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Product Description
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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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)
“A fine specimen of the genre…. Particularly good is [Finch’s] delineation of Lenox’s cozy-but-proper relationship with Lady Jane.” —The Washington Post
“The best sort of historical mystery—clever, charming, full of period detail, and a delight to read.” —David Liss, author of The Whiskey Rebels
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Most helpful customer reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
A great disappointment,
By ktkat1949 "ktkat49" (BC CANADA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Beautiful Blue Death (Paperback)
Based on the only review and the fact I love mysteries set in Victorian England I bought this book with high anticipation. It was a great disappointment. The characters were flat and uninteresting.No depth no faults no strong emotions. Their behavior is NOT typical of their time period (a high society lady going to a chambermaid's funeral?? I think not) Fresh garlic hanging from ceiling in the kitchen of a proper upper class house. Never. The English never even started to use garlic until after WWII when the soldiers brought the idea back from the fighting in Italy. A footman breaking down in crying in front of the master and rest of the household?? Very poor dialogue and obviously very little research was done into the historical period. Aside from the occasion comment about landmarks the book could have been set in today's world. At the end of the book I suggest you try to describe the physical appearance of any of the characters. Bland and colourless.Will not be buying anymore in this series. I surprised he got a publisher to print it.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful sense of time and place,
By
This review is from: A Beautiful Blue Death (Paperback)
Charles Finch has created characters that are true to their time. There are no jarring notes to take you out of Victorian London and throw you back into the 21st Century. The mystery is well-developed, the prose is smooth and Charles and Lady Jane behave as one expects the Victorian upper class to act. I enjoyed this book very much (as I did the second book in this series - The September Society)and hope there will be many more adventures with Charles Lenox
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
3.6 out of 5 stars (84 customer reviews) 56 of 56 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful characters, story well told,
By Armchair Interviews - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: A Beautiful Blue Death (Hardcover)
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. 38 of 40 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Victorian mystery,
By Bookworm "Bookworm" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: A Beautiful Blue Death (Hardcover)
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. 23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
New mystery series one of the best. !!,
By Sharon B. Slaney "Librarian" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: A Beautiful Blue Death (Hardcover)
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!!
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