London, 1850: Fresh out of university with a keen interest in crime despite an aristocratic aversion to paid labor, twenty-three-year old Charles Lenox spies his entry into detective work when he connects a disturbing braggadocios letter in the paper to an unsolved murder. When another body appears, the gentleman sleuth and his valet-cum-deputy must team up with Scotland Yard to prevent a third victim. Full of witty banter, unexpected twists, clever deductions, and compelling forays into the detective's personal life, this prequel to the Charles Lenox series is a must for established fans, but it also serves as a brilliant introduction for first-time readers!