Charles Lenox's London detective agency is thriving in 1876, so much so that he and his partners had to hire additional staff to keep up with the demand. When a family tragedy precipitates his return home to Sussex, Lenox finds his attention divided among his family, a series of mysterious incidents in the village of Markethouse, and the disappearance of a German pianist. While his team back in London investigate the pianist's whereabouts, Lenox probes the local petty thefts but is stumped by the possible motivation behind them. It is only when a more serious crime occurs that Lenox starts to put the pieces together.
VERDICT Lenox and his vast array of sidekicks make a welcome return in their ninth outing (after The Laws of Murder). It is to Finch's credit as a writer that none of the large cast of characters feels shoehorned into the story. While the family tragedy lends an aura of sadness to the tale, Lenox remains the delightful Victorian gentleman detective. Highly recommended for fans of the series. [See Prepub Alert, 6/1/15.]
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