Charles Finch Books In Order
Book links take you to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn money from qualifying purchases.Publication Order of Charles Lenox Mysteries Books
A Beautiful Blue Death | (2007) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The September Society | (2008) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Fleet Street Murders | (2009) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
A Stranger in Mayfair | (2010) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
A Burial at Sea | (2011) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
An East End Murder | (2011) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
A Death in the Small Hours | (2012) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
An Old Betrayal | (2013) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Laws of Murder | (2014) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Home by Nightfall | (2015) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Inheritance | (2016) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Gone Before Christmas | (2017) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Woman in the Water | (2018) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Vanishing Man | (2019) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Last Passenger | (2020) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
An Extravagant Death | (2021) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Hidden City | (2025) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Chronological Order of Charles Lenox Mysteries Books
The Woman in the Water | (2018) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Vanishing Man | (2019) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Last Passenger | (2020) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
A Beautiful Blue Death | (2007) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The September Society | (2008) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Fleet Street Murders | (2009) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
A Stranger in Mayfair | (2010) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
A Burial at Sea | (2011) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
An East End Murder | (2011) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
A Death in the Small Hours | (2012) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
An Old Betrayal | (2013) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Laws of Murder | (2014) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Home by Nightfall | (2015) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Inheritance | (2016) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Gone Before Christmas | (2017) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
An Extravagant Death | (2021) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Hidden City | (2025) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
The Last Enchantments | (2014) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books
What Just Happened: Notes on a Long Year | (2021) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Charles Finch is an American author born in 1980 in New York City. He is the son of Mary Truitt and Mr. Finch Jr. and a grandson to Anne Truitt a renowned artist and a writer. He is an author of mystery novels set on the Victorian era English. Charles Finch graduated from Philips Academy and Yale University where he majored in English and History. He also took his masters from Oxford University where he majored in Renaissance English Literature. He has lived in several places including France and London.
Charles Finch started writing at the age of 21/22 while in college though at the age of 23 that’s when he got his idea of writing Victorian English mystery novels. He is an outstanding author and admits to getting most of his writing ideas when he has just woken up. From this came his first published novel A Beautiful Blue Death which introduced the character Charles Lenox. This was the beginning of the Charles Lenox series mystery novels from which 8 novels were born. The book A Beautiful Blue Death was nominated for the Agatha Award for best new mystery in 2007 and also named one of Library Journals Best Books of 2007. All his books were published by St. Martin’s Minotaur a division of St. Martin’s Press. He has also been recognised as one of the bestselling mystery novelists. The plot of his books revolve around Oxford University and they give one a feeling of actually having studied there.
To be able to be able to receive such high recognition on all his books Charles Flinch says that he constantly listens to the audio books which help him to understand the characters in a different perspective. This helps him to be able to create a flow of the story.
He currently lives in Chicago with his wife Emily Linda Popp whom he married in 2011. They met in 2007 New York City after being introduced by a mutual friend. On his free time he spends it with his wife and walking his dog.
Flinch works part time by writing reviews for USA Today, Chicago Tribune and essays for different places. He is an avid reader of literally and mystery fiction books although he reads other genres also. Some of his favorite authors include; George Orwell, Henry Green, Dick Francis, Anthony Trollope and many others.
Main characters
Charles Lenox
He is the main character in Charles Finch’s mystery novels. He is a Victorian gentleman and an armchair explorer. Lenox is an independently wealthy man who likes to solve mysteries. He likes to sit in his study enjoying a hot cup of coffee and a good book. However, he occasionally leaves this to go in search of clues to solve mysteries. Follow him into Mayfair mansions, public houses, servants quarters and the secrets of Oxford as he uncovers the clues.
Dr. Thomas McConnell
This is Lenox’s long time friend who recurs in all of Charles Flinch’s novels. He helps Lenox to solve most of these murders that he goes out to solve. He is married to Lady Victoria although their marriage is a little strained.
Lady Jane Grey
She is Charles Lenox neighbor and long term friend. As the series progresses however, a potential romance ensues between Lady Jane and Charles Lenox. She starts off in Flinch’s first book by asking for his help in solving the first murder in his series of books.
Brief overview of some of the novels
His first book “A Beautiful Blue Death” has two main characters Charles Lenox and his lifelong friend Lady Jane. At the beginning Charles receives a message from Lady Jane who wants his help in solving the mystery of the death of one of her former servant named Prudence Smith. Her death is suspected to be an apparent suicide. However, on further investigation Lenox suspects that her death could be because of murder by a deadly poison. The house where Prudence worked is full of suspects and Lenox tries all he can to solve the mystery of her death that baffles him so much.
Further into reading the book another body turns up during London’s fashionable ball and Lenox must now untangle a web of animosities and loyalties. He has to find out if it was jealousy or entirely something else that killed Prudence Smith before the killer strikes again. Lenox’s efforts are intermittently enabled or hampered by Inspector James Exeter who wants his help with the case but also wants to appear in total control of the case. He is helped by his friend Dr. McConnell and his valet Graham to solve the murder.
In Charles Flinch second book “September Society” the story revolves around a widow by the name Lady Annabelle. She goes to visit him around fall in the year 1866. She is here to have Lenox help her to unravel the mystery of her son’s disappearance. George, her son, disappeared from his room at Lincoln College at the University of Oxford. Lenox visits George’s alma alter and discovers a series of bizarre clues including a murdered cat and a card cryptically referring to the “September Society”. As he continues with the investigations he discovers that the case may be deeper than it appears and just then a student dies who is a victim of foul play.
Lenox must then find out how the September Society has to do with and work fast to increase the chances of finding George alive.
His latest novel “The Last Enchantment” Charles Flinch takes a break on the world of mystery and explores matters of the heart. Here an American William Baker decides to enroll at the University of Oxford for a year of intense study. He leaves behind a woman whom he spent his last four years with, his unsuccessful presidential campaign and his family. He comes in with low expectations of his new world of academics but this soon changes when he encounters new friends, romance and predicaments that threaten his future.
This young author is one to look out for because he manages to create a good plot and offer the readers of his books with, an unparalleled brand of charm, sophistication and suspense which are a favorite to many.
Book Series In Order » Authors »
I have just finished the last of the Lenox novels, which have captured a special shelf in my library beside Jane Austen, Anne Perry, and Louise Penny. So very well written and thank you for introducing me to so many unknown words … A Websters is always handy at my side. I will console myself with The Last Enchantments until the next Lenox volume arrives.
Read all of your mystery books that I could find with help from my Library. I introduced my sister to them and she also read all she could find. I am now reading them all over again. Best read ever since my love of reading back when I walked to the library and picked up a Nancy Drew.
I have listened to all the Lenox books available through Audible and had previously read them via Kindle. A dean of public health, I especially appreciate the period references to public health. I will be heartbroken if there are no more Lenoxes in my future! Thank you Mr. Finch for helping me survive the pandemic with sanity intact.
Alas, I am finishing the last book in the series. I just want to say how much I enjoy these books for the following reasons:
learning history from a white person (Lenox) who has a soul and makes me dislike imperialism even more and what it continues to do to the world. Each books seems to capture one of the ills of the world with a kind heart, including race issues.
Finally, an explanation of where the phrase P and Q’s come from as well as by hook or by crook
Now I am in US during the “Gilded Age” and again just amazing how Finch outlines this period of history in solving yet another mystery.
Well done and hope there will be more books.
Thank you for writing such beautiful novels. I love the Lennox books and characters. I have also learned about the history of England. Please keep writing in this series – looking forward to the development of the Dallington character as well as Polly’s. A fan – Marjean