Another fun and engaging instalment of the Charles Lenox series. I love these books so much; the answers to the mysteries always make sense even though I don’t always figure them out before the reveal.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery set in Victorian England. In fact, I liked it so well that I downloaded it yesterday afternoon and finished it by bedtime. The author has described both setting and characters very well. I am not an expert historian but it seems to me that the novel was well researched and true to the period.

Charles Lennox is a “gentleman” detective in an era when the upper classes didn’t go into trade. For that reason, he doesn’t charge for his services. In this second prequel to the Lennox series, he is summoned to the home of one of the most powerful men in England, the Duke of Dorset. A painting has been stolen....but was that particular painting stolen by mistake? It certainly seems like that would be the case.....


The book is a traditional style mystery novel, but there is also a cozy mystery element here as we also get to meet members of his family, his servants and his friends.

This is not a novel packed with action or suspense, but I enjoyed the somewhat leisurely pace of the story, and I liked the glimpses of life in various situations. The mystery itself was a good one and I was surprised at the solution. And as an added bonus,, I learned where the idea of tipping people came from.

If you are a mystery fan, I highly recommend this one.

The Vanishing Man is the second prequel book to the Charles Lenox Mystery Series by Charles Finch. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. However, I am basing my review on the audio book version, which I purchased. Either in print or audio book format, immerse yourself in this captivating series! I want to go back and read all the previous books in the entire series, never mind the first prequel!

Charles Lenox, a young detective, is called upon by the Duke of Dorset, one of the most powerful men in England, to investigate the theft of his great-grandfather's portrait. He believes that portrait was stolen by mistake, instead of the portrait that was next to it...that of England's most revered writer. As Charles investigates the theft, a man connected to the Duke is murdered, making it imperative that this case be solved quickly. There are dark secrets surrounding the Duke's family, making things even more difficult for Charles to solve the case.

I cannot express how much I loved this story! The plot was riveting, a true whodunit that I wasn't able to solve and which ended up shocking me. Charles was a wonderful character. He was extremely smart, but still struggling to establish his career. He often visited Bedlam in order to learn more about the criminal mind. I very much enjoyed his relationships with his best friend, Lady Jane, and his employee Graham, who helped Charles in his investigations. One of my favorite supporting characters, though, was Lancelot, the young mischievous cousin to Charles. He lent a wonderful sense of humor to the story. Lancelot's discussion with the Duke about had me driving off the road as I listened, laughing as much as I was. James Langton, narrator of the audio book, is one of the best in the business. He never once hit a wrong note in his telling of the story.

If you're a fan of historical mysteries, please don't let this one pass you by!

This was a very entertaining and unusual mystery. Charles Lenox is a Victorian aristocrat who, against the wishes of his family, has set himself up as a detective. He is now beginning to gain the respect of Mayne of Scotland Yard and is assisted by his able 'man' Graham.

Lenox is approached by one of the highest peers in the land, the Duke of Dorset, who has had a painting stolen. However, the mystery revolves more around what was not taken than what was and draws Lenox into an intrigue centuries old.

The tale is told very well, with enough story around the main plot to make it entertaining. The only grizzle I had were that there are a couple of anachronisms and errors in an otherwise authentic tale of the time.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm officially entranced by this Victorian gentleman detective!

Dare I say it? I am SO enamored of Charles Lenox, a gentleman detective of Victorian times who can't ask for payment as that would seem like he's in 'trade.'
He is a thoroughly nice man (now 26), intelligent, a sense of humor, compassionate and always willing to learn.
This case was a difficult one for Lenox as he stepped into the rarified atmosphere of Dukes (of which there are only twenty-eight), their closeness to the throne in the pecking order of things, and how all this impacts Lenox's investigations when his particular Duke, the Duke of Dorset, is taken to the Tower when his manservant of thirty years, Craig, is killed.
A lively and often discouraging investigation that includes something stolen from the Duke's real private study (as opposed to his public private study--I love that!), lost Shakespearian realia, a kidnapping, and murder.
Somewhat puzzling, because it's never quite front and center, an inmate in Bedlam claiming to be falsely incarcerated becomes a concern for Charles.
Then there's Charles best friend and lost love Lady Jane (previously referred to as Elizabeth), and his rambunctious and delightful scamp of a nephew, Lancelot who provided some fabulous light relief. Lancelot's interaction with the Duke is priceless.
Mrs Huggins, Charles' most exacting housekeeper finds a scintillating relationship with cats, Graham is as always present and we meet the mysterious Mr Thaddeus Bonden, a man with a peculiar talent for observing and finding things.
Filled with intrepid, puzzling and often downright humorous happenings, this is a very clever and well written novel.

A Minotaur Books ARC via NetGalley

Charles Lenox has made a bit of a name for himself, having helped Scotland Yard solve a mystery so the Duke of Dorset enlists his help to find out who took and retrieve a family portrait. Thinking that the thief took the wrong painting (a much more valuable one hung next to the stolen one) Charles andthe Duke lay in wait for the thief to return. Unfortunately, the Duke in his haste to prevent another theft, amy have ended up shooting the wrong person.

As Charles works to solve the inconsistencies presented by the events, he also is dealing with a young cousin that is energetic and rambunctious.

Great "prequel" for the series!

I love these prequels to the Charles Lenox series. I love reading about what he did before he made detection his career. Before he marries Jane and starts a family. Please keep writing.

I enjoyed this prequel to The Charles Lenox series, however, since I recently found this author I just get to start at the beginning.

Historicals are fast becoming one of my favorite genres, and this one did not disappoint! I enjoy this author's work, and look forward to reading the rest of the Charles Lenox Mysteries.

As much as I would like to make my living reviewing books, right now reviewing is only a passionate hobby that I immensely enjoy. My full-time career is in sales. The goal of those in sales is to give the customer what they want while still making a profit for your company and yourself. A good salesman doesn’t want to disappoint his customer. If you live by the motto “under promise but over deliver,” you should be successful with a clientele willing to return time and again.
Authors, dedicated to their craft and desiring to make a living share like goals with sales personnel. Authors need to sell their book to a targeted audience in hopes you will enjoy it and then recommend it to others and thus build a following for future work.
With that being said, I feel that Charles Finch’s novel, The Vanishing Man, does not “over deliver” a great historical fictional mystery novel. The story and plot were spot on but it dragged and became at times tedious to read.
I feel that a good edit of this book would have helped streamline the dialogue between the characters and quicken the pace to that which a good mystery should be.
As I said earlier, the story that Charles Finch writes is quite intriguing and ends with a more than satisfactory conclusion.
Amateur sleuth, Charles Lennox, who has earned some renown by solving a case that Scotland Yard couldn’t solve, is asked to consult the Duke of Dorset about a painting. It turns out that someone has stolen a portrait of the Duke’s great grandfather. Now given the era of the 1850s, that would be a tantalizing mystery on it’s own as art theft is historically full of diabolical characters and borderline genius criminal masterminds. But the Duke wants Charles to find out why the thief or thieves did not take the infinitely more valuable painting that was below the stolen portrait.
Does the thief know that he made a mistake? Will the thief come back for the other painting? What secrets do these paintings hold?
As Charles Lennox puts all of his investigative skills to work, Dorset fears more harm to his family and those close to him. All of his money and nobility cannot stop a murder and save his reputation.
Can Lennox find the mastermind before anymore of Dorset’s family suffers?
What price will Lennox have to pay for involving himself with unsavory individuals as he unmasks secrets behind the paintings?
As in the previous Charles Lennox series, he will need the help and friendship of Lady Jane, a source of friendship and a worthy ally.
Charles Finch’s, The Vanishing Man, is a great story and mystery, plain and simple. Had he spent a little less time in teaching about the different levels of aristocracy, it would have been a five star book.
There are details that would enhance the reading of this book by reading the first installment in this series but it is satisfactory as a stand alone book.
The characters are likable and believable. Lennox is smart and clever with a sense of humor that will make you chuckle throughout the book.
This is a true mystery, not a mystery/thriller. No need for that “OMG” thriller moment because Finch gives us an honest to goodness old fashioned detective mystery.
Clues are there but only the cleverest of sleuths will solve it before Charles Lennox does.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #TheVanishingMan

In his last book, <i>The Woman in the Water</i>, Charles Finch went back in time to his detective’s first major case. <i>The Vanishing Man</i> picks up three years later, still well before the events of <i>A Beautiful Blue Death.</i> 26-year-old Charles Lenox is still learning his trade, the skills and lessons he needs to make a success of his singular (and most unsuitable) occupation. The parallel mysteries of <i>The Vanishing Man</i> take him to the heights of British society and the depths of London’s squalor, from the allure of Shakespeare—the man as well as his plays—to the madness of Bedlam’s inmates. Woven into this unlikely but compelling tapestry are the threads of friendship, family ties, and integrity that underpin the entire series, and indeed, Lenox’s whole life.

While I miss the friends and colleagues, the mature relationships of the later Lenox novels, these glimpses into his formative years as a detective are just as perceptively written and intricately crafted, and every bit as satisfying to read. Finch strikes the perfect balance between Lenox’s investigations and his personal and interior lives. As I have mentioned in other reviews, Lenox himself reminds me a bit of Ngaio Marsh’s Roderick Alleyn, or Lord Peter Wimsey in his more serious moments. Like both Alleyn and Wimsey, Charles Lenox is sensitive, perceptive, observant, and keenly sympathetic toward his fellow man regardless of class. And he, too, has the intuitive’s ability to put the pieces of a puzzle together, seeing past impossibility or surface likelihood to uncover the truth, however unexpected or surprising. He’s not a genius in the Sherlockian sense, but he possesses both persistence and insight. For all that his creator is an American, I now count Lenox among my favorite British detectives.

And Finch is an excellent writer, both stylistically and as creative and meticulous craftsman of plots. His mysteries fall within the traditional, even classic style. He “plays fair”; the reader generally has all the facts that the detective does, but is only sometimes privy to his thoughts and deductions. I highly recommend the Charles Lenox series to fans of Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Josephine Tey as well as to lovers of historical mysteries.


This novel could be read as a standalone, but I recommend beginning either with the first prequel novel, <i>The Woman in the Water</i>, or with the first book in the series, <i>A Beautiful Blue Death.</i>

I have been a long time fan of the Charles Lenox mystery series. I believe I binge read the first three books and then had to wait for the next one to come out and when it did, it was in my Kindle on release day since I had it on pre-order months in advance!

Charles Lenox has been a wonderfully entertaining detective and I adore so many of the mysteries in this series! 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!

When I saw that a prequel was in the works I was ecstatic and eager to read about a young Charles Lenox! 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. I have had a lot of luck jumping around in this series and I figured the prequels would be no different.

Summary

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. A painting of the Duke’s great-grandfather has been stolen from his private study. But the Duke’s concern is not for his ancestor’s portrait; hiding in plain sight nearby is another painting of infinitely more value, one that holds the key to one of the country’s most famous and best-kept secrets.

Dorset believes the thieves took the wrong painting and may return when they realize their error—and when his fears result in murder, Lenox must act quickly to unravel the mystery behind both paintings before tragedy can strike again. As the Dorset family closes ranks to protect its reputation, Lenox uncovers a dark secret that could expose them to unimaginable scandal—and reveals the existence of an artifact, priceless beyond measure, for which the family is willing to risk anything to keep hidden.

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).

Review

When I read a Lenox mystery, I always feel like I have read a quality mystery—a true detective novel. Sometimes historical mysteries boarder on cozy, but this series has its feet firmly in detective novel with the focus always being on the mystery and gathering clues. While not it’s not a ‘gritty’ series at all, I find it comfortable and reliable with interesting mysteries that allow me to gather clues along with the detective and try to sort the puzzle out for myself.

I adore Lenox and have from the very beginning. He has a great sense of humor and in this book that quality about him really shines. He is also quick, smart, and cleaver which makes him a fun lead in this story.

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. As a result, it is easy to bounce around in the series and not feel like you have missed a ton and this book is no exception.

I found plenty to entertain myself with in this book and I especially loved seeing the early relationships with many of his friends and colleagues as well as his family. Having been such a long time fan, it’s fun to see how those relationships have evolved over time. I will say though, the character Lancelot was a hoot! I adored him and found my self chuckling many times. He was a fun one!

Overall I found this mystery solid and what I would expect from a seasoned writer like Finch. 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. This is a series that I know I can turn to for solid quality and this installment met all of my expectations.

The Vanishing Man is the second book of a prequel trilogy in the historical mysteries featuring Charles Lenox. Written by Charles Finch, it's an engaging and twisty Victorian mystery set in London and environs. Released 19th Feb 2019 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 304 pages and available in all formats.

I'm a fan of historical mysteries and this series is superlatively well written. The mystery and characters are seamlessly interwoven around real historical facts and personages. I've enjoyed all the books in the series and this prequel trilogy is a nice addition, seeing the development of gentleman consulting detective Lenox. I really loved his interactions with the (fictitious) Duke of Dorset and Dorset's dysfunctional family.

Lenox's family and household are endlessly entertaining and I absolutely loved his cousin Lancelot. The book is well plotted and moves along at a good clip. I never noticed my interest flagging at all and the dialogue is witty and (to my eye) not too anachronistic.

Lady Jane, friend and neighbor, is so appealingly well written. She intelligent and outspoken and a perfect foil for Lenox. Readers who are familiar with the other books which occur later in the series are already familiar with future plot developments, but it's nice to see their friendship and emerging partnership developing.

Just a really enjoyable book. Five stars.

Charles Finch is an excellent writer: by “excellent “ I mean that Finch captured the Victorian Era in Great Britain and places his readers in comfortable heavy armchairs to read his stories by gentle gaslight! My only criticism is that his mysteries are fairly mundane; his historical fiction is very well done.

First Sentence: Once a month or so, just to keep his hand in the game, Charles Lennox liked to go shopping with his friend Lady Jane Grey.

Charles Lennox had success with his first outing as a Private Enquiry Agent and is now being called on by The Duke of Dorset to investigate the theft of a painting. But it's not what was taken which is the mystery, but what was not; a painting much more valuable. Lenox fear of the thief realizing the mistake and returning seems to be realized when a murder occurs. But are the paintings the real objects of attention, or is there something more precious at stake?

Whether it is a series one has long read, or one to which someone is new, being introduced to the characters from their very start establishes a link to them and almost an intimacy of friendship. It is that which Finch has accomplished through the prequels, this being the second, he has written. Finch brings the characters to life, whether they are directly involved in the mystery, or are part of Lenox's personal life. How can one not like a protagonist who carries with him a small book of Shakespeare's quotations? For those who love Shakespeare, this is a wonderful story, indeed.

Finch paints an excellent picture of the period. From an explanation of noble titles down to a visit to Bedlam, we are provided a vivid sense of the time. And what a sad commentary of the time it is that even the daughter of a Duke would be deemed unlikely to marry had she not so done by the age of 30. The small details of life, custom, and society are fascinating. Imagine mail being delivered seven times a day, seven days a week.

The resolution of one mystery is well deduced, providing a nice twist and a loop back in the story to a very interesting character. However, it is the larger mystery behind the original one which is most intriguing. What a completely tantalizing resolution there is, and one of nearly divine retribution, albeit a rather sad ending for those involved. Yet, once the criminal is identified, one discovers a motive that is as old as time.

"The Vanishing Man" is a wonderfully done trip back in time. It is filled with excellent characters, fascinating information, and a resolution related to the cost of pride.

THE VANISHING MAN (HistMys-Charles Lenox-England-1853) – VG+
Finch, Charles – 12th in series; 2nd Prequel
Minotaur Books – February 2019

I LOVE this whole series! It is fascinating the things I have learned from these books. The author researches the time period very well. The writing is perfect and you are drawn into the time period from the first paragraph..

The Vanishing Man by Charles Finch is the second of a planned trilogy of prequels to his Charles Lennox detective series. In this epoch we visit Charles as a young man, living on his own but still at the very earliest stages of his career. He is called upon by the mighty Duke of Dorset, one of the highest-ranking peers in the nation, to find a painting that has been stolen from his home. The juxtaposition of a man of this stature and a man who is little more than an amateur makes the story even more compelling as the duke is at one point arrested and housed in the Tower of London in an apartment that rivals Charles' own home.

Seeing the steps Charles has taken to hone his craft: the people he has paid to teach him, is, in itself, endearing. To see the compassion he has, even for an inmate of a lunatic asylum, obviously is part of him, even at this young age. To learn about Lady Jane's husband through Charles' eyes helps us to understand his strong feelings for her than run throughout the series. And as always, a good mystery, which the reader solves in steps, right along with Charles and Graham. Fans of the series will be fans of the prequels. It is our Charles Lennox; the one we love.
Charles Finch has created and endearing picture of Charles Lennox and his world. One we continue to want to visit.

I received a free ARC of The Vanishing Man in exchange for a fair and honest review. #netgalley #thevanishingman

We come to the second book in a trio of prequel stories in the Charles Lenox series that go back to the beginning when Charles is first getting started on his amateur detecting work. This latest mystery brings him into contact with the powerful Duke of Dorset’s household, an old family trust involving the Bard, and the true challenge of not murdering his mischievous young cousin Lancelot who is visiting Charles during his school holidays.

The Vanishing Man is the second of a prequel trilogy. It could be read standalone or I suppose new readers can begin the series with the first book in this prequel and continue on from there. I think the best way is to start with the series’ release order and the first Charles Lenox mystery because it makes this prequel set more poignant knowing what is to come of it in the lives of the characters.

Charles just came off a case that he solved, but the solution didn’t bring all the satisfaction he wanted. He made mistakes that cost him. He is determined to learn all he can to shore up his knowledge so his mistakes will become fewer as time goes on. He may be the oddity and laughingstock to his peers and betters, but he is set on his path of being a consulting private detective. Getting a summons from the great Duke of Dorset is an opportunity he cannot pass up especially when the duke shares a secret family trust involving a painting of Shakespeare that only a handful of people know exist.

Busy working on the case the duke presented him, Charles’ life is also filled with his ongoing criminal investigation self-education like his visits to Bedlam each week to interview criminals and his days spent observing pickpockets, and now his chance to shadow a ‘finder’. His unrequited love for Lady Jane and her marriage that keeps him in the friends category also has her busy attempting marriage matches for him. Meanwhile, Charles’ annoying cousin and proud owner of a peashooter he uses on Charles keeps him and his household on his toes. Though, that scene when Lancelot took a pompous duke to task had me laughing so hard that I cried.

Much of the book is a gently paced plot following Charles as he tracks down clues, sorts out the wheat from the chaff, and then noses out the solution. There is a murder, but it is not the focus of the investigation and only one of the pieces. I really enjoy the younger detecting Charles and his life at this time, but also the surrounding cast of characters who are always part of his life and work.

And so, the second leg of the prequel trilogy provided an engaging group of mysteries as part of his latest case and I enjoyed being along for this new installment in the Charles Lenox series. Those who enjoy well described and well-developed plots and characters in Victorian era historical mysteries should take a look-see at this series.

The second prequel of the long-running Charles Lenox series after last year's The Woman in the Water shows the 26-year-old Lenox at somewhat of a career ebb. This ebb occurs after Lenox has solved a case that Scotland Yard could not. A summons comes from the immensely rich and powerful Duke of Dorset, "the third man in England". A painting has been stolen from the Duke's private study but not the painting the Duke might have expected; a small and unassuming portrait purported to be of William Shakespeare. The Duke wants Lenox to not only find the stolen portrait but to find out why it was stolen rather than the Shakespeare. Lenox is aware that there are facts hidden by the Duke, but one does not say no to the Duke of Dorset. HIs quest takes him into the highest and lowest parts of society in 1853 England and the dangers inherent in getting on the "wrong side" of a Duke. There is also the search for a missing Shakespeare play, family drama, the mystery of a man in Bedlam who claims to be not mad, but there because he ran afoul of the Royal Family, and a meeting with "The Vanishing Man" of the title. "The Vanishing Man" may just help Lenox hone his detecting skills in the future. I certainly hope so.

I have been a fan of the Charles Lenox series since the first novel, "A Beautiful Blue Death". However, the most recent prequel novels have increased my appreciation exponentially. Seeing the difficulties he encountered, the mistakes he made, and his determination to pursue his career make him even more attractive than the 40-something gentleman we first met. I can see the support and love of his family that made his career possible, and that of his now-wife, Lady Jane. One of the greatest pleasures of the Charles Lenox Mysteries are the little facts inserted into the text so effortlessly. For example, the origin of the word "tips", the "cock and bull story" and a description of Italian pudding. It turns out that it is an Italian variation of the English "trifle". Italian pudding, "Zuppa Inglese", is made with a liqueur not available in North America, but I plan to work on that!

I highly recommend the Charles Lenox mysteries and the prequel novels in particular. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

The arrival of a new Charles Lenox book is always a day to be treasured. The creation of Charles Finch, Lenox is an aristocrat, a former Member of Parliament, and a private detective. The books are set in Victorian London, and so far there hasn’t been a dud in the bunch; this book being no exception.

“The Vanishing Man” is a prequel to the main series, and it is excellent. Charles may be young, but he is just as clever and perspicacious as in his later life, although of course his life experience is lesser. He is trying to become a private detective, although he is unsure what to call it. Called upon by the Duke of Dorset to solve a theft, Lenox gets involved in an exciting, convoluted situation. I don’t like spoilers, so I am not going to give any, suffice it to say that it is very hard to put down this book.

I have enjoyed the entire series of Lenox books, and I am enjoying the prequels, of which this is the second of a planned trilogy. I highly recommend this book, and I am looking forward to the third one.

June 1853 after some months without a case Charles Lenox is invited to call on the Duke of Dorset at his home. It seems that something of value has been stolen and the Duke wishes to know why. The Duke believes that the wrong painting was taken and is now concerned. Unfortunately the Duke has his secrets which will lead to murder. But Lenox needs help in unraveling the mystery.
A very enjoyable and interesting mystery and I look forward to the next prequel before I start reading the series.