"James Langton offers a splendid narration...He makes the thefts, kidnapping, and murder a delicious puzzle for the struggling young detective and for listeners, as well." — AudioFile Magazine From the critically acclaimed and USA Today bestselling author Charles Finch comes The Vanishing Man, the second in a prequel trilogy to his Charles Lenox Victorian series, in which the theft of an antique painting sends Detective Lenox on a hunt for a criminal mastermind. London, 1853: Having earned some renown by solving a case that baffled Scotland Yard, young Charles Lenox is called upon by the Duke of Dorset, one of England’s most revered noblemen, for help. A painting of the Duke’s great-grandfather has been stolen from his private study. But the Duke’s concern is not for his ancestor’s portrait; hiding in plain sight nearby is another painting of infinitely more value, one that holds the key to one of the country’s most famous and best-kept secrets. Dorset believes the thieves took the wrong painting and may return when they realize their error—and when his fears result in murder, Lenox must act quickly unravel the mystery behind both paintings before tragedy can strike again. As the Dorset family closes ranks to protect its reputation, Lenox uncovers a dark secret that could expose them to unimaginable scandal—and reveals the existence of an artifact, priceless beyond measure, that the family is willing to risk anything to keep hidden. In this intricately plotted prequel to the Charles Lenox mysteries, the young detective risks both his potential career—and his reputation in high society—as he hunts for a criminal mastermind. Praise for James Langton as Charles Lenox: "James Langton's vocal interpretation of Lenox adds a layer of humanity to the reserved detective...Langton gives each of the book's prominent characters a distinctive voice, but his main success is the vocal personality he provides Lenox." — Publishers Weekly on A Beautiful Blue Death "Langton captures the vocal essence of the ruling class as well as the colorful voices of the working class...Listeners will experience the ambiance of Victorian London and hear a baffling plot expertly presented." — AudioFile Magazine on An Old Betrayal, Earphones Award winner
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“Fans of the series, which set the earlier Lenox novels in the 1860s, will know what’s coming in the detective’s personal and professional life, but that in no way decreases the pleasure of this account of his earlier life. Finch’s nimble prose, edged with humor, makes this twelfth in the Charles Lenox series a pure delight.”
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Booklist (starred review)