A Beautiful Blue Death

by Charles Finch

This is the first book in a serious about a British man of privilege who is also an amateur sleuth in 1865.
The story starts with the man being asked to help investigate the death of a young serving girl, who was a former employee of the man's neighbour and good friend.    The man takes on an investigation much to the chagrin of Scotland Yard.

The death has been set up to look as a suicide, but how could the girl write a suicide note when she was illiterate?  It turns out the girl was having relationships with several men in addition to her fiance.  They and several other men living in the house are also suspects.  The girl is killed with a very rare and expensive poison so that would seem to narrow the suspects.  Then a second death, the death of a Member of Parliament occurs in th same house and things get even more complicated.

The amateur detective is finally able to work with the blessing of the "Yard", when he agrees to let them take the credit, if he does solve the murders.

The book is a very genteel mystery, much in keeping with the time in which it took  place.  The author does a great job of describing the privileged lives of the wealthy and the conditions of the working class and the poor.  The story was entertaining and kept you guessing until the end.