Review by Booklist Review
Gentleman sleuth Charles Lenox stars in his second adventure, sequel to A Beautiful Blue Death (2007), with a challenging kidnapping case at his beloved alma mater, Oxford University. Much of the book's nineteenth-century setting is created in a loving send-up of Oxford's environs, architecture, and academic community as Lenox investigates the puzzling disappearance of two young men from Lincoln College. Deeply disturbing clues left by one victim point to a little-known September Society, whose members stop at nothing to preserve the shameful secrets this case could expose. The warmth and understated humor supplied by Lenox's love interest, Lady Jane Grey, and his Jeeves-like butler, Graham, serve to lighten the otherwise brooding atmosphere (reminiscent of Ruth Rendell and Elizabeth George). Mystery readers may be frustrated by the many detailed references to Oxford and the leisurely pace leading up to a somewhat far-fetched denouement. These objections, however, are more than offset by the author's masterfully expressive style: He ate a ruminative apple slice, or he was a notorious anxiety to his parents. One hopes to see more of Lenox and Lady Jane.--Baker, Jen Copyright 2008 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
As in Conan Doyle's The Sign of Four, a crime committed in India has consequences in England years later in Finch's less than successful second Victorian whodunit to feature amateur detective Charles Lenox (after 2007's A Beautiful Blue Death). Since a prologue set in 1847 India makes clear that a double murder there is connected to a murder in London in 1866, there's little mystery about the general nature of the motive behind the later crime. Lady Annabelle Payson consults the Peter Wimsey-like Lenox after the disappearance of her Oxford undergraduate son, George, who left behind in his college room a dead cat and a note referring to the September Society. When George turns up dead as well, Lenox vows to track down the killer, aided by his manservant, the Bunter-like Graham. While neither the prose nor the puzzle are at the level of A Beautiful Blue Death, that volume showed enough promise to suggest that the author is capable of better in the next installment. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
When Oxford student George Payson goes missing, his mother asks Charles Lennox to find him. All avenues of investigation point to foul play, and then Payson's garroted body is found in the Christ Church Meadow. Wealthy, intelligent, Oxford-educated, and a detective of some repute, Charles seeks to determine what role the little-known student club, the September Society, might have played in Payson's death and what lies behind the threats against Payson's friends and now Lennox's beloved Lady Jane Grey. In Finch's second Victorian mystery (after A Beautiful Blue Death), Lennox and his diverse acquaintences are developing into a cohesive team of detectives, much like the sleuths in the mysteries of Will Thomas and Caleb Carr. Finch, a superb hand at plotting, gives nothing away, and even the most astute reader will be guessing to the end. Another triumph; highly recommended for all collections. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Adult/High School-Charles Lenox, Victorian private detective, has an opportunity to revisit his university days when he gets a case involving a missing second-year student at Lincoln College, Oxford. George Payson has vanished, leaving only an odd collection of items in the sitting room of his quarters: a frayed piece of string, half a tomato, a fountain pen, and a card labeled "The September Society." Oh, yes, and a dead cat. Lenox re-explores his old haunts as he pieces together the clues, which eventually lead him back to London and the headquarters of the mysterious society. Period details are present but not oppressive in this carefully plotted story. Lenox is an appealing character, and details of his personal life are scattered throughout, giving a rounded picture of the man while not hampering the detective portion of the story. Good writing, good plotting, an intriguing setting, and agreeable characters make this a solid choice for older teens.-Sarah Flowers, Santa Clara County Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A Victorian detective answers a desperate plea for help. Because well-connected man of means Charles Lenox styles himself an amateur sleuth, Lady Annabelle Payson asks him to find her son George, a student at Oxford's Lincoln College, who disappeared immediately after she visited him. The harried student left behind some unusual clues: his dead cat, a few cryptic notes, some bits of refuse and a card bearing the name The September Society. Also missing is George's friend Dabney, who may be hiding nearby with him. When a badly disfigured body is discovered, the search for Dabney spreads wide. Lenox calls on a man to follow up clues in Oxford; on his old friend Dr. McConnell for help with medical matters; and on the Oxford police and finally the London force for aid. The mysterious September Society is evidently connected to George's father, who served in India with the members of the group and whose death was never satisfactorily explained. Lenox puts his amatory pursuit of his neighbor Lady Jane Grey on hold as he grapples with a tricky and dangerous case that sends him back and forth between London and his beloved Oxford. Though Lenox is not a patch on his fellow Balliol alumnus Lord Peter Wimsey, Finch's second gives him a more exciting and cerebral mystery than his debut (A Beautiful Blue Death, 2007). Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
