Title:

The Vanishing Man

Author:

Charles Finch

Category:

Mystery / Thriller

Rating:

Date Reviewed:

May 1, 2025

he Vanishing Man is the second book in Finch's "prequel trilogy", which began with The Woman in the Water and concludes with The Last Passenger. This trio of novels is meant to show readers of the best-selling mystery series the "origin story" of the protagonist Charles Lenox. In The Vanishing Man, Lenox is still struggling to establish himself in the unusual profession of private detective. Most of his aristocratic peers in Victorian London (the book is set in 1853) disdain the notion of work and they look at Lenox's passion to do detecting work with a mixture of contempt and puzzlement.

In this story, Lenox is summoned by the Duke of Dorset, one of the richest, most powerful men in England. The Duke has a priceless painting that he believes someone is trying to steal. No known painted likeness of William Shakespeare exists, all we have is the black and white ink portrait that was printed with his portfolio. But the Dorset's actually have such a painting, and it is hanging on the wall in the Duke's study. However, someone pilfered a picture of one of the Duke's ancestors that hung on the wall next to the Shakespeare. The Duke is convinced that the thief stole the wrong painting, because a portrait of one of the previous Dukes of Dorset is of no value to anyone besides the Dorset clan. Lenox isn't so sure - perhaps the thief was after something else?

The Duke gives Lenox free rein of his massive household, he can question anyone, search through any room - though the Duke thinks it likely that thief climbed in through the window to take the portrait off of the wall; after all, he trusts all the members of his staff completely. However, the Duke's daughter tells Lenox of a maid, Maggie McNeal, who hasn't been seen since the day the painting was stolen, so clearly doesn't know everything about his vast serving staff.

Lenox ponders what he has learned. He dislikes the arrogant Duke, but a case involving Shakespeare is a unique opportunity. If he can get answers for the Duke, then surely the Duke's name will reflect positively on Lenox's career and he will have more mysteries than he can solve.

An alarmed messenger contacts Lenox - the Duke was kidnapped! Lenox must come immediately. It seems two highwaymen nabbed the Duke as he exited his carriage. These ruffians forced the Duke into their own carriage and then sped quickly away. A ransom note soon arrives. It appears Lenox caseload has suddenly expanded beyond the missing portrait of a Dorset duke.

I like the plot of this story. Clearly Finch has done a lot of research on Shakespeare, and the few known details of Shakespeare's life are used to construct the mystery at the heart of this novel. I appreciated the Shakespeare stuff (even if it turns out Finch invented most of it for purposes of this story). There is a recurring set of characters who will presumably become more familiar as the series continues (it is up to twelve books, not counting the three prequel novels). I like how Lenox appears to reason through the clues to figure out the culprit, the motive, and lead a hunt for a priceless Shakespeare artifact. Looks like I need to find that third prequel book before starting on the proper series.