Charlotte Pitt defends her own sister against a murder charge in Victorian England, in a novel “suffused with atmosphere, emotion, and suspense” (Booklist). As Inspector Thomas Pitt works to resolve the case of a dismembered woman, his womanizing brother-in-law, George March, Lord Ashworth, is poisoned with his morning coffee at the country estate of his cousins. The primary suspect? Charlotte’s … suspect? Charlotte’s sister, Emily, the murdered man’s wife and Pitt’s sister-in-law. Charlotte and Pitt take on the March clan with the help of Great-aunt Vespasia, their formidable relative and a member of the clan, to break through the wall of deceit and silence. When Sybilla March, George’s suspected paramour, is found strangled by her hair and Emily is the one who found her, the case would seem hopeless—for anyone but the indomitable Pitts. Their pursuit of the truth takes them down a path of corruption, depravity, and murder, from the elegant townhouses lining fashionable Cardington Crescent to the horrifying slums of London.
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Very slow start. Plot seemed to keep repeating arguments for who committed the murders over and over without offering any new information. About two-thirds through the story things seem to start coming to life. Ended satisfactorily.
Anything by Anne Perry is worth reading
Another great Anne Perry.
Anne Perry packs so much in each book and this is no exception.
Vintage Anne Perry
I love her characters. Each of her series immerses you in the period.
Great picture of Victorian England.
Great series!
I have read alot of Charlotte and Thomas Pitt books….all good.
Another Anne Perry original. Keeps one interested to the very end. Pure quality escape literature.
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I love all things Anne Perry. Love the period pieces. Great insight into the mores of the time.
Like most of Anne Perry’s novels this is extremely well written. Her usual characters, her knowledge of the seamier side of well bred English life, a story with unexpected twists.
I am a great fan of Anne Perry. She delivers wonderful descriptions of England in Victorian times as it actually was. Her characters are believable with multifaceted personalities and are frequently surprising in their complexity. They evolve in realistic ways, and I look forward to each new adventure,
Always like a good mystery. the only criticism is that there were a few too many characters and they became hard to track. Like the historical setting.
Haven’t read an Anne Perry I don’t like.
Anne Perry never disappoints.
Charlotte & Thomas Pitt are out to solve the murder of Charlotte’s sister, Emily’s husband. If you like period english mysteries. This is tge book for you
Anne Perry is one of my very favorite authors. Never not an interesting read.
A good beach read, not surprising in its solution.
It was an enjoyable read. I found the descriptions of clothing and food at meals in too much detail and repetitive. I did enjoy the descriptions of life in the era, especially among the common people. I felt the ending too abrupt. After 350 page build up, the conclusion seemed almost rushed.