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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
All the characters in this novel have personalities determined by class stereotypes. The toff protagonist noblesse-obligingly eats, drinks, and smokes his way through the drawing rooms of other toffs to solve the murder of his neighbor's maid. The clubby British aristocrats in this story make me sick. Too bad one of them wasn't killed.
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
Found this one on a list of recommended mysteries--I can't remember where I saw it, but our library had it and I thought I'd try it out. It's the first of quite a lengthy series, and it's a bit rough at the start--awkward wording, some anachronistic speech, a bit too much backstory detail crammed in. About a quarter of the way through, I considered abandoning it, but decided to stick with it, and I am glad I did: as the story developed, Finch seemed to relax into better writing. There's a lot of cozy detail in this book--one of the big events is Lenox finally finding someone to make him really comfortable, warm boots, and Lenox seems to be constantly moving from one delicious meal to a tea of butter-drenched toast--which makes it fun to read. I plan to pick up the next one fairly soon!
A solitary, upper-class investigator in Victorian London investigates a crime to which he is connected by multiple threads.
Another case of "what the doctor ordered." This is super-tropey but in a good way: of course he values his "man" more than he values men of his class, and they have backstory; of course there is a widowed love interest; of course he drinks tea and reads books. Of course he has a brother involved in politics who is more influential than he suspects. Of course he is utterly ruthless in a pursuit of truth.
A softer, gentler Holmes. Not a genius--and not a genius book--but exactly what the doctor ordered.
Recommended if you're looking for a new cozy/puzzle mystery in a historical vein.
Another case of "what the doctor ordered." This is super-tropey but in a good way: of course he values his "man" more than he values men of his class, and they have backstory; of course there is a widowed love interest; of course he drinks tea and reads books. Of course he has a brother involved in politics who is more influential than he suspects. Of course he is utterly ruthless in a pursuit of truth.
A softer, gentler Holmes. Not a genius--and not a genius book--but exactly what the doctor ordered.
Recommended if you're looking for a new cozy/puzzle mystery in a historical vein.
This book is terrible. It is a conventional plot but I enjoy conventional mysteries. However, it is incredibly poorly written. The only way I can figure that this got published is that he has an aunt or uncle high up in a publishing house. Otherwise there is no excuse.
This is a delightful cozy victorian british mystery! Made me want some scones and tea by the fire while I listen to Charles Lenox tell me all about the ins and outs of this case! Do I passionately need to read every single one of his mysteries, not really. But I enjoyed it and if I'm ever stuck for what to read next, I'll pick up another of these books.
My friend and colleague, Martha, intro'd me to this series when I was finishing my latest Jacqueline Winspear. I love the Victorian-era setting and Charles Lenox's growing respect for women, as the series progresses.