Bonus: my friend Jessica had read and liked it. This last of the three prequels to Finch's Charles Lenox mysteries finds our aristocratic detective in his late twenties, in 1855, feeling the strains for his unorthodox career choice (many of his social equals and members of Scotland Yard consider him a dilettante) and for his persistent unmarried state. These mysteries are neither gritty forensic procedurals nor taut psychological thrillers – but that's all right, since I'm not too fond of either. Finch received the 2017 Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing from the National Book Critics Circle. A chilling new mystery in the USA Today bestselling series by Charles Finch, The Woman in the Water takes readers back to Charles Lenox's very first case and the ruthless serial killer who would set him on the course to become one of London's most brilliant, 1850: A young Charles Lenox struggles to make a name for himself as a detective... without a single case. A case with enough momentum to recharge this series and grab new readers with its pull. "
The title has a poignant double meaning, too, that fits the novel's more serious themes. London, 1853: Having earned some renown by solving a case that baffled Scotland Yard, young Charles Lenox is called upon by the Duke of Dorset, one of England's most revered noblemen, for help. His first contemporary novel, The Last Enchantments, is also available from St. Martin's Press. In this intricately plotted prequel to the Charles Lenox mysteries, the young detective risks both his potential career—and his reputation in high society—as he hunts for a criminal mastermind (summary from Goodreads). The Hidden City (Charles Lenox Mysteries #15) (Hardcover). "There's such rawness in everyone — the mix is so different than usual, the same amount of anger, but more fear, less certainty, and I think more love. " Overall I found this mystery solid and what I would expect from a seasoned writer like Finch. A painting of the Duke's great-grandfather has been stolen from his private study. Lenox eventually takes on an apprentice, Lord John Dallington, a young dandy with a taste for alcohol but also a nose for mysteries, and the two get on well together. Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review"Lenox has officially reached the big leagues--the conclusion waiting for him is nothing short of chilling. Though it's considered a bit gauche for a man of his class to solve mysteries (since it involves consorting with policemen and "low-class" criminals), Lenox is fascinated by crime and has no shortage of people appealing for his help. I am not enjoying the pandemic, but I did enjoy Finch's articulate take on life in the midst of it.
Finch talks online with friends, soothes himself with music, smokes a little pot, takes long walks in Los Angeles, admiring its weird beauty. Asked to help investigate by a bumbling Yard inspector who's come to rely on his perspicacity, Lenox quickly deduces some facts about the murderer and the dead man's origins, which make the case assume a much greater significance than the gang-related murder it was originally figured as. I haven't read The Woman in the Water yet, which is the first prequel, but I was thrilled when The Vanishing Man came up. Charles Lenox has been a wonderfully entertaining detective and I adore so many of the mysteries in this series! "Prequels are is a mere whippersnapper in The Woman in the Water... a cunning mystery. " Lenox was in his classic role of smart and quick witted detective with a sharp eye and there were enough red herrings to keep me guessing until the reveal. There's a hysterical disjointedness to his entries that we recognize — and I don't mean hysterical as in funny but as in high-strung, like a plucked violin string, as the months wear on. Sadly I got sidetracked by other books and missed a couple in the middle, but I always came back to the series and found something to love in many of the books! Events of the past year and a half were stupefying and horrific — but we suffered them together.
He lives in Los Angeles. His investigation draws readers into the inner workings of Parliament and the international shipping industry while Lenox slowly comes to grips with the truth that he's lonely, meaning he should start listening to the women in his life. Lenox is a kind, thoughtful man, who tackles deep philosophical and moral questions but appreciates life's small comforts, such as a clandestine cup of cocoa at midnight, a stack of hot buttered toast or a pair of well-made boots. And were it possible, I'd like to time-travel to meet Lenox and Lady Jane on Hampden Lane for a cup of tea. "If the Trump era ends, " Finch writes on May 11, 2020, "I think what will be hardest to convey is how things happened every day, sometimes every hour, that you would throw your body in front of a car to stop. Christine Brunkhorst is a Twin Cities writer and reviewer. While he and his loyal valet, Graham, study criminal patterns in newspapers to establish his bona fides with the former, Lenox's mother and his good friend, Lady Jane Grey, attempt to remedy the latter. His essays and criticism have appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Washington Post, and elsewhere.
When the killer's sights are turned toward those whom Lenox holds most dear, the stakes are raised and Lenox is trapped in a desperate game of cat and mouse. Finch conveys it all here with all the humor and pathos the era deserves. One of the things I like about this series is, although there are back stories and personal plots for many of the characters in the series, Lenox included, it never becomes the focus of the story but rather stays focused on the mystery. Scotland Yard refuses to take him seriously and his friends deride him for attempting a profession at all. Remember when groceries were rationed, sports were canceled, and President Trump said the virus would be gone by Easter?
I will say though, the character Lancelot was a hoot! Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, 268 pages, $28. They stand on more equal ground than most masters and servants, and their relationship is pleasant to watch, as is Lenox's bond with his brother. He rails against politicians and billionaire CEOs. I spotted Lenox's fourth adventure at Brattle Book Shop a few months back, but since I like to start at the beginning of a series, I waited until I found the first book, A Beautiful Blue Death, at the Booksmith.
He is also quick, smart, and cleaver which makes him a fun lead in this story.