A Death in the Small Hours    by Charles Finch Order:  USA  Can Minotaur, 2013 (2013) Hardcover, Softcover, CD, e-Book     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth Charles Lenox is at the top of his political career as well as having the delight of being a new father. Determined to outdo other fathers who do not properly recognize that they are now responsible for a new human being, he vows to spend as much time as he possibly can with his first child. That vow is hard to keep since he is now to present a very important speech. This is to be his first speech to an august group of politicians, since his previous occupation was investigating the crimes of Victorian London. To find the quiet he needs to write the all-important speech, he and his wife and the new little Lenox travel outside London as guests of his Uncle at the latter's Somerset estate. However – isn't there always something to change plans? – when he and Uncle find a moment to talk, Lenox learns of strange vandalism in the adjoining village of Plumbley – broken windows, minor thefts, threatening scrawls. Lenox works with his protégé John Dallington to solve the baffling occurrences. Events that seem to become more serious plague Lenox who believes something is escaping his notice – something that could wrap up this disconcerting case and allow him to work on his speech but which he just can't put his finger on. A Death in the Small Hours by Charles Finch is the sixth of his novels. Where have I been? This is the first I have read. I will now track down the first five and get caught up. This delightful book is so English it even encompasses a game of cricket. It is extremely rich in absorbing detail that captures the imagination and places the reader in each scene. Clever plot. And so very charming. Don't miss it. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews