Marilyn's Mystery Reads

Private detective Charles Lenox is waiting for the Marie Grace to dock at the Portsmouth harbor, eager to meet his beloved cousin’s daughter.  Jasper Lenox had left England as a young man, returning only for his father’s funeral; although he and Charles had exchanged letters over the years, they never saw each other again.

A few weeks earlier, however, Charles had received a letter, not from Jasper but from Jasper’s attorney in India, informing Charles of his cousin’s death from cholera and the upcoming arrival in England of his only child, Angela.  When the Marie Grace arrives, Charles discovers that the teenager is traveling with her close friend and companion Sari.  Charles and his wife Lady Jane are delighted with their guests, and so are their two young daughters.

As the girls are welcomed by the Lenoxes, Charles receives a letter from Elizabeth Huggins, the housekeeper of Charles’ childhood home.  Although she isn’t clear in the letter about her problem, it is certain that she’s upset about something and would like his advice.

When Charles and his friend Graham go to Mrs. Huggins’ flat the next morning, the first thing Charles notices are black smudges on the entry hall of the property.  After Ernest, Mrs. Huggins’ nephew and owner of the building where she resides, arrives she tells the three men the story of the murder that took place there several years earlier, with no one having been arrested for the crime.  Now nearby neighbors tell the detective they have seen a strange man entering the building on a few evenings, although he is never seen in the morning.

The only unusual thing about the structure is the glass enclosure on its roof.  It’s hard for Charles to understand why it was put there, since it seems to have no relation to the rest of the property.  Then, descending the stairs, the detective notices scratches around the keyhole of the front door.  Although she’s putting a brave face on it, it’s clear that the situation is upsetting to Mrs. Huggins, and Charles resolves to investigate and put the housekeeper’s mind at ease.

There’s one more thing for Charles to think about in addition to the two young women joining his household and the stranger who has been entering Mrs. Huggins’ building.  A little more than a decade earlier, in 1866, women in England began their campaign for the vote, and now Lady Jane has joined the movement.  In fact, she has been seen holding a sign advocating votes for women, and for Charles, although he is in favor of extending the vote, the idea of his wife holding up such a sign in public is definitely troubling.  He is aware, even if his wife may not be, that this will prove costly to her social standing and may cost her the affection of several friends.

Every visit with Charles Lenox is a delight, both for the clever plot of each novel and for the glimpse it offers into life in the late Victorian era.  Charles and his family are people you would like to know, and in The Hidden City the author again brings his characters and the city of London to life.

You can read more about Charles Finch at various sites on the internet.

Check out the complete Marilyn’s Mystery Reads at her website.  In addition to book review posts, there are sections featuring Golden Oldies, Past Masters and Mistresses, and an About Marilyn column that features her opinions about everything to do with mystery novels.