An excellent addition to the canon of Finch's Charles Lenox series. Even though it is a prequel, I definitely recommend reading the previously published books in the series first; I got a great deal of delight out of callbacks to things that will happen later in-universe.

This prequel in the author's series of "amateur private detective" mysteries is a fine beginning to the characters of Charles Lenox and his family and friends. It sets out in enough detail to be interesting, how his "career" (which can't be called that, since men of Lenox's class are not expected to have careers per se), began, with the difficulty and disappointment of being ignored by everyone, especially including the men of Scotland Yard. But Lenox persists, and is ultimately rewarded, but not in a way that he envisioned.

Graham is here, as the valet he was, and also Lady Jane, who Charles loves and has essentially lost. How different that will all be in the later books!

The plotting is astonishingly intricate, with a denouement that is fascinating - if not rewarding, as it is somewhat of a cliffhanger. But there is danger there, so perhaps it's best not to be too unhappy that justice is not necessarily served.

The history that the author presents throughout only adds to the enjoyment of the story. What is also charming are the interludes with Charles and his father. All in all, a book to hunker down with and enjoy of a comfortable afternoon -- or two.

My only caveat is that the electronic copy I received from NetGalley was very badly formatted, and therefore to follow. Hopefully this was only a one-off.

In THE WOMAN IN THE WATER, author Charles Finch takes readers back to the origin of his exceptional detective Charles Lenox. Elegant prose and a solid mystery make this a fabulous read that is sure to be among my best of 2018.

Charles Lenox is 23, just down from Oxford and on his own for the first time in London. As a second son of an aristocrat, the expected vocations of his standing (clergy, military) do not appeal to him. Instead, he is torn between traveling the world and becoming a consulting detective. His peers and the police both think he is a farce until he brings two published letters from a killer and his theories about a murdered woman to Scotland Yard. With his valet Graham, Lenox strives to make a name for himself. In addition to tracking down a serial killer, Lenox must deal with unrequited love and the imminent loss of his father.

I have been a fan of Charles Lenox since reading the first book in the series, A BEAUTIFUL BLUE DEATH, and highly recommend the entire series to fans of historical mysteries and fiction. Here, we get to know a very young and inexperienced Lenox, confident and a bit arrogant yet also doubting himself. I greatly enjoyed following along beside Lenox as he investigated and learned from his mistakes along the way. The setting, dialogue, and historical accuracy suck readers right in. It is a treat to see the recurring characters of the series in their youth, and even for readers without knowledge of them from previous books, the characters are fully developed and engaging. I relished the bits of dry humor thrown in. The mystery is engrossing, and I did not see the final twist coming until right before Lenox figured it all out.

I do hope we see much more of Charles Lenox, young or older, in the future.

Title...The Woman In The Water

Author...Charles Finch

My " in a nutshell" summary...

This is a prequel to this series. It is the story of just how Charles began his career as a private investigator. He is young...only 23...and living on his own for the first time. He wants to travel and he wants to solve crimes. He is dealing with losing the love of his life, his father’s illness and a diligent housekeeper intent on making him crazed...oh...and cats! He is not a cat lover. He has Graham...his valet/butler. Graham seems to know what Charles needs even before Charles does. The murderer in this case is clever...very clever...but Charles is very clever, too!

My thoughts after reading this book...

All I have to say is that I loved this book. But...this is a series that I have always read
and loved. Although I am not a fan of prequels...this one made sense to me and just felt like the first book in the series.

What I loved about this book...

I loved the era, the writing and the suspense.


What I did not love about this book...

I wished that Elizabeth had married Charles.


Final thoughts...

This was a lovely reading experience. This book was a page turner in its own gentle way.

Would this be a good choice for you...potential reader?

If you love this kind of English mystery...set in the 1850’s...this is a book as well as a series that you will love.

I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.

I liked this book because it gave me a peek into mid 19th century policing ..i recommend it for those who like historical mysteries

1850 and Charles Lenox not long finished at university is finding it difficult to get cases as a private investigator. How can he prove himself to his friends and Scotland Yard. A letter published in a newspaper which the author claims to have committed the perfect crime would seem to be the answer.
This is a prequel to the series as Lenox is only 23 years old, and it is my first read of these stories. It was an interesting mystery, and I am sure that the characters developed as the series continued. I did at times find the writing style a bit awkward to read. But I expect I will be familiar with it by the next book.

This is a great beginning to the Charles Lennox Cases. It was slow for me, although the descriptions were so Charles Dickens. I am glad it ended in the way it did, then, on the other hand, I wished it had ended better for Charles love life.
I highly Recommend! Thanks! Enjoy!
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5 stars
I was so excited to pick up this prequel in the Charles Lenox series and was not disappointed! After “A Beautiful Blue Death”, which I thought was superb, I fell in love with this series. The story puts more background to Charles and how he was formed into the person we have seen up to this point. He is 23 years old in this book and just starting out in his career as a detective. The reader learns about his family and there is a sadness to this story as Charles learns his father is dying. His struggle with absorbing and acknowledging this pending, devastating event that is looming is very well done by Finch.
The mystery story is about women’s bodies found near (or on) the Thames river that are supposed to be “a perfect murder” per the killer who boasts by writing letters to a main London newspaper. A lot of twists and turns with this story… Charles trying to find his way in his first case and building a relationship (of sorts) with the various persons at Scotland Yard make it even more difficult.
Absolutely enjoyed this installment. Charles Finch is a genius with his mysteries. And on top of that, he gives humanity and feeling to his characters and the life they live.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher, St Martin’s Press, for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Here is that review:

I have read a few Lenox stories and was curious to find out "how it all began", so this was interesting to me. Lenox is just turning 23 as the story opens, has finished school and set up his own house. He is in love with Elizabeth (Jane), but he hesitated to tell her and she has married someone else. He is devastated, but trying to move on.

He has also announced he plans to be a detective, but has had no luck with Scotland Yard allowing him any access and only a couple of small cases have come to him. FINALLY, he finds a mysterious note that may lead to a murderer, and is determined to be involved in the case. Following his first hesitant steps as a detective and learning how his mind works is fascinating. This does give a good background to the later books.

This is my introduction to the Charles Lenox series by Charles Finch and I was excited to read this, the prequel. I feel that my experience was not as invested as those who have already read from the series so with that being said, it was enjoyable and it whetted my interest in the series but I didn't love it. I thought the mystery itself was interesting and I liked the resolution (of sorts) of the crime but I think if I had known the characters previously from the series, I might have enjoyed it a bit more.

WOW! I am in awe of Charles Finch and his writing and I’d give this book more than 5-stars if I could. This has to be the absolute best book of the Charles Lenox Mystery series so far. While it is shown as book #0 in the series because it is a prequel, it is actually something like the thirteenth if you count the novellas. The writing is superb, the characters are fully developed and relatable, and the story is fast-paced, engrossing and detailed.

We are introduced to a young Charles Lenox, just twenty-three years of age and newly living in London on his own. He desperately wants to be a detective, but his few forays into it and his interactions with Scotland Yard have been very disappointing. However, being the tenacious young man that he is, Charles perseveres by honing his knowledge of crimes in London, how they are solved and the details behind them. He does that by buying copies of all of the newspapers and cutting all of the crime related articles out and filing them away.

When one of those newspapers carry the text of a letter claiming that the writer had already committed one ‘perfect’ murder and would be committing another soon, Charles knew he had to be involved. He and his valet, Graham, use the timeline given in the letter and find the case the letter writer must be claiming as his perfect crime. They are off to Scotland Yard to show them their conjecture and to offer their services. Of course, Scotland Yard wants no part of their help, but that doesn’t deter Charles. As he digs and learns more and more – he shares it all with Scotland Yard.

While the murder plot was interesting, detailed and engrossing, I think my favorite parts of the book were the more personal parts. Those are skillfully written and poignant, heartwarming, emotional and sad. We meet Charles’ mother and father and learn of the father, Edward’s, medical diagnosis. How Charles, his mother, and brother Edmund – his father too – deal with that is so bittersweet and lovely. I absolutely adored his father and the efforts he made to ensure that he spent time with each of the family members individually and that they knew he loved them. I loved the descriptions of his fence painting – and I loved that when he finally spoke to Charles about his leaving them he said – “The hardest part of losing a person, Charles, is that grief is only an absence. There is nowhere to go to touch it.”

It was fun to meet the younger, more immature versions of people we’ll get to know and love throughout the series. There is Jane, of course. She’s married to someone else and Charles is heartbroken over that. Graham, of course, is one of my favorite people. Then, we meet a very young and very mischievous John Dallington.

I usually don’t read prequels, especially if I know that someone doesn’t last through the series – especially because of a bad end. I am so very, very happy that I made an exception for this book. It is so well written, so well developed and just such a wonderful read that I cannot imagine having missed it.

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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”

I bailed on this one. I guess the older I get the less patience I have. This took way too long for me to get into.

In the most recent Charles Lenox series entry, author Charles Finch has provided a prequel set in 1850 detailing Lenox's first important case. Lenox, second son of a baronet, is newly "down" from Oxford and establishing a household of his own for the first time. His ambitions, either to open a detective agency or to travel, have met with a decidedly lukewarm reception from his father and derision from the society he moves in. He and his former scout at Oxford, Graham, spend their mornings combing through the broadsheets for crime news. When he discovers a letter in one of the papers boasting of a "perfect murder" he thinks he has found a connection to the case of an unknown woman found inside a trunk, floating in the Thames. He presents his theory to Scotland Yard, where it is met with some grudging support and more resistance. When a second woman is found on the bank of the river, the Yard and Lenox embark on a chase for the madman responsible. Charles is also dealing with the reality of his father's impending death, predicted to be within six months, and a case of unrequited love.

I have always admired the Charles Lenox series for the quality of Finch's writing, the settings, and the many interesting facts about the period that Finch drops effortlessly into the narrative. My favorite this time is the origin of the name of Great Scotland Street. I can't say that I ever connected with Lenox on an emotional level, or understood why he wanted to be a detective. The Woman in the Water changes that by introducing the 23-year-old Lenox with all his fears and insecurities. His interactions with his dying father, his mother, his brother are very revealing and emotional, without tipping into maudlin. We also get glimpses of long-time series characters; McConnell, a four-year-old John Dallington, and of course, the estimable Graham, and Lady Jane. Lenox makes several rookie mistakes in the investigation which might threaten his nearest and dearest. But even Scotland Yard reluctantly recognizes that he is more than a dilettante. Even his unwanted and disapproving housekeeper, Mrs. Huggins comes to a detente with Charles, providing some comic relief.

I highly recommend The Woman in the Water to both old and new readers of the series. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

Scrappymags 3-word review: Sherlock Holmes-like entertainment!
 
All my reviews available at scrappymags.com
 
Genre: Historical Fiction Mystery, a prequel to a series I have never read.
 
Shortest summary ever: A prequel to Finch's successful Lenox detective series (which I will now be avidly reading), this story launches the detective career of 23-yr-old Charles Lennox. It's 1850 and he’s breaking the rules of his aristocratic breeding, defying family expectation by investigating the murders of 2 women found in the Thames, both with similarities, both with accompanying letters to a local paper by the killer. With his right hand man Graham along as his side-kick, he delves into the detective world while struggling to rise to public pressure and (of course) uncover something sinister.
 
What’s good under the hood: Finch is a first time read for me so not knowing his previous work, I was thrilled! (I was worried I would miss something, which I didn't). Victorian? Mystery? Count me IN! It’s textbook Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, but  I can NEVER have enough of these mysteries when they are intriguing and well-written such as this. A touch of personal depth thoughout learning about the Lennox family made the characters endearing and I'm sure will make later happenings enjoyable to read. A grand chase of a book - turning the pages at breakneck speed (I had to slow myself down), I felt fully emersed in the time period and the characters. Finch has a gift with balancing the mystery and characterization, which I appreciate. I love to know background and I love to become invested in characters. All that while being captivated by a mystery? SOLD!

What’s bad or made me mad:  I would imagine some might criticize the obvious Holmes/Watson link, however, my belief is that when you create characters so well and develop plots that dazzle, I have NO problem with that.
 
Recommend to:
I would imagine Finch fans will love this since I did so much.
Historical fiction mysteries are a fave of mine. If you feel the same - must read.
 
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press and the Mr. Finch for an advanced copy and for firmly and utterly transporting me to Victorian England hunting killers (in my mind of course) in exchange for this completely honest review.

This return to Charles Lenox’s detective “boyhood” was entertaining. We get to meet his father, eavesdrop on his first meetings with Scotland Yard Detectives who would become his companions in later cases, and observe his first meeting with Thomas McConnell and John Darlington. For fans of the series, this is catnip. For newcomers, perhaps a tempting taste of a must-read detective series.

What an interesting thing for Charles Finch to have done. If you haven't read the series, this is an awesome way to start- try this one and you'll want to read the rest of the books. If you have read the series (or if you, like me, dipped and out over the years), read this for the back story. You'll meet Charles Lennox at the start of his career, along with Graham, who is his valet and, more importantly, equal in solving murders. There's a good sense of 1850s London, which is always nice. One woman is found floating in the Thames and then a taunting letter is sent to the newspaper, propelling Lennox to action. While Scotland Yard might disdain him, he persists and, well, you can guess what happens, especially when another woman is found dead. This is really good character driven reading, along with a carefully plotted tale. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I had a very difficult time getting through this book. I have not ready any other books in the series, but I assumed, since it was about Lennox's first case, it would be a good place to jump in. I was wrong. There was too much about Lennox and his personal life and not nearly enough about the mystery. Perhaps fans of the series will enjoy reading about Lennox's housekeeper and her cats, or Lennox's father, or his friend Elizabeth, but I did not.I would not recommend this book.

I'm always a little hesitant when author's choose to do a prequel to their series. Some that I have read have been extremely predictable as you already know what is going to happen, etc. This book however, was different. Finch does a great job of telling the beginning of Charles Lenox's career as a detective while giving us a little more depth and history of some of his characters. We are able to see Lenox's father and mother and get to know them a little plus we see some familiar characters as well and learn how they came to know Lenox. I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to more in the series.

I've read a couple of books in the Lennox series and they are overall enjoyable mysteries. I enjoyed this book as well. It's a good historical fiction set in Victorian era England. This series is always true to the era and I appreciate that. The mystery was a great aspect of the book and was not one which I could predict the ending. I found that at times there were too many diversions from the story at hand, which I know was for character development of Lennox. However, the tangential thoughts in between conversations got a little old.

I hate to say this, but part of my problem with reading this one was the digital ARC I received from NetGalley. It was so oddly formatted with additional 1s and 0s that I lost my place quite a bit. It was frustrating and I'm afraid it slightly clouded my opinion of the book. I have to be honest about that.

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

This was perhaps the finest of all the Charles Lenox series by Finch. Although initially I was skeptical of the "look back" style, it did not disappoint. The author managed to explain via this prequel many of Lenox's subsequent characteristics and reasons for his chosen career, etc. I was particularly impressed with his early characterizations of the relationships between Lenox, his family, Jane and Graham.