Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have read and enjoyed all of the previous books in this series, so it felt a little strange to go back to the earliest days after Charles Lenox left college and decided that he wanted to be a private detective.

The author did an excellent job of portraying the young and inexperienced Lenox - quite different from the Lenox that we know in his later days, although different in a realistic way. He's a bit full of himself - impressed by his own status and what he sees as his superior intelligence and reasoning abilities. I am glad that he matured in the following books, as I don't think I would have enjoyed reading a whole series with his character as it is here. In this case, though, it really was rather enjoyable, knowing that he would in fact grow out of it.

I didn't find the plot as interesting as in the later books. Perhaps because the plot here seemed rather random, while in the later books, there was a more defined point to the crimes. That said, I enjoyed the book for the characters and for developing a bit more of Lenox's back story. While not my favorite in the series, it was well worth reading.

If you haven't read the other books in the series, you should. And there really isn't any need to read this one first - I think it's more interesting to read after having read the others.

If you haven't met Charles Lenox, the clever detective in nineteenth century London who stars in Charles Todd's popular series, this prequel to the further adventures of a smart, affable fellow just down from Oxford following an inappropriate career path for an aristocrat will lead you right to the rest of them. In Woman in the Water, Lenox and Graham, his valet and chum, are intrigued by the mystery surrounding a waterlogged trunk containing the body of an woman that washes up on an inlet in the Thames, and the taunting note about another murder to come. A month later, a flower-draped body soon dubbed Ophelia by the tabloid press turns up at the edge of the river, and so does another note. Using a family connection, Lenox manages to put himself in the Scotland Yard investigation, much to the dismay and derision of the police officers ordered by their chief to include him. Naturally, he's quicker off the mark than they are, but smart enough not to show off his considerable talents of deduction. By the time the case is solved, the 23 year old Lenox is rethinking whether detecting is a suitable job for a man who doesn't need one. But fortunately for the reader, expecially one who hasn't encountered him or followed this popular series, it is.

I had not read any of the series before and would do so now. The storyline had enough twists in the plot to keep me thinking the who and why. The personal life of Charles was well woven throughout the book and siuted his character as well as the time in history. The threads to take you into the next story have been well set. I look forward to reading more of the series.

Charles Finch once again delivers a rich and vibrant and twisty tale which sizzles from first sentence to last.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books for a digital galley of this novel.

Important to both first-time and long-time readers of the Charles Lenox mystery series, this story takes place at the beginning of Lenox's career as a detective with his first important case. This is where Lenox and Graham cut their detecting teeth on a very difficult puzzle and establish a relationship with Scotland Yard. At twenty-two years old Lenox has been seven months in London after graduating from Balliol College, Oxford, where Graham served as his scout. Now Graham is serving as valet to Charles as they both try to get his career started. Very soon Lenox will celebrate his twenty-third birthday and begin trying to solve a case very well constructed by author Charles Finch.

The body of a young woman is found in a trunk floating at the edge of the River Thames. No identity can be established but a letter to one of the newspapers claims credit for the writer committing the perfect murder. The chilling letter includes information that this will not be the only murder. Scotland Yard doesn't want any help from Lenox and Graham. Then a second body is found.

This was a very enjoyable novel to read and to watch as both Lenox and Graham start learning this craft of being a detective. The pressures of the position Lenox holds in society are interesting to see in this novel which takes place in 1850. I have followed this series enough to be basically familiar with the Lenox family and with Charles, the second son, in particular with all that meant. The mentions of the youth and inexperience of Charles Lenox form an important basis for this story but after the halfway point of the novel it would have been nice if the author had given readers the benefit of the doubt as to whether they had already noticed that information.......many, many times.

He’s a young gentleman settling into his independence in London and trying to make everyone happy and not embarrass his family but also do what makes him happy. However, private detective does not fit within his social circle’s classification as acceptable. Charles must do something to keep his mind off the fact that he allowed the love of his life slip through his fingers. Plans of traveling to Russia for an extended period are shelved when a distasteful and revolting murder sparks his deductive mind and with his friend, assistant and valet (with a hard t), Graham, they begin to tie clues together much to the aggravation and resentment of Scotland Yard.

Charles Finch has put a lot on his protagonist in this prequel to his Charles Lenox series. There are several story lines going on throughout this novel, yet they do not get tangled. Finch’s talent of slowly but methodically laying out each detail feels natural without getting wordy or over descriptive. Lenox has real life issues he must deal with as he works the case, but they do not drag down the story. Fans of this series will recognize many recurring characters from the previous titles. This is an outstanding addition to the series. New readers will be hooked and want to read more of Lenox’s adventures. I wouldn’t mind reading more from the early days of Lenox’s detective cases.

Well, I did it again. I started a book that has been a series. What I did NOT realize is that this is a "prequel" to the Charles Lenox series. In this book we get to see the back story as he talks about his first case.

I recommend this book and I will be looking for the rest of the series to read.

My thanks to netgalley and Minotaur Books for this advanced readers copy.

Great entry into the Charles Lenox series. I wouldn’t mind another earlier novel like this.

A wonderful prequel to the Charles Lenox mystery series. All the established characters from the previous books appear here, Lady Elizabeth, Graham and Charles brother Edmund. The appearance of
Charles is especially poignant knowing what the future brings. The mystery itself is quite good being that this is Lenox's first case and with a serial killer to boot. Just a lovely, well done book.

I've read many of Charles Finch's Charles Lennox historical mysteries and enjoyed them. The Woman in the Water is unusual because it details the first investigation by a very young Lennox, who is determined to become a detective, treading cautiously between youthful hubris and social hierarchies, learning as he goes.

Sometimes young Lennox makes mistakes and looks foolish, but his occasional flashes of insight outstrip his missteps. He is balancing so much at once: his eagerness and lack of experience; his social life and the derision of many of his peers; his love for Elizabeth with her newly married status; his frustrations with dealing with his housekeeper; his reluctance to take the salary of a Scotland Yard consultant; his father's illness; and his love and jealousy of his brother.



An anonymous letter claiming to have committed the "perfect murder" claims the interest of both Lennox and his friend and valet Graham. The two spend time each day cutting articles out of the paper and comparing them for possible criminal investigations that might be stepping stones for an aspiring detective. Then the body of the first victim, a young woman, her body enclosed in a trunk washes ashore. There are few clues, but Lennox manages to become involved in the investigation (here, family connections help his cause). The letter writer promises more perfect murders, and Charles races to prevent another murder.

In contrast to the more experienced detective in the later books, it is interesting to see how the young Charles Lennox begins to learn and practice his trade.

Read in Dec.; blog review scheduled for Feb. 14, 2018.

St. Martin's Press/Minotaur

Historical Mystery. February 20, 2018. Print version: 304 pages.

It was fun and I teresting to get the story of the beginnings of young Charles as he struggled to begin his unconventional career.

Excellent. I simply adore Charles Finch's writing.

We return to Victorian-era England, meet a much younger Charles Lenox, and witness his first real case as a detective. He is 23 years old and living on his own in London. His parents are present, and the parts with his Father and Mother are written so beautifully, with such love and sadness. It was emotional, heartwarming, bittersweet, all that without being syrupy or manipulative or too much. Finch got the balance just right, and I was really touched.

Alongside the important presence of Lady Jane, brother Edmund and Graham, we have glimpses of Dr McConnell, we see Charles finding his feet as a consulting detective, and his early interactions with Scotland Yard. The case includes boastful letters announcing that a 'perfect murder' has occurred, and that another will be forthcoming. But are the murders what they seem?

So far I have not found any Charles Finch book to be lacking, and this one I liked very well.

For the eleventh entry in the Charles Lenox series, the author has written an entertaining prequel that sets up the characters well. Lenox is 23 and just done with Oxford. As the second son of a baronet, he is at loose ends with no need to earn money and two desires- to travel and to solve crimes. He decides to open his own private detective agency, an almost unheard of career. Scotland Yard is new itself so this is a brand new undertaking.

A murdered woman is discovered and a letter to the newspaper promises another "perfect" crime. Lenox has found his passion, He wants to discover the murderer and gets hired as a consultant to Scotland Yard's investigation. Horrified to be receiving a salary for heavens sake, he and his valet, Graham, rush to solve the crime but are too late. Another body turns up with lots of clues that make little sense.

This a really interesting mystery with an unexpected ending. It's a great placed to start the series if you haven't read him before because it's essentially the beginning. For long time readers, it's fun to see how relationships started. It's also quite interesting to read about the beginning of crime investigations. Reading how coroners operators worked was interesting and the history (1850) was informative.

Overall, this was an entertaining book well worth the read. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

This is a prequel of the Charles Lenox series. So it's actually Book 1 and Book 11 at the same time. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes and titles set in the Victorian time period. We always buy Charles Finch for our library.