The Fleet Street Murders

 The Fleet Street Murders (2009) by Charles Finch

This is a second reading of Charles Finch's third novel in the Victorian-era series of mysteries starring gentleman detective Charles Lenox. This time around I listened to the audio novel version via my library's Hoopla account. It was read by James Langton and the audio version was highly enjoyable. 

I don't  have much that's new to say about the story itself. Most of what follows is my review from nine years ago. One observation I do have from my second reading of Finch's three novels is the similarities between the Holmes/Moriarty plot line and that of Lenox and his arch nemesis. The villain in Lenox's London goes to jail rather than plunging down the Reichenbach Falls, but he is portrayed as being behind most of the city's crimes. The final chase at the end also reminds me of Holmes's pursuit of Jonathan Small at the end of The Sign of the Four. The Holmesian connections are far more apparent to me this time around.

The story begins on Christmas in 1866.  It's a pleasant day for Lenox who is still basking in the glow of having recently become engaged to his long-time friend and love of his life, Lady Jane Grey.  But the day is not a pleasant one for two journalists across town.  Within minutes of each other, Winston Carruthers and Simon Pierce are stabbed and shot (respectively).  The police quickly track down suspects, but Lenox and his assistant Dallington believe there must be more to the story than what the police have found so far.  Soon, one of the suspects is dead by hanging--meant to appear a suicide, but proved to be murder--and then the investigating officer is killed as well.  Lenox becomes convinced that someone is directing the action from behind the scenes--someone with a bigger motive than just removing two bothersome journalists.

The investigation is made difficult for Lenox by several "distractions" in his life.  Worries about his betrothal, Lady Jane repeatedly assures him that she does want to marry him--but needs time.  Time for what?  Worries about his friend Thomas and his wife Toto who have recently lost their unborn child.  And worries about his run for Parliament in the northern town of Stirrington.  He's got a lot on his mind--and feels guilty taking time for any of his obligations in lieu of any of the others.

And the distractions tell a bit.  This story doesn't seem to run quite as smoothly as the first two and it's definitely not as good as the second novel in the series. Finch does have a very firm grasp of characterization and he gives every character from Lenox down to the pub owner in Stirrington their due.  You definitely feel like these folks are real people.  It makes it a lot easier to overlook the flaws in the mystery plot.  Not obvious holes--just the lack of smoothness (with all the rushing about from London to Stirrington and around Stirrington and then back to London) and the slightly disjointed method of story-telling.  But an interesting mystery and a good, solid ★★★ and 1/2 outing.

 First line (Prologue): It was late in the evening, and a thin winter rain beat down over London's low buildings and high steeples, collecting in sallow pools beneath the street lights and insinuating its way inside the clothes of the miserable few whom fate had kept outside.

First line (Chapter 1): Lenox woke up with a morning head, and as soon as he could bear to open his eyes he gulped half the cup of coffee that his valet, butler, and trusted friend Graham had produced at Lenox's first stirring.

Last line: There was nothing he liked better than being married, and as he stole a glance at his brother and his old friend, Lady Jane, his heart filled with joy for them, and he pondered the vagaries of the world, which for all of its fault lines and difficulties could offer up so much happiness sometimes, and often--as for his brother, who had so long lived as a bachelor, had so long struggled with the prejudice against his profession--often when you weren't even looking for it at all.

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Deaths =  5 (one stabbed; two shot; one hanged; one natural)