Saturday, December 17, 2011

The September Society by Charles Finch (Charles Lenox)

This second installment in the Charles Lennox series is as delightful as the first. 


Charles Finch once again masterfully weaves impeccable historical research, full, rich characters and an intriguing mystery into an enveloping story. The setting in this installment is a special treat: Lenox's alma mater, Oxford. 

Even better, it is Oxford in the fall, so Lenox doesn't mind too much when a student's mother frantically knocks on his door early one morning to report that her son is missing. 


At first Lenox is confident the student will be found. But then he finds, among other strange things, a white cat stabbed with a letter opener in the student's room. The poor cat hides a cryptic note beneath it and a card simply stating "The Septemeber Society." It isn't long before it is clear that something old and dangerous has been stirring among the ghosts of Oxford's past. 


With his faithful manservant's help, Lenox manages to investigate a mystery that takes him to the depths and heights of English society, and just about everywhere in between. 

Sharp, unafraid to take risks, but never hurried, Lenox solves mysteries in a calm, gentlemanly manner that nonetheless keeps the wire of suspense taut. 



No comments:

Post a Comment