Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Description:
It's 1879, and Lenox is convalescing from the violent events of his last investigation. But a desperate letter from an old servant forces him to pick up the trail of a cold case: the murder of an apothecary seven years before, whose only clue is an odd emblem carved into the doorway of the building where the man was killed. When Lenox finds a similar mark at the site of another murder, he begins to piece together a hidden pattern which leads him into the corridors of Parliament, the slums of East London, and ultimately the very heart of the British upper class.

At the same time, Lenox must contend with the complexities of his personal life: a surprising tension with his steadfast wife, Lady Jane, over her public support of the early movement for women's suffrage; the arrival of Angela Lenox, a mysterious young cousin from India, with an unexpected companion; the dizzying ascent of his brother, Sir Edmund Lenox, to one of the highest political posts in the land; the growing family of his young partners in detection, Polly and Dallington; and the return of the problems that have long bedeviled one of his closest friends, the dashing Scottish physician Thomas McConnell.

Review:
There was just enough going on to keep me reading, but honestly, I’m not really sure what the point of it all was. The murder mystery had a few good reveals that kept me curious, and yes, it does get solved in the end—but then... nothing. Lenox basically shrugs and moves on, and I was left thinking, "Wait, that's it?"

The rest of the book felt really disconnected. There were a bunch of subplots—Angela and Sari arriving from India, Lady Jane’s involvement in the suffrage movement, Polly and Dallington floating around—but none of it tied into the main mystery in any meaningful way. They all felt like separate stories that didn’t go anywhere or contribute to each other.

Honestly, the whole thing could’ve been a short story just about the murders and the mysterious mark. Everything else felt like filler. Not terrible, just kind of disappointing and oddly scattered.

This book is a detective mystery that takes place in London 1879. Charles Lenox find himself working a cold case m*rder of an apothecary. The clues lead him from the slums all the way up to the British upper class. Meanwhile things are also shaken up in his personal life. I loved getting to know the characters and following Charles along on his investigation. Definitely worth reading.
⬇️book description⬇️

In this lates tale of detective Charles Lennox, he is faced not only with a case to solve, but also takes in his cousin Jasper (now deceased)’s daughter and her companion, bringing him into a world thus far unkown, in terms of suitors and eligible ladies. Lennox uses, what I can only assume are his usual partners (this is the first book I’ve read in this series)in crime to solve the mystery of why someone is trying to break into his former housekeeper’s home. this finely written novel added just enough Englishness of the time to keep me glued to it. I enjoyed it so much I will be reading the entire series, from the beginning.

Lenox is still plagued by his injury in America but finds he can’t pass on a request from a former employee for assistance which ends up being more complex than he bargained for.

Overall I found it a good addition to the series, although not my favorite. I am very much looking forward to the next book based on the hints left at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an eARC of this book in return for an honest, thoughtful review.

I really thought that I was going to enjoy this story but unfortunately I did not. This is the first story I’ve read in this series and it was easy to follow along without confusion as to who the characters were and how they were connected which I liked.

I winded up DNF at 31% since I personally don’t like the writing style and the characters. The dialogue doesn’t flow naturally.

As with every Charles Lenox mystery, I read with great appreciation for the beauty of the words. Though prose, it reads like poetry. My own words do not do justice to the writing! The estimable Charles Lenox and his family captivated the reader from the first moment to the last. As Charles faces new problems both personal and work related, he finds more than he could have hoped for. I am saddened that the book is finished and now we readers must wait for the jext Charles Lenox mystery! I encourage anyone who lives a good mystery and a well-written book to read, The Hidden City immediately!

So I liked this one better than the prior book in the series as Lenox is back home in London, but I didn’t love it. I did enjoy some aspects, however. I was happy that Graham had a larger role in this one as he has been mostly absent in the past several books. And I liked that Lady Jane had more of a role other than that of wife and mother as she joins the suffrage protests. But the mystery itself was a miss for me. The initial case had an obvious culprit from the beginning and was wrapped up by the 1/2 - 2/3 mark. The secondary mystery was a real disappointment that ended with a Poirot-like denouement that made shudder.

The Hidden City by Charles Finch delivers a thoughtful and engaging conclusion to the Charles Lenox prequel trilogy. Finch continues to showcase his mastery of Victorian-era atmosphere, crafting a richly detailed world that draws you in from the very first page. The mystery at the heart of this installment is intricate and well-paced, with just the right balance of deduction and suspense.
What sets this book apart, however, is the emotional evolution of Charles Lenox himself. Watching him grow—personally and professionally—adds real depth to the story. The supporting characters are well-developed, and the plot wraps up several long-standing threads with satisfying resolution.
While some parts felt a bit slower than the earlier entries, and a few revelations were easy to anticipate, the overall experience was both intelligent and rewarding. Finch’s elegant prose and nuanced storytelling make this a strong finish to a beloved series. Highly recommended for historical mystery fans.

The Hidden City is the 12th installment in The Charles Lenox Mysteries.

This is the first book that I have actually read in the series, and I feel it did not make me feel like I should have read any or all of the previous ones to get an understand or enjoy the flow of the storylines.

This is a Historical Mystery, crime book that takes place in the late 1800’s

The main character Charles Lenox is a sleuth, who is just awaiting the arrival of his niece from India by ship after his cousin’s death. He is surprized when two young ladies arrive.

The Victorian English background of this book is both descriptive and entertaining. I did enjoy all the main characters, and thought it was a good read.

Perhaps a bit slow at times to keep me totally engaged at all times. But overall, a good book.

Thank You to NetGalley, Author Charles Finch, and Minotaur books for my advanced copy to read and review.

This book is written in the style of the 1800's and as such is a bit wordy for my tastes. The mystery was good, but there was a lot of extra information and family history which made it a slow read.

I was excited to get an e-ARC from NetGalley because I enjoyed book #4 so much and love the Charles Lenox character. This story was good, but not as great as A Stranger in Mayfair. It does make me want to read the others in the series to learn more about his background and other adventures.

Charles Lenox is back!

I feel like Charles Lenox is one of the most unappreciated detectives in the genre. Perhaps he is too much the gentleman, but people need to get on it and introduce themselves to him. They won't be disappointed. One of Charles Finch's gifts is how he has evolved Charles Lenox as a person first, and how he changes as a detective feels so organic and authentic.

If you aren't already reading this series, start at the beginning with A Beautiful Blue Death. You won't be disappinted in my favorite Victorian-era gentleman detective and how he matures and grows as a professional, as a brother, and as a member of politics and society.

If you already read this series, then you won't be surprised that it's engaging and nuanced. Charles has undergone some significant personal challenges (I won't spoil anything) but again, I appreciate the author's willingness to develop his character off the page to improve the story. The story itself is dark while interwoven with social issues of the day and personal reflection from Lenox. We are left wondering but not worrying about our hero's future and I hope a future installment is forthcoming. While not the most mysterious of the series, I feel like it has a boldness and warmth that felt fresh. If you're a fan, I think you will love it!

I am so thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! I had missed Charles Lenox and this book was a treat.

This was a good book in the Sherlock Holmes tradition set during that same time period.
It evokes Victorian times so well and is just a classically good whodunnit
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

Hidden City is a suspenseful whodunit in the tradition of Sherlock Holmes, exploring the developing science of detective work during the Victorian era.
The main character, Lennox, is a gentleman sleuth who has recently returned from America to recover from an injury and is coming to grips with slowing down at his age. The limitations of medical science of the era are likewise impeding his return to health.
When his old landlady requests his help in discovering who is breaking into her lodging, he finds work the best therapy and is fascinated by cryptic signs carved into the walls near the break-in attempts. I was that possibly they were a masonic rune or left by a Moriarty-type super villain, but they are only part of the strange circumstances in a murder committed on the site seven years ago.
Lennox also finds himself responsible for his cousin's orphan daughter and exotic Indian girl companion. He finds that his boyhood companion has changed and wasn't the boisterous youth he thought he once knew. He also discovers that his wife has become a suffragette, causing ripples of discontent in their marriage.
Lennox also watches a young detective advancing in his firm and must decide if he has become old enough to sit in the back seat of a job that has been his life’s blood for years.
I have always enjoyed Victorian mysteries with the repressive culture of the era, as well as the caste system and barriers against women. Vices of the period clash with today's romantic steampunk sentimentality. It's a bit of a relief seeing how everyday life has improved.
This novel reminds me a bit of the Sebastian St Cyr novels.

I have read a few books about Victorian era detectives, so I am familiar with the genre. I have to say, this one is a step above the rest! It has a well developed plot, interesting, believable characters, and a satisfying complexity. There is a nice mix of the detective’s personal life and his work as a detective. There is also a bit of romance. And finally, there is a twist at the end that I did not see coming. All in all, I certainly recommend this book!

I always look forward to a new book in this series and this one does not disappoint. A mysterious symbol carved into buildings, a orphan cousin an her companion arriving from India and the suffragette movement falling on Lenox’s doorstep make for a very good read.

The Hidden City by Charles Finch. #15 in the Charles Lenox Mystery Series. St. Martin's Press & Minotaur Books, 2025.

Set in 1879, this story begins with London detective Charles Lennox, “a man just past the milestone age of fifty”, recovering slowly from a stab wound, in Portsmouth waiting for his late cousin Jasper’s young daughter to arrive by ship. He arrives home with his young cousin Angela and her friend Sari to find a letter from a long-ago former housekeeper asking for his help. Then Charles is at his gym, moving slowly, a shadow of his former fit self, when he finds himself on the receiving end of an odd comment about Lady Jane, his wife.

Historical details provide a rich snapshot of late 19th century London life in various situations and socioeconomic levels. Combined with what appears to be three storylines, my uncertainty over which was the main mystery made the first third of the book slow going - I kept picking it up and putting it aside, though I was not tempted to stop reading or start another book. It was not until Chapter 19, the dinner to introduce Angela and Sari to family and society, that I felt the pace pick up and was reminded of how much I enjoyed reading the series.

From that point, I could not put it down. The writing is flawless for the genre, supported by language, narrative and dialogue that flow smoothly with nothing to annoy or distract. The main characters are good and decent, well developed and consistently described. There are some dark spots but the book does not wallow in darkness. There are many twists; once again, I did not solve the puzzle before Charles Lennox.

I want to give this book 4 1/2 stars.

I warmly recommend reading this series, the first of which is set in 1865 when Charles Lenox was “a man of perhaps forty”, published in 2007 then shortlisted for the 2008 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. After that, one book per year appeared until 2021.

The Hidden City, #15 in the series (but oddly #12 on Goodreads) will be published late in 2025, after a four-year gap. There are also two short stories (numbered “#.5” in series order, by publication date), and three prequels set in 1850, 1853 and 1855 (#11-#13, 2018-2020). The first six books were published separately, and then as two 3-volume Kindle box sets.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Hidden City free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #TheHiddenCity #NetGalley

<b>Hidden in Plain Sight</b>
<i>A review of the Kindle eBook ARC (downloaded March 2025) of the Minotaur Books hardcover to be published November 4, 2025.</i>

I took a chance on <i>The Hidden City</i>, which is the 12th novel in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/43812-charles-lenox-mysteries">Charles Lenox</a> Victorian era detective series of which I had not read any previously. I found that I had no trouble getting acclimated as brief backgrounds and/or relationships to the other running characters were provided throughout. What impressed me most about it was its attention to period detail. The setting is London, England in 1879.

There are several subplots running concurrently. Lenox is returned wounded from a previous investigation in America and is in rehab. An old servant asks him to look into the circumstances of a mysterious death. Lenox discovers an odd sigil-like marking in the doorway of the deceased. Gradually it is discovered that the same marking appears in the doorways of other houses where the inhabitant also came to a bad end. Meanwhile he is the absentee partner in a detective firm now mostly run by two of his friends. His wife is out protesting for women's suffrage. And an orphaned cousin shows up from India with her native Indian girlfriend who must both get acclimatized to London society.

It is all handled very well and the only odd element for me was the reveal and confrontation with the culprit towards the end where rather than play judge-jury-executioner, Lenox instead seems to play a father confessor / sin absolver role. I have no idea if that is characteristic of the series so I can't really say more about it. It felt like an <b>Ambiguous Ending Alert</b> was required though as it left the question of whether there is a continuing story yet to come.

My thanks to the author, publisher St Martins Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this advance reading copy of <i>The Hidden City</i> in exchange for which I provide this honest review.

<b>Trivia and Links</b>
For his rehab, Charles Lenox is a member at a London health club run by Swedish trainers. I looked up a bit of history about gym and health clubs at <a href="https://www.lesmills.com/uk/clubs-and-facilities/research-insights/audience-insights/history-of-health-clubs-how-gyms-have-evolved-through-the-ages/">History of Health Clubs, How gyms have evolved through the ages.</a>.

For some reason I had the idea that the Suffragist movement was an early 20th century action, but reading about the history I learned that it did have its foundations in England in the 1860s. So what I thought at first was anachronistic in the book, was actually completely true. See further at the Wikipedia article <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_suffrage_in_the_United_Kingdom">Women's Suffrage in the United Kingdom</a> and especially the section about Early Suffragist Societies etc.

The Hidden City is a masterful addition to the Charles Lenox series. If you haven't read them, I am jealous as you have a delight ahead of you. Please start at the beginning and savor each one. When you get to The Hidden City you will find a couple of new very interesting characters in the Niece of Charles Lenox and her companion plus our most loved characters are breaking out of the mold society has demanded of them in very surprising ways. I expected the story to go in a more predictable direction and was happily surprised by the twists and turns the story took. It almost seems like a new start to the series and I hope it continues for many more enjoyable books.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advance reader’s copy, in exchange for an honest review. “The Hidden City” has an expected publication date of November 4, 2025.
And you can read all my reviews at my Raised on Reading (www.raisedonreading.com) blog site.
Warning: This is an outlier review.
Even though this is the twelfth book in the series about 19th Century British detective Charles Lenox, I took a chance hoping I wouldn’t be lost having missed the first eleven installments.
The good news-bad news is I didn’t feel like I had missed anything. And if I hadn’t opted to read this latest installment, I still wouldn’t have missed anything.
Sorry, but this book just bothered me from start to finish.
It’s 1879 in Great Britain, and Lenox is lured into investigating a murder that occurred seven years earlier. Why now? It seems someone is periodically sleeping in the entranceway to the same building where the seven-year-old murder occurred, perhaps even trying to get into the building, and the elderly woman living there is frightened she could be the next victim. Lenox, because of his prior relationship with this woman, takes on the case.
From there the narrative plods along at a snail’s pace. There are periodic discoveries that point Lenox in various directions, but nothing that even remotely engaged me in trying to uncover the mystery. More often, I found myself reading passages of what Lenox was investigating and thinking, how did we get here? There seemed no consistent focus for me to latch on to.
Three-quarters of the way through I still had no idea what the book’s title referred to. What hidden city, I kept thinking. But then, maybe thirty pages from the book’s ending – which was extremely flat and disappointing – the three-word title is spoken. But that’s it.
I also found it interesting that it appears Lenox never really solves the case. Rather, the killer presents himself through a much-too-lengthy rant, but then seems to disappear. Did he just walk away? Too big a loose end.
Needless to say, I have no intention of reading any of the first eleven installments in this series. And as noted earlier, this is an outlier review. Can’t muster up more than two stars for “The Hidden City.” I guess I’m just not a Charles Lenox fan.