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Charles Lenox Mysteries #13
Midnight in the House of Commons: A Charles Lenox Mystery
Not yet published
Expected 3 Nov 26Amateur sleuth Charles Lenox investigates the murder of a Parliament member, moving through the glamorous high society of Victorian London in the next novel from acclaimed author Charles Finch.
In the spring of 1881, Lenox is caught up in the whirl of London life when his brother arrives to tell him that there’s been a murder in the House of Commons. Robert Baddeley, a charismatic, womanizing Member, has been found poisoned in the hallowed chamber itself. Suspicion immediately falls on the women in his life, including his wife and mistress, but as Lenox digs deeper, he realizes that there were more than a few people who might have wanted Baddeley dead.
Meanwhile, Lenox must balance his investigation with his family life, which has grown increasingly his ward Sari struggles with heartbreak, the Lenox household receives an odd visitor, and a young woman comes to Lenox to implore him to find her fiancé, who has mysteriously vanished.
And just when Lenox is nearing the truth of Baddeley’s murder, someone close to him is arrested for the crime—and Lenox must race to solve the case before losing everything.
Joyfully set in ballrooms, supper parties, palaces, and Parliament, Midnight in the House of Commons takes Charles Lenox through his trickiest, most satisfying case yet.
In the spring of 1881, Lenox is caught up in the whirl of London life when his brother arrives to tell him that there’s been a murder in the House of Commons. Robert Baddeley, a charismatic, womanizing Member, has been found poisoned in the hallowed chamber itself. Suspicion immediately falls on the women in his life, including his wife and mistress, but as Lenox digs deeper, he realizes that there were more than a few people who might have wanted Baddeley dead.
Meanwhile, Lenox must balance his investigation with his family life, which has grown increasingly his ward Sari struggles with heartbreak, the Lenox household receives an odd visitor, and a young woman comes to Lenox to implore him to find her fiancé, who has mysteriously vanished.
And just when Lenox is nearing the truth of Baddeley’s murder, someone close to him is arrested for the crime—and Lenox must race to solve the case before losing everything.
Joyfully set in ballrooms, supper parties, palaces, and Parliament, Midnight in the House of Commons takes Charles Lenox through his trickiest, most satisfying case yet.
272 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 3, 2026
About the author
Charles Finch
30 books2,504 followersLibrarian 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...
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...
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An author I love - Lisa Kleypas - said that her books need to be good enough to be read at 3am in an emergency room. This, to me, is the definition of a comfort read - a book you know can take you someplace safe whatever the situation. The Charles Lenox books are definitely comfort reads to me and this instalment is particularly cosy.
A young woman in a precarious financial situation comes to Charles with a mission - she’s fallen in love with a lord who’s just disappeared. Meanwhile, an MP is murdered and his body found in the House of Commons before a most crucial vote.
I loved this. Once again, the investigations are of course gripping but what I enjoyed the most is the amount of detail in this book - I loved particularly reading about the architecture and history of the House of Commons (including things I need to look up - they were so intriguing). Charles Finch is also very generous with his room descriptions - you never enter a new house without being told how it’s arranged and decorated. This tells you a lot about the characters who inhabit those rooms but I also just really appreciate lists of lovely things. I’m rereading Edith Wharton and this is something she does a lot too. It makes each scene feel so alive. So do all the tea and the descriptions of food. I also love the touches of humour there were in this book - including a running joke about the royal family’s pets. Checking in on all the secondary characters we love is also a special treat - Sari (whom we met in the last book) in particular moved me so much.
I’ve counted this series amongst my favourites since reading the first book years ago and it’s never ceased to bring me comfort and joy. I always try and fail to find a historical mystery series that matches it for immersion. Cannot recommend it enough.
My endless thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, I love you!
A young woman in a precarious financial situation comes to Charles with a mission - she’s fallen in love with a lord who’s just disappeared. Meanwhile, an MP is murdered and his body found in the House of Commons before a most crucial vote.
I loved this. Once again, the investigations are of course gripping but what I enjoyed the most is the amount of detail in this book - I loved particularly reading about the architecture and history of the House of Commons (including things I need to look up - they were so intriguing). Charles Finch is also very generous with his room descriptions - you never enter a new house without being told how it’s arranged and decorated. This tells you a lot about the characters who inhabit those rooms but I also just really appreciate lists of lovely things. I’m rereading Edith Wharton and this is something she does a lot too. It makes each scene feel so alive. So do all the tea and the descriptions of food. I also love the touches of humour there were in this book - including a running joke about the royal family’s pets. Checking in on all the secondary characters we love is also a special treat - Sari (whom we met in the last book) in particular moved me so much.
I’ve counted this series amongst my favourites since reading the first book years ago and it’s never ceased to bring me comfort and joy. I always try and fail to find a historical mystery series that matches it for immersion. Cannot recommend it enough.
My endless thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, I love you!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Charles Finch writes what is probably the best period piece books in the mystery/thriller genre. His creation, Charles Lenox, is such an enjoyable character.
“Midnight in the House of Commons” continues the method of having two investigations going at the same time. Each of them is unique on its own.
If you are new to this series, do not worry about it being the 16th book. There is never too much to catch up on. That doesn’t mean that there is no growth for the main character, but Finch has just made it easy for us to enjoy and never worry if we have missed a book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
“Midnight in the House of Commons” continues the method of having two investigations going at the same time. Each of them is unique on its own.
If you are new to this series, do not worry about it being the 16th book. There is never too much to catch up on. That doesn’t mean that there is no growth for the main character, but Finch has just made it easy for us to enjoy and never worry if we have missed a book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a fantastic book! I am a big fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, having read all of them, and this was very much in the same style. As far as mysteries with lots of twists and turns, the multiple intertwined storylines in Midnight In The House Of Commons were pretty easy to follow. The author, Charles Finch, gave the characters personalities with lots of depth, and his writing was easy to read. This is the first Charles Lenox story I have read, and I look forward to reading the rest, from the beginning.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This is an advanced copy.
Someone’s been murdered in the House and Lenox’s brother is arrested. Can Lenox prove him innocent before the vote on the poor relief bill?
An interesting story
Someone’s been murdered in the House and Lenox’s brother is arrested. Can Lenox prove him innocent before the vote on the poor relief bill?
An interesting story
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews