A Death in the Small Hours (Charles Lenox Mysteries, #6)

A Death in the Small Hours (Charles Lenox Mysteries #6)

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3.73 of 5 stars 3.73  ·  rating details  ·  431 ratings  ·  71 reviews
From the critically acclaimed author of A Beautiful Blue Death and A Burial at Sea comes an intriguing new mystery in what The New York Times calls "a beguiling series" Charles Lenox is at the pinnacle of his political career and isa delighted new father.His days of regularly investigating the crimes of Victorian London now some years behind him, he plans a trip to his unc...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published November 13th 2012 by Minotaur Books

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Laurie Ann Silberman
Didn't enjoy this book as much as previous books. There is a continuing theme that the main character misses his detective work but continues down the path of Parliament because he feels he owes it to his friend, family and country. Sometimes I get impatient with the character. He's rich and a gentleman; and he has a gift he is squandering. It feels like he is constantly in mourning for 'what used to be.'

This overshadowed the plot for me and I was disappointed that in the end he elected to conti...more
Sharon
I enjoy this series a lot. It got off to a great start, but one or two in the middle were a little weaker. The one before this was better, and this one is back to being as good as the original. The character development is stronger in this one than in the weaker ones. In this story, Charles Lenox's political career is taking off, and to escape from London for a while, he visits a relative out in the country. While there, he gets pulled into a local mystery, which turn, ultimately, into murder....more
Linda Baker
A Death in the Small Hours is another pleasant read in the Charles Lenox series by Charles Finch. While not my favorite of the series, I enjoyed both the puzzle and the character development of Charles and Lady Jane.

Charles is now well settled into his role as a Member of Parliament and has been in fact asked to give the opening speech at the upcoming new session. He and Lady Jane also have a new daughter, Sophie. He only occasionally consults with his protege, Dallington, who has largely taken...more
Judy
I want half stars!!! This is one of a series of books about Englishman Charles Lennox, now a member of Parliament and a new father. I have not read any of the others in the series, but might check out the library for one. It was a pleasant read about Victorian England after the Queen's jublilee. Charles would be someone my mother would have liked; the plot holds twists and turns. The characters are never evil, but some are bad and many are humorous. If you're a fan of gentle English myteries, th...more
LJ
First Sentence: Charles Lenox sat in the study of his town house at Hampden Lane—that small, shop-lined street off Grosvenor Place where he had passed most of his adult life—and sifted through the papers that had accumulated upon his desk, as they would, inevitably, when one became a Member of Parliament.

Charles Lenox, Victorian gentleman, former private investigator, is now married, a new father and a Member of Parliament. He has been given the huge honor of giving the upcoming session’s openin...more
Diane S.
3.5 It always amazes me that in these relatively short novels, so very much happens. As usual wonderfully atmospheric, but quite alot of history, about Parliament and it's laws are also covered. The very proper English manners, the wonderfully developed characters and the crimes perpetuated in a small village are all related in this very welcome addition to this amazing series.
Staci Roberts
I finally finished this! I usually really like the Charles Lenox series, but this book took way too long to get into the mystery. I literally kept falling asleep. Once the guy got murdered, it took forever for the characters to come up with any kind of clue that we could follow. Charles Finch does a great job researching the era of which he writes, but sometimes it's too much and mires down the story... as was this case.

I miss his characters Graham and McConnell. They brought a lot of color to...more
Babs
I really don't like this series as much as I did in the beginning and I think that is entirely due to Charles Lenox change in profession - from talented amateur detective to member of Parliament. It appears Charles is also regretting his choice, some what. However, there is less of Parliament and more of detection of local vandalism and murder in the town near is uncle's home (really his cousin, but older so was known as uncle)in Somerset.

I also like the evolving relationship with his wife and...more
Ann
Charles Lenox has become a member of Parliament. He is working on a speech to present at the opening ceremony of the next session when his cousin, Freddy, invites him and his family to visit him. The village has been upset by the vandalism of several businesses in the area. But it is a murder that brings Charles to the town and he very quickly solves the mystery. I like this character and the series. The stiff Victorian man is softened by this man who loves his wife and daughter and makes no bon...more
judy
Charming but way too genteel for me. Of course, this reminded me of Agatha, although earlier in time--crime in a small English village. Unfortunately, unlike Christie, the characters were mostly bland. An eccentric or two would have helped liven up the story and, more importantly, make me feel involved in the tale instead of standing on the outside. I'm sure there are readers who will adore this mannerly, slow-paced book. It may be unfair to judge Mr. Finch from this book, one in a series of six...more
John Winkworth
I continue to enjoy the stories surrounding Charles Lenox, his family, and friends. A Death in the Small Hours captured what I consider to be the pace of life in an English village of the day. The author continues to include small bits of information, e.g. contrasting the quality of the air in Plumbley with the noxious air in London, the penny-farthing as a challenging piece of transportation, and the use of fingerprints by Babylonian potters. I found the cricket interlude positively charming. M...more
Scilla
Charles Lenox has a new baby, Sophia, with whom he is very enamored. He is about to make the opening speech in Parliament and the family goes to visit his Uncle Frederick in Somerset where there has been some vandalism in town. Charles does some investigating and Charles and Frederick play in a local cricket match. Charles works on his speech, and for awhile his investigations are on the wrong track. After a local policeman is killed, Charles begins to make some headway. This time Uncle Frederic...more
Jessica
A Death in the Small Hours is the sixth installment of the Lenox mystery series and his best one to date. If you’ve never read the Lenox series, don’t fret as each of his books can be read as a standalone. Although Finch isn’t one of those writers to drown you in a character’s back story, I do believe a reader new to the series will fail to appreciate the personal history of his characters. As the series progresses, the Lenox characters grow and I’m afraid a reader will miss key elements that wo...more
James
If you have enjoyed the six previous mystery novels in the Charles Lenox series by Charles Finch published since 2008, this latest addition should continue to be satisfying. A wealthy member of London's upper classes, Lenox unravels difficult murder mysteries and grows in maturity and success with each novel in the series. Without the caustic, temperamental attitudes displayed by an Inspector Morse or a Sherlock Holmes, Lenox is a polite, sensitive gentleman who progresses with each novel to per...more
Elizabeth
Oh, Charles Finch, you of the gorgeous silken yellow chair. I do so love these genteel stories, but in this one you really went above and beyond. The OTHER Charles--your protagonist--does some real soul-searching in this one, and therefore I will forgive you the painfully obvious solution to the mystery(ies). What I thought particularly well-done was the descriptions of Charles Lenox's grieving process; his mother has been dead for a decade, but he is still almost unable to speak or think of her...more
Julie
It was consistently good as were his others. There is a gentleness to these mysteries that I appreciate, but there is excitement as well, and twists as you try to figure out who is involved. And he catches you up in the lives of his main characters, which results in, what I enjoy as the perfect mystery. I think I liked this one even better as it ventured out of London to a country setting.
Beth
Not up to the others in his series. If this was the first book I read, I doubt I would go further. Too formulaic. Lenox seemed to have become an old man bored with his life--perhaps because he compromised his real passion. Hope the subsequent books revert to earlier zest.
Elizabetti
I love the Charles Lennox mysteries. Victorian England, while not my favorite historical era, is without a doubt an exciting time as we slowly see the evolution of the forensic science we know and love. I like the character of Charles and his family and I enjoy learning about Parlimentary procedure as well as day to day living both in the country and "in town." In this book he even touches upon cricket which I haven't thought about since my Australia days.
Mark Macatee
I absolutely hate to say it, but I was tremendously disappointed with this book. The first two-thirds were, as always, fantastic. However, after the mystery was solved and Frederick was returned home safely, the rest of the book seemed like a muddle of thoughts being thrown in at once. Why were we told about the future of the killer and his wife? Why did Dallington fall so hard when there was absolutely no evidence of it during the book? Why were we told about Toto and her husband having difficu...more
Connie
This is the first Charles Lenox mystery I've read and enjoyable though it was, I was anxious for it to be over. It reminds me a great deal of the Victorian mysteries by Anne Perry. I'll probably read another one sometime but not soon.
Diane
This book is a series that I have been reading over the last five years. I think this is the last one I'll read. It's not bad, but just not that outstanding a mystery. And seems to be a bit less than the previous one.
Keith
I have read books that were page turners and books that I just could not put down. This book was neither. It was in fact hard to finish. I kept waiting for a climax that never came. Most stories have a hero/main character that has some adversity during the story. Who would not want to be the main character, Charles Lenox? His life is so sugary sweet that it almost made my teeth hurt.
Lisa
I believe this to be one of the best in the Lenox series, maybe because I'm getting to know a bit more of characters on the periphery. I was completely caught unawares of the love interest-but Dallington needs someone soon! The plot of the murder mystery was well thought out and kept me guessing.
Allison Severson
I read about 25 pages and just didn't feel captured so I didn't keep reading. Maybe someone who typically really enjoys historical mystery would like this book- it just wasn't for me.
Cece
As Charles Lenox feels about his Parliamentary career, I am left feeling a bit iff-ish about this book-I enjoyed it, but feel it could have been better.
Ram Kaushik
Innocuous and rambling, the characters weren't too believable. Couldn't get into this one - maybe because I just finished an intense C.J.Sansom.
Sharla
This series by Charles Finch is a nice British cozy series with enough intricacy of plot to keep it interesting. The only fault I might find with this particular book is that he mentions some of the characters who were central to earlier books briefly and the reader might be left wondering why if they have not read the previous books. There really seemed no reason to bring them in if they are not going to be part of the story. I love the main characters and the insight into the workings of parli...more
Karen Douglass
Another Victorian setting, failed to stand out in my memory and my only note says that it has a Member of Parliment as the sleuth.
Melissa
I love this series and was so excited to read the next installment...it did not disappoint! Stayed up late to finish it in just 2 days.

"Charles Lenox is at the pinnacle of his political career and is a delighted new father. His days of regularly investigating the crimes of Victorian London now some years behind him, he plans a trip to his uncle's estate, Somerset, in the expectation of a few calm weeks to write an important speech. When he arrives in the quiet village of Plumley, however, what g...more
Roshni
Great book, the main character is interesting, and the ending was surprising. Just enough action mixed with the historical details.
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A Death in the Small Hours (ebook)
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A Death in the Small Hours (Charles Lenox Mysteries, #6)
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name. See this thread for more information.

My name is Charles Finch - welcome! I'm the author of the Charles Lenox series of historical mysteries, starting with A BEAUTIFUL BLUE DEATH and extending through, most recently, A DEATH IN THE SMALL HOURS. They're all set in Victorian London, and have been translated into...more
More about Charles Finch...
A Beautiful Blue Death (Charles Lenox Mysteries, #1) The September Society (Charles Lenox Mysteries, #2) The Fleet Street Murders (Charles Lenox Mysteries, #3) A Stranger in Mayfair (Charles Lenox Mysteries, #4) A Burial at Sea (Charles Lenox Mysteries #5)

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