Death Times Seven: A Daniel Pitt Novel

Daniel Pitt #7

by Anne Perry, Victoria Zackheim

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.

Genres: Mystery

288 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 14, 2026

About the author

Anne 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

Reviews

[Heather Moll · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[J Kromrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Laila · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Uncorrected eBook File

In his office, working on a complicated brief, Daniel Pitt is interrupted by the chief clerk, Impney, bearing appalling news. Toby Kitteridge’s parents have been shot; his mother is dead, his father, the village vicar, is critically injured. As if any news could be worse than this, Impney reports tat the local police believe Reverend Kitteridge shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself.

Daniel takes Toby to Ipswich, where he speaks with the doctor and then with the police. They speak with Inspector Ridgeway and later have an awkward encounter with Toby’s sister, Alberta Walsh.

Did Reverend Kittridge murder his wife and then shoot himself? What reason could he possibly have for such an action? Can Toby and Daniel find the answers? And what will happen with Peter Ward’s case?

=========

Seventh in the Daniel Pitt series, this story, set in 1913 London, has sufficient backstory for readers new to the series and works well as a standalone. Relatable characters, a strong sense of place, and some unexpected plot twists all work together to keep the pages turning.

With compelling courtroom scenes, the gripping, emotional family interactions, and some surprising forensic discoveries, this compelling narrative is difficult to set aside before turning the final page. Filled with tension and suspense, readers will enjoy seeing Daniel and Miriam working together to expose the guilty.

Readers who enjoy courtroom procedurals, or those who have been following the series, will find much to appreciate in this unputdownable conclusion.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Ballantine / Ballantine Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#DeathTimeSeven #NetGalley

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Anne Wolters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death Times Seven concludes Anne Perry’s Daniel Pitt series, though this final installment comes with a bittersweet footnote: Perry passed away before completing the manuscript, and her close friend—author and editor Victoria Zackheim—finished the story in her stead.
Set in London in 1913, the novel opens with Toby Kitteridge defending Peter Ward, a young man accused of sexual assault and murder. Toby is convinced of Peter’s innocence. In the middle of the trial, Daniel Pitt bursts into the courtroom with devastating news: Toby’s mother has been killed, and his father is in the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head. Even more shocking, Toby’s father is suspected of murdering his wife before turning the gun on himself.
As Toby returns home to support his sister and uncover the truth, Daniel steps in to continue the defense in London. Despite the mounting evidence, Daniel also believes Peter is innocent. With the help of his wife, a skilled forensic pathologist, he uncovers startling details that were omitted from both the autopsy and the police reports.
The opening chapters move a bit slowly, but the pace builds steadily into a compelling, emotionally layered mystery. The combination of courtroom drama, family tragedy, and forensic intrigue makes for an absorbing conclusion to the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

[Kathryn E Hagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragedy hits the law office of fford Croft and Gibson. Toby Kitteridge’s parents have been attacked. It couldn’t have come at a worse time for Toby and his client. Toby believes the young man, accused of murder, is innocent. Now another attorney will have to take over. How will this affect the verdict?

“Death Times Seven” is an exciting mystery, one that readers might not have had without the work of Victoria Zackheim, author and friend of the late Anne Perry. Zackheim completed the last half of the novel. I thought the transition was seamless.

I will miss Daniel Pitt and Miriam and Dr. Eve. So many characters in Anne’s other series were exceedingly memorable as well. I think of Thomas Pitt, Lady Vespasia, and others, even though it has been years since I first read the books they populated.

“Death Times Seven” is the seventh book in the Daniel Pitt series. I would recommend that you read them in order.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death Times Seven
By Anne Perry with Victoria Zackheim

Anne Perry was a prolific writer, most notably of Victorian era murder mysteries. When she died in 2023, her close friend Victoria took on the task of finishing this, Anne's final novel.

Daniel Pitt, attorney, and Miriam fford Croft, his pathologist wife, are the protagonists here. The plot involves two separate murder cases, which are actually inter-related. A young man named Peter Ward is on trial for a heinous murder which he swears he did not commit. He is represented by Daniel's close friend Toby Kitteridge. But while Toby is arguing the case in court (because he truly believes in his client's innocence), we find out that a horrible crime has taken place, involving Toby's parents. With Toby pulled away to deal with this personal tragedy, Daniel must step in and defend Ward. What follows is a complex story which will have the reader second-guessing until the final reveal.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Kristi]

Victoria Zackheim collaborated with the late Anne Perry, a bestselling historical mystery author, to complete Death Times Seven, the final novel in Perry's Daniel Pitt series. Zackheim, an editor and author, worked with Perry on the novel before Perry's death, finishing it from a partial manuscript and outline. Ms. Perry died in 2023. Most of the information about this book neglects the fact that the beloved author has been dead for 2 years. Is this like the books being written by James Patterson, who, though still alive, would not have enough hours in a year to either write or "collaborate" on the myriads of titles attributed to his name??? Note that below the title above only Anne Perry's name appears: Death Times Seven: A Daniel Pitt Novel (Hardcover) by Anne Perry. I do not like it when publishers capitalize on the name of an author without declaring openly that said author is writing from her grave. Greed is not good.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the final Daniel Pitt novel begun by Anne Perry and finished by Victoria Zackheim. Daniel Pitt finds himself helping his best friend --fellow attorney--Toby Kitteridge.--when Toby's mother is murdered presumably by Toby's father. Daniel insists there be an autopsy and Miriam turns up evidence that links two murder cases together. The novel reads seamlessly as if all was written by Perry. There is fantastic character development, for example Toby's grief and his estrangement from his sister. Miriam again is a strong female protagonist for this novel set in the turn of the century England.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Anne Perry book and even though this is #7 of the Daniel Perry series I did not feel confused or missing anything. I really enjoyed this and will definitely look for my Anne Perry novels-especially the five WW I novels. I really like the two concurrent mysteries involved in this, Death Times Seven, and how they were solved pleased me immensely. Although Ms Perry only wrote the first nine chapters I didn’t detect a change of voice in the remainder of the novel.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author, Victoria Zackheim for this ebook ARC to read. All opinions are my own.

[Christine Lussier · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final Daniel Pitt story that was written from Ms Perry's notes and completed by Victoria Zackheim.
Ms Zackheim did a very nice job writing as Ms Perry had. Daniel is called to stand in for a fellow attorney who's parent have suffered a horrible attack. Lots of twist and turns, Daniel goes with Toby to his parents village, and back to the courtroom hoping to save his client from being hung. Miriam and Eve are involved, a lot is uncovered, and safe to say, they do save the day.
A fitting tribute to Ms Perry, and a griping tale involving Daniel and Miriam.
Thanks to NetGalley, Ms Zackheim, and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Carol Deegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read with Anne Perry’s name as the author. I was a bit disappointed. I felt everything moved as if in slow motion and there were details where they weren’t needed and no details where there could have been more. The final courtroom scene was confusing and very drawn out. Everyone was stoic and showed no emotion. I would think in real life there would have been some sort of apparent satisfaction in revealing the murderers. I cannot recommend this book to fellow readers. I received a copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jeremy Reppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completing an unfinished manuscript by a beloved author is a daunting challenge. Especially when the novel is part of a series, so readers have firm opinions about recurring characters. However, I think Ms. Zackheim acquits herself well with “Death Times Seven”, the final Daniel Pitt novel. There is plenty of drama and intrigue with an innocent man’s life to save, corruption and withheld evidence to uncover, a life-altering event for Toby (that cannot help but impact Daniel and Miriam as well), and ramifications of past events on the career of Dr. Evelyn Hall.