Review: Extravagant Death

Extravagant Death by Charles Finch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

At last Charles Lennox has made his way to the colonies and is astounded by the opulence of the monied class! Having seen some of the old world homes of those that preceded the American barons of industry, I'd say they did a good job of emulating them. Even to the point of acquiring all the pieces of those places that were able to be transported across the pond. What is more to the point is the fact that, having fought a war to dissolve an attachment to a monarchy that they found less than democratic, the descendents of the warriors who won that freedom set about establishing a pseudo-royalty along Fifth Avenue and the East coast of the country. Not having any family titles to hand down through the generations many of the nouveau riche went about buying them as well.

Though Charles, himself, seemingly could care less about this societal discrimination on either side of the Atlantic, Lady Jane and Mrs Astor both enjoyed the society it established. But, in the beginning, Lady Jane is left at home with the children, as Charles has embarked upon a Dickensian tour of the States. As he is making his way from New York City to Boston his train is intercepted by the private train of one of the Knickerbocker families of New York, one William Schermerhorn. It would seem that a young lady attending the season at Newport, Rhode Island has been murdered. As Lennox is an internationally well known detective ( and though, not said, a man of some standing in British society ), Schermerhorn has summoned him to Newport to investigate.

Naturally, Charles resents this interference with his mission on behalf of his Queen, but eventually agrees to make the detour for a day or so. And thus ensues Charles' introduction to America's idle rich and naturally, though the invitations are highly prized, obtains entry into Mrs Astor's fabulous party of the season. Oh, and he does manage to identify the murderer among other secrets that even the very rich hide from each other.

View all my reviews