Thanks to netgalley for an ARC of this title.

I've read all of the books in the Charles Lenox series to date. I actually prefer the books later in his career, but I enjoy the prequel books as well. This one I found particularly interesting, since it provided a lot of information as to how he learned to be a detective - the studying he did, arranging to "shadow" various specialists, and so on. It gives a bit more depth to the later books, since otherwise, I'm always wondering, "how in the world did this son of privilege learn to do this stuff?"

Another interesting point in this book is that Finch goes into a great deal of detail about the various titles and their social standing. Since all of that was extremely important in Victorian England, I enjoyed learning a little more about that.

A good read - I enjoyed it.

The Charles Lenox mystery series, set in England in the 1800’s, is among my favorites and this prequel, in which Lenox is age 26 in 1853, does not disappoint. Once again, there is a strong and interesting plot as Lenox comes to the aid of a duke in a complex plot involving family, theft, murder, and Shakespeare, as well as a great sense of time and place. I loved getting this glimpse into the younger Lenox as he is just starting out in his career, and also enjoyed reading about the recurring characters, such as Lady Jane and Graham, at this earlier stage of Lenox’s life.

I absolutely love this series and highly recommend it to my friends who like mysteries. The only issue I have is: Do I recommend that people read these books in the order published, as I have, or in chronological order? Either way, this is one terrific historical mystery series!!

The Vanishing Man by Charles Finch, St. Martin's Press & Minotaur Books, 2019.

This book, the second of three expected prequels to the Charles Lenox Mystery Series is set in 1853 London. Twenty-six-year-old Charles, private detective and brother to a baronet and member of parliament, has been consulted by a duke on a matter related to a missing painting.

I was completely engaged in the story and literally could not put it down. The writing is flawless for the genre, supported by language, narrative and dialogue that flow smoothly with nothing to annoy or distract. The main characters that are good and decent, so well developed and consistently described that it is easy to come to know and love them. Many crime mysteries wallow in darkness; this book includes just enough dark elements to support the story.

This was my first experience with Charles Finch and the Charles Lenox series. I can’t begin to guess why I have not encountered him before. I’ve since read five others, loved every one of them and bought three more last night that I can’t wait to read. Readers who prefer books with solvable puzzles that entertain while conveying rare historical details will love this series.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Vanishing Man free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Finch’s work continues to impress. Most series authors’ work tends to become stale, repetitive, and lazy. Finch is the exact opposite and if anything, his writing has become exponentially better over the years. I genuinely look forward to each new Lenox mystery and have yet to be disappointed. The latest is tightly-paced, interesting, witty, and incredibly enjoyable.

Great story! Gets better each time I read it. Wonderful characters. Charles Finch just gets better and better with each book. This selection is a good insight to how Lennox evolved. Can hardly wait for the next book in the series!!

Recommended.
Although he is only in his mid-twenties, Charles Lenox has already gained a reputation as a good private investigator. It's a strange calling for a member of the British aristocracy such as Charles and he is viewed with some amusement by other aristocrats. On the other hand, his status gives him entree into high society and he has access to many high powered contacts. This story is a prequel to the subsequent series of detective stories and a good indicator of their high quality.
The story begins in June 1853 when Charles is consulted by the Duke of Dorset about a portrait painting, which has gone missing from the duke's private study. Surprisingly the painting is of little monetary value. The duke is one of a handful of nobles at the top of society, next to the queen. It is therefore a great honour to be consulted by him. The search for the portrait turns into something akin to a treasure hunt for the manuscript of an undiscovered Shakespearean play. Lenox's sleuthing is complicated by the duke's bizarre behaviour toward him; he is publicly sacked and humiliated, only to be re-hired a short time later. The duke is the prime suspect in the killing of his valet later in the story and puts him into the Tower of London as a prisoner.
Aside from the intriguing mystery, the story vividly portrays the rigid social structure and code of conduct in Victorian England. I found that the demonstrates a detailed knowledge of the florid social protocols and customs of the Victorian aristocracy. The duke and others of his status are revered and treated with great deference. Charles enjoys some of this deference as a minor aristocrat: in addition he is well-educated and is the son of a well regarded parliamentarian.
It's an entertaining story and does a good jog of setting the stage for the subsequent mysteries in the series.

I received my review copy from the publisher via Netgalley. The views expressed are my own.

I'm thrilled with this series and love this prequel! The dialogue and interaction between Lady Jane and Charles is some of the best writing around.

This is yet another great prequel in the Charles Lenox series. Not only was the story interesting, but it allowed the reader much insight into Lenox's earlier years and also his early relationship with Lady Jane and Graham.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for an eGalley of this novel.

I liked this book but didn't find it engrossing. I could put it down and go away without feeling that tug in my mind to hurry up and get back to reading it. This is the second book in a prequel trilogy so the author has used this time to show readers what Charles Lennox was up against in 1853 London when he was trying to establish himself as an investigator? or a detective? He can't quite make up his mind what to call himself. At this point Lennox is 26 years old and has been picking up cases in his new profession for three years. Lady Jane Grey lives in the house next door and has lots of free time to be part of the world Lennox is making for himself because her husband is away most of the time serving in the military. So there you have it on the day Lennox responds to a request from the Duke of Dorset for an interview and discovers a missing painting and a potential client who is very sure of his importance in the English nobility.

I didn't find this plot to be very interesting or the mystery difficult to solve. What was very interesting was the clear, concise explanation of the titles and ranks of the nobility. I've read many authors who have tried to simplify that but this is the best yet for me. I also enjoyed the information on how some common words came into being, one example being the word tips. I'll leave that for you to discover for yourself. I'm sure I will read the final prequel in this trilogy, but I am also sure I will be glad when Lennox and his friends and staff get themselves back to where I left them before all this prequel stuff began.

The Vanishing Man presents at least 3 mysteries that Charles Lenox takes on as an investigator still learning his craft. His strength is his formidable power of observation and ability to connect seemingly unrelated events. It is a joy to follow the genteel, introspective Lenox as he observes and interacts with all. I especially appreciate his genuine love and affection for his family and friends. He tends to surprise himself as he recognizes little bits of self knowledge that pop up unexpectedly. This mystery takes place in 1850 at the start of Lenox's detecting career and is wonderfully convoluted.

This book goes back to when Charles Lenox is beginning to be a detective. He lives next door to Jane, whose husband is still alive. His obstreperous nephew is visiting, but not very pertinent to most of the story.

Charles has an appointment to see the Duke of Dorset about a possible case about a valuable possession which is missing. The Duke's private secretary is an old school friend of Lenox, Ward. One portrait in the Duke's study was missing. The Duke mostly wants to know WHO took the painting. It did not look to Lenox as if someone broke in through the window although it was open. Lennox quickly recognized that 7 of the 8 remaining paintings were of former Dukes of Dorset, but painting number 5 next to the missing painting was very different. The Duke and Duchess had planned to go away two days previously, but didn't go because their son was ill. The missing painting was the Duke's great-grandfather, and the picture next to it was the only existing oil painting of William Shakespeare while he was alive. Supposedly, the Queen and Sir Charles Locke (the Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures) were the only people other than the Duke and Lenox who knew about the painting. But, even more interesting is that the paintings have clues to find a missing Shakespeare play.

Lenox talks to find a man called Bonden, who was good at finding lost things, but Bonden did not agree to help. Then Lenox hears that the duke has been forced into an unmarked carriage in front of his club, and no one could find him. Lenox finds which way the carriage went from a hawker on the street. After the police didn't find the duke south of the river, Graham and Lenox go to the Duke's house at night, go up to his study, and find the Duke, who was very angry. When they leave, they find that Bonden had followed them and was now interested, and becomes very helpful. Meanwhile, Dorset's fear for his Shakespeare causes a murder.

Now Lenox must solve the whole mystery. The plot is quite complicated, as Lenox gradually learns what has happened, and discovers a family secret which caused the whole thing. In the process, he was first shunned by society, but finally, the Duke helps him to regain his place. The story keeps one interested right up to the end of the book.

PS, I didn't post this part, but I hope there is proofreading before publication. There were a lot of run together words in the kindle edition I read. I've posted a review on goodreads and will do amazon after publication.

This is the second book of the Charles Lenox prequel trilogy, where the story centers around the young 26 year-old new detective Lenox. The plot takes place in London 1853 where the Duke of Dorset calls upon Lenox to investigate the stolen portrait of his great-grandfather. Lenox believes the portrait was mistakenly taken as it was hanging next to a rare portrait of Shakespeare. Fearing the thief will return for the intended portrait, Lenox has to move quickly to solve this mystery.

Truth be told I did not finish this book. While I enjoyed "A Beautiful Blue Death" (Charles Lenox Mysteries #1), I just wasn't able to get into this book. I find the storytelling was somewhat dissonant and there were too many characters that I wasn't able to keep up with. I know it has a promising plot but in this book, it felt scattered and meandering. I bailed on page 91. I am frustrated that I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. Perhaps I will pick up this book again in the near future.



***I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed in this review are my own and was not influenced by the author, publisher or any third party.***

This book again like the previous book goes back in time to one of Charles Lenox's first cases involving a stolen painting, a lost Shakespeare play, a visit by a naughty cousin, a murder and a not very pleasant Duke. One of the best of these books which is saying a lot because I thought the last book was very good. This series just seems to get better with each book.

"The Vanishing Man" is a prequel to Charles Finch's excellent series featuring Charles Lenox, an amateur detective in Victorian London. Hired by the Duke of Dorset to find a stolen portrait of his ancestor, Lenox follows a mysterious trail of clues leading to an unexpected solution. This latest addition to the Lenox series is an example of Finch's captivating storystelling skill.

The Vanishing Man ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Charles Finch

This is my first read of Mr Finch’s work and I must say it was interesting and amusing as the same time. I am a fan of de textile novels and the character of Charles Lenox fit the bill for me.

The step by step analysis by Lenox was so Sherlock Holmes. Just fascinating. The character development by the author was masterful a true story teller. A very good read.

Charles Finch’s twelfth book in his Charles Lenox series returns to the early years of Lenox’s career. The idea of a private detective is a new one and Lenox has encountered scorn toward his chosen profession from his peers. Still dealing with the death of his father, even he questions his decision to continue.

After receiving credit for solving an important case, however, he is contacted by the Duke of Dorset to discreetly handle a theft from his home. A portrait of his great-grandfather was stolen. Hanging next to a rare portrait of Shakespeare, the Duke believes that the portrait was taken by mistake and fears that the thief will return. A kidnapping, a murder and the hunt for a missing treasure keep this story moving at a good pace.

While Lenox is a keen observer and has the assistance of his butler Graham, he is still working to improve his skills, learning to track and studying the psychology of criminal minds. As he travels from society gatherings and gentlemen’s clubs to the less savory parts of the city, Finch brings 1853 London to life. This is a series that I have enjoyed from the beginning. Returning to Lenox’s early cases will once again entertain his readers and serve as a wonderful introduction to the series for new readers.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for allowing me to review this book.

4.5 out of 5 stars
The early and formative years of young Charles Lenox, as private investigator/detective extraordinaire continue in this second prequel of the Charles Lenox mystery series by talented writer, Charles Finch. The story opens in London, 1853, three years following Lenox's successful solving of a baffling murder in the first prequel, "The Woman in the Water". He continues in his quest searching for work as a detective, much to the puzzlement and scorn of his peers. Money was not what motivated him. In fact, you couldn't hire him if you wanted to but could merely engage his services. So when the Duke of Dorset sought Charles' assistance with a delicate theft in the Duke's home, it was more the command appearance by someone so high on the peerage chart which set young Lenox on edge. The Duke was convinced that a thief stole the wrong item from his private study as the item adjacent to it held a much higher value. Surprisingly, only the name of the thief was important to the Duke and not necessarily the recapture of the stolen item.

As Lenox sets about on his detecting, a kidnapping occurs, a murder, and yet another theft. Through his honed skills of observation, Lenox goes about unraveling the details and working out the various mysteries, all while dealing with the mercurial disposition of a duke.

The character development, including that of secondary characters, is rich, humorous and often at times, charming. Such lighter moments ease the heaviness of the darker subjects at hand. The descriptive prose is rich and sets well the scene such that one is easily transported to the streets of East London and St. James Park of 1853. The mind of Charles Lenox is that of an inquisitive young man who is continuously honing his skills through ardent study, research and observation. He visits insane asylums to study the minds and motivations of the criminally insane. Lenox's interactions with his young nephew, Lancelot, are absolutely delightful and often confound the detective.

If finely written historical mystery is your passion, then this may well be the book for you!

I am grateful to author Charles Finch, publisher, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for having provided an advanced reader e-copy of this book. There generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.

This is the third book I have read in Finch's wonderful series of Victorian mysteries. The author has a light hand but manages to include lots of social history, local color related to London and its environs, as well as tidbits from the way the "high life" functions during the period.

As a former student of Victorian literature, I have a good sense of the era, and the ease with which Finch educates his reader while entertaining them is really a gift. You can not read one of his delightful mysteries without understanding a bit more about Britain's class structure, the plight of women, or how a gentleman lives and should behave.

This book is presented as a prequel to the others in the series and I suspect that for Finch's new readers it might be a good place to start because as the story progresses, we come to understand how the gentleman protagonist feels about his (volunteer) profession of detective. And, a bit about how others perceive him in this role.

I loved every minute I spent with this book and hope to read many more in the series.

NetGalley provided me with a complimentary copy of the book in return for a candid review.

Richly atmospheric and gorgeously researched, Finch once again delivers a wonderful portrait of a time and place, exceptionally well plotted and smart.

The Vanishing Man, a detective novel set in historical London, is the prequel #2 of the Charles Lenox Mystery Series. Having solved his first murder Charles Lenox is called upon to solve a mystery, which could jeopardize his reputation and his social standing within Aristocracy of England. Lenox is an intelligent and intuitive protagonist, a detective and a member of the English aristocracy whom we have met in several novels of Charles Finch’s Charles Lenox series.

Charles Lenox is summoned to the meeting with the Duke of Dorset, one of the most powerful men in England. A painting is missing from the Duke’s private study. The Duke insists that the painting has been taken in error because it has hung beside a much more valuable painting which the Duke’s family is sworn to protect. Before, Lenox can retrieve the painting the Duke is kidnapped and his closest confidant is murdered. Lenox reputation will suffer irreparable damage if he does not solve the mystery of the missing painting.

One of the things I like about this novel is its historical context. We learn a lot of English society in the mid 1800’s and how social standing is a preoccupation. We see how the long arm of the law is not applied equally across classes. On the side we also learn about the origin of English words that are in common use today. My favourite was the word “clue”.

The protagonist Charles Lenox is just learning his trade. I have not read any of the other novels in this series (I will now) but Lenox is humble student of the art crime solving. He is well read and studies continuously. In this case, he even uses Shakespeare for guidance. He visits institutes for the criminally insane to learn how they think. He engages shady characters to teach him how to find things and case scenes of the crime. He is not above admitting his mistakes. I like him a lot.

The mystery itself is also fascinating. What seems obvious at the outset is not at all the case. This alone is a good reason to read the book. I give this book a 5 on 5 and highly recommend it to people who like detective fiction and social history.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review