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kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Ninth in the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt mystery series based in late 19th century London.
The Story
Thomas has been ordered to look back into a three-year-old murder of a Foreign Office dignitary that was never solved. It seems the powers-that-be are concerned about his widow's marrying a fellow dignitary and want assurances that she's as pure as driven snow.
Poor Thomas. He has such a high solve rate and his marriage to Charlotte along with his speech and manners mean that he's often requested to take on cases, which involve the upper classes. It does not mean that he's supported by his…ahem…superiors. And this case is no exception. A cold case with no forensic evidence and no truly desired ending at least by the Foreign Office.
A man killed in his library with some few things of middling value that never show up in the market. Whispers of a lady in cerise appearing at the murdered man's home as well as at a close friend's besides several public places. A lady who has never been seen in the three years hence. Charlotte takes it upon herself to investigate pulling her sister, Emily, in as well to help alleviate Emily's boredom. George has been dead for six months now and Emily is going mad with staying home observing the period of mourning.
Emily decides to take their investigation several steps deeper and gets herself hired on as a lady's maid to the widow where she will have numerous opportunities to observe their suspects from behind the scenes. It's Jack Radley who maintains the connection between Emily and Charlotte. A very necessary aid when Thomas is arrested for murder. And Superintendent Ballarat hangs him out to dry.
My Take
Another excellent tale from Anne Perry with an excellent understanding of the culture, mores, and style of speech for the late 19th century in England. She pulls in such a tangle of misdirected love and keeps the reader hopping as we try to determine who did what only to blow us away at the end.
The Story
Thomas has been ordered to look back into a three-year-old murder of a Foreign Office dignitary that was never solved. It seems the powers-that-be are concerned about his widow's marrying a fellow dignitary and want assurances that she's as pure as driven snow.
Poor Thomas. He has such a high solve rate and his marriage to Charlotte along with his speech and manners mean that he's often requested to take on cases, which involve the upper classes. It does not mean that he's supported by his…ahem…superiors. And this case is no exception. A cold case with no forensic evidence and no truly desired ending at least by the Foreign Office.
A man killed in his library with some few things of middling value that never show up in the market. Whispers of a lady in cerise appearing at the murdered man's home as well as at a close friend's besides several public places. A lady who has never been seen in the three years hence. Charlotte takes it upon herself to investigate pulling her sister, Emily, in as well to help alleviate Emily's boredom. George has been dead for six months now and Emily is going mad with staying home observing the period of mourning.
Emily decides to take their investigation several steps deeper and gets herself hired on as a lady's maid to the widow where she will have numerous opportunities to observe their suspects from behind the scenes. It's Jack Radley who maintains the connection between Emily and Charlotte. A very necessary aid when Thomas is arrested for murder. And Superintendent Ballarat hangs him out to dry.
My Take
Another excellent tale from Anne Perry with an excellent understanding of the culture, mores, and style of speech for the late 19th century in England. She pulls in such a tangle of misdirected love and keeps the reader hopping as we try to determine who did what only to blow us away at the end.
katmarhan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
7.5/10
More complicated than many of the previous Charlotte & Thomas Pitt novels, and, as is usual, a bit of a rushed ending.
More complicated than many of the previous Charlotte & Thomas Pitt novels, and, as is usual, a bit of a rushed ending.
pachypedia's review against another edition
3.0
Aunque en principio parece el típico libro de Pitt y su entrometida mujer (dicho desde el cariño), el libro da unos giros inesperados que hacen que se salga de su habitual esquema y se vuelva vertiginoso.
bibliocatts's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I admire Emily for stepping up in this one but would have loved to see some resolution to her undercover situation (unless I missed it, I was falling asleep at the end). I could not have guessed the ending, though.
mindyt's review against another edition
4.0
Gave this a 4 star rating for the quite unexpected ending!
bexwat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
chaifanatic18's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
coletters's review against another edition
5.0
Totally didn't see that outcome to the murder. I like when that happens =)
terrik_409's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25