Thu 20 Jan 2022
A Mystery Review by LJ Roberts: CHARLES FINCH – An Extravagant Death.
Posted by Steve under Reviews[9] Comments
Reviews by L. J. Roberts
CHARLES FINCH – An Extravagant Death. Charles Lenox #14. Minotaur Books, hardcover, February 2021; softcover, January 2022. Setting: Newport RI / New York City, 1878.
First Sentence: It was a sunny, icy late morning in February of 1878, and a solitary figure, lost in thought, strode along one of the pale paths winding through St. James’s Park in London.
British Enquiry Agent, Charles Lennox, solved a case that brought down Scotland Yard with the three top men headed to trial. Prime Minister Disraeli determines it best that Lennox is not in England during the trial and sends him to the United States with the Queen’s Seal on a tour of the East Coast law enforcement agencies. 1878 Newport, Rhode Island: a place of extreme wealth and self-indulgence. A place of new money, and a focus on marrying well. The murder of a young woman of the first diamond doesn’t fit into this scenario. Lennox’s help is requested.
Finch does an excellent job of providing a summary of Lenox’s background, folding in that of his wife, Lady Jane, in the process. However, it is confusing that the case for which Lennox is being lauded falls into a huge gap: When did Lennox and Jane have a second child? When did Polly and Dallington, Charles’ partners in the agency, get married? And most of all, what was the case that brought down Scotland Yard? Either this reviewer blanked out this information, or Finch and/or his publisher just decided to skip a book and these annoying little details.
As Lenox gets to know New York, Finch presents the stark contrast between the wealthy and the laboring class very well, demonstrating compassion but not dismissiveness or pity. Lenox’s excitement is tangible as he crosses the border from New York to Connecticut, consulting his little book of maps showing the thirty-eight states, as one learns the origin of the word “shrapnel,” and later the term “I heard it through the grapevine.” Those small bits of information lend richness to the story.
Just as with the contrast in settings, Finch displays the contrasts in characters and their lives with the working class and merchants of the town, to the very wealthy “cottage” owners such as the Vanderbilts and Mrs. Astor. As is often true, some of the most interesting characters are those of ex-soldier James Clark, and Fergus O’Brian, the Irish valet,
It is interesting to see Lenox dogged determination and attention to detail as he investigates every aspect and every possible suspect. The details of how and why Lily, the victim, was killed are laid out perfectly and done in a scene of edge-of-seat suspense rather than the more pedestrian style of Christie. The final chapters are heart-warming, especially the requests he makes on behalf of others.
An Extravagant Death is just shy of being excellent, in part due to a scene at the end. The mystery is well done with some secondary characters nearly stealing the show. It will be interesting to see where the series goes from here.
Rating: Good Plus.
January 20th, 2022 at 11:58 pm
Clearly, he is contriving a mystery to clarify personal social points. They are not mine.
January 21st, 2022 at 10:55 am
What bothers m the most when it comes to historical fiction, including mysteries, is when when the author puts present day thoughts into the minds of characters who in their time would never have thought them.
January 21st, 2022 at 10:23 pm
I hope there is more to this than looking at the inequities of 19th Century life from a 21rst Century point of view. I can’t tell from the review if the observations come from the plot or are extraneous and only there for the reader to feel superior to the aforementioned Vanderbilts and Astors.
A good writer is going to find good and bad at all levels and make their social commentary based on that. I can’t tell quite if this sets up straw men and knocks them down or simply enriches the plot with an honest view of the actual society it takes place in. The difference would determine how good the book might be for me.
January 22nd, 2022 at 4:55 am
There is nothing anachronistic about criticizing inequality in the 19th Century. Such criticism was one of the main subjects of the era.
As the heroine observes in Charlotte Bronte’s JANE EYRE (1848), “Millions are in silent revolt against their lot”.
Or Shelley exhorting the British People: “Rise like Lions after slumber In unvanquishable number— Shake your chains to earth like dew Which in sleep had fallen on you— Ye are many—they are few.”
The whole age was characterized by the Spirit of Revolt.
January 22nd, 2022 at 7:54 am
“The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today is a novel by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner first published in 1873. It satirizes greed and political corruption in post-Civil War America.”
Meanwhile I hear a little boy, trapped in a workhouse, saying “please sir, can I have more” gruel. Don’t worry – no one will pay any attention to him.
January 22nd, 2022 at 2:00 pm
Thank you, Mike. Authors have pointed out social injustices going back through time. Although Shylock was talking about anti-Semitism “If you prick us, do we not bleed.” his speech could define injustice against any group. Dickens was a very outspoken critic of social injustice.
In answer to David’s comment, “I can’t tell quite if this sets up straw men and knocks them down or simply enriches the plot with an honest view of the actual society it takes place in.”, it is the latter. Finch points out the incredibly privileged and lavish lifestyle of the wealthy but doesn’t criticize them for it. In fact, his life is saved because of it.
As a protagonist set in the Victorian age, it would have seemed callous and unobservant for Lennox not to comment on the difference between the classes.
January 22nd, 2022 at 2:41 pm
LJ, all points, well taken.
January 22nd, 2022 at 8:04 pm
L.J.,
Thanks for pointing that out. Some of us have been bitten and are a little shy on that count.
Mike,
The social novel dates back to the late 18th Century at least, but those were contemporary works reflecting contemporary attitudes. I think what bothers many of us is when 20th and 21rst Century attitudes to those problems are grafted onto characters.
A contemporary reformer might have the same goal but a different view of the solutions. It’s a thin line for any historical novelist, but the best manage it.
January 22nd, 2022 at 10:40 pm
David,
I understand your concern yet felt Finch tread that line very well. As I mentioned, his references were observations, not judgments, nor did he propose solutions. Finch writes from the perspective of the protagonist in that era.