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Daniel Pitt #7
Death Times Seven: A Daniel Pitt Novel
Two violent crimes challenge the investigative skills of young Daniel Pitt and his wife, Miriam, in the final novel of iconic mystery writer Anne Perry's beloved Daniel Pitt series. Halfway written at the time of her death, this novel was completed by Perry’s trusted colleague, dear friend, and fellow author Victoria Zackheim.
1912: Junior attorney Daniel Pitt must step in for his friend and fellow attorney, Toby Kitteridge, whose parents have been brutally attacked. Toby's mother is dead and his father, the local vicar, is barely alive. With Toby back home in rural Ipswich, struggling with his grief and disbelief, Daniel is left in London to defend Peter Ward, a man on trial for the sexual assault and murder of a young woman.
Daniel is convinced that Ward is innocent, yet the evidence proves otherwise. Eager to assist, his pathologist wife Miriam fford Croft offers her forensics expertise regarding a community of fellow pathologists who have disguised their autopsy reports. Despite Miriam on the case, Daniel finds himself distracted by his desire to help Toby, still in Ipswich and too distraught to investigate the attack on his parents. When all evidence points to Toby’s father as the killer, Daniel faces two of the greatest challenges of his young to prove the innocence of both Peter Ward and Reverend Kitteridge. One mistake in London and a young man will hang. One mistake in Ipswich and Toby’s father will go to prison for life.
Death Times Seven, the seventh and final novel in Anne Perry’s Daniel Pitt series, has been completed with the assistance of Victoria Zackheim, an author and editor, as well as Perry’s close friend. Rich in intriguing investigation and courtroom drama, this engrossing novel marks a fitting finale to the career of an author widely praised as the queen of historical crime fiction.
1912: Junior attorney Daniel Pitt must step in for his friend and fellow attorney, Toby Kitteridge, whose parents have been brutally attacked. Toby's mother is dead and his father, the local vicar, is barely alive. With Toby back home in rural Ipswich, struggling with his grief and disbelief, Daniel is left in London to defend Peter Ward, a man on trial for the sexual assault and murder of a young woman.
Daniel is convinced that Ward is innocent, yet the evidence proves otherwise. Eager to assist, his pathologist wife Miriam fford Croft offers her forensics expertise regarding a community of fellow pathologists who have disguised their autopsy reports. Despite Miriam on the case, Daniel finds himself distracted by his desire to help Toby, still in Ipswich and too distraught to investigate the attack on his parents. When all evidence points to Toby’s father as the killer, Daniel faces two of the greatest challenges of his young to prove the innocence of both Peter Ward and Reverend Kitteridge. One mistake in London and a young man will hang. One mistake in Ipswich and Toby’s father will go to prison for life.
Death Times Seven, the seventh and final novel in Anne Perry’s Daniel Pitt series, has been completed with the assistance of Victoria Zackheim, an author and editor, as well as Perry’s close friend. Rich in intriguing investigation and courtroom drama, this engrossing novel marks a fitting finale to the career of an author widely praised as the queen of historical crime fiction.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published April 14, 2026
About the author
Anne Perry
375 books3,410 followersAnne Perry, born Juliet Hulme in England, lived in Scotland most of her life after serving five years in prison for murder (in New Zealand). A beloved mystery authoress, she is best known for her Thomas Pitt and William Monk series.
Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".
Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories
Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".
Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
May 3, 2026
It all seems to happen at once for poor Daniel when first his best friend learns his parents were shot and it seems the father shot the mother and Daniel must take the high-profile case his friend was working on. It will take all Daniel has including his incredible, talented wife Miriam and their friends to learn the truth in both cases before innocent people are punished.
Death Times Seven is that bittersweet book in that it was the last book Anne Perry was working on when she passed away. She had started it and close friend, Victoria Zackheim has completed it. It is the seventh in a series that works best when read in order because of the excellent character and relationships developed over the course of the series. In fact, Daniel Pitt series is a follow up to the previous Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series about the previous generation of detecting Pitt family members.
Death Times Seven opens with Daniel working in the law office on some case background work when he learns his friend Toby Kitteridge’s parents have died in a horrific fashion. Toby’s in court working a case of a man accused of rape. Toby is convinced his client is innocent, but the case needs delicate treatment and the evidence is damning so far. But, in the meantime, Toby’s own family situation back home where his father the vicar is barely holding onto life himself and stands suspected of having shot his wife and then himself.
Daniel needs to take on Toby’s current case, but he also needs to help his friend find the evidence to prove what happened with his parents. Both are life and death and both needed to be handled with superb care, care he is fearful his tired and tireless efforts won’t do well. But, he has Miriam and the others. He is not alone even if what he starts to uncover upsets dark powers that be who want him to not rock the status quo in the trial.
Death Times Seven has a thrilling premise and is settled in the legal Edwardian world Daniel Pitt inhabits. Anne Perry wrote historical backdrop so well. But, there is that philosophical and psychological depth she brings that slows the pace, yet sinks the foundation deep in each story she wrote. Daniel steel determination to do the right thing and his weaknesses are all layered parts of who he is and the choices he makes. I love seeing him brilliant in investigation and courtroom drama and Miriam with her evolving, growing knowledge of forensics and pathology partnering once again. It took half the book for the plot to really get rolling, but it was worth it and paid off as usual in the end.
I’m going to disappoint some folks because I have to admit that I can tell there were differences from first half to latter half writing style, but I’m not really good at telling you where Anne Perry cut off and Victoria Zackheim came in. I thought Victoria did a fab job of entering a talented writer’s world and plot to finish off the mystery with some aplomb. I was well satisfied with the book as a whole and in its parts. Those who love historical mystery with carefully researched backdrop, cunning plot, and complex characters should definitely give the Daniel Pitt and earlier series about his parents a go.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on 4.29.26.
Death Times Seven is that bittersweet book in that it was the last book Anne Perry was working on when she passed away. She had started it and close friend, Victoria Zackheim has completed it. It is the seventh in a series that works best when read in order because of the excellent character and relationships developed over the course of the series. In fact, Daniel Pitt series is a follow up to the previous Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series about the previous generation of detecting Pitt family members.
Death Times Seven opens with Daniel working in the law office on some case background work when he learns his friend Toby Kitteridge’s parents have died in a horrific fashion. Toby’s in court working a case of a man accused of rape. Toby is convinced his client is innocent, but the case needs delicate treatment and the evidence is damning so far. But, in the meantime, Toby’s own family situation back home where his father the vicar is barely holding onto life himself and stands suspected of having shot his wife and then himself.
Daniel needs to take on Toby’s current case, but he also needs to help his friend find the evidence to prove what happened with his parents. Both are life and death and both needed to be handled with superb care, care he is fearful his tired and tireless efforts won’t do well. But, he has Miriam and the others. He is not alone even if what he starts to uncover upsets dark powers that be who want him to not rock the status quo in the trial.
Death Times Seven has a thrilling premise and is settled in the legal Edwardian world Daniel Pitt inhabits. Anne Perry wrote historical backdrop so well. But, there is that philosophical and psychological depth she brings that slows the pace, yet sinks the foundation deep in each story she wrote. Daniel steel determination to do the right thing and his weaknesses are all layered parts of who he is and the choices he makes. I love seeing him brilliant in investigation and courtroom drama and Miriam with her evolving, growing knowledge of forensics and pathology partnering once again. It took half the book for the plot to really get rolling, but it was worth it and paid off as usual in the end.
I’m going to disappoint some folks because I have to admit that I can tell there were differences from first half to latter half writing style, but I’m not really good at telling you where Anne Perry cut off and Victoria Zackheim came in. I thought Victoria did a fab job of entering a talented writer’s world and plot to finish off the mystery with some aplomb. I was well satisfied with the book as a whole and in its parts. Those who love historical mystery with carefully researched backdrop, cunning plot, and complex characters should definitely give the Daniel Pitt and earlier series about his parents a go.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on 4.29.26.
April 29, 2026
It has been a while since I read a book written by Anne Perry, and of course this is the last book she gave us. It was well done, but rather dramatic. But that is probably a description that could fit many of her books through the years. Amen, then.
Library Loan
Library Loan
January 4, 2026
I was especially sad to read this since it’s the last Anne Perry I’ll get to enjoy. This posthumous/cowritten Daniel Pitt story begins with the introspection and humanity you expect from all of Perry’s books. I thought the story was slow to get off the ground, with not much plot development for the first third. But those sections where Daniel and Toby were in Suffolk were the ones where Perry’s voice was the strongest.
However, Daniel excels in court and those later scenes shine. The culprit and their motivation was obvious to me, but that’s doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy how Miriam and Daniel got there. I just wish the back half had more on-page details showing that pursuit. The procedural part wasn’t given as much attention. It lacked the detail and emotion to make that payoff worth it. The emotional beats just aren’t there.
I guess I wanted what I can’t have, a novel written entirely by Anne Perry and polished as she would have done. But I’d rather have this than nothing, and it’s a decent effort to finish what she started.
3.5 I received an arc from NetGalley
However, Daniel excels in court and those later scenes shine. The culprit and their motivation was obvious to me, but that’s doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy how Miriam and Daniel got there. I just wish the back half had more on-page details showing that pursuit. The procedural part wasn’t given as much attention. It lacked the detail and emotion to make that payoff worth it. The emotional beats just aren’t there.
I guess I wanted what I can’t have, a novel written entirely by Anne Perry and polished as she would have done. But I’d rather have this than nothing, and it’s a decent effort to finish what she started.
3.5 I received an arc from NetGalley
April 29, 2026
I didn't want this to end realizing it's the last book Anne Perry wrote. In the words of Charles Todd (another author I enjoy), "A superb finale to a wonderful career..."
April 29, 2026
I started Death Times Seven knowing it’s the last book Anne Perry worked on—and the final book in the Daniel Pitt series. It really did feel like a goodbye. This one has a lot going on, but in a good way. Daniel is juggling two major cases—one in London defending a man accused of assault and murder, and another much more personal one involving his friend Toby’s family. The stakes are high on both sides, and I liked how the story kept pulling me back and forth between the two. It kept that tension going the whole time.
This book really leans into the idea that things aren’t always what they seem. Daniel believes his client is innocent, but the evidence is stacked against him, and almost too airtight of a case. And then with Toby’s family situation? That just gets more complicated and heartbreaking the deeper it goes.
I loved getting more of Miriam in this one. Her forensic work added a really interesting layer, especially with the hints that not everything in the medical reports can be trusted. That part gave the story a slightly unsettling edge that I wasn’t expecting but really liked. Daniel was torn between doing what’s right and being there for the people he cares about. That internal struggle made everything feel more real, especially with everything on the line.
Having only discovered Anne Perry's books in the past couple of years, I couldn't tell which parts were written by Victoria Zackheim. It still felt like the same world and characters I’ve come to enjoy, which is exactly what I wanted from a final book. As a series finale, I think it does a solid job wrapping things up while still giving you that emotional hit at the end. Definitely a bittersweet read for me.
I received a digital copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.
This book really leans into the idea that things aren’t always what they seem. Daniel believes his client is innocent, but the evidence is stacked against him, and almost too airtight of a case. And then with Toby’s family situation? That just gets more complicated and heartbreaking the deeper it goes.
I loved getting more of Miriam in this one. Her forensic work added a really interesting layer, especially with the hints that not everything in the medical reports can be trusted. That part gave the story a slightly unsettling edge that I wasn’t expecting but really liked. Daniel was torn between doing what’s right and being there for the people he cares about. That internal struggle made everything feel more real, especially with everything on the line.
Having only discovered Anne Perry's books in the past couple of years, I couldn't tell which parts were written by Victoria Zackheim. It still felt like the same world and characters I’ve come to enjoy, which is exactly what I wanted from a final book. As a series finale, I think it does a solid job wrapping things up while still giving you that emotional hit at the end. Definitely a bittersweet read for me.
I received a digital copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.
December 5, 2025
The book begins in 1913 with Toby Kitteridge reeling from a savage attack on his parents. His mother is dead and his father the village vicar is gravely injured. Toby flees to his family home in Ipswich to cope, leaving Daniel to stand in for him in London. Daniel takes on the defence of Peter Ward, accused of the sexual assault and murder of a young woman. The evidence looks damning, but Daniel’s instincts tell him something is off. Miriam’s work is quietly devastating. She uncovers a network of pathologists who may have omitted or altered autopsy information in a way that warps the case against Ward.
At the same time the Ipswich investigation slowly reveals its own moral knots. Clues begin to point toward Toby’s father as a suspect in his wife’s murder. That is an awful burden for Toby and it puts Daniel in an impossible position. One misstep in London and an innocent man could be hanged. One misstep in Ipswich and a vicar could go to prison for life. The novel’s tension is not just about finding the killer. It is about deciding whether to expose a respected man and risk ruining a village’s faith, and about the corrosive effects of reputation when it shields cruelty.
I will spoil the outcome. Miriam’s careful forensic work and Daniel’s dogged legal wits pull the threads together. The truth about flawed or tampered pathology reports comes out in a way that clears the wrongly accused and lays bare the deeper rot. The guilty are confronted, whether by confession, cross examination, or the weight of evidence, and the book ends with justice meted out in a manner that feels earned rather than theatrical. The resolution is sober and bittersweet. There is relief and also the ache of what the revelations destroy.
If I have a small critique it is that the tone sometimes shifts slightly from Perry’s classic voice because another hand finished the manuscript. A few emotional beats feel cooler than in her strongest work. Even so the novel honours her strengths. It is meticulous about procedure and humane about motive. For me this was my first thriller of the year and I genuinely enjoyed it. If you like legal drama, historical detail, and mysteries that wrestle with the price of truth, Death Times Seven is a strong and satisfying final chapter.
At the same time the Ipswich investigation slowly reveals its own moral knots. Clues begin to point toward Toby’s father as a suspect in his wife’s murder. That is an awful burden for Toby and it puts Daniel in an impossible position. One misstep in London and an innocent man could be hanged. One misstep in Ipswich and a vicar could go to prison for life. The novel’s tension is not just about finding the killer. It is about deciding whether to expose a respected man and risk ruining a village’s faith, and about the corrosive effects of reputation when it shields cruelty.
I will spoil the outcome. Miriam’s careful forensic work and Daniel’s dogged legal wits pull the threads together. The truth about flawed or tampered pathology reports comes out in a way that clears the wrongly accused and lays bare the deeper rot. The guilty are confronted, whether by confession, cross examination, or the weight of evidence, and the book ends with justice meted out in a manner that feels earned rather than theatrical. The resolution is sober and bittersweet. There is relief and also the ache of what the revelations destroy.
If I have a small critique it is that the tone sometimes shifts slightly from Perry’s classic voice because another hand finished the manuscript. A few emotional beats feel cooler than in her strongest work. Even so the novel honours her strengths. It is meticulous about procedure and humane about motive. For me this was my first thriller of the year and I genuinely enjoyed it. If you like legal drama, historical detail, and mysteries that wrestle with the price of truth, Death Times Seven is a strong and satisfying final chapter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2026
I'm always skeptical about books written after the author has passed away. Many of us from the 80s and 90s remember the VC Andrews left notes behind spiel that lead to some decent books but then spiraled out of control into something that basically destroyed her original works, or tried to. Most fans don't even acknowledge the books that touched on her own work. But unlike with Andrews this book was written by someone who was actually a friend of Perry's and according to the author's note Perry had written up to chapter nine before she became ill and passed away roughly three years ago.
And overall I am impressed. The book definitely reads like her other books, and if I hadn't known better I'd swear she wrote the whole thing herself.
In this final installment of the Daniel Pitt series and final Anne Perry book two cases are going on. Toby Kitteridge is defending Peter Ward on trial for the brutal assault and murder of a young woman. During the trial he learns his parents were both shot. His mother has died and his dad is clinging to life. And it's believed his dad did the shooting in a weird murder suicide plot though no one can fully grasp that he'd do such a thing.
Daniel takes over the Ward case while Toby deals with his grief and it soon becomes apparent that this murder is linked to a series of other similar cases, involving threats, bribes and cover ups from someone who will do anything to protect their good name. It also begins to look as though these two unrelated cases might be related after all.
This was a great way to end the series and career. Gripping and engaging from first page to the last. I'm sad there will be no more from Anne Perry but happy I still have a bunch of her other books to work my way through. I also hope the books stop here. Seriously enough with dragging out books from author's who have died, let them rest in peace and what works they have under their own names stand.
And overall I am impressed. The book definitely reads like her other books, and if I hadn't known better I'd swear she wrote the whole thing herself.
In this final installment of the Daniel Pitt series and final Anne Perry book two cases are going on. Toby Kitteridge is defending Peter Ward on trial for the brutal assault and murder of a young woman. During the trial he learns his parents were both shot. His mother has died and his dad is clinging to life. And it's believed his dad did the shooting in a weird murder suicide plot though no one can fully grasp that he'd do such a thing.
Daniel takes over the Ward case while Toby deals with his grief and it soon becomes apparent that this murder is linked to a series of other similar cases, involving threats, bribes and cover ups from someone who will do anything to protect their good name. It also begins to look as though these two unrelated cases might be related after all.
This was a great way to end the series and career. Gripping and engaging from first page to the last. I'm sad there will be no more from Anne Perry but happy I still have a bunch of her other books to work my way through. I also hope the books stop here. Seriously enough with dragging out books from author's who have died, let them rest in peace and what works they have under their own names stand.
May 16, 2026
This is truly a book you don’t want to finish reading, because Anne Perry died midway through writing it. But I’m glad her friend and editor was able to finish the book seamlessly, and it is fascinating to learn about that process.
May 12, 2026
This book is, sadly, the last one Perry wrote before her death in April 2003. She left behind an incomplete manuscript; her estate asked the co-author to finish it. I suppose the rationale was to bring the Daniel Pitt series to a satisfactory stopping point. Mission accomplished quite nicely.
The two murder mysteries were interesting and there was an exciting trial with a wild conclusion.
It was great to see Daniel, Miriam, and associates one last time.
The writing seemed a bit uneven to me, with Perry's early chapters needing a heavier editing than they received. The additional material was a lot smoother. The co-author matched Perry's voice quite well while avoiding most of her annoying tendencies.
I was quite satisfied with the ending. Our main characters are at a good point and looking forward. A nice way to wrap up the series.
The two murder mysteries were interesting and there was an exciting trial with a wild conclusion.
It was great to see Daniel, Miriam, and associates one last time.
The writing seemed a bit uneven to me, with Perry's early chapters needing a heavier editing than they received. The additional material was a lot smoother. The co-author matched Perry's voice quite well while avoiding most of her annoying tendencies.
I was quite satisfied with the ending. Our main characters are at a good point and looking forward. A nice way to wrap up the series.
April 14, 2026
Death Times Seven by Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim features Daniel Pitt, who is a fabulous character. Zackheim was asked to edit the partially finished book and later asked to finish it. She did a terrific job. Maybe experts can tell where one left off and the other began, but I couldn’t. Daniel is still the same think-outside-the-box trial lawyer he has always been. The book begins when Pitt has to go to Old Bailey and inform his friend and colleague, Toby Kitteridge, that his mother is dead and his father not far from it. The local police were turning it a murder-suicide, as that was the simplest conclusion. Until Toby’s father awoke, if he did, they would not know the truth of the matter. Toby was defending the attempted rape and murder of a young woman and was convinced he was innocent, although he had no proof. As the pair drove to Suffolk, Toby’s home, the air was filled with shock and grief. Of course, Miriam was not sitting still in the middle of this. She was to travel to Suffolk to do an autopsy on Toby’s mother, hoping for a clue.
Daniel Pitt is the product of two excellent characters; he is bright, well-educated, and creative. A prime example is his marriage to Miriam, a woman fifteen years his senior. Thus far it was proving to be a successful match. She was one of the first female doctors/pathologists in England and it had been a fight to get where she was now. It was still often difficult to get respect from certain segments of society. The crime is convoluted. The police were not organized to share information and so things hid. Out of “respect” for the victim and her family, an important piece of information was not mentioned in the autopsy report. It took plenty of legwork and some creative thinking to draw all of the various pieces of information into a cohesive picture, but it happened. Toby also got the answers he needed. Love this series. One wonders if Zackheim will adopt it permanently.
I was invited to read Death Times Seven by Ballantine. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Ballantine #AnnePerry #VictoriaZackheim #DeathTimesSeven
Daniel Pitt is the product of two excellent characters; he is bright, well-educated, and creative. A prime example is his marriage to Miriam, a woman fifteen years his senior. Thus far it was proving to be a successful match. She was one of the first female doctors/pathologists in England and it had been a fight to get where she was now. It was still often difficult to get respect from certain segments of society. The crime is convoluted. The police were not organized to share information and so things hid. Out of “respect” for the victim and her family, an important piece of information was not mentioned in the autopsy report. It took plenty of legwork and some creative thinking to draw all of the various pieces of information into a cohesive picture, but it happened. Toby also got the answers he needed. Love this series. One wonders if Zackheim will adopt it permanently.
I was invited to read Death Times Seven by Ballantine. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Ballantine #AnnePerry #VictoriaZackheim #DeathTimesSeven
May 18, 2026
Anne Perry's last unfinished book; it was ultimately completed by Victoria Zackheim.
Ms. Zackheim, to this reader's mind, held true to Ms. Perry's final outline in regards how she wanted her novel to be finished.
Ms. Zackheim, to this reader's mind, held true to Ms. Perry's final outline in regards how she wanted her novel to be finished.
April 25, 2026
I have always thought about the fact that we not only lose a writer’s enormous talents when they pass away but also the lives of all the great fictional characters, they have created. In the case of the late Anne Perry, who left us in 2023, we have the legacy of her different best-selling series that entertained readers for decades: William Monk, Elena Standish, Charlotte and Thomas Pitt, and Daniel Pitt.
DEATH TIMES SEVEN is the final story in the Daniel Pitt series and the responsibility for finishing this falls upon author Victoria Zackheim, who pays homage to Anne Perry not only in her dedication to this novel but also in breathing life into her creation Daniel Pitt for one final murder mystery. Ironically, Daniel Pitt is faced with the unspeakable burden of having to inform his mentor and friend, Attorney Toby Kitteridge, that his mother is dead and father wounded and nearly dead. Even worse, initial inspection makes it appear that Toby’s father Reverend Kitteridge may have shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself.
Now, Junior Attorney Daniel Pitt must not only step into an important murder case for Toby Kitteridge but also help out with the case involving his parents. The Peter Ward case, a man accused of sexual assault and murder of a young woman, is the mantle that Daniel must pick up. Daniel is convinced Ward is innocent and that he has an uphill battle against the evidence stacked against him which will most certainly sway any jury.
The first hurdle for Daniel is accompanying Toby to the town he was raised in to face the body of his deceased mother in the morgue while his father continued to fight for his life in the hospital. Toby also faces a tough battle with his sister Alberta who still resents him and his success while she was left behind in the small town where they were raised. When Toby and Daniel insist that an autopsy be performed on their mother to find out if there were any other reasons for her death, Alberta is not happy. She eventually relents, and Daniel has his wife Myriam travel to them to perform the autopsy. Although she uncovers a bullet inside the corpse, there is little else to point towards an alternate reason for her death.
Daniel realizes that Toby is not up to return to the Peter Ward case as he continues to face a battle to try to save his own family. Daniel returns and steps into a trial where everything is stacked against his client. As the trial edges forward, Daniel finds the best way to save Peter Ward from execution is to discredit the forensics that the prosecution is using to try and convict him. He has a big advantage on his side --- leaning on the expertise that Miriam brings to the game as she has uncovered evidence showing a community of pathologists who may have withheld and even fraudulently misrepresented evidence that could have instantly found Peter Ward innocent of the crime he is accused of. How will Daniel be able to convince a jury of this alleged conspiracy without causing an even bigger scandal? This is at the center of what has become the classic moral dilemma that every Anne Perry novel poses.
The dual murder mysteries at the heart of DEATH TIMES SEVEN makes for a dynamic and gripping read and, like all of Anne Perry’s legions of longtime readers, I give thanks to Victoria Zackheim for completing what can now be officially called the final Daniel Pitt novel. A remarkable finale for a beloved and memorable series!
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
DEATH TIMES SEVEN is the final story in the Daniel Pitt series and the responsibility for finishing this falls upon author Victoria Zackheim, who pays homage to Anne Perry not only in her dedication to this novel but also in breathing life into her creation Daniel Pitt for one final murder mystery. Ironically, Daniel Pitt is faced with the unspeakable burden of having to inform his mentor and friend, Attorney Toby Kitteridge, that his mother is dead and father wounded and nearly dead. Even worse, initial inspection makes it appear that Toby’s father Reverend Kitteridge may have shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself.
Now, Junior Attorney Daniel Pitt must not only step into an important murder case for Toby Kitteridge but also help out with the case involving his parents. The Peter Ward case, a man accused of sexual assault and murder of a young woman, is the mantle that Daniel must pick up. Daniel is convinced Ward is innocent and that he has an uphill battle against the evidence stacked against him which will most certainly sway any jury.
The first hurdle for Daniel is accompanying Toby to the town he was raised in to face the body of his deceased mother in the morgue while his father continued to fight for his life in the hospital. Toby also faces a tough battle with his sister Alberta who still resents him and his success while she was left behind in the small town where they were raised. When Toby and Daniel insist that an autopsy be performed on their mother to find out if there were any other reasons for her death, Alberta is not happy. She eventually relents, and Daniel has his wife Myriam travel to them to perform the autopsy. Although she uncovers a bullet inside the corpse, there is little else to point towards an alternate reason for her death.
Daniel realizes that Toby is not up to return to the Peter Ward case as he continues to face a battle to try to save his own family. Daniel returns and steps into a trial where everything is stacked against his client. As the trial edges forward, Daniel finds the best way to save Peter Ward from execution is to discredit the forensics that the prosecution is using to try and convict him. He has a big advantage on his side --- leaning on the expertise that Miriam brings to the game as she has uncovered evidence showing a community of pathologists who may have withheld and even fraudulently misrepresented evidence that could have instantly found Peter Ward innocent of the crime he is accused of. How will Daniel be able to convince a jury of this alleged conspiracy without causing an even bigger scandal? This is at the center of what has become the classic moral dilemma that every Anne Perry novel poses.
The dual murder mysteries at the heart of DEATH TIMES SEVEN makes for a dynamic and gripping read and, like all of Anne Perry’s legions of longtime readers, I give thanks to Victoria Zackheim for completing what can now be officially called the final Daniel Pitt novel. A remarkable finale for a beloved and memorable series!
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
June 16, 2026
Rating: 3.5 Interesting that the only Anne Perry novels I've read in this series are the first volume and this last one. I enjoyed them both and now wonder why I never pursued reading the six in-between. This one, much like the first, loses no time in pulling the reader into the drama of the events. A double shooting and a dramatic murder trial all in the first chapter. I did find that this book took a while to catch momentum as the first 100+ pages remained stuck in the village in Suffolk. I read in the afterword that Perry herself wrote the first nine chapters while Victoria Zackheim completed the writing of the novel, and I have to say it was at about chapter 10 that the story finally seemed to gain some traction. After that, it moved quite quickly. I thought Zackheim did a credible job finishing this novel and I wonder if she might be called upon to add further editions to the series.
May 12, 2026
Once I discovered Anne Perry over 25 years ago, I managed to read every book she has written in her long and distinguished career. It is with a heavy heart that I realized that I have just finished her last one, Death Times Seven. I rarely give 5 star reviews, and I won't give this one 5 stars either, not because it wasn't an excellent story with a well woven plot, a satisfactory conclusion, and wonderful characters, but because of the missing details at the end that I know Anne would have added if she had been able to finish the book herself. She would have included conversations with the senior Pitts during Daniel's struggle with himself over how to proceed with the trial, more description of the process of collecting the evidence against the real villain, and perhaps a hint to what will happen to Daniel's career as a result of his success with the trial.
Still, I am so glad that Victoria Zackheim was able to take Anne's chapters and bring this last book to completion. It was a wonderful final tribute to a fantastic author.
Still, I am so glad that Victoria Zackheim was able to take Anne's chapters and bring this last book to completion. It was a wonderful final tribute to a fantastic author.
May 24, 2026
Book kept me reading until late. Sorry this is the last Anne Perry book. I think I've read all her books & series over the years.
June 9, 2026
Her stories have talent but i dont like this
June 17, 2026
Sadly this is the authors final book. I felt it needed a serious editing and the first half was very slow moving. I stayed with it and particularly enjoyed the courtroom scenes and the ending. 3.5
April 23, 2026
I listened to the audiobook of Death Times Seven, which was expertly narrated by Samuel Roukin. While looking into the murder of a colleague’s mother, and also taking over a murder trial for his colleague, Lawyer Daniel Pitt and his coroner wife Miriam piece together evidence and clues that lead them to other unsolved crimes. The murder was fascinating, filled with suspense and intrigue. What I enjoyed most was that it was a “two for one” mystery where two seemingly unrelated crimes are intertwined. Simply put, this is one story that never stops delivering more pieces to a very complicated puzzle. It is complex and utterly enjoyable! Despite never listening to a previous novel in the Daniel Pitt series, I never felt lost or felt that I was missing something. I highly recommend this audiobook!
April 17, 2026
I have loved reading Anne Perry novels, from the first Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novel and through to William Monk, Elana Standish, Daniel Pitt, the Christmas novellas, and any number of other novels, each one as exceptional as the previous one. Knowing there would be no more Perry novels was so distressing, and then I saw a final Daniel Pitt novel, Death Times Seven, and it seemed a last gift from Perry to her fans. Thankfully, Victoria Zackheim was able to complete this final Perry novel and so brilliantly that I could not detect where Perry ended and Zackheim began.
Death Times Seven does not disappoint Perry fans. The characters and the mysteries are complex with the kind of layering and details that readers have come to expect from Perry. Daniel Pitt needs to help his friend Toby through a family tragedy and also step up to defend a man accused of murder, whom Toby thought to be innocent. How Daniel deals with this pressure, with the help of Miriam, Eve, Joe, Ian, and a group of other characters held my attention. I had to sit up and keep reading long past bedtime. All of the Perry elements are there, creating a book that is a joy to read.
Fans will not be disappointed with Death Times Seven, only sad it s the last novel from a much loved author.
5 stars
Death Times Seven does not disappoint Perry fans. The characters and the mysteries are complex with the kind of layering and details that readers have come to expect from Perry. Daniel Pitt needs to help his friend Toby through a family tragedy and also step up to defend a man accused of murder, whom Toby thought to be innocent. How Daniel deals with this pressure, with the help of Miriam, Eve, Joe, Ian, and a group of other characters held my attention. I had to sit up and keep reading long past bedtime. All of the Perry elements are there, creating a book that is a joy to read.
Fans will not be disappointed with Death Times Seven, only sad it s the last novel from a much loved author.
5 stars
April 28, 2026
I’ve never been disappointed by an Anne Perry book.
April 16, 2026
Death Times Seven by Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim
In 1913 London, Daniel Pitt, attorney at the ffCroft and Gibson Law Firm, gets the news that a colleague’s mother and father have suffered an attack in their home. Ian Kitteridge, is in the middle of a trial to spare a young man’s life,and Daniel must bring him the shocking news.
Daniel’s wife, Dr. Miriam Croft, is the local forensic pathologist. She and Daniel become embroiled in the search for the attacker(s) of Ian’s parents. Forensic pathology is at its infancy,but Miriam is ahead of her time. Can her methods find the offender and also free a young man of an injustice?
Basically there are two intermingled stories happening here, or three if you count the love story between Daniel and Miriam. I will give four stars to this interesting who-dun-it suggested for all readers.
In 1913 London, Daniel Pitt, attorney at the ffCroft and Gibson Law Firm, gets the news that a colleague’s mother and father have suffered an attack in their home. Ian Kitteridge, is in the middle of a trial to spare a young man’s life,and Daniel must bring him the shocking news.
Daniel’s wife, Dr. Miriam Croft, is the local forensic pathologist. She and Daniel become embroiled in the search for the attacker(s) of Ian’s parents. Forensic pathology is at its infancy,but Miriam is ahead of her time. Can her methods find the offender and also free a young man of an injustice?
Basically there are two intermingled stories happening here, or three if you count the love story between Daniel and Miriam. I will give four stars to this interesting who-dun-it suggested for all readers.
November 10, 2025
It takes a rare writer to seamlessly complete an unfinished novel but Victoria Zackheim has done just that. Fans of Anne Perry will hear her ‘voice’ in the characters she created from beginning to end in this latest, and final, Daniel Pitt novel. It’s also clear from the explanation at the end of the book that Victoria Zackheim viewed Anne Perry as a beloved friend as well as colleague, and finishing this story after Anne’s death was a labor of love.
When Toby Kitteridge - in the middle of defending a young man accused of assault and murder - receives devastating news regarding his parents, Daniel Pitt finds himself thrust into the role of lead defense lawyer in this tricky case. At the same time, he feels compelled by his love for Toby to help figure out what exactly happened at his parents’ home in Ipswich, when his mother was shot and killed while his father (presumed to be responsible) lies unconscious in the hospital, severely wounded and as yet unable to provide insight.
Aided by his wife, Miriam, not only his constant support but also a brilliant pathologist in her own right, and Daniel’s good friend Inspector Ian Frobisher, they work to find the truth about not only Daniel’s defense case, but the tragedy of Toby’s parents.
I’m so sad to have read my last Anne Perry, but glad Victoria Zackheim did such a beautiful job completing this novel. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
When Toby Kitteridge - in the middle of defending a young man accused of assault and murder - receives devastating news regarding his parents, Daniel Pitt finds himself thrust into the role of lead defense lawyer in this tricky case. At the same time, he feels compelled by his love for Toby to help figure out what exactly happened at his parents’ home in Ipswich, when his mother was shot and killed while his father (presumed to be responsible) lies unconscious in the hospital, severely wounded and as yet unable to provide insight.
Aided by his wife, Miriam, not only his constant support but also a brilliant pathologist in her own right, and Daniel’s good friend Inspector Ian Frobisher, they work to find the truth about not only Daniel’s defense case, but the tragedy of Toby’s parents.
I’m so sad to have read my last Anne Perry, but glad Victoria Zackheim did such a beautiful job completing this novel. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I never read any Anne Perry books until I began reviewing on NetGalley. There I became a huge fan of historical mystery and thrillers, and was so excited when I discovered the works of Ms. Perry. I was heartbroken when she died; such a rare talent who wasn't with us nearly long enough. And I admit I was selfish, thinking I would no longer have more books in my favorite series, Daniel Pitt and Elena Standish. Death Times Seven, the 7th and final book of the Daniel Pitt series, was truly a blessing to read; I got closure of a fantastic series, and it was a wonderful tribute to Ms. Perry's career. She was in the process of writing this book when she passed away, and it was finished by her dear friend Victoria Zackheim. I am thankful that she did such a wonderful job finishing this story, and she really kept Ms. Perry's voice.
In 1913 Britain, junior attorney Daniel Pitt must step in for his friend, fellow attorney Toby Kitteridge, whose parents have been brutally attacked. Toby's mother is dead and his father, a village vicar, is hanging on to life. With Toby returning to the family home in rural Ipswich, struggling with grief and shock, Daniel remains in London to substitute for Toby and defend Peter Ward, on trial for the sexual assault and murder of a young woman. Daniel is convinced that Ward is innocent, yet the evidence seems to prove otherwise. Assisting Daniel is his pathologist wife, Miriam fford Croft, who offers her forensics expertise and exposes a community of fellow pathologists who may have purposefully omitted information from their autopsy reports...but why? Despite Miriam’s involvement in the case, Daniel finds himself distracted by his desire to help Toby, who is too distraught to investigate the attack on his parents. When the evidence points to Toby’s father as the killer of Toby’s mother, Daniel faces two challenges: proving the innocence of both Peter Ward and Reverend Kitteridge. One mistake in London and an innocent man will hang. One mistake in Ipswich and Toby’s father will go to prison for life.
This book was the perfect ending for this phenomenal series! I hate to say goodbye to these characters, but at least I still have the first Daniel Pitt book to read. (The mystery in each book stands alone.) Thankfully I still have the William Monk and Thomas & Charlotte Pitt books to read, alone with a variety of other books this prolific author gifted us. I loved the characters in this book, especially - of course! - Daniel and his wife, Miriam fford Croft. I loved them as a couple. Miriam was 15 years Daniel's senior, and she sometimes worried about being older than her husband. Daniel didn't care; his love and respect for her was touching. Instead of following his father into police work, Daniel became a lawyer. He was still a junior attorney, but was becoming known for his work at the law firm, which was actually the firm started by Miriam's father. Daniel has taken many cases, but this one might be the most important; if he loses, an innocent man will hang. Daniel was lucky to have Miriam as a pathologist on this case, along with Eve Hall, a brilliant pathologist and Miriam's mentor. The story was exciting from the start, when Daniel learns that his dear friend Toby's parents were involved in a horrible incident, and his mother was dead. Daniel had to take over Toby's defense of Peter Ward, which was a death penalty case, but he was also involved in the investigation into the horror of what happened to Toby's parents. No one could believe that Reverend Kitteridge killed his wife then shot himself, but would they ever find evidence to exonerate him? The court scenes were very exciting, as well as Miriam and Eve's pathology studies and looking at other killings they believe may be tied to Daniel's case. I didn't want the story to end, knowing it was to be Daniel's last, but I just sped through my reading...I had to know the truth! This was a fitting end to a wonderful series, and I thank Anne Perry for the delight she has given me and her other millions of fans.
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.
In 1913 Britain, junior attorney Daniel Pitt must step in for his friend, fellow attorney Toby Kitteridge, whose parents have been brutally attacked. Toby's mother is dead and his father, a village vicar, is hanging on to life. With Toby returning to the family home in rural Ipswich, struggling with grief and shock, Daniel remains in London to substitute for Toby and defend Peter Ward, on trial for the sexual assault and murder of a young woman. Daniel is convinced that Ward is innocent, yet the evidence seems to prove otherwise. Assisting Daniel is his pathologist wife, Miriam fford Croft, who offers her forensics expertise and exposes a community of fellow pathologists who may have purposefully omitted information from their autopsy reports...but why? Despite Miriam’s involvement in the case, Daniel finds himself distracted by his desire to help Toby, who is too distraught to investigate the attack on his parents. When the evidence points to Toby’s father as the killer of Toby’s mother, Daniel faces two challenges: proving the innocence of both Peter Ward and Reverend Kitteridge. One mistake in London and an innocent man will hang. One mistake in Ipswich and Toby’s father will go to prison for life.
This book was the perfect ending for this phenomenal series! I hate to say goodbye to these characters, but at least I still have the first Daniel Pitt book to read. (The mystery in each book stands alone.) Thankfully I still have the William Monk and Thomas & Charlotte Pitt books to read, alone with a variety of other books this prolific author gifted us. I loved the characters in this book, especially - of course! - Daniel and his wife, Miriam fford Croft. I loved them as a couple. Miriam was 15 years Daniel's senior, and she sometimes worried about being older than her husband. Daniel didn't care; his love and respect for her was touching. Instead of following his father into police work, Daniel became a lawyer. He was still a junior attorney, but was becoming known for his work at the law firm, which was actually the firm started by Miriam's father. Daniel has taken many cases, but this one might be the most important; if he loses, an innocent man will hang. Daniel was lucky to have Miriam as a pathologist on this case, along with Eve Hall, a brilliant pathologist and Miriam's mentor. The story was exciting from the start, when Daniel learns that his dear friend Toby's parents were involved in a horrible incident, and his mother was dead. Daniel had to take over Toby's defense of Peter Ward, which was a death penalty case, but he was also involved in the investigation into the horror of what happened to Toby's parents. No one could believe that Reverend Kitteridge killed his wife then shot himself, but would they ever find evidence to exonerate him? The court scenes were very exciting, as well as Miriam and Eve's pathology studies and looking at other killings they believe may be tied to Daniel's case. I didn't want the story to end, knowing it was to be Daniel's last, but I just sped through my reading...I had to know the truth! This was a fitting end to a wonderful series, and I thank Anne Perry for the delight she has given me and her other millions of fans.
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.
April 26, 2026
When an author passes away, we lose not only their enormous talents but also the lives of the great characters they have created. In the case of Anne Perry, who left us in 2023, we have the legacy of her various series that have entertained us for decades. Among them are William Monk, Elena Standish, Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, and Daniel Pitt.
DEATH TIMES SEVEN is the final Daniel Pitt novel, and the responsibility for wrapping up the series falls on Perry's friend, Victoria Zackheim, who pays homage to her in the book’s dedication and by breathing life into her protagonist for one more mystery.
Daniel is faced with the unspeakable burden of having to inform his mentor and friend, fellow attorney Toby Kitteridge, that Toby’s mother is dead and his father is barely alive. Even worse, it appears that Reverend Justin Kitteridge may have shot his wife before turning the gun on himself.
Now, the junior attorney must work on an important case for Toby. Peter Ward is accused of the sexual assault and murder of a young woman. Daniel is convinced that Ward is innocent, but the evidence against him most certainly would sway any jury.
The first hurdle for Daniel is accompanying Toby to the town where he was raised to face his mother’s body in the morgue while his father continues to fight for his life. Toby also has a tough battle with his sister, Alberta Walsh, who still resents him and his success while she was left behind. When Toby and Daniel insist that an autopsy be performed on their mother to find out if there were any other contributing factors to her death, Alberta is not happy. She eventually relents, and Daniel’s wife, Miriam fford Croft, performs the autopsy. Her findings only raise more questions.
Daniel realizes that Toby is not up to return to the Peter Ward case, so he steps into a trial where everything is stacked against his client. As the proceedings edge forward, Daniel finds that the best way to save Ward from execution is to discredit the forensics that the prosecution is using. He has a big advantage on his side --- leaning on the expertise that Miriam brings to the game as she has uncovered evidence showing a community of pathologists who may have withheld and even fraudulently misrepresented evidence that could have instantly exonerated Ward.
How will Daniel be able to convince a jury of this alleged conspiracy without causing an even bigger scandal? This is at the center of what has become the classic moral dilemma that every Anne Perry novel poses.
The dual murder mysteries at the heart of DEATH TIMES SEVEN make for a dynamic and gripping read. Like all of Anne Perry’s longtime readers, I am very grateful to Victoria Zackheim for taking on this daunting assignment. It’s a remarkable finale for such a beloved and memorable series.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
DEATH TIMES SEVEN is the final Daniel Pitt novel, and the responsibility for wrapping up the series falls on Perry's friend, Victoria Zackheim, who pays homage to her in the book’s dedication and by breathing life into her protagonist for one more mystery.
Daniel is faced with the unspeakable burden of having to inform his mentor and friend, fellow attorney Toby Kitteridge, that Toby’s mother is dead and his father is barely alive. Even worse, it appears that Reverend Justin Kitteridge may have shot his wife before turning the gun on himself.
Now, the junior attorney must work on an important case for Toby. Peter Ward is accused of the sexual assault and murder of a young woman. Daniel is convinced that Ward is innocent, but the evidence against him most certainly would sway any jury.
The first hurdle for Daniel is accompanying Toby to the town where he was raised to face his mother’s body in the morgue while his father continues to fight for his life. Toby also has a tough battle with his sister, Alberta Walsh, who still resents him and his success while she was left behind. When Toby and Daniel insist that an autopsy be performed on their mother to find out if there were any other contributing factors to her death, Alberta is not happy. She eventually relents, and Daniel’s wife, Miriam fford Croft, performs the autopsy. Her findings only raise more questions.
Daniel realizes that Toby is not up to return to the Peter Ward case, so he steps into a trial where everything is stacked against his client. As the proceedings edge forward, Daniel finds that the best way to save Ward from execution is to discredit the forensics that the prosecution is using. He has a big advantage on his side --- leaning on the expertise that Miriam brings to the game as she has uncovered evidence showing a community of pathologists who may have withheld and even fraudulently misrepresented evidence that could have instantly exonerated Ward.
How will Daniel be able to convince a jury of this alleged conspiracy without causing an even bigger scandal? This is at the center of what has become the classic moral dilemma that every Anne Perry novel poses.
The dual murder mysteries at the heart of DEATH TIMES SEVEN make for a dynamic and gripping read. Like all of Anne Perry’s longtime readers, I am very grateful to Victoria Zackheim for taking on this daunting assignment. It’s a remarkable finale for such a beloved and memorable series.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
April 26, 2026
When an author passes away, we lose not only their enormous talents but also the lives of the great characters they have created. In the case of Anne Perry, who left us in 2023, we have the legacy of her various series that have entertained us for decades. Among them are William Monk, Elena Standish, Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, and Daniel Pitt.
DEATH TIMES SEVEN is the final Daniel Pitt novel, and the responsibility for wrapping up the series falls on Perry's friend, Victoria Zackheim, who pays homage to her in the book’s dedication and by breathing life into her protagonist for one more mystery.
Daniel is faced with the unspeakable burden of having to inform his mentor and friend, fellow attorney Toby Kitteridge, that Toby’s mother is dead and his father is barely alive. Even worse, it appears that Reverend Justin Kitteridge may have shot his wife before turning the gun on himself.
Now, the junior attorney must work on an important case for Toby. Peter Ward is accused of the sexual assault and murder of a young woman. Daniel is convinced that Ward is innocent, but the evidence against him most certainly would sway any jury.
The first hurdle for Daniel is accompanying Toby to the town where he was raised to face his mother’s body in the morgue while his father continues to fight for his life. Toby also has a tough battle with his sister, Alberta Walsh, who still resents him and his success while she was left behind. When Toby and Daniel insist that an autopsy be performed on their mother to find out if there were any other contributing factors to her death, Alberta is not happy. She eventually relents, and Daniel’s wife, Miriam fford Croft, performs the autopsy. Her findings only raise more questions.
Daniel realizes that Toby is not up to return to the Peter Ward case, so he steps into a trial where everything is stacked against his client. As the proceedings edge forward, Daniel finds that the best way to save Ward from execution is to discredit the forensics that the prosecution is using. He has a big advantage on his side --- leaning on the expertise that Miriam brings to the game as she has uncovered evidence showing a community of pathologists who may have withheld and even fraudulently misrepresented evidence that could have instantly exonerated Ward.
How will Daniel be able to convince a jury of this alleged conspiracy without causing an even bigger scandal? This is at the center of what has become the classic moral dilemma that every Anne Perry novel poses.
The dual murder mysteries at the heart of DEATH TIMES SEVEN make for a dynamic and gripping read. Like all of Anne Perry’s longtime readers, I am very grateful to Victoria Zackheim for taking on this daunting assignment. It’s a remarkable finale for such a beloved and memorable series.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
DEATH TIMES SEVEN is the final Daniel Pitt novel, and the responsibility for wrapping up the series falls on Perry's friend, Victoria Zackheim, who pays homage to her in the book’s dedication and by breathing life into her protagonist for one more mystery.
Daniel is faced with the unspeakable burden of having to inform his mentor and friend, fellow attorney Toby Kitteridge, that Toby’s mother is dead and his father is barely alive. Even worse, it appears that Reverend Justin Kitteridge may have shot his wife before turning the gun on himself.
Now, the junior attorney must work on an important case for Toby. Peter Ward is accused of the sexual assault and murder of a young woman. Daniel is convinced that Ward is innocent, but the evidence against him most certainly would sway any jury.
The first hurdle for Daniel is accompanying Toby to the town where he was raised to face his mother’s body in the morgue while his father continues to fight for his life. Toby also has a tough battle with his sister, Alberta Walsh, who still resents him and his success while she was left behind. When Toby and Daniel insist that an autopsy be performed on their mother to find out if there were any other contributing factors to her death, Alberta is not happy. She eventually relents, and Daniel’s wife, Miriam fford Croft, performs the autopsy. Her findings only raise more questions.
Daniel realizes that Toby is not up to return to the Peter Ward case, so he steps into a trial where everything is stacked against his client. As the proceedings edge forward, Daniel finds that the best way to save Ward from execution is to discredit the forensics that the prosecution is using. He has a big advantage on his side --- leaning on the expertise that Miriam brings to the game as she has uncovered evidence showing a community of pathologists who may have withheld and even fraudulently misrepresented evidence that could have instantly exonerated Ward.
How will Daniel be able to convince a jury of this alleged conspiracy without causing an even bigger scandal? This is at the center of what has become the classic moral dilemma that every Anne Perry novel poses.
The dual murder mysteries at the heart of DEATH TIMES SEVEN make for a dynamic and gripping read. Like all of Anne Perry’s longtime readers, I am very grateful to Victoria Zackheim for taking on this daunting assignment. It’s a remarkable finale for such a beloved and memorable series.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
October 27, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
⚖️ Death Times Seven is a poignant and gripping finale to Anne Perry’s beloved Daniel Pitt series, completed posthumously by Victoria Zackheim with remarkable fidelity and emotional resonance. Set in 1912 London, the novel blends courtroom drama, psychological tension, and personal reckoning into a narrative that feels timeless yet timely.
🧠 Junior attorney Daniel Pitt is thrust into two harrowing cases that test his legal acumen and emotional resilience. First, he must step in for his friend Toby Kitteridge, whose parents have been brutally attacked—his mother murdered, his father (a local vicar) barely clinging to life. While Toby retreats to rural Ipswich to grieve, Daniel remains in London to defend Peter Ward, accused of sexual assault and murder. The evidence against Ward is damning, but Daniel suspects a deeper, darker truth.
As the cases unfold in parallel, Daniel and his wife Miriam—a forensic pathologist—must navigate a maze of secrets, moral ambiguity, and institutional resistance. The title’s “seven” refers not just to the seventh installment, but to the layered deaths—literal and metaphorical—that haunt the narrative.
🧬 This final installment is steeped in reflection. Perry and Zackheim explore:
- The fragility of justice in a society bound by class and gender
- The emotional toll of advocacy and forensic truth-seeking
- The evolution of Daniel and Miriam’s partnership—both professional and personal
- The legacy of violence and the courage to confront it
This novel interrogates the systems that enable crimes. It’s a fitting swan song for Perry’s career, honoring her legacy of socially conscious storytelling.
✍️ Zackheim’s contribution is seamless. The prose retains Perry’s signature elegance—measured, immersive, and morally incisive. The pacing is deliberate, allowing readers to absorb the emotional stakes and historical texture. The courtroom scenes are taut, the forensic details precise, and the character interactions layered with subtext.
🧩 Daniel Pitt shines as a man caught between duty and doubt. His growth across the series culminates here in a portrayal of quiet strength and ethical complexity. Miriam’s role is equally vital—her scientific rigor and emotional intelligence anchor the narrative. Toby’s subplot adds a raw, human dimension, reminding readers that justice is never abstract.
⭐ Death Times Seven is more than a mystery—it’s a meditation on justice, grief, and legacy. Perry’s final bow, with Zackheim’s deft hand, offers closure not just to a series, but to a career defined by compassion and courage.
For longtime fans and newcomers alike, this is a must-read.
⚖️ Death Times Seven is a poignant and gripping finale to Anne Perry’s beloved Daniel Pitt series, completed posthumously by Victoria Zackheim with remarkable fidelity and emotional resonance. Set in 1912 London, the novel blends courtroom drama, psychological tension, and personal reckoning into a narrative that feels timeless yet timely.
🧠 Junior attorney Daniel Pitt is thrust into two harrowing cases that test his legal acumen and emotional resilience. First, he must step in for his friend Toby Kitteridge, whose parents have been brutally attacked—his mother murdered, his father (a local vicar) barely clinging to life. While Toby retreats to rural Ipswich to grieve, Daniel remains in London to defend Peter Ward, accused of sexual assault and murder. The evidence against Ward is damning, but Daniel suspects a deeper, darker truth.
As the cases unfold in parallel, Daniel and his wife Miriam—a forensic pathologist—must navigate a maze of secrets, moral ambiguity, and institutional resistance. The title’s “seven” refers not just to the seventh installment, but to the layered deaths—literal and metaphorical—that haunt the narrative.
🧬 This final installment is steeped in reflection. Perry and Zackheim explore:
- The fragility of justice in a society bound by class and gender
- The emotional toll of advocacy and forensic truth-seeking
- The evolution of Daniel and Miriam’s partnership—both professional and personal
- The legacy of violence and the courage to confront it
This novel interrogates the systems that enable crimes. It’s a fitting swan song for Perry’s career, honoring her legacy of socially conscious storytelling.
✍️ Zackheim’s contribution is seamless. The prose retains Perry’s signature elegance—measured, immersive, and morally incisive. The pacing is deliberate, allowing readers to absorb the emotional stakes and historical texture. The courtroom scenes are taut, the forensic details precise, and the character interactions layered with subtext.
🧩 Daniel Pitt shines as a man caught between duty and doubt. His growth across the series culminates here in a portrayal of quiet strength and ethical complexity. Miriam’s role is equally vital—her scientific rigor and emotional intelligence anchor the narrative. Toby’s subplot adds a raw, human dimension, reminding readers that justice is never abstract.
⭐ Death Times Seven is more than a mystery—it’s a meditation on justice, grief, and legacy. Perry’s final bow, with Zackheim’s deft hand, offers closure not just to a series, but to a career defined by compassion and courage.
For longtime fans and newcomers alike, this is a must-read.
June 11, 2026
Death Times Seven
by Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim
Rating: 5 star rating
I really liked this book, "Death Times Seven." This final Daniel Pitt mystery has courtroom drama, family secrets, and a murder investigation that kept me wondering what was going to happen next.
Toby Kitteridge is a friend and colleague of Daniel, and he is dealing with a heartbreaking family tragedy after his mother is murdered and his father becomes the main suspect.
Toby is also dealing with his sister, Alberta, and her bitterness towards him because he rarely visited. She was also jealous because their parents helped Toby get an education and become a lawyer. While everyone back home had to pinch pennies to get by, and she was expected to get married and have kids.
Alberta doesn't like any suggestions Toby makes towards solving the crime. In the meantime, Toby and Daniel are trying to figure out if Tobys father actually killed his mother.
As a consequence of the above, Daniel has to take over a current murder case of Toby's. Daniel has to defend Peter Ward, a young man accused of killing Alexandra Stanton, while his friend deals with his personal issues. Meanwhile, Daniel's wife, Miriam, uses her skills as a forensic pathologist to uncover clues that others have missed.
Daniel refuses to stop searching for the truth, even when the evidence seems stacked against his client. The mystery unfolds at a steady pace, with several twists and hidden connections between the two cases. The ending brings justice, answers long-standing questions, and gives the main characters a sense of hope and peace without wrapping everything up too neatly.
As the final Daniel Pitt novel, Death Times Seven feels like a respectful tribute to Anne Perry's legacy and a satisfying conclusion for fans who have followed Daniel and Miriam's journey.
This book is also special because it serves as a farewell to Anne Perry, who passed away in 2023 after completing the first nine chapters. Victoria Zackheim finished the novel using Perry's notes and plans for the story. You can still feel Anne Perry's familiar style throughout; the pacing, character development, and attention to moral choices that made her mysteries so enjoyable.
I believe Victoria Zackheim did a great job putting this story together and finishing Anne Perry's last book. I hope to read other books by both of these authors.
Thank you, NetGalley, Ballantine, and the authors Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim for the book review consideration. All opinions are my own.
#NetGalley
#Ballantine
#AnnePerry
#VictoriaZackheim
#DeathTimesSeven
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by Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim
Rating: 5 star rating
I really liked this book, "Death Times Seven." This final Daniel Pitt mystery has courtroom drama, family secrets, and a murder investigation that kept me wondering what was going to happen next.
Toby Kitteridge is a friend and colleague of Daniel, and he is dealing with a heartbreaking family tragedy after his mother is murdered and his father becomes the main suspect.
Toby is also dealing with his sister, Alberta, and her bitterness towards him because he rarely visited. She was also jealous because their parents helped Toby get an education and become a lawyer. While everyone back home had to pinch pennies to get by, and she was expected to get married and have kids.
Alberta doesn't like any suggestions Toby makes towards solving the crime. In the meantime, Toby and Daniel are trying to figure out if Tobys father actually killed his mother.
As a consequence of the above, Daniel has to take over a current murder case of Toby's. Daniel has to defend Peter Ward, a young man accused of killing Alexandra Stanton, while his friend deals with his personal issues. Meanwhile, Daniel's wife, Miriam, uses her skills as a forensic pathologist to uncover clues that others have missed.
Daniel refuses to stop searching for the truth, even when the evidence seems stacked against his client. The mystery unfolds at a steady pace, with several twists and hidden connections between the two cases. The ending brings justice, answers long-standing questions, and gives the main characters a sense of hope and peace without wrapping everything up too neatly.
As the final Daniel Pitt novel, Death Times Seven feels like a respectful tribute to Anne Perry's legacy and a satisfying conclusion for fans who have followed Daniel and Miriam's journey.
This book is also special because it serves as a farewell to Anne Perry, who passed away in 2023 after completing the first nine chapters. Victoria Zackheim finished the novel using Perry's notes and plans for the story. You can still feel Anne Perry's familiar style throughout; the pacing, character development, and attention to moral choices that made her mysteries so enjoyable.
I believe Victoria Zackheim did a great job putting this story together and finishing Anne Perry's last book. I hope to read other books by both of these authors.
Thank you, NetGalley, Ballantine, and the authors Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim for the book review consideration. All opinions are my own.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 / 5.0 Stars
What a precious gift to the reading world this book is. It is beloved author Anne Perry's seventh and final book of the Daniel Pitt mystery series. It was half-written at the time of her passing and deftly completed by her friend, Victoria Zackheim, an author and editor.
London, 1912
Daniel Pitt has just delivered some unseemly and devastating news to fellow barrister Toby Kittredge. His father's is in hospital with a gun-shot wound and his mother murdered. Torn between being in the midst of defending a young man up on murder charges and heading home to Suffolk to attend to family matters, Toby accepts Daniel's promise to arrange fair representation to the you Mr. Ward. What little evidence there is, it does not look good for the young man. With the assistance of his pathologist wife, Dr. Miriam fford Croft, and his friend, Detective Chief Inspector, Ian Frobisher, they are racing against time to suss out the evidence which exonerates young Ward. Can they beat the clock before the judge's gavel falls? Only time will tell.
Ms. Perry has done a spectacular job of building the tension of this complex case and carrying the reader along for the ride. The first half of the book focuses on setting the evidentiary details and then the pace accelerates and the tension builds to a frenzy as lives hang in the balance.
Although part of a series, this book stands well enough on its own. The characters are well developed and the reader quickly gets a strong sense of each character's nature, knowledge and passion. The story is a police procedural and courtroom drama with sweet family and friend relations thrown in for that personal touch. We find Daniel and Miriam navigating their new marriage with all the tenderness which that entails. Each ardently loves the other. Yet, more importantly, they admire and respect one another. A rather fresh approach to marriage in 1912.
If this is your first foray into the Daniel Pitt mystery series, fear not, Ms. Perry's character development and setting of place is so well done that the reader is not asea without having read the prior installments in this series. However, I caution you, once you've read this one, you'll most likely want to go back and read the rest of the series. It is too good to be missed.
I am grateful to Ballantine Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication date: April 14, 2026
Number of pages: 288
ISBN: 978-0593982518
What a precious gift to the reading world this book is. It is beloved author Anne Perry's seventh and final book of the Daniel Pitt mystery series. It was half-written at the time of her passing and deftly completed by her friend, Victoria Zackheim, an author and editor.
London, 1912
Daniel Pitt has just delivered some unseemly and devastating news to fellow barrister Toby Kittredge. His father's is in hospital with a gun-shot wound and his mother murdered. Torn between being in the midst of defending a young man up on murder charges and heading home to Suffolk to attend to family matters, Toby accepts Daniel's promise to arrange fair representation to the you Mr. Ward. What little evidence there is, it does not look good for the young man. With the assistance of his pathologist wife, Dr. Miriam fford Croft, and his friend, Detective Chief Inspector, Ian Frobisher, they are racing against time to suss out the evidence which exonerates young Ward. Can they beat the clock before the judge's gavel falls? Only time will tell.
Ms. Perry has done a spectacular job of building the tension of this complex case and carrying the reader along for the ride. The first half of the book focuses on setting the evidentiary details and then the pace accelerates and the tension builds to a frenzy as lives hang in the balance.
Although part of a series, this book stands well enough on its own. The characters are well developed and the reader quickly gets a strong sense of each character's nature, knowledge and passion. The story is a police procedural and courtroom drama with sweet family and friend relations thrown in for that personal touch. We find Daniel and Miriam navigating their new marriage with all the tenderness which that entails. Each ardently loves the other. Yet, more importantly, they admire and respect one another. A rather fresh approach to marriage in 1912.
If this is your first foray into the Daniel Pitt mystery series, fear not, Ms. Perry's character development and setting of place is so well done that the reader is not asea without having read the prior installments in this series. However, I caution you, once you've read this one, you'll most likely want to go back and read the rest of the series. It is too good to be missed.
I am grateful to Ballantine Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication date: April 14, 2026
Number of pages: 288
ISBN: 978-0593982518
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
He faces two of his most challenging cases...
...and one of them is personal
London, 1913.. Daniel Pitt is a junior partner who is shocked by the news that the mother of his colleague and good friend Toby has been murdered, his father barely clinging to life and suspected of the killing. Toby is in the midst of a case, defending a young man named Peter Ward who is himself accused of the brutal assault on and murder of a young woman. The case seems open and shut but Peter swears he is innocent and Toby is one of the few who believes him, so Toby's understandable need to withdraw from the trial and rush home to try to sort through the happenings there is a major blow to Peter's case. Daniel, after seeing Toby safely home, takes over the case and he too begins to believe that all is not as it seems in the investigation and trial. Aa he works to provide support to Toby while dealing with the pressure of the high profile case Daniel calls upon his pathologist wife Miriam and her mentor Eve as well as a friend in the police in a desperate bid to identify the real killer and save an innocent man from a grave injustice.
Death Times Seven is the seventh book in author Anne Perry's series featuring Daniel Pitt ( a spin off of the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series), and after her death while in the midst of writing the novel it is the final one as well. It was finished by her friend and editor Victoria Zackheim, and in a way that feels very true to Ms Perry's own style. With its Edwardian setting, a murder investigation, courtroom drama and plenty of intrigue and ethical conundrums it exemplifies the best of Perry. Given the era there are social issues and class distinction, and the skepticism of women's ability to do "man's work", but it is the Ward case and Toby's horrific family situation that drive the plot. It can be read as a standalone novel, but readers of earlier installments will have a deeper understanding of the characters and their interrelations. Fans of the series, of Anne Perry's work in general, and those who enjoy well plotted period mysteries with strongly developed characters (readers of Charles Todd, Charles Finch and Jacqueline Winspear, for example) will enjoy this outing, a solid if bittersweet conclusion to a fantastic series. My thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me access to the novel in exchange for my honest review.
...and one of them is personal
London, 1913.. Daniel Pitt is a junior partner who is shocked by the news that the mother of his colleague and good friend Toby has been murdered, his father barely clinging to life and suspected of the killing. Toby is in the midst of a case, defending a young man named Peter Ward who is himself accused of the brutal assault on and murder of a young woman. The case seems open and shut but Peter swears he is innocent and Toby is one of the few who believes him, so Toby's understandable need to withdraw from the trial and rush home to try to sort through the happenings there is a major blow to Peter's case. Daniel, after seeing Toby safely home, takes over the case and he too begins to believe that all is not as it seems in the investigation and trial. Aa he works to provide support to Toby while dealing with the pressure of the high profile case Daniel calls upon his pathologist wife Miriam and her mentor Eve as well as a friend in the police in a desperate bid to identify the real killer and save an innocent man from a grave injustice.
Death Times Seven is the seventh book in author Anne Perry's series featuring Daniel Pitt ( a spin off of the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series), and after her death while in the midst of writing the novel it is the final one as well. It was finished by her friend and editor Victoria Zackheim, and in a way that feels very true to Ms Perry's own style. With its Edwardian setting, a murder investigation, courtroom drama and plenty of intrigue and ethical conundrums it exemplifies the best of Perry. Given the era there are social issues and class distinction, and the skepticism of women's ability to do "man's work", but it is the Ward case and Toby's horrific family situation that drive the plot. It can be read as a standalone novel, but readers of earlier installments will have a deeper understanding of the characters and their interrelations. Fans of the series, of Anne Perry's work in general, and those who enjoy well plotted period mysteries with strongly developed characters (readers of Charles Todd, Charles Finch and Jacqueline Winspear, for example) will enjoy this outing, a solid if bittersweet conclusion to a fantastic series. My thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me access to the novel in exchange for my honest review.
June 5, 2026
Good book. I actually figured out the murderer, but not why...... Nice plot... So sad to hear why this is the last book in the series.... Will greatly miss reading these books.....
Two violent crimes challenge the investigative skills of young Daniel Pitt and his wife, Miriam, in the final novel of iconic mystery writer Anne Perry's beloved Daniel Pitt series. Halfway written at the time of her death, this novel was completed by Perry’s trusted colleague, dear friend, and fellow author Victoria Zackheim.
1912: Junior attorney Daniel Pitt must step in for his friend and fellow attorney, Toby Kitteridge, whose parents have been brutally attacked. Toby's mother is dead and his father, the local vicar, is barely alive. With Toby back home in rural Ipswich, struggling with his grief and disbelief, Daniel is left in London to defend Peter Ward, a man on trial for the sexual assault and murder of a young woman.
Daniel is convinced that Ward is innocent, yet the evidence proves otherwise. Eager to assist, his pathologist wife Miriam fford Croft offers her forensics expertise regarding a community of fellow pathologists who have disguised their autopsy reports. Despite Miriam on the case, Daniel finds himself distracted by his desire to help Toby, still in Ipswich and too distraught to investigate the attack on his parents. When all evidence points to Toby’s father as the killer, Daniel faces two of the greatest challenges of his young to prove the innocence of both Peter Ward and Reverend Kitteridge. One mistake in London and a young man will hang. One mistake in Ipswich and Toby’s father will go to prison for life.
Death Times Seven, the seventh and final novel in Anne Perry’s Daniel Pitt series, has been completed with the assistance of Victoria Zackheim, an author and editor, as well as Perry’s close friend. Rich in intriguing investigation and courtroom drama, this engrossing novel marks a fitting finale to the career of an author widely praised as the queen of historical crime fiction.
Two violent crimes challenge the investigative skills of young Daniel Pitt and his wife, Miriam, in the final novel of iconic mystery writer Anne Perry's beloved Daniel Pitt series. Halfway written at the time of her death, this novel was completed by Perry’s trusted colleague, dear friend, and fellow author Victoria Zackheim.
1912: Junior attorney Daniel Pitt must step in for his friend and fellow attorney, Toby Kitteridge, whose parents have been brutally attacked. Toby's mother is dead and his father, the local vicar, is barely alive. With Toby back home in rural Ipswich, struggling with his grief and disbelief, Daniel is left in London to defend Peter Ward, a man on trial for the sexual assault and murder of a young woman.
Daniel is convinced that Ward is innocent, yet the evidence proves otherwise. Eager to assist, his pathologist wife Miriam fford Croft offers her forensics expertise regarding a community of fellow pathologists who have disguised their autopsy reports. Despite Miriam on the case, Daniel finds himself distracted by his desire to help Toby, still in Ipswich and too distraught to investigate the attack on his parents. When all evidence points to Toby’s father as the killer, Daniel faces two of the greatest challenges of his young to prove the innocence of both Peter Ward and Reverend Kitteridge. One mistake in London and a young man will hang. One mistake in Ipswich and Toby’s father will go to prison for life.
Death Times Seven, the seventh and final novel in Anne Perry’s Daniel Pitt series, has been completed with the assistance of Victoria Zackheim, an author and editor, as well as Perry’s close friend. Rich in intriguing investigation and courtroom drama, this engrossing novel marks a fitting finale to the career of an author widely praised as the queen of historical crime fiction.
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