It is January, 1877 in London. Charles Lenox, watching the snow pile up outside his Hampden Lane home, is awaiting a visit from his old Harrow classmate, Gerald Leigh. He has neither seen or heard from him in many years, but a plea for his help arrived via a letter written on stationary from the elite Collingwood Hotel, just blocks away. Leigh was expected to call that afternoon. As the hours ticked by and no appearance from his friend, Lenox, an investigator with his own business, begins to explore his friend's disappearance and becomes involved in a mess, a BIG mess.

In that era, two of the most prestigious public schools in London in are Harrow and Eton. Harrow, the most sophisticated, while Eton, the most hallowed. Harrow was a Lenox family tradition as his father and his older brother, Edmund attended the famous school. He befriended Leigh who was an outcast who did not come from wealth or social standing. As they became closer, Leigh confided that he had a secret and mysterious benefactor who funded his tuition at Harrow and his expenses. When he confided that he had no idea who the MB (mysterious benefactor) was, Lenox immediately knew he wanted to investigate and find out who was responsible. Then and there he knew he wanted to become an investigator.

When Leigh disappears, Lenox becomes involved in murder, London gangs, and the Royal Society. Along with his partners in the Lenox Agency, he follows the clues in several mysteries that run simultaneously and will keep you guessing. Lord Dallington and Polly Buchanan, the first female sleuth, are partners in Lenox's Detective Agency and find romance along with solving why the windows at Parliament were smashed and who smashed them. THE INHERITANCE by Charles Finch is a clever period plot filled mystery with interesting twists and an assortment of trivia. Why do the British drive on the left side of the road? Where did fish and chips evolve? The characters are colorful and Leigh will steal your heart as he did to Lenox, his wife, Lady Jane, and his daughter, Sophia. An "electric" ending that will have you smiling and looking for the next Charles Lenox Mystery. Well done, Mr. Finch.