Charles Lenox, formerly a detective now
a member of Parliament, agrees to help an ailing friend, Lord John
Dallington, with a case. Although Charles is making a name for
himself in Parliament, he misses detective work. The note from
Dallington asking for his help makes him realize how much.
To his chagrin, Lenox misses the client
at Charing Cross, but continues to support Dallington, whose illness
keeps him confined to his rooms. Assisting Dallington leads to his
involvement in the murder of a country squire. The case at first
appears straightforward, but as clues accumulate, Lenox realizes that
the case could involve the highest levels of government and society.
The author does an excellent job of
pulling you into the Victorian era. From the descriptions of London
and Parliament, to the details of Lenox's house and the rules of
society, you feel immersed in another time.
The characters are well drawn. You
can't help but like Lenox when he marvels at his baby daughter. The
secondary characters, detectives, homeless men, aristocrats and
shopkeepers, contribute to the realistic background.
The plot moves rather slowly, but I
found it enjoyable giving me time to savor the delights of Victorian
London. However, if you like a fast pace and lots of violence this is
not the book for you. If you like historical fiction combined with
murder, you'll enjoy this book. I did.
I reviewed this book for the Amazon Vine Program.
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