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A Beautiful Blue Death
A Beautiful Blue Death
A Beautiful Blue Death
Audiobook8 hours

A Beautiful Blue Death

Written by Charles Finch

Narrated by James Langton

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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About this audiobook

Charles Lenox, Victorian gentleman and armchair explorer, likes nothing more than to relax in his private study with a cup of tea, a roaring fire and a good book. But when his lifelong friend Lady Jane asks for his help, Lenox cannot resist the chance to unravel a mystery.

Prudence Smith, one of Jane's former servants, is dead of an apparent suicide. But Lenox suspects something far more sinister: murder, by a rare and deadly poison. The grand house where the girl worked is full of suspects, and though Prue had dabbled with the hearts of more than a few men, Lenox is baffled by the motive for the girl's death.

When another body turns up during the London season's most fashionable ball, Lenox must untangle a web of loyalties and animosities. Was it jealousy that killed Prudence Smith? Or was it something else entirely? And can Lenox find the answer before the killer strikes again-this time, disturbingly close to home?
LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 27, 2011
ISBN9781452674544
A Beautiful Blue Death
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 Beautiful Blue Death

Rating: 3.5425001023333333 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I'm loving this book - the setting is ideal - London, in the mid-1800's, Christmas time, in the affluent society circle - the main character's favourite place is his library, with the fireplace and tons of books with tea. Aaah, now that is my nirvana.

    Hope that there are many more by Charles Finch to come.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    How can I write a fair review when I have only read about 1/2 of this mystery. I guess that kind of says it all IMO. By mid read it turned awful. What a boring detective. He reminds me of a Victorian version of Allingham's Campion what with his butler friend, but that is all the resemblance there is. Please see Stewarty's review below. I wish I had read it before I even ordered the book. Her review is right on and funny. I hope Mr. Finch does a better job with his later mysteries and gives some depth to the Character of Lenox. However I dare not take the chance to find out.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
     good story, but I figured out who the killer was fairly early so not that much of a mystery. This is an easy read and I was able to read it all in one day. This is the first book by Charles Finch. Overall a good book to take on a day trip or to the beach.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Trying very hard to be Sherlock Holmes, and failing. Somewhat interesting, but no real depth. Just a quick read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Chakra Finch writes beautifully. He creates wonderfully details characters and interesting complex logic. I loved this book!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed this book immensely! The first chapter was a little choppy since it gave data on previous "cases" so the reader automatically assumes there was a previous book in the series - which there is not. Once you get into the rythm of the book, you willl find it quite entertaining. The characters were warm and intriguing - they felt like real people and not just fictional characters. Keep a watch for this author, he's shows great promise.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    For some reason this book didn't grab me the way I expected. It could mean that my first and only reading slump isn't over or that this was simply a miss for me (which is strange because I like this genre). Whatever the reason, I found the characters' conversations annoying and some of ordinary things the protagonist does are way too detailed (having tea, breakfast and such).
    Still, take this with a grain of salt. For now it was simply an okay story. I might return to this book when I am in better mood for it. This doesn't mean I'll give up on the series though.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Charles Lenox is an armchair sleuth, so when a servant is found dead (suicide? Murder?) and a bottle of poison discovered nearby, he has to get involved.I rather wish he hadn't. While I like the Victorian setting, the story on a whole just bored me. I didn't feel empathy for the characters, didn't especially like or dislike any of them. The murder mystery didn't draw me in. Lots of talk and speculation, little action. Ho-hum. However, I did learn a great deal about what Charles ate, when he ate what he ate, and with whom he ate what he ate. He is a rather prissy character, but not even prissy enough to be interesting.I have the next book in this series, and will probably listen to it, but unless it is a good deal better than this book, I'm done with the series.I listened to the Audible version, and the narration was quite good.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I didn't read any more of the series after this one. It was just meh. I don't know why anyone would waste time on this with all the amazing mysteries out there. Re-read Agatha Christie or something.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was introduced to this author from reading the The Last Passenger which was part of the prequel for this series. I found this book to be rich in detail of London during Victorian times -- along with a mix of humor, insight and of course the mystery. The detail is rich and I found myself taken away to this time -- with a nice mix of historical references. While I enjoyed the prequels -- I found a Beautiful Blue Death to be more rich in detail -- all while telling a compelling story.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Delightful. Will definitely be reading the rest of the series. Thanks, Sara!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Another Victorian mystery I wanted to like, and another that was only ok. As an American trying to write British mysteries set in the same era, I'm sure I'm overly critical, but there were some Americanisms even I could see and a curious lack of crisis or resolution at the end -- it just sort of tailed off into further events that didn't seem related to anything. And I'm afraid I was never made to care about the victim, so I had trouble caring about whether her murder was solved. He's published more so I might try again . . . later.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A nice change of pace from the mysteries and thrillers I normally read with interesting characters.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Definitely in the tradition of the Agatha Christie, British upper crust type detective mystery. Found this author's treatment of his characters - esp the protagonist and inner circle- were drawn more sympathetically, his tone a bit warmer than the usual Christie style. Not a very fast paced plot... and the descriptions about the 1860s British political scene, and London environs/economic situation took readers on side trips, but it helped build historical context. I think I'd read another!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a 3 star book for most of its journey--it was good, but I wasn't jumping up or down about it--but I loved the resolution and denouement so much, it bumped up a spot. Well done, book!

    It's not perfect--and the author acknowledges that in the later edition I read--so I'll start with what I liked, and then move to quibbles.

    I liked most of the main cast and apparent recurring characters, most of the sense of place/time, and the realities of the detection (the hero realises he can't just barge into the murder house forever, quizzing people, as fictional detectives as so often wont to do). I thought the author played very fair with the clues and resolution (I spotted one of them, but it didn't lead me to immediately guess the ending).

    I enjoyed the tone of the book, and appreciated that the level of violence was medium-low which suits me just fine: I sit midway on the violence continuum between "Binky McSillypants and the Crumpets of Doom" (all pinks, with tea and crumpets on the table, and Binky (the cat detective) curled nearby), which would be too twee for me, and at the other end "Murder: Death House" (sans serif giant letters, with as nearly giant an author's name (something like Ed Black) below, and some hazy photographic monochrome image barely below that might resolve into a weapon if you peer really closely).

    Quibbles? None of the suspects really came to life, and were all white men, and I had trouble distinguishing between Duff and Potts and Soames etc. until quite near the end. Also, the author had this very unusual tic of repeating himself, but in a manner that suggested it was first-time information, leading me to think I was re-reading sections when in fact I really had advanced. Here's a made-up example detailing the Humpy Dumpty story:

    "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall ... He enjoyed the view while having tea, because he was up quite high, having decided to sit on a wall .... Luckily for Humpty, he had quite good balance--a necessary condition when one (as Humpty did) sits on walls frequently... He looked forward to meeting his friend Jack Sprat later in the day, at Jack's home, because Humpty enjoyed sitting on walls and Jack was afraid of heights."

    There might be a page or two or entire chapters between each repetition of previously-established fact, and it's entirely unnecessary and a bit irksome. I will go to my grave knowing what splendours await one who turns left when entering the House of Commons by the members' door, because of that repetition, and it didn't figure into the plot!

    Hopefully it's a habit he grew out of, because I look forward to book #2 now.

    (Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The first of this detective series by Charles Finch, the reader is taken back to Victorian era London. Charles Lenox, a gentleman sleuth, solves the murder of his neighbor's former lady's maid. You get the picture! I enjoyed the gentle unfolding of this story, its characters, and the kind nature of the protagonist. There was an enjoyable, humorous musing about the foibles of the upper class as well. Very nice read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I find it amazing that the author penned this in one sitting. It is well written and the characters are great. The setting is very soothing and comfortable. I'm not sure I want to read more of this author's work.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Such a wonderful debut novel by American born Charles Finch - a double murder mystery set in the year 1865 amidst the haves and have-nots of Victorian England. His writing style is elegant and most engaging. His research into the goings on of the day is most commendable. Admittedly, this reader was a little late to party and read the three subsequently written prequels before launching into the series. However, it still is a wonderfully engrossing read twelve years later. I eagerly look forward to amateur detective Charles Lenox's next case. Synopsis (from book's dust jacket):Equal parts Sherlock Holmes, Gosford Park, and P. G. Wodehouse, this Victorian debut introduces a wonderfully appealing detective and his friend, the lovely Lady Jane.On most days during London's long winter, Charles Lenox, a Victorian gentleman and armchair explorer, likes to relax in his private library with a cup of tea, a roaring fire, and a good book. But when his lifelong friend Lady Jane asks for his help, Lenox finds himself in the heart of a another mystery - one more complicated and layered than any he's ever faced.One of Jane's former servants, Prudence Smith, is dead -- an apparent suicide. But Lenox immediately suspects something more sinister: murder by a rare and deadly poison. The patrician house where the girl worked and lived is full of suspects, and while Prudence played with more than a few hearts, even Lenox is baffled by the elusive motive behind her death.When another body turns up during the London season's most fashionable ball, Lenox must untangle the web of loyalties and animosities surrounding the Barnard mansion. He has friends to help him with the task, not least his faithful valet, Graham, and his assistant and friend, Dr. Thomas McConnell. But suddenly their work grinds to a halt: Lenox's rival at Scotland Yard, Inspector Exeter, has taken a personal interest in the case. Did jealousy kill Prudence Smith? Was it the mysterious treasure secretly inhabiting an upstairs room in the house? Or was it something else entirely - something that the brilliant Lenox alone can uncover before the killer strikes again, dangerously close to home?
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I think I'm being generous with this rating as I'm spoiled with the wonderful Regency mysteries of C.S. Harris and Anne Perry's Victorian William Monk series. This story was somewhat convoluted while not really adding to the murder mystery. As other reviewers noted, there is a lot of anachronisms and inaccuracies that a little research would have fixed. Charles Lenox is likable enough though Lady Jane is a bit of a cipher, more of a cardboard cutout for a female role. I did find the relationship between Lenox and his butler odd. Sometimes they're friendly and other times strictly employer/employee for no particular reason (no one else is there). All the men in love and having sex with the murdered maid was also strange to me; why aren't they all suspects right away? Lenox's reasoning just didn't work for me.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The first book in the Charles Lenox mystery series sets an ambition challenge for Charles Lenox, English gentleman and amateur detective. A young house maid is poisoned with the rare bella indigo - the beautiful blue - and the evidence points to a suicide, but Charles immediately suspects that the young girl was murdered. But why? And who among the house guests committed the crime? As Charles digs deeper he begins to unravel a complex scheme of murder tied to potential financial gain. I really enjoyed this first mystery by Charles Finch. It easily fits the mold for the quintessential English detective novel, and with the character of Charles Lenox I see hints of other great fiction detectives, from Sherlock Holmes to Hercule Poirot. The story is set in 1867 and we get a wonderful glimpse of Victorian London. Lenox is an interesting character, a man of wealth and means, second son to a lord, so he has the time available, and the pedigree necessary, to investigate crimes among London's upper crust. Lenox has cultivated a great list of friends and acquaintances who he depends on for their expertise, from his good friend Dr. McConnell, his brother Edward, his butler Graham, and his good friend Lady Jane. As Holmes was an expert in many areas, able to deduce the smallest details from simple clues, Lenox is an expert on people, and uses a large and growing group of experts to aid him in his case. The case is suitably complex, and Charles Finch does a great job of leading the reader down the paths of dead ends, red herrings, and important clues. When the killer and motive are revealed, the vital clues are explained, and you learn that everything needed to solve the crime had been presented. There were no mysterious clues or off the page deductions, and I really enjoyed this. In a few places Finch tended to ramble, as Lenox goes off on a tangent about travelling, or discussing the goings on of society. These added to the setting, but slowed a the novel a bit in the middle, but not enough that I would not recommend this book. It is still a great mystery and a great read, and I am looking forward to the other books in the series.I listened to the audiobook narrated by James Langton. Langton does an excellent job of bringing the characters and story to life, easily jumping between the voices, from Scottish burr to standard English, upper class and lower class. I found all of the characters distinct and the production did not have any flaws in it. If you are looking for a good mystery, featuring a wonderful amateur detective, then I recommend you pick up A Beautiful Blue Death. Like me, I am sure you will find yourself entranced by Charles Finch's world.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This Victorian era murder mystery seems to have been inspired by both Sherlock Holmes and P.G. Wodehouse’s Jeeves. Like Holmes, the protagonist, Charles Lenox, uses his mind to solve the crime and is a better detective than his counterpart at Scotland Yard. Lenox’s clever butler, Graham, is reminiscent of Jeeves. Although the mystery is not riveting. the main characters are finely drawn and the small details of life in Victorian London make this a pleasant and engaging novel.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Victorian gentleman, Charles Lenox, is called on to solve a mystery by his close friend and neighbour Lady Jane Grey. He can't say no to his friend or to solving a mystery.Prudence Smith, a previous servant of Lady Grey's, has been found dead in her room. Suicide is the immediate determination, but when Lenox examines the scene he suspects it is something more. Results from analysis of evidence reveals poisoning by a rare and deadly poison. People residing under the roof of the house the girl works in provide a good list of possible suspects. Add to that the fact that Prudence has flirted with a few of them and the solution becomes even more complicated.I enjoy reading books set in various eras. In the last few years I've added the Victorian era. Finch does a good job in descriptives, dialog and plot lines. I am not an expert in the era, so something can easily slip by when it comes to authenticity, but his style, flow and use of language make the story move at a good and fairly steady pace. I plan on reading more of his work.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I finished this book, but it took awhile. The synopsis sounding interesting and I loved the cover, but I had a hard time getting into the story. I think the main reason I struggled was that there were too many tedious details about everyday things like lunch, tea, and idle conversation. The mystery was interesting, but the ending left me unsatisfied. This is the debut novel in the Charles Lenox series, so perhaps the rest are better as it is a long series, so it must get readers.

    The story takes place in 1865 London with Charles Lenox as the protagonist and Lady Jane Grey his friend. They grew up together and their friendship is charming and sweet and very well written. In the story, Lady Jane's previous maid has died at her new place of employment and it is being put down as a suicide. Neither Lady Jane or the maid's friends believe she would have killed herself. The owner of the home and the master of the maid, want it taken care of quickly and put to rest. He certainly does not want a criminal investigation going on in his house as he is preparing to give the "Ball of the Season. As Charles investigates, he is a Sherlock Holmes type sleuth, not a policeman, he believes it it murder. When another murder occurs in the house during the ball, Charles eventually figures out the culprits, but the ending seems forced and there seems to be no closure.

    This was an okay read for me, I did not dislike it, but I did not gobble the story up as I had expected I would. I might try one more in the series to see if I enjoy it, but I will not be moving it to the top of my TBR list. I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It's 1865, and Charles Lenox is a gentleman, the younger brother of baronet Sir Edmund Lenox, living in London and pursuing his hobbies and passions.

    One of his hobbies is planning foreign travel. He rarely takes these carefully planned trips, because one of his passions is solving crimes. He has a friend who sometimes assists him, Dr. Thomas McConnell, but that fact and his ability to deduce interesting facts about people from evidence that others miss is really where the resemblance to that other great Victorian-era detective ends. Lenox is not a professional, a consulting detective. He's an amateur, doing this for love and usefulness. When his neighbor and friend, Lady Jane Grey, asks for his help, he immediately cancels his latest planned trip.

    A former housemaid of Lady Jane's, Prudence Smith, has died, either by murder or suicide, at the home of her new employer, George Barnard. Barnard is an acquaintance, and also the head of the Royal Mint, and is more interested in preventing scandal than finding the truth.

    It's a delicate case, and gets a bit more challenging when Inspector Exeter, a senior man at Scotland Yard but inclined to be resentful of Lenox's interference, is assigned to investigate it.

    Finch leads us through an intricate puzzle involving Barnard's two nephews, both living with him, Prudence Smith's multiple lovers, as well as two Members of Parliament and a wealthy industrialist of low birth who are all guests in the Barnard home. Everyone with even a remote motive has an alibi, and everyone without an alibi seems to have no conceivable motive.

    And then one of the Members of Parliament is murdered, during Barnard's annual ball. It seems improbable that the two murders are unrelated, yet what connects them? There's also the awkward fact that the dead man had been one of the best suspects in the murder of the maid, and the nephew that had no alibi for her murder, has an unbreakable alibi for the murder of the MP: Lenox's brother Sir Edmund was watching him the whole time.

    This is a carefully built puzzle grounded in the personalities and constraints of the different players, with economical but effective character development of each significant individual. I did find the epilogue a bit drawn out, and there mainly, I think, to lay the groundwork for developments in later volumes in the series, but that's a minor complaint in a generally very satisfying mystery.

    If you enjoy a good mystery, this is one to seek out, especially since, if you enjoy this one, there are several more already in print.

    Recommended.

    I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I've had this book on my shelf for years - finally got to it and I'm so glad that I did! Well written and enjoyable mystery. Apparently it is the first in a series and I will be reading more Charles Lenox mysteries. Fun to experience some of the culture of Victorian England through the telling of these murders.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Charles Lenox is a Victorian gentleman who solves crimes. He's no Sherlock Holmes, but I like him. In this first recorded outing, he comes to the aid of his neighbor and childhood friend, Lady Jane Grey, who is concerned about the suspicious death of a former maid. With the able assistance of his doctor friend Thomas McConnell (who is not Dr. Watson, either; in this pair, HE's the one with the substance abuse issue) and his valet Graham (you guessed it, he's not Jeeves, but he's every bit as useful) Lenox sets out to determine who killed the girl and why. Excellent setting and character development. I'll definitely be reading more of these.June 2016
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Charles Lenox is a gentleman of leisure who enjoys solving mysteries in his spare time. His good friend, Lady Jane Grey, requests his help when a former servant is found dead of an apparent suicide. Charles of course discovers the girl has been murdered, and there is no end of suspects or motives in the case. I enjoyed the story and the mystery and, although a bit convoluted, it was impossible to guess the resolution. Where Finch really excels is in his interpersonal relationships between the characters. You can't help but feel Charles and Lady Jane both might possibly feel more than friendship between them. And I enjoyed reading about the history of Charles unique friendship with his butler, Graham. This was a good historical cozy mystery and I will be reading the second book so see what develops between the characters. Three and a half stars.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I enjoyed the characters in the story, but found the writing and the mystery lacking. I probably liked the characters because they were similar to Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey. We had the 2nd son in a titled family with nothing much to do with his time other then solve puzzles", a butler much like a friend who helps solve the mysteries, and friends who buck the traditional rules of society (the Scottish doctor and the BFF who is a woman). However I didn't find the writing or the mystery as interesting as Sayers' prose. The storylines dragged on at points and I kind of got sick of hearing about the boots. I also didn't like how Finch skipped back and forth in time to reveal the ending to the mystery. However, I liked the characters enough to read at least one more book in the series to give the author another chance to establish his writing style in this series."
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Lady Jane Grey's former maid, Prudence Smith (who has changed households to be w/ her Fiancee), had been found poisoned. There was a suicide note addressed to her Fiancee James.... However it was soon brought to light that Pru only ever called James, Jem, and Pru was illiterate, so she never could have written the note. Also coming to light was the fact that although there was Arsenic in a bottle next to the glass, there was only arsenic on the rim of the glass, not in it. Also odd was an absence of finger prints on the glass and another very rare type of poison that actually killed Pru.

    Pru was working for a rather gruff man, George Barnard in charge of the mint. The mint had recently been under attack as there was a large amount of new gold coinage soon to be released to the public, and Barnard was set to guard it. The gold coinage was secretly stored in Barnard's house until such a time when it was to be released. Staying in Barnard's house were his two nephews and two men from Parliament (who were also guarding the gold coinage).

    I do like Charles Lennox..... He is so different a person from the prescribed Gentlemen of the times. He was intelligent, curious, and interested in humanity. He's not stuffy, erudite, nor arrogant. I also like his relationship with; his childhood friend & neighbor Lady Jane Grey, his butler Graham, his brother Edmund, friend Thomas, the semi-incompetent Scotland Yard Inspector Exeter, as well as the local merchants & workers.

    I am taking this down 1 star because of the way the conclusion was written. Basically the conclusion jumped ahead ten years for Claude Barnard and then went back to the present time to conclude for his uncle George Barnard. I believe the book would have been so much better had the author stuck to the time line rather than follow the characters' individual stories.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Book 1 of the Charles Lenox Mystery series
    3.5 Stars

    Charles Lenox is a well-to-do Victorian gentlemen living in London in the 1860s. His wealth gives him the ability to engage in amateur sleuthing. When his close friend and neighbor, Lady Jane Grey, learns that her former maid Prue has died under suspicious circumstances at her new employer’s home, Lady Jane asks Charles to make an inquiry.

    Charles agrees to do some investigating and goes to the Barnard home where Prue has been working. The director of the Royal Mint, George Barnard is eager to see his maid's death ruled a suicide. When Charles learns that Prue died from bella indigo, an extremely rare and expensive poison known as "beautiful blue", evidence points to a killer with money and connections. He soon discovers nothing is as it seems in the household. Before long Charles discovers a plot that could shake the foundations of the British economy if the killer isn't apprehended.

    I liked the main characters, especially Charles, Lady Jane and Charles' butler, Graham, as well as the time period the story is set in. I was slightly disappointed in the first book of this series. I thought parts of this mystery were a bit uneven and dragged in spots. I did like the characters and think the series has a lot of potential. I plan to read the second book in the series, September Society, to see if the author can capitalize on the positive elements in this series.