Part of the Charles Lenox Mysteries series, Charles Finch’s latest novel will appeal to readers who enjoy sophisticated Victorian detectives like Sherlock Holmes *** 3 Stars

By Gabrielle Pantera

The Fleet Street Murders, latest in the Charles Lennox Victorian detective series

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Gosh!TV) 9/1/2010 - “One inspiration for this whole series was the Palliser novels by Anthony Trollope which track the fate of several young politicians in Victorian London over six books,” says The Fleet Street Murders author Charles Finch. “I made a little time for politics in the first two book of the Lenox series, but in the third I decided I really wanted to delve deeply into it and portray a 19th Century election.”

Well plotted with strong details of the time, The Fleet Street Murders is for readers who enjoy Sherlock Holmes and Lord Peter Wimsey. Lenox is charming, suave, amiable and honorable. We get to know more about Lenox as a character who has more then one passion: detective work, politics and his fiancée Lady Jane Grey.  Hopefully, the supporting characters will get deeper as the series progresses. The women are secondary in this male-centric book. Maybe when Lenox marries Lady Jane Gray, as his wife she’ll play a more significant part in the mysteries.

The Fleet Street Murders tells the story of two Fleet street journalists, Daily Telegraph writer Winston Carruthers and Daily News editor Simon Pierce, who are murdered on Christmas night. Amateur detective Charles Lenox wants to solve the crime, but needs to focus on his budding political career and upcoming marriage to (more…)

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The nice artist next door accused of murder, a Cornish Mystery by Carola Dunn *** 3 stars

By Gabrielle Pantera

A Colourful Death, is the artist next door the murderer?

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Gosh!TV) 9/1/2010 – “The next-door neighbour of my protagonist, Eleanor Trewynn, is an artist,” says A Colourful Death author Carola Dunn. “Nick had a role in the first Cornish mystery, Manna from Hades. He’s a peaceable sort of chap, laid-back and easy-going. I just started wondering what would make him mad enough to resort to violence.”

Murder disrupts the quiet life of Eleanor Trewynn.  Widowed, works at the charity shop below her home in the village of Port Mabyn. Set in 1960s Cornwall. On returning from a train trip to London, Eleanor’s friend and neighbor Nick Gresham discovers that someone has slashed several of his paintings in his shop.

Without going to the police, Nick sets out to confront rival artist Geoffrey Monmouth, who Nick is sure is the culprit. Accompanied by an anxious Eleanor, Nick finds Geoff stabbed to death in his Padstow bungalow. The police detain Nick, while Eleanor sets out to (more…)

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Preston novel reexamines the lives of the world’s two most famous lovers and asks where would we be today if they’d succeeded in winning the Roman Empire *** 3 Stars

By Gabrielle Pantera

Cleopatra and Antony, what if they'd won?

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Gosh!TV) 9/1/2010 - “I’m interested in people who despite an overwhelming obstacles achieve extraordinary things and also in people to whom history has been unfair,” says Cleopatra and Anthony author Diana Preston. “Cleopatra had a traumatic childhood and adolescence. One of her sisters was executed by her father, probably in front of her. As a young queen her half-brother ejected her from her throne and forced her to flee. She got back her throne by seducing Julius Caesar and kept it for the rest of her life until her suicide at thirty-nine.”

Know as history’s greatest lovers, Cleopatra and Anthony are more then that. Their lives had lots of political intrigue both in Egypt and Rome. Preston explains how Cleopatra was more political and Antony not a crazy war monger.

“She was the most (more…)

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