Charles Finch

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Charles Finch

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March 2012


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, as well as a recent novel about expatriate life in Oxford, THE LAST ENCHANTMENTS. I also write book reviews for the New York Times, USA Today, and the Chicago Tribune and essays in many different places.

Like most people on this website, I'm a huge reader. My taste is all over the place, though I tend to really like literary and mystery fiction. Some of my favorite writers: George Orwell, Henry Green, Dick Francis, Anthony Trollope, David Lodge, PG Wodehouse, Bill Bryson, Roberto Bolano, Jonathan Franzen, Shirley H
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Popular Answered Questions

Charles Finch First of all, THANK YOU for reading!!! Second of all, yes, I have a new book coming out in February...which is actually a prequel to the whole series.…moreFirst of all, THANK YOU for reading!!! Second of all, yes, I have a new book coming out in February...which is actually a prequel to the whole series. It's called "The Woman in the Water." I'm really excited for it to come out. (He's only about 23 in the story...)

I also have a Christmas story coming out this fall just to tide people over. It's called Gone Before Christmas.

Anyway, mainly, thank you so much again Birgitta!!! Are you reading anything good?(less)
Charles Finch Hey Jules - so sorry I'm just seeing this! I'm very bad at Goodreads (sometimes I'm obsessed and sometimes I forget it exists for a month). Anyway, ye…moreHey Jules - so sorry I'm just seeing this! I'm very bad at Goodreads (sometimes I'm obsessed and sometimes I forget it exists for a month). Anyway, yes! The next one comes out in February :)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...(less)
Average rating: 3.93 · 84,529 ratings · 9,536 reviews · 25 distinct worksSimilar authors
A Beautiful Blue Death (Cha...

3.64 avg rating — 15,931 ratings — published 2007 — 5 editions
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The September Society (Char...

3.88 avg rating — 9,484 ratings — published 2008 — 26 editions
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The Fleet Street Murders (C...

3.96 avg rating — 7,535 ratings — published 2009 — 26 editions
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A Stranger in Mayfair (Char...

3.99 avg rating — 6,197 ratings — published 2010 — 2 editions
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A Burial at Sea (Charles Le...

really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 5,282 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions
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The Woman in the Water (Cha...

4.05 avg rating — 4,983 ratings — published 2018
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A Death in the Small Hours ...

3.92 avg rating — 4,667 ratings — published 2012 — 2 editions
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The Laws of Murder (Charles...

4.15 avg rating — 4,229 ratings — published 2014
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An Old Betrayal (Charles Le...

4.05 avg rating — 4,081 ratings — published 2013
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The Vanishing Man (Charles ...

4.14 avg rating — 3,499 ratings — published 2019 — 3 editions
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More books by Charles Finch…

Excerpt!

I am so excited to share this with you guys! My publisher has been kind enough to post an excerpt of my next mystery novel, "The Vanishing Man." Out in February, it tracks a lost portrait through Victorian London - a portrait of...well, you'll see at the end of the excerpt :) I hope you enjoy!


https://read.macmillan.com/lp/the-van... Read more of this blog post »
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Published on December 05, 2018 12:00 Tags: charles-finch, charles-lenox, excerpts, fiction, finch, historical-fiction, lenox, victorian-mystery
A Beautiful Blue Death The September Society The Fleet Street Murders A Stranger in Mayfair A Burial at Sea A Death in the Small Hours An Old Betrayal
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Quotes by Charles Finch  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“‎He often envied people who hadn't read his favourite books. They had such happiness before them.”
Charles Finch, A Stranger in Mayfair
tags: books

“Her strength was in the integrity of her actions; she never compromised what she believed she ought to do.”
Charles Finch, A Beautiful Blue Death

“When you're finally a grown-up, one of the things you find is that there are no grown-ups.”
Charles Finch, The Last Enchantments

Polls

November 2018 Subgenre Poll

We ask that you only vote if you are planning on participating in our discussion should your choice win.

Which Historical Mystery book would you like to read in November?

 
  31 votes, 49.2%

 
  12 votes, 19.0%

 
  10 votes, 15.9%

 
  10 votes, 15.9%

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Topics Mentioning This Author

“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.”
Mark Twain

“Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.”
Groucho Marx, The Essential Groucho: Writings For By And About Groucho Marx

“Are you going to give a speech?' she asked gaily.

He gave a choked laugh. 'Of course not,' he said. 'Not for ages.'

'My cousin Davey gave one on his very first day!' ...

'In the Lords, I remember. It was about how he didn't like strawberry jam.'

'Be nice, Charles! It was a speech about fruit importation, which I admit devolved into something of a tirade.' She couldn't help but laugh. 'Still, you could talk about something more important.'

'Than jam? Impossible. We mustn't set the bar too high, Jane.”
Charles Finch, The Fleet Street Murders

“The world is a story we tell ourselves about the world.”
Vikram Chandra

“You know, one of the tragedies of real life is that there is no background music.”
Annie Proulx

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Comments (showing 1-10)    post a comment »
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message 10: by Donna

Donna Charles, I just wanted to let you know that I am a big fan of yours and love your books. I hope you keep putting new ones out for all of us to enjoy.
I hope you have a wonderful Happy New Year 2018.
Donna


message 9: by Steve

Steve Charles, thanks for accepting my friend request. I recently stumbled upon the Lenox mysteries. I recently read the first in the series, and it was good, but I am now in the midst of the September Society and just can't put it down. I think I am enjoying this one more because A) the main characters have already been developed in the first book, so I already felt like an insider, and B) the setting of Oxford. I have vicariously enjoyed the Oxford setting, being a fan of Dexter's Morse novels (and consequently the TV adaptations and subsequent spinoffs). In September, you make several references to Lenox's adventures in Oxford as a student at Balliol. Have you ever considered turning the clock back some more and write a book, or perhaps another series, on Lenox's time at Oxford? I think you would find a quick following there.


message 8: by Ann

Ann Rhodes Thanks so much for Charles Lenox, I found him my local library while working there and I have fell in love with him. You transport me to a time and place that I can see in my mind so well. I am one book behind (slow reader I work long hours) but I still can't wait for the next. My aunt gave me "Alana Chandler, Marked for Murder" Joanie Bruce and I have to finish it first, but it is such a good book. A real page turner, I recommend it to you.
Thanks again!


ShanDizzy 09/25/2015: I appreciate that you accepted my friend request Charles. I am truly enjoying your Charles Lenox series. Thank you for creating him. I also follow you on facebook (I'm Smi Dizzy). Currently, I am reading "A Stranger in Mayfair" which shows Lenox as a more introspective person due to the changes in his life. You've grandly captured the nuances of human emotions in Lenox's and Jane's new situation. And how wonderful that Graham got "promoted!" It's interesting to read how he's attempting to adjust to his new station. This is a very well-written and delightful narrative. Oh, and the mystery is intriguing too. Thanks again


Charles Finch Julie wrote: "i didn't realize you were here in chicago now. if you are strolling along lake short drive, you might see my husband sail by sometime :) we live in the suburbs but he is often sailing where he c..."

Oh, how funny Julie! I haven't lived here long. The summer was so beautiful, especially the few times I got out to the lake.

By the way, I'll be doing events in Winnetka and Naperville this November...will post about them here. Hope to see you!


message 5: by Julie

Julie i didn't realize you were here in chicago now. if you are strolling along lake short drive, you might see my husband sail by sometime :) we live in the suburbs but he is often sailing where he can see chicago's gorgeous skyline. isn't chicago a beautiful city? (when you are not freezing too much!)


Charles Finch Katelynn wrote: "As a fan of historical fiction, I happened upon Charles Lennox by chance. Fortunately (for me) you already had five books in the series, which I read in rapid succession. It was only after this bin..."

Katelynn, thank you so much for these incredibly generous words! It means so much in particular to hear that you think the atmosphere of the books is true to the age, because that's what I work hardest to achieve with the Lenox books. To answer your question, I haven't read the Charles Todd books, though I know he (they) have an avid following. I'll need to start soon.

Thanks again - and no, I'm not going anywhere! Much more to come from Lenox and from me.

Best,
Charles Finch


Katelynn As a fan of historical fiction, I happened upon Charles Lennox by chance. Fortunately (for me) you already had five books in the series, which I read in rapid succession. It was only after this binge-read that I discovered you were my age. I can't put my finger on why that surprised me, but in many ways it gave me hope for the future! Your style of writing is so understated and unpretentious, which can be hard to find. I read a lot of work in this genre and some of it is better than others, like everything I suppose. I find that a lot of novels rely too heavily upon shallow factoids to sell the "period feel", leaving the actual characters somewhat out of place in their time. Charles Lennox is a clear exception. You somehow avoid this trap, and all of the people in your novels feel as though they could actually have existed. Although the murders and intrigue are what sells, I also really enjoy the political subplots that have grown in the later novels. I wish my congressman was as moral as Lennox!

I was just curious if you've ever read any of the Inspector Rutlege mysteries by Charles Todd. While in a different era than your books, and somewhat darker, they have that same authentic feel. If you haven't read any of them, I definitely recommend you do so!

Sorry for the long winded note, but just wanted to say thanks for sharing Charles Lennox with us. I hope he (and you) stick around for a long time!


Charles Finch Sophia wrote: "Thank you for accepting my friend request, Charles!

I adore your Charles Lennox books- great characters and I like the authentic feel of the backdrop not to mention the worthy mysteries.

Felicities!"


Thanks for finding me on here and thanks so much for reading, Sophia - it always makes me so happy to hear that people are enjoying the books.


Sophia Thank you for accepting my friend request, Charles!

I adore your Charles Lennox books- great characters and I like the authentic feel of the backdrop not to mention the worthy mysteries.

Felicities!


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