On any given day in London, all Charles Lenox, Victorian gentleman and armchair explorer, wants to do is relax in his private study with a cup of tea, a roaring fire and a good book. But when his lifelong friend Lady Jane asks for his help, Lenox cannot resist another chance to unravel a mystery, even if it means trudging through the snow to her townhouse next door.
One of Jane’s former servants, Prudence Smith, is dead – an apparent suicide. But Lenox suspects something far more sinister: murder, by a rare and deadly poison. The house where the girl worked is full of suspects, and though Prudence dabbled with the hearts of more than a few men, Lenox is baffled by an elusive lack of motive in the girl’s death. When another body turns up during the London season’s most fashionable ball, Lenox must untangle a web of loyalties and animosities. Was it jealousy that killed Prudence? Or was it something else entirely, something that Lenox alone can uncover before the killer strikes again – disturbingly close to home?

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I loved this book! Lenox is a great character — reminds me of Holmes but different (quirky but not overly so). I really like his friendship with Lady Jane and hope that this continues in the next books into a relationship. I liked his doctor sidekick (Thomas) and found him a somewhat tortured and interesting character, too.

This mystery was hard to figure out and I didn’t guess it before the end.

Overall, a fun read and highly recommended to those who like Victorian mysteries!

Thank you for my review copy.