In the first book of an all-new series, a young lawyer races to save his client from execution, putting him at odds with his own father: Thomas Pitt, head of London’s Special Police Branch.“[Anne] Perry’s excellent new series launch expertly takes the Pitts into a new century.”—Library Journal (starred review)1910: Twenty-five-year-old Daniel Pitt is a junior barrister in London and eager to … Pitt is a junior barrister in London and eager to prove himself, independent of his renowned parents’ influence. And the new case before him will be the test. When his client, arrogant biographer Russell Graves, is found guilty of murdering his wife, Daniel is dispatched to find the real killer before Graves faces the hangman’s noose—in only twenty-one days.
Could Mrs. Graves’s violent death have anything to do with her husband’s profession? Someone in power may be framing the biographer to keep damaging secrets from coming to light. It is a theory that leads Daniel’s investigation unexpectedly to London’s Special Branch—and, disturbingly, to one of his father’s closest colleagues.
Caught between duty to the law and a fierce desire to protect his family, Daniel must call on his keen intellect—and trust his natural instincts—to find the truth in a tangle of dark deception, lest an innocent man hang for another’s heinous crime.
Praise for Twenty-One Days
“Readers will quickly fall in love with [Daniel] Pitt, following along as he investigates a gruesome murder and chuckling as he throws those involved off kilter. Perry is a master at bringing setting to life, and readers will be taken in by the time and place as they get to know Daniel Pitt and those close to him in this engaging novel.”—RT Book Reviews
“The maven of well-crafted Victorian mysteries and author of both the William Monk series and the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt mysteries introduces the Pitts’ son, Daniel, junior barrister, in this first of what proves to be an intriguing, entertaining, and character-centric new series. . . . Perry introduces Daniel and his cohort, the brilliant Miriam Fforde Croft, and raises the knotty question of whether some clients are truly undefendable.”—Booklist
“[Anne Perry] seems just as comfortable in 1910 as she ever did back in Victoria’s day.”—Kirkus Reviews
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She has New interesting character
5 stars
Daniel Pitt a recently graduated barrister is assigned the case of Russell Graves. Graves is a noted biographer who is accused of murdering his wife. The problem is that he is due to hang for the murder in twenty-one days. From the outset, the case looks hopeless.
Daniel, however, is made of the same grit and determination as his father, Thomas Pitt. Thomas, as we avid readers know, is the head of the London Police Special Branch.
Russell Graves is both intolerant and arrogant. He claims not to have committed the murder. He is reluctant to give Daniel any solid clues as to who else might have done the murder. Graves is evasive and acts as though he does not trust Daniel because of who his father is – Thomas Pitt. He claims to know about a case that Thomas covered up. He cites the person’s name.
Graves has also written a biography of people Daniel knew and loved, as well as his father. It is not flattering and contains some information that could damage national security. Daniel must also find a way to keep the book from being published.
Daniel goes to his father and asks about the case. He learns a great deal about his father during that conversation. He learns about the burdens his father carries.
Daniel receives a writ to exhume Mrs. Ebony Graves, Russell Graves’ wife. He seeks the assistance of a lady pathologist named Miriam Fford Croft. Armed with the order of exhumation, Daniel and Miriam set off for the cemetery.
Together, Miriam and Daniel make an explosive discovery when examining the body. They go back to the home where Graves’ daughter Sarah is and question her. She leads them to another location where they have a discussion with the occupants of the house.
This book is a great addition to the Pitt saga. The introduction to Daniel was both exciting and refreshing. He is a likeable character and imbued with empathy. He is decisive and takes action where needed. He will be a very good barrister. The novel is very well written and plotted, as are all of Anne Perry’s books. I truly enjoyed it, and I like the addition of the lady pathologist, Miriam. I hope to see her in further additions to this series of novels. I highly recommend this book to all Anne Perry fans, as well as those who enjoy a superior historical mystery.
I want to thank NetGalley and Random Publishing House Group – Ballantine for forwarding to me a copy of this great addition to the series for me to read and enjoy.
Perry’s books are always good. The mystery and the time period give interesting reading.
You don’t have to read all Anne Perry’s books to understand this new character, but you would appreciate the new historical era more.
I have long enjoyed the Thomas Pitt novels, but we are now in the next generation and working from the point of view of the lawyer, not the detective (although both remain critical). We’ve moved forward in time, too, and women’s suffrage is stirring passions. British justice (at least at this period) moves swiftly and there are scarcely three weeks between conviction and execution for a capital crime. Can the condemned man be freed? Author Anne Perry’s meticulous attention to detail explores nascent advances in forensics. The Romans may have known about fingerprints but the science has been used to convict a criminal in London only recently. And an x-ray machine has been developed. But a simple murder mystery grows to so much more. As I was reading I was swept more and more deeply into the intrigue, flipping epages as fast as I could soak in the well constructed words, sentences, paragraphs that were pouring forth details of fraud, envy, passion, and plot to an utterly satisfactory conclusion to a thoroughly enjoyable book. Thank you, Ms. Perry!
Anne Perry never disappoints.
Very good reading – ala Anne Perry
One of the very best things about the beginning books in this long series was the wonderful details about the dress, food, transportation, entertainment or anything else that was involved in the stories. I think the last 4-5 books and this first in the Daniel series go without this charming, enlightening and educational inclusion of detail. There is a lot of repetition of thought and plot that gets a bit tedious. That said……these are some of my favorite characters of all time. I will continue to read the new books that come along.
Classic Anne Perry
Anne Perry is always a winner, and this book was one of her best. It was great on many levels. It was suspense, a mystery, and great characters. The depth of characters make them so interesting and real. I already recommended it to one of my best friends because I could not put it down. Read this one!