Midnight in the House of Commons ⭐⭐⭐ 💫

Midnight in the House of Commons by Charles Finch

NetGalley About Summary

Amateur sleuth Charles Lenox investigates the murder of a Parliament member, moving through the glamorous high society of Victorian London in the next novel from acclaimed author Charles Finch.

In the spring of 1881, Lenox is caught up in the whirl of London life when his brother arrives to tell him that there’s been a murder in the House of Commons. Robert Baddeley, a charismatic, womanizing Member, has been found poisoned in the hallowed chamber itself. Suspicion immediately falls on the women in his life, including his wife and mistress, but as Lenox digs deeper, he realizes that there were more than a few people who might have wanted Baddeley dead.

Meanwhile, Lenox must balance his investigation with his family life, which has grown increasingly complicated: his ward Sari struggles with heartbreak, the Lenox household receives an odd visitor, and a young woman comes to Lenox to implore him to find her fiancé, who has mysteriously vanished.

And just when Lenox is nearing the truth of Baddeley’s murder, someone close to him is arrested for the crime—and Lenox must race to solve the case before losing everything.

Joyfully set in ballrooms, supper parties, palaces, and Parliament, Midnight in the House of Commons takes Charles Lenox through his trickiest, most satisfying case yet.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers

The How/Why: NetGalley

⭐⭐⭐ 💫 

🎉🎊 Overall Storytelling? 🎉🎉🎉🎊

• Setting the stage. Atmosphere, Vibe 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
• Likeable Characters: Protagonist, Supporting Cast, Extras 🎉🎉🎉🎊
• Unlikeable Antagonist  🎉🎉🎉🎊
• Executing the premise  🎉🎉🎉
• Lives up to the promise 🎉🎉🎉

🎣🎏 Did it grab and keep my attention? 🎣🎣🎣🎏

🗣️Would I recommend it to anyone? Maybe 🤷If you want more Parliament politics and less murder mystery.

🕮 Would I want a sequel? No ➖ 

📚 Would I want to read more books by this author? Maybe 🤷

⚠️💣💥 📢 Content Warnings? MŪrdɇr by P0is0ninᵷ

🌶️🫑Spice? No

🌪 Plot Twist? No

👟 Pace? Uneven

💻 Tidbits ~ When a member of Parliament is found 𖤀ɇɐd, a tie is broken, allowing controversial legislation to now pass. The victim was also a known w0mɐniᶎer so the investigation explores two sides: was this a political aŞŞaŞŞinati0n or did someone take personal justice into their own hands?

Highlights: I liked the rich historic setting and the glimpse into the deep-rooted traditions of Parliament.

Lowlights: I felt the balance was off. I wanted more MŪrdɇr mystery and less focus on the legislative Bill.

Historical vs Fiction: (because I always need to know)

Historical:

• Set in London in 1881, Queen Victoria was monarch and William Ewart Gladstone was prime minister.
• The Palace of Westminster, House of Commons, social hierarchy, gentlemen’s clubs, and heavy restrictions on women’s public and political lives are accurate to the period.
• The women’s suffrage campaigns were real and already underway.

Fiction:

• Charles Lenox, his aristocratic family, and his private detective agency were fictional.
• The victim, Robert Baddeley, his dramatic P0is0ninᵷ on the floor of the Commons, the suspects, the missing fiancé case were fictional.

🎧 Narrator: James Langton - Good. His delivery gave the book immersive Radio Drama style that fit the era perfectly. 

🎧8.10 hours (Listened on: NetGalley) 🕮 272 pages

Not yet published. Expected 11-3-2026

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free ALC in exchange for my honest review.

39 and counting