I enjoyed this book immensely! The first chapter was a little choppy since it gave data on previous "cases" so the reader automatically assumes there was a previous book in the series - which there is not. Once you get into the rythm of the book, you willl find it quite entertaining. The characters were warm and intriguing - they felt like real people and not just fictional characters. Keep a watch for this author, he's shows great promise. ( )

Quite the best mystery I've read in ages. Characters wonderfully believable, settings took me there with ease & the plot kept me guessing right to the end. Had to read this right through, it was that good. Can't wait for the next! Charles Finch is an amazing writer. ( )

First in a series featuring Victorian gentleman detective Charles Lenox, A Beautiful Blue Death is a cute and fun read.

Lenox's neighbor and childhood friend, Lady Jane Grey, apprises Lenox of the death of her former maid, Prudence, apparently by suicide. It seems that Prudence left a somewhat cryptic note behind and swallowed poison to end her life. However, it turns out that Prudence is illiterate, and therefore couldn't have possibly written a suicide note. The other thing is that the poison she left behind wasn't the poison that killed her. Having discovered these things, Charles is intrigued -- and his investigation begins. With the help of his dear friend Thomas, a doctor who no longer practices, Charles begins his investigation that may put his life in jeopardy, taking him from London's posh gentlemen's clubs to its seedy and potentially deadly slums.

This is really (imho) a book for those who enjoy more cozy-type mysteries. Having said this, I have to also say that although I'm not really fond of that genre, I do plan on reading the next book in the series, The September Society. I enjoyed Lenox's character, and many of the supporting characters, especially his butler, were also done well. The mystery was also well done, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Considering it's a series opener, it was not too bad.

Overall, a fun and easy read; I'll look forward to reading his next book. ( )

Charles Lenox is a man of leisure, as his older brother got the baronet and the Parliament seat that went with it. However, he keeps himself busy solving cases for friends. When his childhood friend, Lady Jane, asks him to look into the death of a former maid, Charles quickly discovers that her death was not a suicide, as the maid's employer insists. He then embarks on an investigation that leads to another death and could cost Charles his life. Charles is a wonderful character, and the whole story is kind, gentlemanly and clever, just like Lenox himself - an absolute delight. ( )

Awesome. Just my kind of story: Victorian London, a murder, an aristocratic detective, a below-stairs assistant. Be sure also to see the sequel: "The September Society."

Also, I have it on good authority--an e-mail from the author--that a third book in this series will be published in Summer 2009. ( )