Two fiery deaths have young lawyer Daniel Pitt and his scientist friend Miriam fford Croft racing to solve a forensic crisis in this explosive new novel from New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry.NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WALL STREET JOURNAL When a desperate woman comes to Daniel Pitt seeking a lawyer for her boyfriend, Rob Adwell, Daniel is convinced of the young … Rob Adwell, Daniel is convinced of the young man’s innocence. Adwell has been accused of murder and of setting a fire to conceal the body, but Daniel is sure that science can absolve him—and Miriam fford Croft is the best scientist he knows. Miriam connects Daniel with her former teacher Sir Barnabas Saltram, an expert in arson, and together, they reveal Adwell’s innocence by proving that an accidental fire caused the victim’s death. But it’s not long before Adwell is killed in the same fiery fashion. If these deaths are, in fact, murders, what essential clue could Daniel and Miriam have missed?
As their investigation deepens, one of Saltram’s former cases comes into question, and Miriam finds herself on the defensive. If the reasoning Saltram used in that case is proved false, several other cases will have to be re-tried, and Saltram’s expert status—not to mention Miriam’s reputation—will be ruined. Haunted by Saltram’s shady tactics in and outside of the classroom, Miriam is desperate to figure out truths both past and present and protect herself in the face of Saltram’s lies. What started as an accidental fire in Adwell’s case seems to be linked to a larger plot for revenge, with victims accumulating in its wake, and Miriam and Daniel must uncover who or what is stoking these recurring flames—before they, too, find themselves burned.
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I found this latest mystery by Anne Perry to be a wonderful riveting read. While I’ve read many of her previous novels, this was my first that featured a grown-up Daniel Pitt. While the novel deals with an arrogant expert witness’s testimony and the damage he may or may not have helped to inflict, it also examines male-female relationships and the deplorable way women were unable to work at certain professions during the early twentieth century.
early-20th-century, lawyers, London, arson, murder-investigation, friendship, forensics, gangsters
The best thing about dropping into a spin-off series by an author I enjoyed in the past but who slipped off my radar is a newer and more evidence biased appreciation of her ability. The original mystery series began before Daniel’s parents had even met and continued onward as the constable rose through the ranks and the (demoted as a result of her marriage) society heiress continued to assist him with cases, some of which she dragged him into. Now it’s 1910 and their second child, Daniel, is a fledgling lawyer in a fairly prestigious office. When a probably unwinnable and supposedly cut and dried case comes to his attention he calls on friends and digs deep. One memorable aspect (aside from the misogyny of the era) is a look into the early development of forensic application to investigations. Good plot full of twists, misdirections, and red herrings all done very well. I think that her writing has gotten even better and I plan to reread the original series until it’s time to catch up to this one!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
One Fatal Flaw is the third book in Anne Perry’s marvelous Daniel Pitt series. These books stand alone, so don’t hesitate to dive in if you haven’t read any of the previous books. I loved the prior book, Triple Jeopardy, and didn’t think the series could get any better. Man, was I wrong! This story was absolutely riveting. I hope Daniel, the progeny of Ms. Perry’s beloved characters Sir Thomas and Lady Charlotte Pitt, and his friend Miriam fford Croft have many more adventures to come.
Young lawyer Daniel Pitt is approached by a teary young woman whose lover has been accused of arson and murder. The medical examiner states the young man who died was bashed in the back of the skull which resulted in his death, not the fire. Daniel takes the case and discusses the death with his friend Miriam fford Croft, a scientist and the daughter of the Head of Chambers of the law firm where Daniel works. She believes a former teacher of hers, Sir Barnabas Saltram, who is now a renowned forensics arson expert – with whom she had a stormy history – can testify on behalf of the accused. Miriam approaches him, he agrees, and Daniel wins his case. However, when another young man is killed in a fire eerily like the prior one involving the same sphere of people, Daniel begins to believe his forensic expert may have been wrong…
This was a fascinating story which actually involves three murder cases. Daniel, Miriam and Sir Barnabas were all compelling characters, fleshed out with strengths and foibles. Sir Barnabas morphed from being a cold and superior forensics expert into a sinister player in the cases. Daniel is coming into his own as a lawyer, instead of being mainly known for who his parents are. His friendship with Miriam is both strong and tender; is there something else there? It was Miriam, however, who shone the brightest here. I loved learning more about her past, her relationships with her father and Dr. Ottershaw (her mentor) and her struggle to be a scientist in a time when women were thought to being incapable of handling such responsibilities. There is another powerful character here not previously mentioned but which everything centers around: fire. Ms. Perry perfectly showed the incredible power of fire and taps into our primitive fear of same. I’m hoping we won’t be kept waiting long for Daniel’s next case and adventure!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Series: Daniel Pitt #3
Publication Date: 4/7/20
Number of Pages: 304
Tightly wrapped within the cocoon of this superb, well-plotted mystery series, you will find the nuggets of early forensic science. This story deals with the effect of arson and intense heat upon bones – particularly the skull – and the way an arrogant, self-centered, selfish, vengeful ‘expert’ can warp the judicial system for his own reward.
The story is tightly plotted, well written, and filled with historical accuracy. I loved Daniel Pitt immediately because I loved his parents first. Daniel is a wonderfully honest, dedicated, and very honorable twenty-five-year-old man who has been out of law school for just a couple of years. He’s on the bottom rung of the ladder at his law firm, fford Croft and Gibson, and rarely gets assigned a case himself. He sits as second chair to his friend and mentor, Toby Kitteridge.
When a young woman, Jessie Beale, arrives at the prestigious law firm and asks to see Daniel, it is because of an earlier case in which he had represented a party who was found innocent. It had seemed a near-impossible case, yet Daniel won it – and she wanted that same thing for her friend, Rob Adwell. After hearing what she had to say, Daniel couldn’t help but believe the man was guilty of the crime, but once he discussed it with Kitteridge and the firm head Marcus fford Croft, it was decided they would take the case. He was amazed when they won the case, but it was because of the expert forensic testimony of Sir Barnabus Saltram.
Weeks later, Daniel is called to defend Jessie herself. She is accused of murdering Rob in exactly the same manner as the first murder occurred. As Daniel investigates, he begins to wonder if his client might not be guilty of not one, but two murders. Yet, because of the expert testimony from Adwell’s trial, he can only assume she will be found innocent. That tears at him because he will be a party to letting a murderer go free. What a conundrum our erstwhile young lawyer has found for himself. How can he meet his obligations to his client and his conscience at the same time?
As more things emerge and information shifts, attacks happen, the tale gets filled with more twists and turns. Will Daniel’s minor case end up turning Britain’s justice system and the fledgling forensic sciences field on its head?
Miriam fford Croft is the forty-year-old daughter of Marcus fford Croft, Daniel’s boss. Miriam is a woman who has suffered for the times. She’s brilliant, dedicated, educated, and without a college degree or credentials even though she has completed all of the coursework and received exceptional marks. The field of forensic science is not one that is available for women. I have to say, I was a bit concerned about Miriam in about the first 35-40% of the book. She seemed to have given up on her pursuits and was feeling pretty ho-hum. Then, she perked up and things got moving for her. I was happy for her to finally come to some sort of resolution within herself.
I loved Miriam and Daniel working together and solving issues. I loved Miriam’s courage in the face of social ruin and I loved that Daniel let her make the decision about how to continue.
I keep wondering if there is going to be a May-December romance between Daniel and Miriam. They certainly care for each other, but is it romantic? I don’t know, but it will be interesting to see.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As always it has been a pleasure to read one of Anne Perry’s books.
This is the second book in the Daniel Pitt series. You can read it as a stand-a-lone but part of the fun is following Daniel and getting to understand the kind of man and lawyer he has become. The relationship as an adult with his parents and work environment.
As a woman, we see the continuing struggles Miriam has with not been able to be recognized for been a forensic scientist. The sincere friendship between Daniel and Miriam is growing.
I really enjoyed experiencing the feel of the time period brought to live through the story.
This book has a slightly different tone but enhances the series. Early on the plot feels light and young but as I read through the three different but interconnected trials the tone became heavier and darker. How someone feels as he moved from childhood and slowly enters adulthood.
It is late 1910 and Daniel Pitt has barely a year of experience when a young lady asks him to represent her boyfriend who is accused of murder. Daniel has won two large trials and she feels he can free her boyfriend. From this trial stems two additional trials. Very distressing for Daniel since he does not want to take the cases but feels morally obligated.
I enjoyed this complicated book but thought it was slow in spots
Do you want to read a book that grabs you by the seat of your and doesn’t let go until the very last wor d? Well look no further! Anne Perry has done it yet again, which is no surprise! She always puts more than 100% into her writings. And this book is no exception! You really need to pick it up and read it, you won’t be sorry! Thanks Anne for writing another awesome book for us!
A tender heart and a crusader for justice spirit lands young lawyer, Daniel Pitt, in a maelstrom of fire when one arson murder becomes two and an expert witness gets debunked in a spectacular way placing Daniel, and even his family and friends, in danger. It built slowly, but when it got there the tension was breathlessly taunt in this historical mystery by a favorite author.
One Fatal Flaw is the third of the Daniel Pitt series which originally spun from the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series. The story could standalone though it is also strongly connected to what comes before both in the series and the previous series.
One Fatal Flaw is set in 1911 when England is in the last years of the Edwardian Era and seeing great advancements in the sciences specifically forensic science. This latest Daniel Pitt tackles arson. Daniel is a young, intelligent, and hardworking, but he can lead with his heart which lands him and his friends into all sorts of trouble including this latest case about poor warehouse gang members. Daniel is a junior at Marcus fford Croft’s law firm and meant to assist Kittering, a promising trial lawyer. I have to laugh each time because the senior Kittering ends up being dragged into troublesome underdog cases by Daniel each time. Daniel does the investigating and Kittering does the trials and Miriam fford Croft and Dr. Ottershaw act as the forensics team for the firm. Love seeing them all working together on these intense cases.
The previous books focused mostly on Daniel, but this one split the narration between Daniel and Miriam. This is because Miriam was at the heart of the story. She is a woman interested in forensic science which is a career closed to her just as she studied at university and took all the classes, but could not have the actual degree. For the sake of justice and her friendship with Daniel (which I keep thinking is slowly turning into something more- very slowly, but there), she goes to a person from her past, sacrificing pride to ask one of her old professors now a famous and brilliant forensic expert to examine the evidence to see if there is anything to get Daniel’s client off. Miriam faces her inner demons in this one just as Daniel gets a bit more of his naïve newbie shine wiped away when he makes mistakes and learns a lesson about reading people and their motives.
The author writes her characters, their situations, the historical backdrop and social history so articulately and brilliantly. There are layers of development that immerse the reader in the people and their story so it’s not just a historical mystery. This one does have some disjointed places and got off to a slower start, but that didn’t stop me from engaging completely with the story once it got rolling.
Like earlier books by the author, I can highly recommend this one/series to historical mystery fans.
I just love reading anything Anne Perry writes
This is my first Daniel Pitt mystery and I was not disappointed. I have read many other Anne Perry books, and just like those, this one sucked me in. It is interesting to see a different point of view, that of a lawyer instead of a Police Officer (Thomas Pitt) or a Private Investigator (Monk). The story kept me turning the pages. It has mysteries surrounding mysteries. New characters are introduced and newer ways to solve crimes.
Great story. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and offer my honest review of this book.
One Fatal Flaw is the next installment in the Daniel Pitt series. I’ve enjoyed following along as Daniel, a young lawyer, along with Miriam fford Croft, a forensic scientist, uncover the truth in these arson cases. I was immediately immersed into the story. The twists and turns kept me turning the pages. This story is well written and nicely paced.
Recommend to those who enjoy British legal mysteries. My four-star rating is due to the profanity.
I borrowed a copy from my local library. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
I really enjoy the Daniel Pitt series and this one did not disappoint. There are several storylines to follow, which all intersect beautifully. I like the characters and the writing. is well done. The beginnings of arson investigation were amazing. I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
Three cases in one! As each one is resolved, the implications mount.
A well done story. Intriguing and filled with a mix of honest people who truly want to do what is “right” and some others who are only interested in their own prestige and renown.
It comes to a rollicking conclusion which made me want to cheer!
It’s 1910 in London when a tearful young woman comes to junior attorney Daniel Pitt begging for his help in defending her boyfriend, Rob Adwell, against murder and arson charges. Daniel takes the job and asks his friend scientist, Miriam fford Croft for help. She enlists one of her former instructors from 20 years ago, arson expert Sir Barnabas Saltram. The jury finds Rob Adwell innocent based on Saltram’s testimony. Several weeks later, Rob Adwell’s dead body is found in a fire that’s exactly the same as the fire Adwell was accused of starting. Were these fires started by the same person? Is it a copycat? Was it payback from a rival criminal gang because they blamed Adwell for the first fire? Did Daniel and Miriam miss something important?
This book kept me very interested and I couldn’t wait to see how it would all turn out when the second trial had a second expert witness that proved Saltram’s theory was wrong. Daniel and Miriam were brave to face Saltram in the third trial that would reinstate a man’s good name and save his family from further disgrace. Miriam’s reputation could’ve been ruined by the vain and pompous Sir Barnabas Saltram.
This book is the third in the Daniel Pitt series. This series takes place at a time when it was rare for a woman to study the sciences. Some countries allowed it and some did not. This is my first book by this author and I’ll probably check out some of her other books.
This is such a good story. I enjoyed the characters, the era and the mysteries. Daniel is asked by a woman to defend her boyfriend on a murder charge. He takes the case, but everything goes down hill from there. It leads to another case that is exactly like the first one. The victim in the second case is the defendant in the first. Then these two case lead to a third older case to right an old wrong. Daniel and his firm stand to lose everything. Daniel could lose his reputation, his livelihood and maybe his life if he can’t find something soon. His friend Miriam stands to lose so much for helping him. She almost lost her life. With the prejudice of men during this time against women, it would not be hard for someone to discredit her. Daniel can’t let that happen. They are up against a man who holds a lot of secrets for some powerful people. Daniel doesn’t want to expose all of them, he just wants to find justice for a few people. It may cost him everything.
One Fatal Flaw by Anne Perry is the third Daniel Pitt novel. I love Daniel Pitt. He always does what is right, whether it is strictly legal or not. He respects women, of course he has his mother to thank for that and he believes in new knowledge, not just traditional. He is willing to take the case of an alleged murder on the say so of the accused’s girlfriend. It is a peculiar case, involving a fire, After he has gone to see his friend, and boss’s daughter, Miriam, he allows her to contact an uncomfortable person from her past to save an innocent man. He succeeds. Amazingly several weeks later, the now innocent man, dies in a similar fashion, and Daniel sees how he has been duped. Daniel quickly moved forward with the help of Miriam.
This is a turn-of-the-twentieth century novel where the world is expanding but not quickly enough. Daniel struggles with human evil and always does his best to do his best. He respects his parents and wants to make them proud but is independent of them and plans to have a great career, although he is quick to put it at risk to do the right thing. One Fatal Flaw was an interesting mystery that unfolded slowly, just as Perry’s stories usually do. She allows the reader to think along with Daniel as he figures things out. It makes for an enjoyable read. I recommend it, as I do all of Anne Perry’s work.
I received a free ARC of One Fatal Flaw from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #onefatalflaw
Three cases are tied into this plot for Daniel to figure out in the time era of 1910. Was the person guilty or could a witness be found. Good Victorian type crimes that keep one interested to figure out.
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion by Random House and Net Galley.
Wow! Anne Perry keeps coming up with amazing stories that keep me wanting more from her. The layers in this book will keep you wondering just how Daniel Pitt is going to be able to figure everything out.
I am a long time fan of Anne Perry and this series continues my reading pleasure. Daniel Pitt, son of Sir Thomas and Lady Pitt, is now 25 and a practicing barrister at a prestigious law firm. All of his cases, so far, have been challenging but this one is the most challenging of them all. It’s really three cases involving death and fire. It’s 1911 and arson investigation and forensics are in their infancy. One day Jessica Beale comes to Daniel for help. Her young man has been charged with a death caused by a fire. With the help of Miriam fford Cross, he hires Sir Barnabus Saltram, an expert in forensics. Miriam had been one of his students and thinks he will be the key to winning the case. Are Daniel and Miriam putting their reputations on the line to depend on Sir Barnabus? They win the case but that leads to more arson crimes, past and present. did they, indeed, make a mistake?
Historical mysteries are one of my favorite sub genres and Anne Perry does her research very well. The period of 1911 is a time of change and Daniel and Miriam are the trail blazers in social norms and science. Miriam is older than Daniel and unmarried. Not one to put herself on a shelf, her desire is to forge a new role for herself in science. It’s hard to say which character I am drawn to the most but, if pressed, I would pick Miriam.
This entry in the series works as a stand alone. The mystery is a three fold puzzle and it kept me reading way past my bedtime. It was the perfect mental vacation I needed. I can’t wait to see what is in store for them in the next book.
Daniel Pitt is a young lawyer at the
prestigious law firm of fford Croft.
It is the year 1910. The story takes
place in London where there is a
warehouse fire with a death
occurring. But was the death a
result of the fire or a sharp blow
to the man’s head?
Miriam Croft is the daughter of
Marcus. She is a very smart, well
educated woman. She is very
knowledgeable in the science and
criminality. This means that she is
out of place in a time when women
are considered as inferior and to be
seen but not heard.
Miriam is essential in Daniel’s defense
of the man accused of murder. She
presents Daniel with the opportunity
to meet Sir Barnabus Saltram. This
man is an expert on fires. Miriam had
studied with him. He is crucial to the
case.
Then a second fire case arises with
the same circumstances plus an old
cold case is brought to light. What
will be the outcome?
Three dimensional, vivid, colorful
characters involved in a fast paced
murder mystery with plenty of twists
and turns.
I volunteered to read One Fatal Flaw.
Thanks to the publisher via Net Gallery
for the opportunity. My opinion is
voluntary and my own.