A Beautiful Blue Death

 A Beautiful Blue Death (2007) by Charles Finch

Charles Lenox, well-to-do Victorian gentleman, is always planning trips to exotic places, but rarely gets to go. Because his other hobby is crime and all to often a case comes along that strikes his fancy. In this first installment of the mystery series, he has just wrapped up a forgery case. He begins to plan a trip to the Riviera, but must cancel the notion when his friend, Lady Jane Grey asks him to investigate the death of her former maid. 

Prudence Smith had left Lady Jane's service to work at the home of George Barnard where her fiancé was employed as a footman. She has been found poisoned with a bottle before her and a suicide note on the desk in her room. But Lenox immediately discovers difficulties with the suicide theory--the poison in the bottle is not the poison that killed her. She was polished off by bella indigo (the beautiful blue), a rare and fairly expensive poison. The other snag--Prudence could neither read nor write. Barnard's house is full of suspects--from a fiancé who may have been driven mad with jealousy to one of Barnard's nephews who had dallied with the girl. Barnard's house also houses a great secret and it's possible the girl discovered it and was killed to keep her quiet. 

But the more Lenox investigates, the more difficult the case becomes. It appears that everyone with a motive also has an alibi. It isn't until a second death occurs--that of a guest in Barnard's house--and certain statements are made about the dead man that pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place. Once Lenox reviews statements by various suspects, he realizes there is another motive for the murders...one that the police couldn't possibly suspect.

This is a reread for me and I can confirm my previous evaluation. It is a good beginning to the series with excellent and interesting characters. I was particularly struck this time by the relationship between Lenox and his butler Graham and how much it resembles the relationship between Lord Peter Wimsey and Bunter. There is the same easy understanding between them, Graham's willingness (even eagerness) to participate in the investigation in whatever manner needed, and the fact that, had they been social equals, they would have been friends. And I thoroughly enjoyed Lenox's brother Edmund and the way this member of Parliament was also so boyishly eager to help Lenox with his detecting. Edmund disguises himself in old clothes and stakes out Barnard's house--watching for anything suspicious! 

What didn't work well for me was the wrap-up. I don't like an ending to feel rushed--but I also don't want one to go on forever. Lenox goes through this very long explanation which begins with Lady Jane as his audience and then brings in Edmund and keeps on going. But when he wraps up that scene with them, is that the end? No, there is a further (anticlimactic) extra piece to the ending in the next chapter. And then...Lenox realizes that there is yet another piece to the mystery (not exactly related to the murders--but related to the top secret thing in Barnard's house) which sets up an "I'm still in pursuit of this other master criminal, a la Professor Moriarty" bit and seems to promise that there may be a big show-down in the future. But it falls a bit flat. Fortunately, it didn't detract too much from my enjoyment, so-- ★★★ and a half for a solid reread and a good beginning.

First line: The fateful note came just as Lenox was settling into his armchair after a long tiresome day in the city.

Grim chap. Horrid company. Always reading, you know. Just reads. I chalk it up to bad early influence. (Claude Barnard; p. 100)

Last line: They rode briskly to the west, talking and laughing together, until some minutes later Edmund, glancing up by chance in his library, could only see their twinned figure against the pale darkness of early evening, blurred together into one, far off in the distance.

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Deaths = 6 (one poisoned; one shot; one natural; one stabbed; two drowned)