Synopses & Reviews
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?
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
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
Synopsis
When Victorian gentleman Charles Lenox begins to investigate the apparent suicide of a friend's former servant, he suspects murder—but to find the killer, he must untangle a complex web of loyalties and animosities before it's too late.
About the Author
Charles Finch, the author of the Charles Lenox mysteries, is a graduate of Yale and Oxford. A Beautiful Blue Death, his first novel, was nominated for an Agatha Award and was named one of Library Journal's Best Books of 2007, and The Fleet Street Murders was nominated for the Nero Award. Charles lives in Oxford, England. James Langton trained as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. An AudioFile Earphones Award winner, he has performed many voice-overs and narrated numerous audiobooks, including the international bestseller The Brotherhood of the Holy Shroud by Julia Navarro, The Virtues of War by Steven Pressfield, and The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan. He is also a professional musician who led the internationally renowned Pasadena Roof Orchestra from 1996 to 2002. James was born in York, England, and is now based in New York City.