Home by Nightfall

By: Charles Finch

Narrated by: James Langton

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

A death in the family brings gentleman sleuth Charles Lenox back to the country house where he grew up - just in time to confront an odd, unsettling crime in a nearby village.

It's London in 1876, and the whole city is abuzz with the enigmatic disappearance of a famous foreign pianist. Lenox has an eye on the matter - as a partner in a now-thriving detective agency, he's a natural choice to investigate. Just when he's tempted to turn his focus to it entirely, however, his grieving brother asks him to come down to Sussex, and Lenox leaves the metropolis behind for the quieter country life of his boyhood. Or so he thinks.

In fact, something strange is afoot in Markethouse: small thefts, books, blankets, animals, and more alarmingly a break-in at the house of a local insurance agent. As he and his brother begin to investigate this small accumulation of mysteries, Lenox realizes that something very strange and serious indeed may be happening, more than just local mischief. Soon, he's racing to solve two cases at once, one in London and one in the country, before either turns deadly. Blending Charles Finch's trademark wit, elegance, and depth of research, this new mystery, equal parts Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, may be the finest in the series.

©2015 Charles Finch (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Love this series

Any additional comments?

I love this series and very much enjoyed the latest entry, especially as read by the very excellent James Langton, but it was more because I love spending time with these characters than I loved this particular story. I didn't get the point of the two mysteries. It read as if Charles Finch perhaps had started with two ideas for his next project, then found he couldn't spin either into a full novel.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

What a great book!!

What made the experience of listening to Home by Nightfall the most enjoyable?

I've listened to all of the Charles Lenox Mysteries in order and so very familiar with the characters. This book allows an update with each character and the progress of the "little ones" as well. The mysteries are intriguing and there are two in this book. The wonderful way in which Mr. Finch allows the reader to "visit" Old London and experience the way of life during that time period is so enjoyable.

What did you like best about this story?

Hard to say what was best since the book makes the "journey" with the characters so complete. Great story from start to finish with what I like to call the perfect ending.

Which scene was your favorite?

I think the favorite scene was at the end. Having identified with Edward Lenox's situation, I know what having your family around you during the holidays would mean to him.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Intriguing mystery journey with wonderful characters.

Any additional comments?

James Langton is absolutely fantastic!! I cannot imagine a Charles Lenox mystery without him. I have listened to more than 20 narrators and no one does it more perfectly than James Langton. All characters, male and female have their own voice and are the same in each book. I don't know how he does it, but it is perfect!!

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Nice addition to the series

These books have me alternately laughing, tearing up, feeling happy, wondering where the tale will go next. What I may like best about them is that Charles Finch tries and IMO succeeds to give us a 360 degree view of Lenox's life as detective, bachelor come husband, then as a father, and that his characters evolve at a natural pace. He's a normal well-adjusted man for the age he lives in, which is not the usual in a detective series. Keep writing, Mr. Finch!! I looked forward to this installment coming out and I hope there are at least a few more to come.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Best Lenox mystery yet!

What made the experience of listening to Home by Nightfall the most enjoyable?

If you love small towns, or in this case, small villages and colorful characters, if you find good-hearted and aristocratic detectives irresistible, if you want your mystery to be astute and shrewd, but not sarcastic or fixated on gore, if you like intriguing bits of arcane history woven here and there, Home By Nightfall is just your cup of tea. I think one of the things I love most about Charles Finch's series is that his character does not solve mysteries in a vacuum- his books are a slice of life. They contain not only mysteries, but insights into class and family relationships, the mindset and social customs of the British upper-class and the workings of Parliament, to name just a few. If you love Jane Austen or Patrick O'Brian, give the Charles Lenox mysteries a try.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Pretty boring

This wasn't my cup of tea, particularly where mysteries are concerned. Very slow moving and methodical. The only thing to get my attention was the awesome British accent in the narrator.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Another winner from Charles Finch

Great story with an excellent pace. The twists and turns were unexpected. A must read for any Charles Lenox fan.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Another great story by Charles Finch!

Truly enjoyed this mystery. The series is very well written and gets better with each new tale!

Keeps getting better

Each book in this series gets better, the story line richer and the characters more reflective of life.