An East End Murder

Charles Lenox Mysteries #4.5

by Charles Finch

From the acclaimed author of the Charles Lenox series of mysteries, including the Agatha-nominated novel A Beautiful Blue Death, comes a riveting short story of death and detection on the East End.

It’s the end of winter 1865 when Lenox agrees to investigate the death of Phil Jigg, a beloved neighborhood regular, found strangled on Great St. Andrews Street.  In a case that takes him through the noisy vendors and pickpockets, the rough-and-tumble back alleys and local pubs of the Seven Dials, Lenox looks for answers in a place that couldn’t feel more foreign from his West End home—and where his presence is anything but welcome.  The answer comes in the person of someone so ruthless and brutal that those who could help Lenox are terrified into silence.

A whodunit filled with the kind of brooding atmosphere that led Library Journal to remark, “Readers of Anne Perry should be snatching up Finch’s books and clamoring for more” (starred review of A Stranger in Mayfair), this is a delightfully vivid addition to the Charles Lenox series.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Short Stories, Historical, Victorian

30 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2011

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name. See this thread for more information.

My name is Charles Finch - welcome! I'm the author of the Charles Lenox series of historical mysteries, as well as a recent novel about expatriate life in Oxford, THE LAST ENCHANTMENTS. I also write book reviews for the New York Times, USA Today, and the Chicago Tribune and essays in many different places.

Like most people on this website, I'm a huge reader. My taste is all over the place, though I tend to really like literary and mystery fiction. Some of my favorite writers: George Orwell, Henry Green, Dick Francis, Anthony Trollope, David Lodge, PG Wodehouse, Bill Bryson, Roberto Bolano, Jonathan Franzen, Shirley Hazzard, Leo Tolstoy, AR Ammons, Philip Larkin, Edgar Bowers, Laurent Binet, Laurie Colwin, Jane Austen, Arthur Conan Doyle, Philip Roth, Henrik Ibsen, Geoff Dyer, the list could go forever...

A bit about myself: I was born in New York City, and since then I've lived all over the place, in America, England, France...at the moment I'm in Chicago, where I just recently moved. I spend most of my time here writing, reading, walking my dog, and trying not to let my ears freeze off.

You can find me on Facebook (facebook.com/charlesfinchauthor) where my reader are always giving fantastic book reviews, or Twitter (twitter.com/charlesfinch) which I don't like quite as much, though it's okay. I'll also try to blog here. Please let me know what I'm doing wrong, since I have remedial goodreads skills...

Reviews

[Kate Baxter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore the Charles Lenox Mystery series. However, this short little mystery just left me wanting. It lacked all the human interaction I've come to love in this series. Yes, Lenox is brought onto the crime scene with little explanation. He resolves the mystery the next day; end of story. Looking forward to digging into the next book in the series, "A Burial at Sea".

Synopsis:
It's the end of winter 1865 when Lenox agrees to investigate the death of Phil Jigg, a beloved neighborhood regular, found strangled on Great St. Andrews Street. In a case that takes him through the noisy vendors and pickpockets, the rough-and-tumble back alleys and local pubs of the Seven Dials, Lenox looks for answers in a place that couldn't feel more foreign from his West End home—and where his presence is anything but welcome. The answer comes in the person of someone so ruthless and brutal that those who could help Lenox are terrified into silence.

A whodunit filled with the kind of brooding atmosphere that led Library Journal to remark, "Readers of Anne Perry should be snatching up Finch's books and clamoring for more" (starred review of A Stranger in Mayfair), this is a delightfully vivid addition to the Charles Lenox series.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a big Charles Lenox fan, but I thought this short story was lacking. I understand it was a short story and could not have been as along or as detailed as a full-length novel, but still this story seemed unfinished and unpolished. It was the beginning of an idea and needed more work to make it work better. It was a quick visit during a busy work-day rather than a nice, long friendly afternoon off. The idea was good, and the mystery was intriguing, but I was expected better. I was also disappointed that half of of the ebook I downloaded was a preview of the next book in the series. That was deceptive and frankly makes me question purchasing further novellas/short stories by the author (I know that was probably the publisher's decision, but still it feels as of the story was written as a stop-gap teaser until the next-in-series book was available.)

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story about the murder of a young homeless man and the beginning two chapters of A Burial at Sea. I've listened to James Langton enough now that I can her his voice in my head as I read along. It was fun.

[Jen St · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story, not of the quality of the books. But, I must admit, I'm not a big short story fan.

[Jack Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars. Not quite up to scratch. Certainly not as good as the author's enjoyable novels featuring the young private eye and UK Member of Parliament from the 1860s, Charles Lenox. I had the distinct feeling that I had opened a much longer entry, a novella if not a full-length novel, at chapter #5, read through #7, and then skipped to the closing. Don't get me wrong, I like short stories in the murder and thriller vein almost as much as novels. But for the best of them, the writing needs to be tighter and more details left to the reader's imagination. Lenox had previously befriended a police bobby named Jameson who in turn asked him to the scene of a murder in London's poverty-stricken east end. Phil Jigg was strangled and left in the middle of Great St. Andrew's St. with all his valuables, including his boots, picked clean by thieves. As he investigates the crime, Lenox stands out like a sore thumb - a gentleman from the west end among pickpockets and scam artists. No witnesses want to be seen with him for fear of Black Sammy, the local thug. Lenox does find some help from Reverend Tilton of St. Martin's church. Next? It's another Lenox novel for me. (November 2023)

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tasty tidbit - a short story - of the Charles Lenox mystery solving series. Short stories are often more difficult to do well than novels, requiring a real skill. Charles Finch shows us he has that in this tale.

[Lavender Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short book that I had skipped. I'm going back to fill in the books I've missed because he has a new one coming out this month. LOVE this author and these mysteries! Makes me wish I could go back in time and work along side Charles Lenox (the main character). Maybe Charles Finch would like to write me into one of his books!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short. I didn't think Finch had enough time to develop the characters and plot sufficiently. I thought it felt rushed and incomplete. I do like Finch's novels and find them thoroughly entertaining.

[Mary Overgaard · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lennox did not work well as a short story. The plot was too simplistic. No time for character development. It was "cute" but not satisfying. There was much that could have been developed. Maybe we will see some of these folks again.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story that hardly is enough to be considered a book, but is sold that way. The Charles Lenox stories need more time to fully develop and I do recommend the full novels in this series.

[Cybercrone · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know this was a short story, but it really wasn't up to snuff.
So many short stories seem as if they were bits plucked from the middle of a larger story. This was like that, both the beginning and especially the ending were just too abrupt. Didn't seem to have a properly paced arc.
Good enough read, I guess, though of the 50 pages I was led to expect from the page count, only 17 were actually this story and the rest were advertising and a preview of a future book - which is advertising too.

[Donna Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s 1865 and Charles Lenox is attempting to solve the murder of a resident of the Seven Dials—the poverty-ridden East End of London.

While seeking information about the murder victim, Lenox is apprised of the definition of ratty pockets: “Pants with extra large pockets running along the sides, for rat catchers to fill with feed, net, water bottle, in short, the entire apparatus of the rat catcher.” Also, he found out that he is considered square-rigged, meaning “respectably dressed.” The murder victim was a ratter and he had been an orphan.

Interesting look at another side of London.

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This extremely short story isn't even worthy of a review. It also should be listed as book # 2.5 in the series since Inspector Exeter is mentioned and he died in book #3 and Lady Jane is nowhere to be found. Lenox investigates the death of a man in the Dials that turns out to be related to his days in an orphanage as a child. He was killed by the reverend running the orphanage because the man knew that he took government money for the children that he pocketed instead and he was going to blow the whistle. Not worth the time.

[ShanDizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! A concise mystery. Poor Charles though realizing that with some things in his world, he can only do "so much" and must find a modicum of satisfaction in that. Unfortunately, in the real world, it's a similar situation. However, there is still true happiness in giving to those who can't repay you and who truly appreciate it.

[Kathy Moberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful little puzzle! It will be most enjoyable for readers who are already familiar with the Charles Lennox series. It's short, satisfying and something to tide us over while awaiting the next novel.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate when I buy an e-book thinking it's a book. This was instead a short-story, so I was annoyed that I'd spent money on it. Not a lot, but I wasn't aware that it wasn't a novel till I got to the last page! It's not a bad story, but I think it would have made a great novel, fleshed out.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An East End Murder is a short mystery wherein Charles Lenox investigates the murder of a rat-catcher. It is a fast-paced short story but I wish that it had been expanded out a little more. Nicely done.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short story, but solved with all Lenox's usual flair.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story set in 1865 London, where Lenox investigates the death of a well-liked rat-catcher.
Interesting, but felt it could have been expanded.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sad story that just had no happy ending. So many stories from this time frame are sad and this one fits right in. A great little story that just adds to the Charles Lennox stories.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Using logic and observation, Charles Lenox solves the murder of a rat catcher in London's 1865 East End.

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

WAY too short! I want more of Charles Lenox and his brilliant brain.

[Sylvia Den Hollander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing

The actual short story is only 14 pages long. The rest of the 50 or so pages are the first several chapters of another book. Disappointing.

[Phyllis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story but too short.

[Paul Snively · Rating 1 out of 5]

Brief. Trite. Not worth the read.

Save your money. The story was shallow. Trite. And short. 3/4 of the book was actually a preview of The Inheritance.

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a good time hanging with Lenox.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointingly, this was a very short short story.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

This Kindle-edition short story fits, chronologically, between A Stranger in Mayfair and A Burial at Sea in the Charles Lenox mystery series by Charles Finch, and is probably really only worth reading if you're already into the series and a completist. It's not that this is bad, it's just that the full-length novels in this series are so much better.

An East End Murder begins, not surprisingly, with a body: it's 1865 and Charles Lenox, detective, is at a crime scene in the Seven Dials neighborhood of London, looking at the corpse of a man named Phil Jiggs, who seems to have been strangled. Lenox knows a woman in the area from a previous case, so he goes to talk to her the next day; she points him to the Plug brothers, proprietors of a clothing shop: she says they were friends with Jiggs and would know more about him. Lenox learns from the Plugs that Jiggs didn't have any enemies, but was recently robbed twice: it's a rough neighborhood, though, with lots of crime. Because he was broke after the robberies, Jiggs had been staying at a nearby church, so Lenox heads there next and talks to the Reverend Tilton, who echoes what the Plug brothers said: Jiggs kept out of trouble. Everyone Lenox talks to agrees, except for one man, James Mason, who says Jiggs was a troublemaker who didn't mind his own business. Lenox carries on investigating, and figures things out pretty quickly: this is quite a short story. Because of the story's brevity, there's not much room for character development, though there is some good historical detail/scene-setting, like when the Plug brothers explain the sign in their shop for "ratty pockets" (they're large-pocketed pants for rat catchers, it turns out, and Jiggs was a rat catcher).

The short story is bundled with the first four chapters of A Burial at Sea, which I read and thoroughly enjoyed, even having already read that book: when he's writing at greater length, Finch's style is satisfyingly descriptive. Re-reading those four chapters prompted me to go place a hold on Home by Nightfall (number nine in the series) at the library: I'd read the eighth book in 2014 but didn't pick up the ninth when it came out the following year, and now I'm in the mood for more of this series and its world.

[James Garman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Lenox, who I think is a private detective although he seems to work with police and has informants when they are willing to get involved is working the poor section of London. This a dead body on the street, which is not an unusual situation for the area. It turns out to be a rat man (rat hunter) that doesn't seem to have any enemies. No, nobody has a bad word to say about Phil Jigg but somebody killed him.

One of his sources is a Mrs Morris, whose human was murdered a few years ago, but such was their relationship that she wasn't particularly happen about that cases getting solved. But she play a part in this case. She makes a remark that allows Lenox to find the killer, by triggering his memory about Norwick or Norfolk, not sure if one is a town in the other or if it was mistake in the spelling or what, but it hardly mattered because the murder was solved because of the fact that orphanages type establishment were often using the children to make themselves money for the finer things in that area of London.

I recommend this short story as a wonderful example of a great short story with an interesting, intriguing story that was well worth the time it took to read it.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This quick novella can easily be skipped since there is no forward momentum within the series and just another way of teasing the reader into reading the included first chapter of the next book in the series.

It appears the constable’s first call is to Charles Lenox when a local man is found strangled and an interesting twist in the story appears on the back of the man’s neck in the shape of initials. Charles is out of his element in this seedier part of town, but there is something interesting going on and it is not until Charles tracks down Phil Jigg’s lodgings and sees an orphanage on site that helps him to put the pieces together.

Unless you need to fill in an hour, I would say to skip it and just move onto the next book “A Burial at Sea”.