A Beautiful Blue Death

January 2, 2012
This installment in Finch’s mystery series about Victorian gentleman and amateur detective Charles Lenox is devoted to the sleuth’s first case, in which—at the request of neighbor Lady Jane Grey—Lenox looks into the presumed suicide of a maid. As his investigation progresses, a second fatality—this one an obvious homicide—occurs at a fancy dress ball. James Langton’s vocal interpretation of Lenox adds a layer of humanity to the reserved detective. Through subtle but playful rendering of dialogue, Langton brings to life Lenox’s romantic feelings for Lady Jane, and hers for him. Additionally, Lenox’s relationship with his butler, which is rather stiff in print, is infused with warmth as well as the requisite feudal spirit. Langton gives each of the book’s prominent characters a distinctive voice, but his main success is the vocal personality he provides Lenox. A St. Martin’s Minotaur paperback.

April 9, 2007
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.