The Woman in the Water by Charles Finch

The Woman in the Water (Charles Lenox Mysteries, #11)

by Charles Finch

London, 1850: A young Charles Lenox struggles to make a name for himself as a detective--without a single case. Scotland Yard refuses to take him seriously and his friends deride him for attempting a profession at all. But when an anonymous writer sends a letter to the paper claiming to have committed the perfect crime--and promising to kill again--Lenox is convinced that this is his chance to prove himself. The writer's first victim is a young woman whose body is found in a naval trunk, caught up in the rushes of a small islet in the middle of the Thames. With few clues to go on, Lenox endeavors to solve the crime before another innocent life is lost. When the killer's sights are turned toward those whom Lenox holds most dear, the stakes are raised and Lenox is trapped in a desperate game of cat and mouse.

Reviewed by annieb123 on

5 of 5 stars

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Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Part of the reason I really like series is that I get to see the development of the recurring characters. Especially with mysteries (which are my favorite genre), the continuity and the characters' development over time are very satisfying to me.

The Woman in the Water is a prequel to the Charles Lenox series by Charles Finch. The entire series are classic mysteries. This one is no exception. I enjoyed reading about his family, his complex and bittersweet relationship with Lady Jane, as well as his early collaboration with Graham. There was precisely the right amount of humor (Mrs. Huggins, his housekeeper for example) to balance the murders and investigation.

Period mysteries (especially those set in Victorian England) seem to have become something of a flavor-of-the-moment, so it's unusual for one to stand out amongst the flood of offerings. This series is genuinely well written and entertaining. They're relatively clean mysteries, without a lot of overt blood or violence. There is occasional light cursing (never gratuitous) with a few scattered 'hell, damn, blast and/or bloody'. There's nothing which could conceivably shock or offend most readers.

Incidentally, though age is certainly not indicative of writing skill, I admit I was shocked to learn that the author, Charles Finch, is quite young (b. 1980). He's a masterful writer, and I'm inordinately pleased at the likelihood of having new mysteries from him for decades to come.

The Woman in the Water was published by St. Martin's Press - Minotaur and was released 20th February, 2018. Available in hardcover, softcover and ebook formats.

Five stars, top shelf mystery. This one made me want to go and revisit the series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.

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  • 9 May, 2018: Reviewed