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A Stranger in Mayfair (Charles Lenox Mysteries #4)

by Charles Finch (Goodreads Author)

3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 · rating details · 1,051 ratings · 140 reviews

Returning from a continental honeymoon with his lifelong friend and new wife, Lady Jane Grey, Charles Lenox is asked by a colleague in Parliament to consult in the murder of a footman, bludgeoned to death with a brick. His investigation uncovers both unsettling facts about the family he served and a strange, second identity that the footman himself cultivated.

Going into th...more

ebook, 320 pages

Published November 9th 2010 by Minotaur Books

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Feb 17, 2013 Ellie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-individualchallenge, fiction, historical-fiction, mystery, series, victorian-victoriana

A Stranger in Mayfair by Charles Finch is the fourth installment in the Charles Lenox series. I find the series a delight and Stranger in Mayfair does not disappoint. The characters are complex and interesting and the historical information (as far as I have tracked it, and I have checked several facts) accurate. I love entering Finch's Victorian world and hate to leave it.

In this entry in the series, Lenox is beginning both his Parliamentary and marital career. His work is interrupted when he...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Kay added it · review of another edition

Shelves: re-read

New favorite thing: sitting in front of the fire with tea and fruitcake reading about a man sitting in front of the fire with tea and a book of Roman history or Elizabeth Gaskell. American, like Martha Grimes, Charles Finch is the male Anne Perry (Australian), giving us this Charles Lenox series, as sprightly informative of 1850-60s London, as sweet in love, as intriguing and as well written as those by the two women (Pitt works in the 1870-80s and Jury is 1990s into 2007). All best read in orde...more

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Apr 23, 2011 Pamela rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm very sad that there are no more Charles Lenox books left to read. This latest installment finds Charles and Lady Jane returned to London from their honeymoon and Charles about to begin his first term as an MP in the House of Commons, fulfilling what he always believed was a life-long dream. Unfortunately, like many dreams, this one comes with a price: in donning the cap of a politico he must doff that of detective. Or must he? As he prepares for his first round of committee meetings, a new c...more I'm very sad that there are no more Charles Lenox books left to read. This latest installment finds Charles and Lady Jane returned to London from their honeymoon and Charles about to begin his first term as an MP in the House of Commons, fulfilling what he always believed was a life-long dream. Unfortunately, like many dreams, this one comes with a price: in donning the cap of a politico he must doff that of detective. Or must he? As he prepares for his first round of committee meetings, a new case arrives literally on his doorstep in the shape of Ludo Starling, a fellow MP whose footman has just been found dead in an alley with a gaping hole in his head.

Upon his arrival in the alley, however, Charles begins to suspect that things are not quite as they seem. Starling, who had fairly begged Charles to take the case, now wants to shake him off. The dead footman has a spartan bedroom with Hegel on his bedside table and tailored suits in the closet. Just as Lenox is beginning to unravel the many mysteries, a suspect is arrested and provides a full confession...but what was his motive? And what secret is the Starling family hiding? Dashing from the Houses of Parliament to an exclusive boxing club to the posh houses of Mayfair (both upstairs and downstairs), Charles has work out the man, means, and motive behind these crimes before the killer strikes again and even more closely to him.

I really love this series and am devastated that I have to wait until November for another installment. Lenox is a wonderful, earnest, and engaging hero. A Stranger in Mayfair finds him even more vulnerable than The Fleet Street Murders, which saw Charles campaigning for a seat in Parliament and for the hand of Lady Jane. There he was out of his element, to be sure, but there is a difference between hoping for something you haven't got yet and getting it and then finding it (or yourself) not all you hoped it would be. Charles loves the idea of Parliament, but is disillusioned by the reality of the compromises and slow pace of government. He loves Jane, but married life, like politics, demands compromise and responsibility. Neither of his new mistresses will allow Charles to go running off after each new lead--does becoming a husband and a politician mean that Charles must give up detecting, his first great love? And what if he and Jane follow the lead of Thomas and Toto McConnell (at last blissfully happy) and start a family?

Only time will tell. Charles Finch had better hurry up and write another one so I can find out.(less)

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Jan 05, 2011 LJ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 1800s, england, historical, london, male_author, mystery, private_investigator

First Sentence: “Clara, who is that gentleman?”

Charles Lenox has, at forty, entered a new phase in his life. He is newly married to Lady Jane, for years his best friend and neighbor, and he is newly elected to Parliament’s House of Commons. The second of these events necessitates spending less time doing detective work—but not yet. A colleague in Parliament, Ludovic Starling, has asked Lenox to investigate the murder of one of his footman. As Lenox, and his protégée Dallington, move forward in t...more First Sentence: “Clara, who is that gentleman?”

Charles Lenox has, at forty, entered a new phase in his life. He is newly married to Lady Jane, for years his best friend and neighbor, and he is newly elected to Parliament’s House of Commons. The second of these events necessitates spending less time doing detective work—but not yet. A colleague in Parliament, Ludovic Starling, has asked Lenox to investigate the murder of one of his footman. As Lenox, and his protégée Dallington, move forward in the investigation, they are met with resistance not only from Scotland Yard but from Starling, who asks them to give up the case. An attack on Lenox stiffens his resolve to find the killer.

Finch has become a favorite of mine and this book, once again, demonstrates why as there were so many levels on which I enjoyed this book.

We are introduced to Lenox and Lady Jane through a conversation held by others, via a prologue which actually works as it allows their back story to be told without it seeming forced or cumbersome. Each of the characters are fully drawn with very brief exposition that brings them to life. One thing by which I am very impressed is how, with each book in the series, the characters lives individually grow and develop. This impacts not only each character but the relationships amongst them. Relationships are something Finch does extremely well, including the awkwardness of a newly married couple and a man making a major change in his career.

Mr. Finch’s knowledge of Victorian England is evident in every page and yet, again, so seamlessly incorporated into the plot that it is informative rather than intrusive. Through Lenox’s work in Parliament, we learn the concerns of the period and meet historical figures in their proper settings and appropriate roles. Through the birth of a child, we observe the customs and etiquette of the time. Although Finch is American, is studied at Oxford, now lives in the UK and delightfully conveys British humor and understatement, “For an Englishman is was a strange time to be in France….first because of Napoleon’s rather uncouth attempt to conquer Europe…” The dialogue has a natural flow but also reflects the speech of the time.

Neither of the above is meant to undervalue the plot. The mystery is intriguing, and full of effective twists. I like that solution is no more obvious to Lenox than to us, the reader. We are presented with numerous possibilities, each dismissed, until the final resolution. Might I have figured it out? Perhaps; but the story involved me to the point where I wasn’t deliberately trying.

The only reason I did not rate the book as “excellent” was the use of portents which were completely unnecessary. Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and do highly recommend it with the proviso suggestion of starting the series at the beginning.

A STRANGER IN MAYFAIR (Hist Mys-Charles Lenox-London, England-Victorian) - VG+
Finch, Charles – 4th in series
Minotaur Books, ©2010, US Hardcover - ISBN: 9780312625061
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Mar 13, 2011 Katie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am sad to report that this book is middling at best. Before I was even close to finishing the book, I had solved the crime, and let's be honest, that is not a good thing since I rarely figure out the mystery (I like to think it's because I read only high-quality, well-written mysteries).

And the whole we-can't-communicate drama between Charles Lennox and his best friend, turned wife is tiresome. Surely, Lady Jane didn't get married and turn into a complainer, distant person overnight. Bah humbu...more

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Nov 16, 2010 Dorie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-mysteries

Back from his honeymoon, Charles Lenox is asked to look into the murder of footman Frederick Clarke. He undertakes the case along with his protege John Dallington. The McConnell's baby is finally born, causing both Charles and his wife to consider possibly adding to their own family. There was a lot more politics in this book as Charles takes his position in Parliament. I wouldn't have minded if there was a purpose, but none of the political threads were followed to any conclusion. Still, I enjo...more

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Dec 11, 2011 Sarah Asp rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In England there is no such thing as Fall, it is and has always been called Autumn. There are no such things as City Blocks either. England was building cities long before formal planning became the norm and therefore it is delightfully higgledy piggledy. You're never going to get 5 stars out of me Charles Finch unless you make these books more authentic. No devilish plot twists or great characterizations can make up for inauthenticity. I think I better go and find out where I can email this guy...more

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Apr 26, 2013 Ruby Scarlett rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The plot is solid and one of the most engaging ones yet. The added characters are strongly built with three-dimensional personalities. Finch always conveys a great sense of the period he writes about and while he does expose some of the historical background of monuments, laws, people, etc to do so, he knows how much to give away and it nevers feels as if all his research were being put in in huge blocks of text that have nothing to do with the main character's knowledge or point of view.

I admir...more

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Apr 15, 2013 Susan Ferguson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, mystery, nook-owned

This series of Charles Lenox is very interesting. It's set in Victorian London when being a detective was rather looked down on. Charles' and Lady Jane have married and gone to Paris on their honeymoon. After their return to London with their houses joined, Parliament is about to start and a fellow in the Parliament comes to Charles for help when one of his footmen is killed in the alley behind the house where the servants gather. Ludovic Starling is behaving oddly, hinting that he will probably...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Anissa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, library-books, mystery-suspense-thriller-crime, series

Good entry in series & perfect for a weekend or airport read. Charles Lenox is trying to settle into being newly married to Lady Jane Grey & his new seat at Parliament while being drawn into investigating a murder case involving footman Frederick bludgeoned with a brick in a Mayfair alley. I won't give away the answer to the case but I will say that I figured it out before the reveal. I don't think it was a flaw in the writing just good clues woven through & easy enough to work out i...more

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Nov 23, 2010 Carol jinx~☆~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Charles Finch! I just love, love, love his characters. Lenox, and Lady Jane in London with a murder, mystery and a bit of mayhem. What more can you ask of a book than to take you somewhere interesting. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book. I hope one is in progress right now.

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Nov 19, 2012 Matt Schiariti rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The only thing constant is change. Charles finds this out the hard way in the newest addition to Charles Finch's great detective series.

This may be the most difficult time in Charles Lennox's life. Not only is he newly married to Lady Jane and trying to settle back into the real world after a fantasy honeymoon, but what's more is he's trying to balance between his new job in Parliament and his passion for detective work. When a fellow member of Parliament comes to him asking for help solving the...more

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Oct 31, 2012 adventurat rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, fiction, e-book, historical, mystery

A bit of a shift in tone in this, the fourth in the series (or at least the fourth one I own), as Charles begins his life in Parliament, and he and Lady Jane begin their married life together, including knocking through some walls in their adjoining houses to make one gigantic house. Lord John Dallington makes a fairly regular appearance in this one, and is rapidly becoming Charles's peer as an investigator.

I am not the kind of reader who tries to solve a mystery before the fictional detective...more

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Dec 01, 2012 Norma Huss rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mysteries, historic

I do love to read Charles Finch's historic mysteries. It's like visiting with family friends - I hear all the latest gossip, what's new in the characters' lives, and what mysterious event puts them in a bit of danger. I absorb details of Victorian England, walk the streets, duck into a gentlemen's club or Parliament. All rather cozy, but not in the usual 'cozy-mystery' sense, although a bit of that too. The hero, Charles Lenox, is a detective, but that is more an avocation than a career. He work...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This absorbing mystery set in cold and rainy Victorian England features Charles Lenox, a wealthy amateur detective. He lives in a quintessential mansion in the most fashionable section of England, equipped with roaring fireplaces, well-stocked drink tables, and stacks of books and maps. He has unimpeded access to all the high-society homes and exclusive clubs in England.

The highly-likeable Lenox darts around town with his dashing protégé Dallington (a young and somewhat debauched ladies man), s...more

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Dec 18, 2011 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, library-books, mystery

At one point in this book, the fourth of Charles Finch's mysteries featuring amateur detective Charles Lenox, one character brings another a stack of magazines full of crime stories. "It's what I always read when I'm sick," he says; "Somehow having a fever makes them even more exciting." (271) This is about how I feel about mysteries - perfect for when I'm either sick (I've been getting over a cold this week) or frazzled or distracted. I've been on a Charles Finch/Charles Lenox spree lately, tho...more At one point in this book, the fourth of Charles Finch's mysteries featuring amateur detective Charles Lenox, one character brings another a stack of magazines full of crime stories. "It's what I always read when I'm sick," he says; "Somehow having a fever makes them even more exciting." (271) This is about how I feel about mysteries - perfect for when I'm either sick (I've been getting over a cold this week) or frazzled or distracted. I've been on a Charles Finch/Charles Lenox spree lately, though after this one I feel like I might be ready for a break before I start reading the next one. Not that this one's a bad book: it was pretty exciting, and while some keys to the solution of the mystery were obvious quite early in the story, there's enough that isn't quite wrapped up until the end to keep things interesting. As with the other books, the setting of 1860s London is pretty pleasing, though I found this book more action-driven and less atmospheric than some of the others in this series.

So, the plot: Charles Lenox has just come back from his honeymoon and the fall session of Parliament is about to start. He thinks he's ready to move away from detection to his new career in politics, but when a case comes his way, he ends up not being able to let it go. He's sitting at home one day when an acquaintance who's also in Parliament shows up: it's a man named Ludo Starling, and he tells Lenox that Freddie Clarke, a 19-year-old footman in the Starling household, has been bludgeoned to death in an alley behind the house. He asks Lenox if he'll take on the case; Lenox at first wavers but then says he'll have a look. And then, just a day or two later, Starling tells Lenox not to bother, actually, because Scotland Yard has everything in hand. But Lenox won't be put off that easily: he's collaborated with the Yard in the past and would be happy to do that again, and by now his curiosity is piqued. When he and his apprentice go to have a look at the scene of the crime, they find that Clarke seems not to have been a typical footman. He's been reading Hegel, for one thing, and he has a fancy tailored suit in his closet. So Lenox and his apprentice keep on investigating, despite repeated requests from the Starling family to drop the matter. There's intrigue and danger and violence, an arrest and a false confession, and all of it's enough to make Lenox wonder if detecting isn't more his vocation than politics is, after all.

The prose is sometimes cheesy—with a little too much emphasis on intrigue and danger, like the sentences below—

Though Lenox had a day full of meetings tomorrow to look forward too, he felt a slight pang. Was this as close as he would get, from now on? What about the midnight chase and the hot trail? Were they left to Dallington now?
Little did Lenox know how involved he would soon become, and how close to home danger would strike. (36-37)

but I still had fun with this book, and am still pretty pleased with this series.(less)

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Oct 22, 2011 Sophia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-mystery-suspense

This was yet another delightful visit with Charles Lenox and his friends in their Victorian London world. 'Stranger in Mayfair', the fourth book in the series, was not a fast paced heart pumping murder mystery, but more of a look into the main character, Charles Lenox's life while he adds a murder crime to his list of duties (and one of his more pleasurable duties I might add) to be accomplished.
The detective/hero of the story is unique in that his persona is not just a detective and the storyli...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Rebekah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

KIND OF a mess. I'd probably be less annoyed if my copy from the library weren't written all over by some angry copy editor/~scholar of nobility. The Denver Metro Editing Police has a point, though: this needed editing, tightening, fact checking, and a little oomph. I guess similar to the way I don't think about an actor being good until I see an actor who is not good, I don't really think about mysteries being well written until I find one that is NOT well written.

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Oct 11, 2011 Bradley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 05, 2012 Katharine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sadly not as good as the previous two - this installment in the Lenox series offers a return of some of the sloppy writing and plotting of the first book. There are repetitive passages that fail to obscure the mystery plot.

On the personal/character level, I think it makes sense introducing some gentle conflict due to Lenox's new marriage fairly late in life, and his warring loyalties to his new position in Parliament vs his love of detection. But these conflicts are handled a bit clunkily, espec...more

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Nov 30, 2012 Scilla rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Charles Lenox has returned from his honeymoon with Lady Jane Grey, and beginning his first term in Parliament. The story takes place in London during the reign of Queen Victoria. While Charles is getting ready to begin his political career, he is asked to help an acquaintance, Lubo Starling, find out the killer of his footman. Lenox and his helper, John Dallington find there is a lot more to the murder than appears at first and gradually eke out some family secrets. Then, the friendly inspector...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

Another good Charles Lenox mystery. The mystery itself was weak (I guessed all the details halfway through, and I'm notoriously bad at figuring out mystery plots) but the maturing relationship between Charles and Jane as well as Charles' transition to being an MP kept me intrigued.

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Mar 28, 2013 Bettie Mahony rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of several books by Charles Finch. Set in 1860, the book is about an upper class Englishman, recently married and elected to Parliament, who has been a detective,a profession denigrated by his peers. I find these books entertaining less for the mystery than for the backbround .

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Feb 07, 2012 Peter Jones rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Charles Finch both adds layers to his characters, and takes away the spotlight some in this next addition to his Charles Lenox series. The most interesting aspects revolved around Lenox having to reconcile his new marriage, position in Parliament, and life changes of close friends with his ongoing need to be an amateur detective. Unfortunately, I didn't feel these were fleshed out as much as I would have liked.

Also, I find it more difficult to sympathize with the characters, primarily due to the...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Cecilia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Akin to Deanna Raybourn and her Lady Julia Grey series and Anne Perry’s William Monk series, Charles Finch puts together a smart, fresh historical mystery series with a debonair gentleman detective Charles Lenox. In this book, the fourth in the series, Lenox begins working as a Member of Parliament in 1860s London, but called upon to do some investigating when the servant of a fellow MP turns up murdered. Sadly, his new wife, Lady Jane Grey, is not too pleased his sleuthing…she would rather he b...more

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Dec 10, 2010 Barb Moore rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: british, historical-fiction, cozy

Charles Lenox is newly married and newly elected to the House of Commons and is finding the reality of both quite different from his idealized imaginings. When a friend asks him to look into the murder of his footman, Lenox finds the distraction welcome--but then the friend insists that Lenox stop investigating and leave it up to Scotland Yard. As an amateur detective, Lenox has assisted the Yard often, but even a former ally there brusquely orders Lenox to stay out of it. Despite the need to at...more

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Jun 04, 2013 Roshni rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: culture-history, mystery

The dialogue in this book was witty at times and the overall plot was interesting. There were many revelations throughout the book to keep it interesting and the ending did surprise me.

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Dec 14, 2010 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, mystery

Not as good as the previous three, this one seemed to focus more on the interior dialogue of Charles Lenox and his dilemma over his desire to do meaningful work (Parliament) and his desire to do work he loves (detective). Although the glimpses into Victorian London are interesting, the mystery was way too predictable, both in the identity of the killer and the motivation.
I kept feeling as if Finch was preparing readers for future books in which Lenox becomes a supporting player while Dallington...more

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Jan 17, 2011 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-mystery, mystery-england

Charles Lenox and his new wife, Lady Jane, return from their honeymoon and Charles readies himself for the opening of Parliament. One of his acquaintances, Ludo Slater, begs for his help in solving the murder of a footman, but no sooner has Charles agreed than Slater begins to discourage his attention to the crime. As Charles and his friends dig into the case, he realizes that it goes deeper than he had thought--and finds it more alluring than the Parliamentary career he had sought for so long....more

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Jan 14, 2012 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, series, historial, britlit

The fourth Charles Lenox mystery, and a return to form (I didn't love The Fleet Street Murders). The mystery is strong and I love Toto and McConnell being central characters again. And Lenox and Lady Jane! Finch really knows his Victorian London setting (did you know that ladies couldn't receive callers until their baby had been baptized? I didn't!) A thoroughly enjoyable series with a charming gentleman hero who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. Lenox is the type of character I'd love to sit...more

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About Charles Finch

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

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Books by 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 Burial at Sea (Charles Lenox Mysteries #5)

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

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