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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
There were elements of this that I enjoyed but a lot of it dragged for me. I prefer the denouement to come at the end. When the case was laid bare in this book I was startled at how much book was left. The author took much too much time wrapping up for my tastes.
What a disappointment, from beginning to end.
I only finished (painstakingly dragging myself to the last page) because it's a mystery, and it's hard to give a full judgment of a whodunnit without the solution. I needn't have bothered - the solution was as bland and illogical as the rest of the plot. Historical errors and jarringly anachronistic language were rife throughout the novel, the mystery plodded along without a decent clue or interesting twist for chapter after endless chapter until Lenox - practically a parody of a Phineas Fogg archetype, without every single thing that makes Verne's character interesting - finally leaps to some conclusions and the culprit shows up at his doorstep to confess. Convenient. There are also several weird, irritating stylistic flaws - like brief, abrupt switches from Lenox's perspective to sudden omniscience, or one single, late-in-the-game authorial voice intrusion, or the time jump near the end explaining what happens for the next few decades of one character's life...before sliding back to the regular time line for another couple of utterly unnecessary chapters. An example of one of these flaws -- when Lenox visits Skaggs, Mrs. Skaggs says she has never met the gentleman detective before, though she's seen him through his carriage window. A page later, as Lenox is leaving, she says it's always a pleasure to welcome him to her home. Which is it, Completely Unnecessary Character? There's so much padding - largely in the form of "and then they had tea and they had toast and it was nice and the fire was warm so Lenox felt warm and then he had a nap and then he woke up and had some coffee" - I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the author was paid by the word.
A Beautiful Blue Death completely fails as a mystery, as a work of historical fiction, and as anything like an interesting or engaging novel. It boggles the mind how there are several more in the series, but needless to say, I won't be reading any of them.
I only finished (painstakingly dragging myself to the last page) because it's a mystery, and it's hard to give a full judgment of a whodunnit without the solution. I needn't have bothered - the solution was as bland and illogical as the rest of the plot. Historical errors and jarringly anachronistic language were rife throughout the novel, the mystery plodded along without a decent clue or interesting twist for chapter after endless chapter until Lenox - practically a parody of a Phineas Fogg archetype, without every single thing that makes Verne's character interesting - finally leaps to some conclusions and the culprit shows up at his doorstep to confess. Convenient. There are also several weird, irritating stylistic flaws - like brief, abrupt switches from Lenox's perspective to sudden omniscience, or one single, late-in-the-game authorial voice intrusion, or the time jump near the end explaining what happens for the next few decades of one character's life...before sliding back to the regular time line for another couple of utterly unnecessary chapters. An example of one of these flaws -- when Lenox visits Skaggs, Mrs. Skaggs says she has never met the gentleman detective before, though she's seen him through his carriage window. A page later, as Lenox is leaving, she says it's always a pleasure to welcome him to her home. Which is it, Completely Unnecessary Character? There's so much padding - largely in the form of "and then they had tea and they had toast and it was nice and the fire was warm so Lenox felt warm and then he had a nap and then he woke up and had some coffee" - I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the author was paid by the word.
A Beautiful Blue Death completely fails as a mystery, as a work of historical fiction, and as anything like an interesting or engaging novel. It boggles the mind how there are several more in the series, but needless to say, I won't be reading any of them.
adventurous
mysterious
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
A bit of a slow start, but a lovely cozy world full of murder and intrigue. Really enjoyed the characters and the plot really picked up in the final third of the book. A very enjoyable read!
3.5. While not, perhaps, the most mysterious of books or even the most technically accomplished, Finch creates a wide atmosphere with his prose and anchors it well with Lenox, who reminds me somewhat of what may have happened if P. G. Wodehouse had tried to write Lord Peter Wimsey into existence. The three central relationships in the novel--namely, Lenox's friendship with his brother, his butler, and Lady Jane--provide a delightful frame for the novel and offer a pleasant depth to the airy feel of Finch's prose. Some of the Sherlockian moments felt a bit off-kilter to me, but over all I quite enjoyed Charles Lenox and look forward to reading his next case.
Not unenjoyable but I am so sick of the, "This detective is amazing cause he sees what no one else sees, he's like Sherlock Holmes!!!" Even one of the reviewers on the book said exactly this and I just rolled my eyes and wanted to throw the book.
Set in Victorian England this mystery has many twists and turns and well developed characters. Charles Lenox is a bachelor in the upper levels of society who spends his free time trying to solve the mysteries of the Ton.
Charles Lenox would be happy if he could find a good pair of warm waterproof boots, have a nice fire, tea a good book and the company of his neighbor Lady Jane. However he always seems to get sucked in by a good mystery as an amateur detective. In this book Lennox with the help of his brother, footman, and a host of other colorful individuals Lennox struggles to find the killer of a maid whose murder looks like a suicide but could hold the key to a much larger deception.
Excellent read, I may be picking up more of these charming books.
Charles Lenox would be happy if he could find a good pair of warm waterproof boots, have a nice fire, tea a good book and the company of his neighbor Lady Jane. However he always seems to get sucked in by a good mystery as an amateur detective. In this book Lennox with the help of his brother, footman, and a host of other colorful individuals Lennox struggles to find the killer of a maid whose murder looks like a suicide but could hold the key to a much larger deception.
Excellent read, I may be picking up more of these charming books.
I love it when I find a new mystery series that I like! Set in Victorian England in the 1860's, Charles Lenox is a gentleman and part time detective. He loves to travel and is looking forward to his next adventure. Unfortunately, his friend and neighbor Lady Jane needs him to look into the death of a former maid. What appears to be suicide turns into murder and Lenox must wade through several suspects to get at the truth. Lenox is good, not Sherlock Holmes good, but your average everyday detective who does get flashes of brilliance especially when he relies on the expertise of those around him. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Very slow burn mystery and worth it. I wouldn’t have guessed anything.
mysterious
slow-paced
This book was just plain boring. It’s a wannabe Sherlock Holmes with absolutely no suspense or drama. The book was way too long for the lack of plot. The only reason I still have it 2 stars instead of 1 is because I can see why some people might find this type of mystery appealing. Overall, it’s not the worst book in the world, it’s just not for me.