The Hidden City - (Charles Lenox Mysteries) by Charles Finch (Hardcover)

About the Book

"It's 1879, and Lenox is convalescing from the violent events of his last investigation. But a desperate letter from an old servant forces him to pick up the trail of a cold case: the murder of an apothecary seven years before, whose only clue is an odd emblem carved into the doorway of the building where the man was killed. When Lenox finds a similar mark at the site of another murder, he begins to piece together a hidden pattern which leads him into the corridors of Parliament, the slums of East London, and ultimately the very heart of the British upper class"--

Book Synopsis

NAMED ONE OF THE WASHINGTON POST'S TEN BEST MYSTERY NOVELS OF 2025 and THE LOS ANGELES TIMES' BEST FALL MYSTERIES!

Against the vividly drawn backdrop of Victorian London, amateur sleuth Charles Lenox must unlock a mystery concealed in the architecture of the city itself, in this new novel from acclaimed author Charles Finch.

It's 1879, and Lenox is convalescing from the violent events of his last investigation. But a desperate letter from an old servant forces him to pick up the trail of a cold case: the murder of an apothecary seven years before, whose only clue is an odd emblem carved into the doorway of the building where the man was killed. When Lenox finds a similar mark at the site of another murder, he begins to piece together a hidden pattern which leads him into the corridors of Parliament, the slums of East London, and ultimately the very heart of the British upper class.

At the same time, Lenox must contend with the complexities of his personal life: a surprising tension with his steadfast wife, Lady Jane, over her public support of the early movement for women's suffrage; the arrival of Angela Lenox, a mysterious young cousin from India, with an unexpected companion; the dizzying ascent of his brother, Sir Edmund Lenox, to one of the highest political posts in the land; the growing family of his young partners in detection, Polly and Dallington; and the return of the problems that have long bedeviled one of his closest friends, the dashing Scottish physician Thomas McConnell.

Featuring a beloved cast of characters, a top-notch puzzle, and Finch's trademark humor and richness of historical detail, The Hidden City is a novel by a master at the top of his form

Review Quotes

Praise for The Hidden City:

THE WASHINGTON POST'S TEN BEST MYSTERY NOVELS OF 2025
THE LOS ANGELES TIMES' BEST FALL MYSTERIES

"[Finch] shows a depth of knowledge that makes the story come alive....Intoxicating. " --Charles Todd, New York Times bestselling author of the Ian Rutledge Series and Bess Crawford Series

"No one writes Victorian London with both the historical precision and lyrical prose of Charles Finch... The Hidden City is one of the treats of the year and should be on everyone's wish list. Highly recommended!" --Deborah Crombie, New York Times bestselling author of A Killing of Innocents

"An elegant and enthralling Dickensian mystery riddled with the grime and glamour of Victorian London." --Daisy Goodwin, New York Times bestselling author of American Heiress and The Fortune Hunter

"I have been a fan of Charles Lenox since A Beautiful Blue Death...[an] unfolding cold case murder... with a nice twist." --Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of the Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness historical mysteries

"Gripping... Finch transports readers to Victorian London with his evocative description while his clever pen brings unexpected twists and turns with a mystery that will have you turning the pages late into the night." --Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Booklover's Library

"Traveling through London with Charles and his cohorts is a treat, and the next excursion is likely to be as well." --Danise Hoover, FirstClue

"I love the Charles Lenox series of Victorian mysteries and this one is one of the best....deviously clever." --The Globe and Mail

"Charles Finch has blended his comprehensive knowledge of Victorian history with memorable mysteries equal to the best in the genre." --The Los Angeles Times, Best Fall Mysteries

"There are echoes of Holmes and Watson here, but Lenox is his own man: a humanist, even a kind of feminist, with a deep curiosity and compassion for others that belies his class." --The New Yorker on the Charles Lenox Mysteries

"Elegant... Finch offers a delightful mélange of crisscrossing subplots rooted in contemporaneous issues including colonialism, women's suffrage, and poverty, and ensures that each thread enhances rather than distracts from the main mystery. Charles, meanwhile, remains a winning protagonist: intelligent and kind but never dull." --Publishers Weekly

"A fascinating, dangerous mystery." --Kirkus Reviews

"The Hidden City is a lyrically written, darkly atmospheric read perfect for fans of Victorian-era whodunits." --Bookpage, "Most Anticipated Fall Mysteries"

"An engrossing historical mystery and a revealing commentary on politics and social prejudices in 1870s London.... Finch is a masterful writer whose meticulous research and gift for evoking people and places produces a richly layered, sweeping saga and a superb and mesmerizing historical mystery." --Booklist, starred

"The most reliable detective novelist around." --The Chicago Tribune

"Melds history and suspense." --The Washington Post, 10 Best Mystery Books of 2025

Praise for the Charles Lenox Mysteries:

"No mystery writer except perhaps Anne Perry is as successful as Charles Finch at evoking the atmosphere of Victorian London." --The Washington Post

"Smashing... That's the charm of Finch's style and [Lenox's] own manner of sleuthing -- a brilliant display of brainy deduction... Classy writing and beguiling details." --The New York Times Book Review on The Last Passenger

"Lenox's latest adventure has humanity, heart, and humor... It delivers a gripping and cleverly plotted mystery; and, of course, Lenox remains a thoroughly charming lead character. A pleasure to read on every level." -Booklist (starred review) on An Extravagant Death

"Finch does a wonderful job of re-creating the atmosphere of mid-19th-century England; his characters are crisply drawn and believable... An excellent addition to an already terrific series." --Library Journal (starred) on The Woman in the Water

"Finch is a clever plotter and assiduous researcher... If you are a mystery addict seeking an escape hatch from the 21st century, check out this series by an elegant writer at the top of his form." --Seattle Times on Home by Nightfall

"[A] superior series... With the compassion and cynicism of Anthony Trollope, the sharply drawn heroes and villains of Charles Dickens and his own deft hand at sleight of plot, Finch has again blessed readers with a strong historical mystery, brimming with character and period, and the perfect puzzle with which to while away a winter's evening." --Richmond Times-Dispatch on An Old Betrayal

"Superb... Lenox [is] a worthy heir to the aristocratic mantle of Lord Peter Wimsey." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) on A Death in Small Hours

"Finch vividly brings 1860s London to life [and] effortlessly inhabits his compassionate hero." --USA Today on A Stranger in Mayfair

About the Author

Charles Finch is a novelist and literary critic, author of the beloved Charles Lenox mysteries, following one of the earliest private detectives in Victorian London. The books have appeared multiple times on the USA Today bestseller list. He has written numerous essays, articles, and reviews for The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Slate, New York, and The Guardian, and was honored with the 2017 Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing by the National Book Critics Circle. He subsequently served on the NBCC's board, and has also been a board member of the arts colony Ragdale and was one of three judges for the 2021 Pen-Faulkner Prize. He lives in Los Angeles with his family.