The Fleet Street Murders by Charles Finch (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

 

Title: The Fleet Street Murders

Author: Charles Finch

Publication: 10 November 2009

Format: Kindle ebook

Amazon Description: 

It's Christmas, 1866, and amateur sleuth Charles Lenox, recently engaged to his best friend, Lady Jane Grey, is happily celebrating the holiday in his Mayfair townhouse. Across London, however, two journalists have just met with violent deaths — one shot, one throttled. Lenox soon involves himself in the strange case, but must leave it behind to go north to Stirrington, where he is running for Parliament. Once there, he gets a further shock when Lady Jane sends him a letter whose contents may threaten their nuptials.

In London, the police apprehend two unlikely and unrelated murder suspects. From the start, Lenox has his doubts; the crimes, he is sure, are tied. But how? Racing back and forth between London and Stirrington, Lenox must negotiate the complexities of crime and politics, not to mention his imperiled engagement. But as the case mounts, Lenox learns that the person behind the murders may be closer to him — and his beloved — than he knows.

Ramble-y Teaserish Stuff

 

I had every intention of reading this way back in 2015 after I read the first two. 

It was supposed to be part of that year's holiday read-a-thon.

I have no idea what happened.

I guess taking a seven year break between books wasn't all that detrimental since I instantly remembered who was who and fell in love all over again with Victorian England a la Charles Finch .... and particularly with Graham. I think I may even like him more than I do Lenox.

As a whole, this is quite probably the least festive of the books read this December. Yes, it begins on Christmas with two murders and some heavy holiday drinking by Charles and his brother, but that's really about it. The focus jumped back and forth here and there between the murders and the Parliamentary campaign and personal life issues. Not bad, but not what I was hoping for especially after a seven year wait.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is from the first paragraph or two

of a book being read now (or in the future) and is hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews. 

"Teaser Tuesday" at The Purple Booker asks for a random line or two
from anywhere in the book currently being read.

 

#BookBeginnings & #Friday56 -- The September Society

I found out quite by accident that the third book in the Charles Lenox Mystery Series by Charles Finch is set at Christmastime which will be perfect for my holiday read-a-thon this year! Of course, before I can do that, I have to read the second book -- The September Society. I've only just started, but I'm already loving it just like I loved the first one. Lenox and his cohorts from the first novel are back and as unassumingly wonderful as they were the first time around. When he mentions being bored because of no cases being had his best friend, Lady Jane, offers to rob a bank so he has something to do. When a case does potentially arrive on his doorstep, his medical examiner friend McConnell comes running -- even though all he knows about the case at the time is that there's a dead cat. I really love these people. Right now I don't care so much about the murders since there's a side story I'm dying to have sorted out ... but, as I've said, I've only just started.

As always, Friday56 (share a blurb from the 56th page or 56% mark) is hosted at Freda's Voice & Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences & your thoughts) is at Rose City Reader.

#BookBeginnings & #Friday56 -- A Beautiful Blue Death

I received an email from NetGalley just as I was about to wrap up The Santa Klaus Murder saying that the first book in Charles Finch's Charles Lenox Mysteries series, A Beautiful Blue Death, was available as a "Read Me Now" in order to prepare for latest in the series being released in November. "Sure!" I say ... and grabbed it for my shelf before realizing that I would still be behind 7 1/2 books. I debated just saying "eh" and not bothering with it, but without having something else already lined up in my head to read next I decided that I might as well give it at least a bus-ride home shot.

Now, here it is, Friday again and while I'm not quite to the 56% mark yet I'm using the book for this week's Book Beginnings and Friday56. Friday56 (share a blurb from the 56th page or 56% mark) is hosted at Freda's Voice & Book Beginnings (share the first few sentences & your thoughts) is at Rose City Reader.

At the point of the beginning (top left), I have no idea yet who Lenox is ... who Graham is ... or what the note could possibly be. I did wonder about all of those things, though, and continued on ... and was hooked before I even hit the 4% mark!