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A Death in the Small Hours: A Charles Lenox Mystery
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A Death in the Small Hours: A Charles Lenox Mystery
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A Death in the Small Hours: A Charles Lenox Mystery
Audiobook8 hours

A Death in the Small Hours: A Charles Lenox Mystery

Written by Charles Finch

Narrated by James Langdon

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

Charles Lenox is at the pinnacle of his political career and is a delighted new father. His days of regularly investigating the crimes of Victorian London now some years behind him, he plans a trip to his uncle's estate in the expectation of a few calm weeks. When he arrives in the quiet village of Plumley, however, what greets him is a series of strange vandalisms upon the local shops. Only when a far more serious crime is committed does he begin to understand the great stakes of those events, and the complex and sinister mind that is wreaking fear and suspicion in Plumley. Now, with his protege at his side, the race is on for Lenox to find the culprit before he strikes again.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateNov 13, 2012
ISBN9781624061516
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A Death in the Small Hours: A Charles Lenox Mystery
Author

Charles Finch

CHARLES FINCH is a graduate of Yale and Oxford. He is the author of the Charles Lenox myseries, including The Fleet Street Murders, The September Society, A Stranger in Mayfair, A Burial at Sea, A Death in the Small Hours, and An Old Betrayal. His first novel, A Beautiful Blue Death, was nominated for an Agatha Award and was named one of Library Journal's Best Books of 2007, one of only five mystery novels on the list. He lives in New York City.

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Reviews for A Death in the Small Hours

Rating: 3.7606836623931628 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5

    As usual Charles Finch writes an interesting detective story set in Victorian England.... His detective, now member of Parliament Charles Lennox is a gentleman of distinction, recently married t his best friend Lady Jane & now father of the baby Sophia. Unlike Victorian parents, they spend as much time as possible with Sophia.

    The story is set mostly in the countryside @ the estate of Charles's rather older cousin Freddy. Freddy has called Charles in to investigate a series of vandalism & theft in the small town.... While there a murder of one of the local police occurs..... Twists & turns throughout the story and the crime is mostly solved by 3/4 through.....

    It is well written but slow in places and Finch writes his books for both men & women to enjoy.

    What didn't work for me:

    * Lady Jane's machinations of matchmaking.....

    * The mention that John Dallington (Charles's protege) was in the investigation of the 1875 Waugh murder @ The Priory.... It seems it was merely mentioned in passing then ignored and could well have been omitted.... (see "Death at the Priory: Love, Sex, and Murder in Victorian England" by James Ruddick)

    * We never got to know the murder victim, a cousin of Constable and a Jr. Policeman himself. It seems he was just there to be a "body".
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was my August ER book. I had not read any of the previous entries in this series but it was easy to see why Lenox is a popular character. The mystery was light, everyone was charming, and Lenox is everything a hero should be.But I like my detectives a bit flawed, a bit on the rough side. Mind you, this is also a historical mystery and heros in the Victorian era needed to be 'gentlemen'.A nice easy, enjoyable read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A very good entry in the series. Most of the action takes place away from London, in this case at Lenox's cousin "Uncle Freddie". In the small town a series of vandalisms is followed by the murder of a young constable.

    Full of gentle manners and mild humor, this is the kind of book you finish with a smile on your face.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    1874 and Charles Lenox is content in his political career and his marriage but his days of investigation are now behind him and left to his protégé John Dallington. But then he gets a letter from his uncle Frederick Ponsonby in Plumbley, Somerset. It seems there have been several acts of vandalism in the village. While Lenox investigates a murder occurs.
    While enjoying this well-written mystery I was not that interested in the political story
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I dunno. I feel like something was lost with Lennox not in London. I really really enjoy the series but this one wasn’t one of the strongest for me.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    If you enjoy smartly written historical mysteries, then the Charles Lenox Mystery series may be just the one for you. Finch writes prose exquisitely with an eye to every detail. It is a pleasure reading his scenic descriptions as much as delving into the details of the mysteries themselves. The banter among characters is absolutely delightful and it eases the tension of the grizzly parts of the stories.This sixth book in series follows shortly in time after the conclusion of book five. It appears to be early fall of 1874, London and Somerset, U.K. Charles has been asked to open the speeches of Parliament at their upcoming session. It's a tremendous honor for this rising member. His older brother Edmund recommends heading to the country to allow Charles to focus without distraction on the writing of his speech. As it happens, their Uncle Frederick, of their mother's side of the family, had invited Charles, his wife and infant daughter to join him at his Everley country estate in Somerset. Within a postscript on the invitation, Uncle Frederick, as an enticement (knowing of Charles' passion for detective work), asks Charles to consider looking into acts of vandalism occurring in the nearby village of Plumbley. Now, how could Charles say no to that? So, it was off to Somerset they went, with nursemaid in tow. Surely, the mystery in this book is not just about the vandalism in Plumbley, you may ask. As it happens, a murder does occur on the village green, which may or may not be related to the other crimes. Protagonist Charles Lenox is in his element. He had sorely missed his old profession of being a discrete private detective, as Parliament holds all of his attention these days. Here was an opportunity laid at his feet to refresh his deductive skills and do what he loved to do.This was a most enjoyable read and I eagerly look forward to reading the next book in series, "An Old Betrayal".Synopsis (from book's dust jacket):Charles Lenox is at the pinnacle of his political career and is a delighted new father. His days of regularly investigating the crimes of Victorian London now some years behind him, he plans a trip to his uncle's estate, Somerset, in the expectation of a few calm weeks to write an important speech. When he arrives in the quiet village of Plumley, however, what greets him is a series of strange vandalisms upon the local shops: broken windows, minor thefts, threatening scrawls.Only when a far more serious crime is committed does he begin to understand the great stakes of those events, and the complex and sinister mind that is wreaking fear and suspicion in Plumley. Now, with his protege, John Dallington, at his side, the race is on for Lenox to find the culprit before he strikes again. And this time his victim may be someone that Lenox loves.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    As Lennox settles further into domesticity with Jane and new daughter and politics, he finds himself torn between the good he can do in Parliament and the joy of crime solving. However, a trip to Somerset to visit family and to work on his speech leads to a murder in the town square as the result of other illegal activities. As a historical, domestic novel, this one scores 4+ stars capturing small town life and Lennox's own struggles. However, as a mystery, the plot was a bit thin with very little action until the middle of the book. Read this one for the joy of getting to know the characters better.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the first book I've received from LT to review, and what a treat it was! One could wish for all won books to be as enjoyable.I had never read any of Charles Finch's Charles Lenox books, but this one made me want to read the previous books.The author immerses you in the Victorian period but doesn't delve into the darkside. It isn't quite as light as Emily Brightwell's Mrs. Jeffries mysteries nor as dark as Alex Grecian's Inspector Day books.Charles Lenox takes his work as a member of Parliament seriously and is proud to follow in the footsteps of his father and brother; however, he misses his involvement in private investigation. Lenox is to give the opening speech for Parliament and needs to get away because he can't concentrate or finish it for all the visitors stopping by. Uncle Freddie has invited Lenox and his family to the country for a stay at the ancestral home, and he also hopes Lenox can solve the recent village vandalisms.The familial relationships were developed and a pleasure to read. The village setting and characters were also a treat. I'm not a harsh critic, so long as a story is interesting I'm likely to enjoy it. I don't necessarily need to look for deep messages or commentary hidden within the storyline. There were some twists and turns----some of which I guessed and some not.I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes a good Victorian mystery.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Disclosure: I received this book as part of the LibraryThing early reviewer program.The 6th book in a series that remains quite delightful, although not always as strong as the first few novels. The 5th book was interesting, but while a ship is a great placed for a classic locked room mystery, this author shines with little details of life. Parents delighting in the amazingly soft skin of a new baby; a horse that greedily begs for apples. There are many asides involving friends, family, and pets in the book that develop the characters into real people, flawed and selfish and loving. The mystery in this novel is less prominent, but there are plenty of red herrings and clues to keep you guessing. My only complaint is the cricket scene in the middle of the book that brought all the forward motion to a halt; has Mr. Finch been watching Downton Abbey? Perhaps if I was from the UK, it would seem less out of place.A nice read, and a good break from the world of computers and phones.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Synopsis: Charles has been asked to give a speech on the opening of Parliament, and he can't get a moment alone to write it what with all of the members wanting him to promote their views. Luckily, his cousin, Freddie, has invited him to the country. Charles and family arrive and he is immediately plunged into a mystery regarding the vandalizing of two shops and a church. The mystery grows and Charles eventually solves it.Review: This was a convoluted story with a rather unsatisfying conclusion in that the villains are never really captured. However, it's a good story that kept me interested throughout.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    When a fictional detective announces he has solved the case barely halfway into the book, you know there must be a few surprises still to come. The problem with "A Death in the Small Hours" (Minotaur), the new Charles Finch paperback, is that there aren't nearly enough surprises. The second half of the novel, filled with details about a speech in Parliament, wedding plans and various domestic affairs, isn't nearly as interesting as the first half. What we have, essentially, is a 100-page denouement.Ah, but that first half makes fine reading. Charles Lenox, Finch's Victorian gentleman hero, finds himself so busy after becoming a member of Parliament that he no longer has time for his first love, solving difficult criminal cases. He has a major speech to prepare for, so he flees London with his wife, Jane, and baby daughter, Sophia, to his uncle's country estate, where he thinks he can find enough isolation to finish writing the speech.But the village of Plumbley has been plagued with a series of unusual cases of vandalism, and Charles is asked to look into the matter. When a young police officer is murdered, Charles really gets interested. He thinks the murder and vandalism are related.Charles sorts things out with surprising quickness, wrapping up several crimes all at once. Yet he hasn't quite solved the entire mystery, and this loose end leads to yet another murder.Charles Lenox fans will want to catch this installment in the series. Other mystery readers might want to give it a pass.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A return to form after the weakness of the previous book in the series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a great book. Well written, the characters are wonderful and I enjoyed the attention to detail and all the historical references. You can tell the author really does his research on the time period. I had never read any books by this author and this book had really piqued my interest in the author. I have ordered several of the authors other books and am looking forward to reading them.The mystery aspect was wonderful, thrilling and it really made me think. It is a perfect historical mystery. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries, you will not be disappointed!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is perhaps the least accomplished book of the series. The mystery isn't as engaging as usual, Charles ponders his career in politics but doesn't act upon it, very little happens with Lady Jane and frankly very little happens overall. I also don't care for children so all the doting over baby Sophia left me unimpressed. I sure hope the pace picks up again in the next book. I know it's foolish to expect constant quality from a series this size but it's such a shame for I remember glorious scenes and colourful characters, enticing intrigues and a type of writing ripe with possibilities.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I had read several of the earlier books in this series, so was pleased to get this through the Library Thing Early Reviewer Program in exchange for a promise to review it. I enjoy a number of mystery series set in Victorian England where gentry have the leisure to run about solving crimes, but this is one of the most pleasant. The characters are engaging and develop through the series - have enough troubles to keep things interesting, but not worrisome. I don't read these to explore the deep questions of life, but as distraction and escape and gentle stretching of my brain to places and times I've never seen. A good read- I do recommend starting early in the series, but it is not essential.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I hesitated between a three and a four for this comfy English countryside mystery. It has all the elements I like: it is in England being the most important. And it has interesting, not your stereotypical characters. And the plot moves forward at a comfortale jog with requisite red herrings, historical tidbits, etc. There is even a strong female main character. And Lady Jane does come up with a plot changing remark here and there. But the primary images of her are visiting her baby in the nursery and picking out new drapes. I enjoy these mysteries, even though I find myself craving for more depth in characters and storyline.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I received this book as an Early Reviewer through LT. This is the second book I've read from this series and for the most part, I enjoyed it. It did seem to take a long time to get into the story, with much time spent showing Charles doting on his infant daughter and/or agonizing over being asked to give the opening speech in Parliament while in London. Once the venue changed to his uncle's house in the country, however, and the mystery was introduced, I enjoyed it more. That being said, I did figure out "whodunnit" fairly early on; it just remained for the author to show me how and why. I also had anticipated the wedding which took place at the end, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment. Overall, this was an enjoyable book. I still intend to track down the earlier books in the series so I can get a better idea of Charles' life before marriage.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A Death In The Small Hours is the 6th mystery novel in the Charles Lenox series by Charles Finch.For this particular series, while I do not think it is necessary to read them in exact order, I do think it would be good for a reader to have read one or two of the earlier books to get the most benefit from this one.Charles Lenox is to give a speech in Parliament that will be the greatest moment in his political career so far. But he needs peace and quiet in order to write it. He decides to bring his family to visit his uncle Frederick in the country where Lenox grew up. Lenox is excited to learn there have been some mysterious vandalisms in his uncles village, and during his visit a murder takes place, plunging Lenox into the thick of a mystery once again. John Dallington, who has taken over Lenox's former private detective business, still consults Lenox on tough cases. Lenox also has to intervene when Dallington falls victim to his old vices. Dallington ends up in the country with Lenox to assist him in this village murder mystery.The mystery has some twists and turns and when you think the mystery is solved, it is not. There is a good amount of action and suspense.I enjoyed this, but not as much as some earlier books in the series. For one, Lenox seems very sad to be out of the detective business, but he feels Parliament is his duty. There is a gloomy atmosphere throughout the book at Lenox's struggle between what he loves to do and what he should do. Also, one of my favorite elements in the earlier books had been the relationship between Lenox and Lady Jane, and while that is still there to a point in this book, Lady Jane seems dissatisfied too, for much of the book. Of course, real life IS like that, I realize. However, I enjoy "escaping" into cozier mysteries like this one, so I'm hoping for more happiness for Charles and Lady Jane in future books.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    In A Death in the Small Hours as in the others in the series, Finch conveys the atmosphere of Victorian England through richly detailed description, formal dialogue, deliberate pace and well researched historical detail. That said, I find Lenox to be much less interesting now that he’s become a doting father and a reluctant statesman. I prefer the mysteries of the previous books to the adoration of baby Sophia and the anxiety over Parliamentary duties in this book. Unfortunately, the mystery in this book was also lacking and not as complex or well plotted as usual. The supporting roles continue to be outstanding and I hope for more from Dallington. While this is not the strongest book in the series, it’s still worth reading for fans.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A Death in the Small Hours is the 6th book in the Charles Lennox series by Charles Finch and one of my favorites. Reading the reviews on LT I see that isn't true for everyone though. By the time of this book Charles has been a member of Parliament for several years and has not been doing any detection although he does consult with his young friend John Dallington on his cases. When a letter arrives from Charles' uncle asking him to come visit and help solve a murder in the quiet town near his estate Charles thinks he will decline but later changes his mind, not because of the promise of the investigation, but because he is due to give an important speech in Parliament and is being continually distracted by the visits of other politicians trying to influence his topic. And so off they go, Charles, his wife Jane, their baby Sophie, and nursemaid Miss Taylor, to Uncle Frederick and Everley. I found the mystery good, the setting charming and the new characters introduced to the series interesting. With each book there is greater depth to Lennox as he struggles with the same life events we all do.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Much fun. I always love the fact that Finch has long codas to his novels that occur after the mystery is over. Characters are always good and the plotting is solid.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Set in 1874, A Death in the Small Hours picks up right where we left off at the end of A Burial at Sea. Our favorite Victorian gentleman, Charles Lenox, finds himself contemplating life. He has everything a man should want for: a loving wife, a daughter, and is a highly respected member of the House of Commons. There’s just one small problem…he misses being a detective. At times Lenox does question if he made the right decision leaving his now defunct career as a detective for that of a life in Parliament. Lenox loves politics, “but for all his pleasure in the long debates and the hushed hallway conversations of his present life, Lenox had never quite felt as viscerally engaged with Parliament as he had with crime.” Meeting with his protégé, Lord John Dallington, of course doesn’t help shake off the feeling that perhaps he made the wrong decision. In key scenes like these your heart aches for Lenox.When the opportunity comes to deliver the opening speech, Lenox decides to spend a few quiet weeks in Somerset to work on his speech. He seeks refugee at Everley, his Uncle Frederick Ponsonby’s house in Plumbley. Uncle Freddie takes the opportunity to request Lenox’s assistance in a serious matter. Plumbley has been plagued by a series of vandalisms where baffling clues have left behind; that of a sketch of a man and a black dog along with roman numerals painted on a church door. The question: who is behind this and why. Lenox gets the chance to dip his toes in detection and when a murder occurs he knows time is of the essence. The mystery itself is satisfying and Finch isn’t one to make it easy on a reader regarding the suspect list. Be prepared to admit defeat.For readers not familiar with nineteenth century England, Finch provides detailed descriptions in both political, social, and industrial. While Finch gives us history lessons, he does it in a subtle format. For example, Lenox arrives in London from Somerset and immediately stepping off the train platform his eyes sting from the London fog. He goes on to explain, “It was a worsening problem; on one day earlier that month the mixture of yellow fog and coal smoke—what residents called the London Particular—had been so bad that the police ordered the streetlamps lit during the daylight hours, not much after noon.” Coal was the primary fuel used in the nineteenth century as a source of heat and power. As the coal soot drifted down it mixed with smoke and fog causing a London Particular. The death of cattle mentioned in A Death in the Small Hours due to this London Particular did indeed happen. On December 10, 1873, cattle being exhibited at the Great Show at Islington suffocated; the smoke was so thick it was impossible to see across the street and many reported a choking sensation was felt while breathing. Finch also makes you contemplate little tidbits he weaves within the narrative. For example, “A funny quirk of the language, as the Times had pointed out recently, that in Britain the Royal Mail delivered the post, while in the United States, the Postal Service delivered the mail.” When I mentioned this particular piece to a friend her response was, “(long pause) I think my brain just exploded.” We spent the next several minutes discussing this in great detail.If I could take a moment to discuss Finch’s writing; I’m the first to admit that I love his writing. A Death in the Small Hours is his best to date; it’s beautifully written and evocative. Finch’s narrative of Lenox with Sophia left me spellbound. Lenox describing his visit in 1854 to Sophia had me smiling with tears in my eyes. In every Lenox and Sophia scene, you could feel the love Lenox has for his daughter. When I think about which scenes stand out, I’d say the cricket scene is at the top of the list along with the advice in speech writing, however; there were three particular scenes that had me in tears. I worry about spoilers and will keep quiet regarding what they are; however, I will say this, as I write this the emotions associated with those three scenes still leave me a bit emotional.While A Death in the Small Hours does lag on occasion, it is by no means a snore. Some have questioned the need for the cricket scene, but upon reflection it is integral to the plot. Fans of the series may criticize the short appearance of several beloved characters. Dallington plays a vital, but small role; Graham and McConnell’s appearance was short and I longed for more. We are introduced to two new characters and I cannot wait to see their appearance in future books. Finch does a superb job with the narrative and you’ll walk away contemplating life and one’s decisions. The only outcome of course is to move forward and anticipate the future.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It always amazes me that in these relatively short novels, so very much happens. As usual wonderfully atmospheric, but quite alot of history, about Parliament and it's laws are also covered. The very proper English manners, the wonderfully developed characters and the crimes perpetuated in a small village are all related in this very welcome addition to this amazing series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Charles Lenox has been asked to give an important speech to both houses of Parliament – but he’s constantly being interrupted by well-meaning colleagues who want to give him advice. He decides that it’s time that he, his wife Jane and baby daughter Sophia visit his mother’s cousin, whom Lenox calls “Uncle Frederick,” to get away from it all and concentrate on his speech. Uncle Freddy had written about a series of minor crimes in Plumbley, where Freddy is the local magistrate. Lenox has given up (or has he?) his former occupation of private investigator now that he’s in the House of Commons and is a new father. But he can’t help himself and he sets out for the town square to talk to the victims of vandalism and to the local constable, who welcomes the help of a renowned detective like Lenox. Then one of the people Lenox has met is murdered … and it’s up to Lenox to figure it out before anyone else is put in danger.Death in the Small Hours is the sixth in this historical series, this one set in the 1870s … and it‘s one of the best. The last book (A Burial at Sea) was set aboard a ship traveling to Egypt, and was without (for the most part) the supporting characters that make the Lenox mysteries so good. I am happy to have our hero back on dry land and, especially, in a small village, where his cerebral approach to detecting fits so well. There was something of a sense of “finality” in the last chapters of this book, and I hope that doesn’t mean Death in the Small Hours is the last we’ll see of Charles Lenox. He’s one of the few protagonists whose stories my husband enjoys as much as I do.