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hinesight's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this, the opening book of the Charles Lexox mystery series. It didn't have the sense of humor that Laurie King's books do, and I missed that - everyone is very earnest.
omegabeth's review against another edition
4.0
not accurate, but a pleasant read
I was a bit taken aback by all of the comments about historical inaccuracies...they are certainly true, but I don't think they break the book. If you are looking for Historical Fiction, by all means, skip this. However, the writing was solid, the characters are enjoyable, and the story was interesting. I am looking forward tot he next installment.
I was a bit taken aback by all of the comments about historical inaccuracies...they are certainly true, but I don't think they break the book. If you are looking for Historical Fiction, by all means, skip this. However, the writing was solid, the characters are enjoyable, and the story was interesting. I am looking forward tot he next installment.
geekwayne's review
3.0
'A Beautiful Blue Death' by Charles Finch is the first book in a series about Charles Lenox, a gentleman amateur detective living in Victorian London. It's a good introduction to some interesting characters.
When we meet Charles Lenox at the beginning of this novel, it appears that he has been at his sleuthing for a while, and he is quite good at it. When his friend Lady Jane contacts him about the death of a former servant, he is glad to lend a hand in solving the case. What he finds is baffling and compounded when a second murder takes place. Add to that a whole house full of suspects with motives, and it makes for a tricky case to solve.
There are comparisons always to be drawn between any Victorian era detective and Sherlock Holmes. Lenox is more mannered and refined, but the similarities do persist from his disdain for Scotland Yard to his doctor friend whom he calls on for assistance. What is different is the help he receives from his manservant Graham, and the delightful Lady Jane.
While I enjoyed it with passable interest, it fell into the more cozy aspect of mystery books. I wouldn't mind seeing where this series goes by reading another one at some point. It's a pleasant enough way to spend a few hours.
I received a review copy of this ebook from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
When we meet Charles Lenox at the beginning of this novel, it appears that he has been at his sleuthing for a while, and he is quite good at it. When his friend Lady Jane contacts him about the death of a former servant, he is glad to lend a hand in solving the case. What he finds is baffling and compounded when a second murder takes place. Add to that a whole house full of suspects with motives, and it makes for a tricky case to solve.
There are comparisons always to be drawn between any Victorian era detective and Sherlock Holmes. Lenox is more mannered and refined, but the similarities do persist from his disdain for Scotland Yard to his doctor friend whom he calls on for assistance. What is different is the help he receives from his manservant Graham, and the delightful Lady Jane.
While I enjoyed it with passable interest, it fell into the more cozy aspect of mystery books. I wouldn't mind seeing where this series goes by reading another one at some point. It's a pleasant enough way to spend a few hours.
I received a review copy of this ebook from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
ladyethyme's review
3.0
Cosy mystery with excellent atmosphere and description that brings you right into a leather armchair by a crackling fire, with the smell of woodsmoke and buttered toast, something to read on a cold winter night.
However, some of the premises are faintly ridiculous, (and sadly many 19th century social gaffes/mistakes and situations that would never, ever occur-it seems to be set in 1920 at least, not 1860)…it would benefit from a TAD of historical research..(which clearly wasn’t bothered with)
I mean….not knowing valets existed? Literally no man in the book has one, and they’re never mentioned. NO upper class man, much less an aristocrat, would be without a valet, his closest and most personal servant.
One part that had my lol is “surely to research any poison in the world would be the work of the moment“ uuuuuuhh….hooooow in 1860? Hours in a library? Or a convenient Victorian internet connection?
-and I’m sad to say it’s rather obvious it’s written by an American. It’s full of Americanisms which are rather irritating and stand out.
The author is CLEARLY slapping together Sherlock Holmes and Lird Peter Wimsey. He doesn’t even try to disguise it…which….seems a bit cheap. But no, seriously, do yourself a favor and after reading this, go directly to “who’s body?“ By Dorothy Sayers, the first book the Peter Wimsey series, and tell me if it’s not the exact same set up/characters.
Also the female characters are…very one dimensional and silly, rather thin props.
But even Agatha Christie had elements in her work that were rather absurd, so I’m not going to hold that against it too too much, and as I’m a person who absolutely loves intense descriptions of atmosphere, the intricately detailed descriptions of every single meal was more whimsical and cozy then irritating, as it seem to be for other readers.
However, some of the premises are faintly ridiculous, (and sadly many 19th century social gaffes/mistakes and situations that would never, ever occur-it seems to be set in 1920 at least, not 1860)…it would benefit from a TAD of historical research..(which clearly wasn’t bothered with)
I mean….not knowing valets existed? Literally no man in the book has one, and they’re never mentioned. NO upper class man, much less an aristocrat, would be without a valet, his closest and most personal servant.
One part that had my lol is “surely to research any poison in the world would be the work of the moment“ uuuuuuhh….hooooow in 1860? Hours in a library? Or a convenient Victorian internet connection?
-and I’m sad to say it’s rather obvious it’s written by an American. It’s full of Americanisms which are rather irritating and stand out.
The author is CLEARLY slapping together Sherlock Holmes and Lird Peter Wimsey. He doesn’t even try to disguise it…which….seems a bit cheap. But no, seriously, do yourself a favor and after reading this, go directly to “who’s body?“ By Dorothy Sayers, the first book the Peter Wimsey series, and tell me if it’s not the exact same set up/characters.
Also the female characters are…very one dimensional and silly, rather thin props.
But even Agatha Christie had elements in her work that were rather absurd, so I’m not going to hold that against it too too much, and as I’m a person who absolutely loves intense descriptions of atmosphere, the intricately detailed descriptions of every single meal was more whimsical and cozy then irritating, as it seem to be for other readers.
nancy33's review
3.0
It was a pleasant book - not amazing or thrilling. Good company to listen to as I did things around the house.
mhmissey's review
Really nice period mystery. Characters you want to have a long talk with.
whosebooks_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Solid murder mystery. Kinda not so hard to guess what happened. You kinda go around with Lenox the detective living his life in vistorian London and he happens to be solving a murder. Slow and nice. Could be boring. The plot isn´t the best one in the world.
nolegirl's review
4.0
An enjoyable mystery that had some good twists and turns. Looking forward to finding the next in this series.
mamap's review
3.0
A fun murder mystery.
Set during the Regency of King George - the son of the mad King Henry.
It's a little wordy - very "old English", but that's entertaining too, The author is a graduate of Yale and Oxford - you can tell.
Set during the Regency of King George - the son of the mad King Henry.
It's a little wordy - very "old English", but that's entertaining too, The author is a graduate of Yale and Oxford - you can tell.