The Hidden City is a masterful conclusion to Charles Finch's Charles Lenox prequel trilogy - elegant, suspenseful;, and emotionally satisfying. Finch has always had a talent for blending classic detective fiction with rich character development, and here he's at the top of his game.

This installment finds a more seasoned, but still evolving, Lenox facing his most personal and high stakes investigation yet. The mystery is gripping, with layers of political intrigue, social commentary, and emotional depth. Finch's depiction of Victorian England feels vivid and immersive, without ever overshadowing the human heart of the story.

A lovely added piece of writing is how The Hidden City ties together threads from the previous books while standing confidently on its own. Lenox's moral compass, quiet courage, and growing sense of purpose make him one of the most compelling detectives in historical fiction today.

Fans of the series will be thoroughly rewarded, and newcomers might just be inspires to start from the beginning. Highly recommended if you enjoy thoughtful mysteries with a strong emotional core and impeccable prose.

Devoted readers of the Charles Lennox book series will feel as if they are visiting with old friends after 3+ years since the publication of the last installment. This book however, picks up months after the events of the last book where Charles was drawn into a murder investigation and was stabbed…almost fatally….in Newport, Rhode Island. Charles is back home in 1870’s London and dealing with the physical and psychological aftermath of those events when he receives word that his dear boyhood friend and cousin, Jasper Lennox, has died. Jasper and Charles had lost touch over the years while Jasper served in the British army in India. The once charming and fearless boy’s many years in India had culminated in large debts and alcoholism before his death. Nobody in the Lennox family knew that Jasper had married, lost his wife and fathered a daughter. This book opens with Charles in Portsmouth waiting for the arrival of a ship bringing Jasper’s daughter, Angela, to London and into Charles’ family as his ward. These events impact Charles and his family, Lady Jane and his 2 young daughters. Charles is also contacted by his retired housekeeper and asked to investigate strange happenings and people around her house and neighborhood. This, seemingly, innocuous request launches Charles on a investigation that expands well beyond the initial mystery. In both is private and professional challenges, Charles encounters many of his friends, family and colleagues from previous books. Charles handles everything in his path with his usual insight, humor and aplomb. What a joy it is to visit with old friends.

I do enjoy a nice Charles Lenox mystery. This one is set back in London in 1879 after a disastrous trip to the USA. He's still recovering from a violent assault there and feels a little at loose ends and unsure of himself. But a former housekeeper draws him back into the seedy underbelly of London.
He struggles to regain his equilibrium and juggle where his priorities are.
He is a wealthy aristocrat though, so he enjoys immense privilege and his life again turns out right a bit more easily than it should. Still a decent escape.
I haven't yet read the one before this and it would have helped a little but wasn't too much of a nuisance.
I enjoyed the little touches relating to the politics of the time and think maybe the author is setting up for the next book to center of English women's fight for suffrage. Looking forward to it

This is the first book I have read by Charles Finch. After a cherished housekeeper asked Charles Lenox for help because she feared she was in danger at her new residence, Lenox found himself trying to solve several mysteries at once. Who murdered the former resident of his housekeeper's current home? Why was someone sleeping on his housekeeper's front porch? And, what are the strange markings on some buildings? All the while, welcoming a young cousin and her companion into his home, and supporting his wife's choice to join other women in the right to vote campaign. I enjoyed the layered storylines, and the characters were true to life.

The Hidden City
By Charles Finch

The story takes place in London toward the end of the Victorian era. It is ostensibly a detective story. The private detective is one Sir Charles Lenox, younger son of an upper crust family married to an Earl's daughter, with two young daughters. As the story begins Charles is at the harbor ready to welcome and take in his beloved deceased cousin Jasper's daughter Angela from India. As he looks about for his young cousin, he finds not one girl, but two – Angela and her Indian companion Sari.

As the story progresses, the various detective elements give way to a commentary on English society of the time. From the horrors inflicted on the poor – especially on children alone in this world, who are abused because they have no one to protect them – to the rise of protests for womens' suffrage, the blindness and distrust that each class feels for the other come to the fore. This is a book that is much more than a casual read would have you think. It will leave the reader with a clearer picture of the place and time.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

I was waiting for a new installment of the Charles Lenox series, and I was happy to receive this ARC.
The novel, like the previous ones, is very entertaining, I really like the Victorian Era setting and the interesting descriptions of London and the society of that time. The mystery has two distinct cases: an old murder case (more intriguing) and a new one involving an old acquittance of Mr. Lenox.
Thanks to Minotaur Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this excellent book.

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.