I'm officially entranced by this Victorian gentleman detective!
The Vanishing Man (Charles Lenox Mysteries #12, Prequel #2)
by Charles Finch
Dare I say it? I am SO enamored of Charles Lenox, a gentleman detective of Victorian times who can't ask for payment as that would seem like he's in 'trade.'
He is a thoroughly nice man (now 26), intelligent, a sense of humor, compassionate and always willing to learn.
This case was a difficult one for Lenox as he stepped into the rarified atmosphere of Dukes (of which there are only twenty-eight), their closeness to the throne in the pecking order of things, and how all this impacts Lenox's investigations when his particular Duke, the Duke of Dorset, is taken to the Tower when his manservant of thirty years, Craig, is killed.
A lively and often discouraging investigation that includes something stolen from the Duke's real private study (as opposed to his public private study--I love that!), lost Shakespearian realia, a kidnapping, and murder.
Somewhat puzzling, because it's never quite front and center, an inmate in Bedlam claiming to be falsely incarcerated becomes a concern for Charles.
Then there's Charles best friend and lost love Lady Jane (previously referred to as Elizabeth), and his rambunctious and delightful scamp of a nephew, Lancelot who provided some fabulous light relief. Lancelot's interaction with the Duke is priceless.
Mrs Huggins, Charles' most exacting housekeeper finds a scintillating relationship with cats, Graham is as always present and we meet the mysterious Mr Thaddeus Bonden, a man with a peculiar talent for observing and finding things.
Filled with intrepid, puzzling and often downright humorous happenings, this is a very clever and well written novel.
A Minotaur Books ARC via NetGalley
*****
by Charles Finch
Dare I say it? I am SO enamored of Charles Lenox, a gentleman detective of Victorian times who can't ask for payment as that would seem like he's in 'trade.'
He is a thoroughly nice man (now 26), intelligent, a sense of humor, compassionate and always willing to learn.
This case was a difficult one for Lenox as he stepped into the rarified atmosphere of Dukes (of which there are only twenty-eight), their closeness to the throne in the pecking order of things, and how all this impacts Lenox's investigations when his particular Duke, the Duke of Dorset, is taken to the Tower when his manservant of thirty years, Craig, is killed.
A lively and often discouraging investigation that includes something stolen from the Duke's real private study (as opposed to his public private study--I love that!), lost Shakespearian realia, a kidnapping, and murder.
Somewhat puzzling, because it's never quite front and center, an inmate in Bedlam claiming to be falsely incarcerated becomes a concern for Charles.
Then there's Charles best friend and lost love Lady Jane (previously referred to as Elizabeth), and his rambunctious and delightful scamp of a nephew, Lancelot who provided some fabulous light relief. Lancelot's interaction with the Duke is priceless.
Mrs Huggins, Charles' most exacting housekeeper finds a scintillating relationship with cats, Graham is as always present and we meet the mysterious Mr Thaddeus Bonden, a man with a peculiar talent for observing and finding things.
Filled with intrepid, puzzling and often downright humorous happenings, this is a very clever and well written novel.
A Minotaur Books ARC via NetGalley
*****
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