Customer Reviews

The September Society (Charles Lenox Mysteries)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was a big fan of A Beautiful Blue Death (Finch's first Victorian mystery) so I read this as soon as I could get my hands on a copy. It definitely didn't disappoint. There are echoes of Dorothy Sayers, Elizabeth George, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Agatha Christie in the clean writing, finely wrought characters, and sense of humor, but the writer has a style of his own.

The book begins with a prologue about a murder in India, then flashes twenty years forward. A young man, George Payson, is missing from his rooms at Oxford University, and his mother comes to detective Charles Lenox for help. Lenox uncovers a conspiracy and a strange group of army veterans called The September Society, and quickly finds the link between them and George Payson's disappearance.

The mystery is great but what I love about Finch's work is the characters - the quiet, reliable Lenox, his gentle and intelligent friend Lady Jane, and even a new character - a protege to the detective in the shape of Lord John Dallington, a young and dissipated aristocrat.

A definite winner. Highly recommended.

"The September Society" is the second installment in the Charles Lenox Mysteries, this time involving crimes that occur in two different eras: the first, when two men are murdered in Punjab shortly after the Anglo-Sikh War; and the second, nineteen years later in 1866, when a young Oxonian, George Payson, vanishes. Lenox is approached by George's worried mother, Lady Annabelle, who prevails upon Lenox to find him. Lenox travels to Oxford where he discovers a collection of bizarre clues in George's room--a dead cat, a red string, a fountain pen, a cryptic note and a card bearing the words `September Society'. Compounding the mystery is the disappearance of George's friend and confidante, Bill Dabney.

Soon after, a corpse is discovered in the fields, assumed to be that of George's. As Lenox investigates, it becomes apparent that this murder is connected to those in Punjab, but how? What happened to Dabney? What is behind the covert September Society and what is its connection to the crimes? It will take Lenox's considerable skills to solve what he regards `a strange and laborious case', and do so before someone else is killed.

Lenox's pack is back--his associate, the skilled Dr. McConnell; his always-circumspect and resourceful valet Graham; and his best friend, the compassionate Lady Jane--with a new kid on the block, the inveterate drinker and layabout Dallington, now his apprentice.

The development of the Lenox character is gaining speed. At forty and still a bachelor, he's now mustering the courage to take his friendship with Lady Jane a step further. There's more introspection, too, as he weighs his continuing desire to pursue his detection against his dream of serving in parliament.

Oxford and its many colleges are depicted with much affection and detail (perhaps a holdover from the author's days there) that one can easily visualize their enduring medieval splendor. Of special interest was the interior of Bodleian Library (which I'd long ago only seen from the outside), considered in Lenox's time as the world's greatest library. Oxford, through his eyes, is a wondrous trip back in time. Of interest, too, is the emergence of forensic ballistics as a major breakthrough in criminology, one of the many informative nuggets interspersed within the story. (For example, do you know the origin of the term `swan song'?) There's always something new to learn in a Lenox mystery.

A confounding and challenging puzzle, vivid descriptions of place and time, lots of interesting information to absorb (though may seem pedantic at times), and entertaining characters all make for a genuinely good read, especially for Golden Age devotees. It's developing into a quite agreeable mystery series and I look forward to future installments.

THE SEPTEMBER SOCIETY (Ama Sleuth/Trad Mys-Charles Lenox-England-Victorian) - G+
Finch, Charles - 2nd in series
St. Martin's Minotaur, 2008, US Hardcover - ISBN: 9780312359782

First sentence: The first murders were committed nineteen years before the second, on a dry and unremarkable day along the Sutlej Frontier in Punjab.

Charles Lenox returns to his alma mater when the wealthy mother of an Oxford student appeals to Lenox to find her missing son, George Payson is missing. Lenox finds one of George's best friends is also missing. The common clue is a card on which is the name "The September Society."

The biggest issue I had this with book was due to the apparent lack of a good editor. There was a lot of repetition. For me, it was distracting.

On the plus side is a cast of wonderful, realistic characters; Lenox, his manservant and friend Goodman in particular. I like that Lenox is taking on Dallington, the third, somewhat wastrel, son of a nobleman, as an apprentice and wonder whether this portends a shift in the series.

I learned a lot reading this book. There is a wonderful blend of creating a sense of the story's time and place-- the book also made me hungry as Finch would describe the menu of most of the meals--with providing historical information as well. I didn't know John Wesley and his followers were named "Methodists," originally a pejorative term, at Lincoln College, Oxford because of their dull, methodical ways as viewed by others. The author also includes information on the beginning of ballistic analysis.

I enjoy Finch's style for interjecting brief parenthetical information or explanations on things the reader may have noted or wondered about; i.e., "On the train once more that evening (the trips were becoming tedious)..."

The climax was a bit abrupt, but the ending had a very good twist. Overall, I certainly enjoyed the book and shall certainly read more by Finch.

In 1866 having solved A BEAUTIFUL BLUE DEATH, Charles Lenox considers himself a competent sleuth; though an amateur since he does not accept a fee. Because he is well to do and highly connected, Charles can select when he chooses to go detecting. When widow Lady Annabelle Payson, whose husband mysteriously died in India in the 1840s, pleads with him to find her son George, a student at Oxford's Lincoln College who vanished, he agrees.

At the student's room, Charles finds some odd clues starting with a dead cat, garage spewed everywhere, enigmatic notes that make no sense, and a card from some group called the SEPTEMBER SOCIETY. However, the biggest clue is George's friend Dabney is also missing. Fearing foul play, Charles calls in favors to assist him as his concerns over George's safety multiplies when a corpse is found and signs point back two decades to India.

Charles' second investigation is a fun Victorian mystery that has the hero running back and forth between London and Oxford trying not to just solve the case, but to try to rescue his client's son, if he is alive. The inquiry is rather straightforward in spite of Charles treks either to obtain assistance or follow a clue, but historical mystery fans will enjoy his efforts and his realization he needs help to crack the case. Fans will enjoy this fine pre Holmesian nineteenth century English tale mostly because of the lead character.

Harriet Klausner

... could use a better editor. Mr. Finch too often breaks from his 19th century world using too-modern words, phrases, and syntax more modern than Victorian. A minor quibble, perhaps, but jarring. And for such a well-educated author (and urbane characters), his grammatical mistakes are equally surprising. Both faults are unfortunate and should have been corrected by a more alert (or competent) editor. Still, the book is worth reading if only for the affectionate portrait of Oxford, and some very good characters.

This is a charming totally delightful read, a perfect cozy mystery. Finch transports you right into middle of England's Victorian era and the life of the protagonist, Charles Lenox. And he does it all with good writing and excellent plotting. Lenox is so real, so human and appealing that you miss him when another character takes center stage. I also love the perfect way the characters interacted with each other, making you feel as if you are there in the room with them as they chat and dine. The mystery Finch draws you into is slow in pace, but also great, with lots of surprising twists to hold your interest and keep you guessing. He gives you some interesting details on the day to day life of the period and the English way of dealing with emotions. However, what makes this novel stand out from the crowd is the endearing, very proper Lenox, a true English Gentleman. If you like feeling an attachment to the characters in your books, and enjoy a good old fashioned mystery, give this one a try. As a side, this is the second in the Charles Lenox series. Finch was nominated for an Agatha Award for the debut book in this series, "A Beautiful Blue Death".

When the paperback edition of "The September Society" became available, I found myself sizing up the three Charles Finch books all in a row. One surprise for me was how nicely the books are together & how good it feels to touch them. Just as the pleasure of putting pen to paper feels differently than simply communicating by a phone call or an e-mail, the books have an evocative touch that triggers the stories. In "The September Society", all sorts of touch sensations remain. The clues linger. I was able to visit Oxford this past September and as I wandered about the old city, I felt as though I was reconnecting with an old friend. I visited the Turf with its scarred wooden tables, Cornmarket Street's crowded spaces & Christ Church meadow complete with cows & a stream. The book, with each reread, becomes more & more of a friend. Also, the cover designs of "A Beutiful Blue Death", "The September Society" & (soon to come in paperback) "The Fleet Street Murders" would make a great boxed set for anyone who wants to have & hold & reach out to touch a part of 1860's Britain. Mystery at its best - treasure the touch of this stuff!!

I enjoyed Charles Finch's previous book, A Beautiful Blue Death, although I felt the writing to be a little stilted in places. Since that book Mr Finch has improved wonderfully in The September Society. His writing is well done although a few tweeks on removing some modern words from the Victorian dialogue would improve it further. The story is superb with several red herrings and a clever solution at the end. The characters have become more rounded in this second outing and I am growing very fond of Charles Lenox. There are many threads from this book to make quite a few more Charles Lenox mysteries in the future and I am very much looking forward to reading them.

This novel has an imaginative storyline with many authentic surprises. As in A Beautiful Blue Death, the engaging characters and finely honed plotting make this a memorable mystery. I highly recommend this author!

Being a lover of Sherlock Holmes and stories of murder, mystery, and intrigue set in Great Britain during the 19th century, I was immediately drawn to this book. This is the first novel I have read by this author and of his series of Charles Lenox Mysteries. The author did an outstanding job of storytelling and creating the air of mystery and suspense. I was captivated and curious as to how the events of the crime would finally unfold and reveal themselves in the end. On that note, I have to say that I was disappointed in the last 1/4 of the novel. While the author had gone to so much effort in using imagery and character development throughout the story, I felt the ending was rushed and lacked sufficient detail to really feel satisfied with the culmination of events. Up until the last 1/4 of the book, I was set to give a solid 4 to 4 1/2 stars and settled on 3 1/2 stars n the end. I'm admittedly a harsh critic, as I value my time invested in reading and have high expectations for achieving a satisfactory payoff in the end. Overall, excellent imagery and character development by the author and would consider reading other books in the series.