quarter of the novel devoted to Lenox recapping the case and his suddenly successful deductions. With more showing versus telling, and greater attention paid to character development beyond Lenox and a more tightly-plotted story, the pieces are in place for an enjoyable series -- and seeing that this novel is Finch's debut, I have hopes that subsequent outings show greater polish. A Beautiful Blue Death is a pleasant, light-weight diversion, sure to appeal to fans of Wimsey or Poirot. Though the mechanics of Finch's debut mystery may be quickly forgotten, the warmth, humor, and promise contained within the character of Lenox marks this as a the introduction of a memorable gentleman sleuth with whom I look forward to whiling away many more lazy afternoons.
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Martie Grof-Iannelli
    5.0 out of 5 stars I have read the next books in the series and have enjoyed them immensely
    Reviewed in Canada on December 30, 2017
    Charles Finch is an accomplished mystery writer. This title is his first in the Charles Lennox series and he depicts believable, solid characters. I have read the next books in the series and have enjoyed them immensely.
  • Liz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet!
    Reviewed in Australia on February 8, 2017
    I like the characters even if they lack complexity. Then again they are perfect for the simplicity of this lovely detective story. Light and easy to read, plot not bad, a tad lengthy. Looking forward to the next one.
  • tracie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 16, 2014
    it is what it is x
    One person found this helpful
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  • Christine Boos
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very cosy mystery novel!
    Reviewed in Germany on April 3, 2021
    A very cosy Victorian mystery à la Sherlock book to be read in a very cosy armchair in front of a roaring fire with a glass of sherry (or whiskey)! That is what the amateur detective, Charles Lennox regularly does in this novel. The main characters are pleasant, warm at heart. The first novel of a series which I will keep on reading.
  • Amazon Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful blue death.
    Reviewed in Australia on March 9, 2020
    Alright. Quite entertaining, but l recognise ideas from other writers. However l can see that this could be a good series.

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