One of my favorite combinations---historical fiction and a murder mystery. Set in the mid 1800's London, the main character is Charles Lennox, a typical Victorian gentleman and bachelor---second son of nobility who financially does not have to 'work' for a living. He spends his time in pursuit of his hobbies which include travel, archaeology, history and of course, sleuthing. All of the standard characters are in place--the trusty man-servant/sidekick, the elder brother with the family and seat in Parliament, and the long-time widowed lady friend and neighbor who serves as a romantic element. As I was reading this novel, I kept getting flashes of David Niven as Phineas Fogg. Through many twists and turns, Charles solves the double murder while taking the reader on a historical and cultural tour of London and the status of the British Empire. In his musings about changes, he notes the event of the rebuilding of Parliament and the newer addition of the large clock (Big Ben). He thinks that it is quite the modern achievement but doubts that it will ever be very popular with the people or visitors of London. Enjoyable read and I look forward to the rest of the series.