I dunno. I feel like something was lost with Lennox not in London. I really really enjoy the series but this one wasn’t one of the strongest for me. ( )

1874 and Charles Lenox is content in his political career and his marriage but his days of investigation are now behind him and left to his protégé John Dallington. But then he gets a letter from his uncle Frederick Ponsonby in Plumbley, Somerset. It seems there have been several acts of vandalism in the village. While Lenox investigates a murder occurs.
While enjoying this well-written mystery I was not that interested in the political story ( )

If you enjoy smartly written historical mysteries, then the Charles Lenox Mystery series may be just the one for you. Finch writes prose exquisitely with an eye to every detail. It is a pleasure reading his scenic descriptions as much as delving into the details of the mysteries themselves. The banter among characters is absolutely delightful and it eases the tension of the grizzly parts of the stories.

This sixth book in series follows shortly in time after the conclusion of book five. It appears to be early fall of 1874, London and Somerset, U.K. Charles has been asked to open the speeches of Parliament at their upcoming session. It's a tremendous honor for this rising member. His older brother Edmund recommends heading to the country to allow Charles to focus without distraction on the writing of his speech. As it happens, their Uncle Frederick, of their mother's side of the family, had invited Charles, his wife and infant daughter to join him at his Everley country estate in Somerset. Within a postscript on the invitation, Uncle Frederick, as an enticement (knowing of Charles' passion for detective work), asks Charles to consider looking into acts of vandalism occurring in the nearby village of Plumbley. Now, how could Charles say no to that? So, it was off to Somerset they went, with nursemaid in tow.

Surely, the mystery in this book is not just about the vandalism in Plumbley, you may ask. As it happens, a murder does occur on the village green, which may or may not be related to the other crimes. Protagonist Charles Lenox is in his element. He had sorely missed his old profession of being a discrete private detective, as Parliament holds all of his attention these days. Here was an opportunity laid at his feet to refresh his deductive skills and do what he loved to do.

This was a most enjoyable read and I eagerly look forward to reading the next book in series, "An Old Betrayal". ( )

A very good entry in the series. Most of the action takes place away from London, in this case at Lenox's cousin "Uncle Freddie". In the small town a series of vandalisms is followed by the murder of a young constable.

Full of gentle manners and mild humor, this is the kind of book you finish with a smile on your face. ( )

Not as good as some of the earlier entries in the series. The plot moves too quickly through the murder mystery itself while dwelling too much on the unimportant parts. ( )