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Charlotte & Thomas Pitt #32
Murder on the Serpentine
The queen of the Victorian mystery, New York Times bestseller Anne Perry returns with the 32nd novel in the Inspector Pitt series MURDER ON THE SERPENTINE. Pitt is on a secret mission for the Queen, maybe his last...
London, 1899: Head of Special Branch Commander Thomas Pitt is summoned to Buckingham Palace.
In the twilight of her years, Queen Victoria is all too aware that the Prince of Wales will soon inherit her empire and must be beyond reproach. She tells Pitt she tasked her close friend and confidante, John Halberd, with investigating the Prince's friends, specifically Alan Kendrick, a wealthy playboy and betting man, but before he could report back, Halberd was found dead in a rowing boat on the Serpentine.
The death has been ruled an unfortunate accident and the investigation closed, but the Queen is not convinced that all is as it seems and tasks Pitt with finding the truth.
Forced to act alone in this most sensitive of investigations, Pitt finds himself embroiled in a plot that threatens not only the reputations of men, but also the safety and reputation of the Empire. . .
London, 1899: Head of Special Branch Commander Thomas Pitt is summoned to Buckingham Palace.
In the twilight of her years, Queen Victoria is all too aware that the Prince of Wales will soon inherit her empire and must be beyond reproach. She tells Pitt she tasked her close friend and confidante, John Halberd, with investigating the Prince's friends, specifically Alan Kendrick, a wealthy playboy and betting man, but before he could report back, Halberd was found dead in a rowing boat on the Serpentine.
The death has been ruled an unfortunate accident and the investigation closed, but the Queen is not convinced that all is as it seems and tasks Pitt with finding the truth.
Forced to act alone in this most sensitive of investigations, Pitt finds himself embroiled in a plot that threatens not only the reputations of men, but also the safety and reputation of the Empire. . .
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 14, 2017
704 people are currently reading
1903 people want to read
About the author
Anne Perry
361 books3,375 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 397 reviews
February 22, 2020
I don’t know what to say except thank you Ms. Perry for written such a wonderful series 😍😊😘.
Most of you love In Death series right? And knowing In Death series still going strong after the first time published around twenty years ago, guess what? This series started in the 70’s there is a gap between book 1 and book 2 but after that Ms. Perry consistently publish this series once a year and she end up this series with a high note, where Queen Victoria herself recognised Thomas Pitt loyalty to her and the country. A gamekeeper’s and a laundress’s son becomes Sir Thomas Pitt.
It has been twenty years story between the first book and this one, from a mere inspector who tried to catch a thief or murderer to Commander of Special Branch, at present time he was like the top guy of MI5.
But you know what I love about this series? His relationship with Charlotte, I couldn’t find a hero more loving and accepting his wife as she is like Thomas, oh scratch that, beside Roarke 😂😂 and he never ever wanted to change her’weird’ behavior. Well, I mean she is very outspoken for 19th century woman and often embarrassing her family because of that, lol.
Let me tell you one thing, this is not a romance series, it’s mystery and the crimes itself can very brutal but I feel more romance in here between Thomas and Charlotte and other supporting casts than many books labels as historical romance out there, I mean romance ok, not sex scenes lurving, heh 😬.
And the mystery is awesome too, Thomas is not a Victorian’s Mr. Bond, lol. He wasn’t Sebastian St. Cyr but he has his own way to solve the crimes and Charlotte always there helping by his side:)
So, I’m sad this series ended but I understand, and I can’t wait to start their son Daniel Pitt’s story.
Thomas and Charlotte still there but I guess as supporting casts now:)
❤️❤️🍁🍂💖😍😘
Most of you love In Death series right? And knowing In Death series still going strong after the first time published around twenty years ago, guess what? This series started in the 70’s there is a gap between book 1 and book 2 but after that Ms. Perry consistently publish this series once a year and she end up this series with a high note, where Queen Victoria herself recognised Thomas Pitt loyalty to her and the country. A gamekeeper’s and a laundress’s son becomes Sir Thomas Pitt.
It has been twenty years story between the first book and this one, from a mere inspector who tried to catch a thief or murderer to Commander of Special Branch, at present time he was like the top guy of MI5.
But you know what I love about this series? His relationship with Charlotte, I couldn’t find a hero more loving and accepting his wife as she is like Thomas, oh scratch that, beside Roarke 😂😂 and he never ever wanted to change her’weird’ behavior. Well, I mean she is very outspoken for 19th century woman and often embarrassing her family because of that, lol.
Let me tell you one thing, this is not a romance series, it’s mystery and the crimes itself can very brutal but I feel more romance in here between Thomas and Charlotte and other supporting casts than many books labels as historical romance out there, I mean romance ok, not sex scenes lurving, heh 😬.
And the mystery is awesome too, Thomas is not a Victorian’s Mr. Bond, lol. He wasn’t Sebastian St. Cyr but he has his own way to solve the crimes and Charlotte always there helping by his side:)
So, I’m sad this series ended but I understand, and I can’t wait to start their son Daniel Pitt’s story.
Thomas and Charlotte still there but I guess as supporting casts now:)
❤️❤️🍁🍂💖😍😘
April 2, 2017
Back on Track
The last couple of books in this series were a bit disappointing but this one reminded me why I read Anne Perry novels! The story is good with a tight plot. The fictional characters feel real and of their time. I truly loved the portrayal of an old Queen Victoria in her black clothes and broken heart. The Prince of Wales was as dissolute as one expected. After maybe too much soul searching and breast beating, Thomas remains himself and gets a wonderful reward! There is much left unexplored so the outline for the next installment should!d write itself. I can hardly stand to wait!
The last couple of books in this series were a bit disappointing but this one reminded me why I read Anne Perry novels! The story is good with a tight plot. The fictional characters feel real and of their time. I truly loved the portrayal of an old Queen Victoria in her black clothes and broken heart. The Prince of Wales was as dissolute as one expected. After maybe too much soul searching and breast beating, Thomas remains himself and gets a wonderful reward! There is much left unexplored so the outline for the next installment should!d write itself. I can hardly stand to wait!
November 11, 2016
I've dipped in and out of this series when I've wanted something light but not unintelligent to read but this books seems to have lost the plot.
A man is found dead on the Serpentine and Queen Victoria herself asks Pitt to investigate. With swirling rumours of sexual scandals, past affairs and blackmail, we look set for a deliciously louche look at the oh-so-proper Victorians. Sadly, not so.
Most of the book is taken up by Pitt's agonising over his lower-class upbringing, crises of conscience over whether he should really be head of Special Branch and ruminations over how much he loves his wife... She, equally, ponders how she's now middle-aged and excluded from his public life but manages to wangle her way into the case anyway with the help of her sister, Emily.
Somewhere in all this is a good story about politics and the Boer War, but it's drowning in people's inner monologues, all of which get extremely repetitive and go round and round in circles, to the point where I just wanted to scream at the book to just get on with it!
If all the personal agonising were stripped away this would be a very short book: I'm not sure that I'll be revisiting this long-running series again.
A man is found dead on the Serpentine and Queen Victoria herself asks Pitt to investigate. With swirling rumours of sexual scandals, past affairs and blackmail, we look set for a deliciously louche look at the oh-so-proper Victorians. Sadly, not so.
Most of the book is taken up by Pitt's agonising over his lower-class upbringing, crises of conscience over whether he should really be head of Special Branch and ruminations over how much he loves his wife... She, equally, ponders how she's now middle-aged and excluded from his public life but manages to wangle her way into the case anyway with the help of her sister, Emily.
Somewhere in all this is a good story about politics and the Boer War, but it's drowning in people's inner monologues, all of which get extremely repetitive and go round and round in circles, to the point where I just wanted to scream at the book to just get on with it!
If all the personal agonising were stripped away this would be a very short book: I'm not sure that I'll be revisiting this long-running series again.
February 22, 2020
Head of special branch, Commander Thomas Pitt, is summoned to Buckingham Palace by Queen Victoria for a secret mission, as his new job is to deal with threats to the safety of the nation.
The queen’s close friend and confidante Sir John Halberd is found dead in a rowing boat on the Serpentine. She asks Pitt to discreetly investigate. He must investigate persons of interest very closely indeed, which leads him to information he feels uncomfortable having. Nevertheless, it seems vital to a successful outcome, which is exactly what The Queen expects of him. Connections to the royal family, horse racing and politics within the country as well as abroad broadens Pitt’s investigation.
The plot develops through social connections, family, friends, acquaintances, people who know people in Society. Pitt’s superior believes he has both the skill and the stomach for the job as Head of Special Branch, if not the breading or the social background to go with it. But Pitt feels out of his depth. He worries that as he is not born into aristocracy, he will not be able to do his work well. I find his insecurities very human and relatable.
Commander Pitt goes about gathering information and dealing with what he learns in a compassionate way I feel he should really be prouder of. I wish he was more relaxed about his character and abilities. The thorough understanding of people’s nature is probably a result of his experience as a police detective. I enjoy following his thought process throughout the story as it seems to include a mix of ethical and philosophical deliberations probably adjusting him to his new position at Special Branch.
Charlotte Pitt is born into High Society and understands the intricacies, mannerisms and codes of behavior among the upper crust. She helps her husband gather information he would otherwise not have been privy to and doesn’t want him to carry the burden of what he finds out on his own. Charlotte doesn’t want to look the other way faced with tough and dangerous issues and has helped her husband with investigations before. She wants to contribute to justice for whoever needs it and makes sure her husband doesn’t get too daunted by the enormity of his job. Does Thomas Pitt have the perfect wife or what? I find her totally admirable.
Emily Radley, Charlotte’s younger; sister takes part in the investigation when information from Society is needed. Together they sift through all the gossip for snippets of information that may be useful to the investigation and passes it on to Pitt. They go to parties and social gatherings where they conduct verbal fencing worthy any politician.
With every book I read by Anne Perry, I enjoy new aspects of her writing. There are such detailed local descriptions of London at the time, which I find totally fascinating Murder on the Serpentine gives vivid descriptions of people’s reactions and feelings as well as how they looked and dressed. We get glimpses into the way the characters lived, both the affluent and working-class, like The Pitt family. All this makes the writing come alive in a unique way very few authors can replicate. I’m so drawn into the plot, I’m lost to this world for hours while I find out who the culprit is.
There is an unexpected learning experience about human relations and communication skills from reading Murder on the Serpentine. I would so much have enjoyed a few conversations with Commander Pitt in person, if indeed he were real. Enormous amounts of research must have gone into crafting his and other characters for this series as they seem so multi layered and real.
There is this impressive, whole universe of reoccurring characters who make larger or smaller appearances in every book, and who are all fascinating. I really appreciate that the plot includes small background stories to complement the main plot, so new readers may catch up on what part characters have played in previous installments. Ideally, I should have read the series in order, but I first happened upon Anne Perry’s Christmas novellas. After that I seem to have jumped back and forth a bit. It is great to read them as standalones, but I have decided to go back and start with #1 in order to fully appreciate the story line running through the whole Charlotte & Thomas Pitt series.
Murder on the Serpentine is recommended for a fan of Anne Perry’s other work. There really is plenty to choose from. Readers of crime fiction or historical crime fiction will enjoy Murder on the Serpentine too. All opinions in this review are completely my own.
The queen’s close friend and confidante Sir John Halberd is found dead in a rowing boat on the Serpentine. She asks Pitt to discreetly investigate. He must investigate persons of interest very closely indeed, which leads him to information he feels uncomfortable having. Nevertheless, it seems vital to a successful outcome, which is exactly what The Queen expects of him. Connections to the royal family, horse racing and politics within the country as well as abroad broadens Pitt’s investigation.
The plot develops through social connections, family, friends, acquaintances, people who know people in Society. Pitt’s superior believes he has both the skill and the stomach for the job as Head of Special Branch, if not the breading or the social background to go with it. But Pitt feels out of his depth. He worries that as he is not born into aristocracy, he will not be able to do his work well. I find his insecurities very human and relatable.
Commander Pitt goes about gathering information and dealing with what he learns in a compassionate way I feel he should really be prouder of. I wish he was more relaxed about his character and abilities. The thorough understanding of people’s nature is probably a result of his experience as a police detective. I enjoy following his thought process throughout the story as it seems to include a mix of ethical and philosophical deliberations probably adjusting him to his new position at Special Branch.
Charlotte Pitt is born into High Society and understands the intricacies, mannerisms and codes of behavior among the upper crust. She helps her husband gather information he would otherwise not have been privy to and doesn’t want him to carry the burden of what he finds out on his own. Charlotte doesn’t want to look the other way faced with tough and dangerous issues and has helped her husband with investigations before. She wants to contribute to justice for whoever needs it and makes sure her husband doesn’t get too daunted by the enormity of his job. Does Thomas Pitt have the perfect wife or what? I find her totally admirable.
Emily Radley, Charlotte’s younger; sister takes part in the investigation when information from Society is needed. Together they sift through all the gossip for snippets of information that may be useful to the investigation and passes it on to Pitt. They go to parties and social gatherings where they conduct verbal fencing worthy any politician.
With every book I read by Anne Perry, I enjoy new aspects of her writing. There are such detailed local descriptions of London at the time, which I find totally fascinating Murder on the Serpentine gives vivid descriptions of people’s reactions and feelings as well as how they looked and dressed. We get glimpses into the way the characters lived, both the affluent and working-class, like The Pitt family. All this makes the writing come alive in a unique way very few authors can replicate. I’m so drawn into the plot, I’m lost to this world for hours while I find out who the culprit is.
There is an unexpected learning experience about human relations and communication skills from reading Murder on the Serpentine. I would so much have enjoyed a few conversations with Commander Pitt in person, if indeed he were real. Enormous amounts of research must have gone into crafting his and other characters for this series as they seem so multi layered and real.
There is this impressive, whole universe of reoccurring characters who make larger or smaller appearances in every book, and who are all fascinating. I really appreciate that the plot includes small background stories to complement the main plot, so new readers may catch up on what part characters have played in previous installments. Ideally, I should have read the series in order, but I first happened upon Anne Perry’s Christmas novellas. After that I seem to have jumped back and forth a bit. It is great to read them as standalones, but I have decided to go back and start with #1 in order to fully appreciate the story line running through the whole Charlotte & Thomas Pitt series.
Murder on the Serpentine is recommended for a fan of Anne Perry’s other work. There really is plenty to choose from. Readers of crime fiction or historical crime fiction will enjoy Murder on the Serpentine too. All opinions in this review are completely my own.
September 7, 2018
Anne Perry's novel Murder on the Serpentine is the final book in the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series. An investigative inquiry by the head of Special Branch, Thomas Pitt, is secretly begun at the bidding of Queen Victoria regarding the death of her appointed agent, Sir Halberd, who had vital information about the security of the nation and about the heir to the crown. As the truth of Halberd's death emerges, another brutal death occurs, assumed to be a suicide. Thomas Pitt has had an upstanding, respected, virtuous, and honest reputation as a former policeman and now as Special Branch head he wants to uphold his reputation and self-respect. He finds that now he must match wits with some people of the highest class of society and has to use methods of persuasion that are antipathetic to his moral viewpoint. The Victorian era upper class society is for the most part depicted as dishonest, jealous, gossipy, adulterous and extortionist. The upstanding citizens that do exist within this class are quickly disparaged by their peers even when truths of a situation are not really known. While Pitt is struggling with the promised secrecy and methods used to investigate, his wife, Charlotte, "disobeys" her husband's warnings and begins her own methods of discovery. In the end, the mystery comes together and loose ends connected. The villain receives his just reward. Thomas and Charlotte Pitt also receive their just reward from Queen Victoria and her future heir. Thomas and Charlotte's long, loving marriage and journey together is touchingly maintained throughout all of Perry's books and their emotional ties and commitment are especially poignant in this book. Some parts toward the middle of the book become slow moving with the investigation and some repetition of ideas/sentiments, but the end is satisfying.
February 7, 2017
3.5 stars
I have read the Pitt series for years now. I haven't read them all but most of them and enjoyed them. Aunt Vesepia is my favorite character and she was missing from the book. She was on her honeymoon trip with her new husband, Lord Narraway, and the book was missing her unique flavor. Still it's fun to catch up with old friends.
Pitt is summoned by Queen Victoria to investigate the death of Lord Halberd who was doing an investigation for her. He was checking out one of the Prince of Wales friends, Kendrick. The Queen wanted to find out more about Halberd's death and, of course, about Kendrick. As the head of the Special Branch, Pitt sets out to investigate.
Here's what I didn't like about this book:
1. Charlotte is so whiny. She wants to be involved in the investigation and Pitt tries to keep her out as it is State Business and not entertainment for Charlotte. She was down right annoying.
2. Pitt just goes on and on about the morality of his position. What things will he do to accomplish his mission? Please. He's been at the Special Branch now for years. These problems should have been ironed out by now. Stop it. It goes on and on.
3. Pitt is a blabbermouth. On his supposedly secret mission, he involves his brother-in-law, Lord Causeway, his sergeant, and eventually Charlotte who involves her sister, Emily. I'm not sure I want him protecting state secrets.
What I did like:
1. I love the Pitts and the depiction of the times in that era.
2. The introduction of a new agent who looks to be fun.
3. The mystery itself was quite fascinating. It's nice to see how betting on horses can lead to trouble in the Boer War.
I'll keep reading this series but, please, give Charlotte a life of her own.
Thanks to Net Galley for the book in exchange for a fair review.
I have read the Pitt series for years now. I haven't read them all but most of them and enjoyed them. Aunt Vesepia is my favorite character and she was missing from the book. She was on her honeymoon trip with her new husband, Lord Narraway, and the book was missing her unique flavor. Still it's fun to catch up with old friends.
Pitt is summoned by Queen Victoria to investigate the death of Lord Halberd who was doing an investigation for her. He was checking out one of the Prince of Wales friends, Kendrick. The Queen wanted to find out more about Halberd's death and, of course, about Kendrick. As the head of the Special Branch, Pitt sets out to investigate.
Here's what I didn't like about this book:
1. Charlotte is so whiny. She wants to be involved in the investigation and Pitt tries to keep her out as it is State Business and not entertainment for Charlotte. She was down right annoying.
2. Pitt just goes on and on about the morality of his position. What things will he do to accomplish his mission? Please. He's been at the Special Branch now for years. These problems should have been ironed out by now. Stop it. It goes on and on.
3. Pitt is a blabbermouth. On his supposedly secret mission, he involves his brother-in-law, Lord Causeway, his sergeant, and eventually Charlotte who involves her sister, Emily. I'm not sure I want him protecting state secrets.
What I did like:
1. I love the Pitts and the depiction of the times in that era.
2. The introduction of a new agent who looks to be fun.
3. The mystery itself was quite fascinating. It's nice to see how betting on horses can lead to trouble in the Boer War.
I'll keep reading this series but, please, give Charlotte a life of her own.
Thanks to Net Galley for the book in exchange for a fair review.
December 31, 2017
Murder on the Serpentine is book #32 in the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. I have read couple other books by Anne Perry, and I did not like them. However, I enjoy reading Murder on the Serpentine, and I will go back and read another book from this series. Readers of Murder on the Serpentine will follow Commander Thomas Pitt and his wife Charlotte to find out who killed Queen Victoria's friend killed on the Serpentine. I enjoy the way Commander Thomas Pitt use his knowledge as a policeman and head of Special Branch to help his son who was protecting someone else who was cheating in class but took the blame.
The characters of Murder on the Serpentine was brilliantly portrayed and entwine with each other by Anne Perry. Reading Murder on the Serpentine, you will learn about the intrigue in high society in London during Queen Victoria time. Also, about the problems that you encountered when you change to a different law enforcement agency. I recommend this book.
The characters of Murder on the Serpentine was brilliantly portrayed and entwine with each other by Anne Perry. Reading Murder on the Serpentine, you will learn about the intrigue in high society in London during Queen Victoria time. Also, about the problems that you encountered when you change to a different law enforcement agency. I recommend this book.
February 12, 2018
Apparently the last book before the series goes in a new direction, focussing on the next generation during the Edwardian era.
A nobleman is mysteriously drowned in The Serpentine, and Her Majesty asks Pitt to look into the matter. He finds the nobleman was sticking his nose into very unpleasant business indeed.
Not bad, if a bit indirect in prose.
A nobleman is mysteriously drowned in The Serpentine, and Her Majesty asks Pitt to look into the matter. He finds the nobleman was sticking his nose into very unpleasant business indeed.
Not bad, if a bit indirect in prose.
March 21, 2022
Hacía muchísimos años que no leía una de las historias del inspector Pitt de Anne Perry. Durante años estuve enganchada y cada año me compraba el último libro, pero luego lo dejé y me dio pereza retomar. ¡Qué tonta! Con lo que he disfrutado siempre de estas historias de intriga ambientadas en la época victoriana. En esta ocasión, la trama de misterio no ha sido la que más me ha gustado, pero sigue siendo un placer adentrarse en el Londres de finales del XIX de la mano de una autora que no se puede negar que es magnífica en la documentación y la ambientación.
March 30, 2017
I can't believe this is episode number 32 of the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series...and they keep getting better. Thomas is enjoying, I use the term with tongue planted in cheek, his promotion to Commander where he's no longer on the police force but in charge of handling evermore volatile crimes that affect the countries relations internal politics and England's standing worldwide. Any misstep he or his staff make could have serious impact. Sadly, due to the nature of the crimes he can no longer share his investigations with Charlotte or at least not officially but knowing Charlotte that does not keep her from deducing who and what is involved and how she and her sister Emily can "help", it also leaves Pitt feeling isolated.
I don't want to give away any specifics but this book had me pondering how Perry's writing can be characterized. There aren't any bangs or whistles or carriage crashes that take place yet her mysteries are serious and deal with realistic events. And even though they entail lots of details of the Pitt's home life they sure cant be called cozies. They're rather a blend of the two styles, the realism of still timely issues and the strongly character driven plots has kept me coming back for the last thirty years of Perry's writing.
Thanks to the publisher for providing and e-copy.
I don't want to give away any specifics but this book had me pondering how Perry's writing can be characterized. There aren't any bangs or whistles or carriage crashes that take place yet her mysteries are serious and deal with realistic events. And even though they entail lots of details of the Pitt's home life they sure cant be called cozies. They're rather a blend of the two styles, the realism of still timely issues and the strongly character driven plots has kept me coming back for the last thirty years of Perry's writing.
Thanks to the publisher for providing and e-copy.
April 23, 2017
Having read many of these, maybe most- this one was, for me, an advancement and kept my interest all the way to the finish. Series fare and especially this Victorian period in England, they seldom do either. Most of the time Charlotte and Thomas equate to a 3 and a rather easy candy read after all is told. This one was more cutting and held more talk, less action, and yet sliced to a deeper layer within each individual featured. The Pitts, themselves- and their favorite couple who are "away" on the continent vacationing on a trek to Greece and Sicily (you hear more about V. & N. when they are gone then you did when they were present and complacent in the plot). The Pitt kids are background invisible totally in this, other than Daniel changing his language from Latin to German. But Charlotte's sister Emily takes nearly central stage. As do her clothes.
Because fashion and the highest classes feature first, second and foremost throughout this entire read. Including our Queen and her oldest male offspring, just a short time from becoming Edward VII. And one of the few particulars that I did NOT enjoy was that the reader is constantly reminded that Thomas truly belongs in the stables and not in the drawing room addressing the club men. Yes, we know he was a charity schooling case through his father's employer's patronage. That and Charlotte's constant need to prove connection and initiative within her marriage while apologizing for the form of it- those aspects are universal repeaters in this series. Not a bad thing for most, but for myself- I do not like constant reminders. We readers of series, are not that opaque. Or is it the word count per $$$?
Regardless, this one is a 3 star for the first half and then just about page 160 or so it soars. It becomes not politico only, but also espionage and double agent worthy. And it had some twists that I didn't see coming at all, on top of it. It's a real plus for the entire read, to have this occur. In genre of copper, mystery, grit. or cozy- the who-dun-it, I find, is usually and almost always for me- the other way around. First half dishy, second half tricky and usually unimaginative. This one? No, exactly the opposite.
And if you are of the fashion and trend crowd- this one gushes with Charlotte borrowing clothes from her fashion plate sister (getting around the weight and height differences explained too). And it ends with everybody having to get dressed to the teeth for the tour de force.
So do not forget your gems, jewels, furs (despite it being the end of summer) and fresh flowers are absolutely required hair wear.
Good progression to the family and extended household help picture too! But I wanted to hear a little more about their former maid's new marriage and family. One middle class and upwardly mobile married young establishment coming up sometime in #33 or #34?
You really got to hand it to her, even with the numerous redundancies of "connection" and introducing new progressive features into the picture all the time (we are on the verge of Charlotte doing the suffrage starve soon?)- she can really pour out these plots. Or no, it will probably be an anorexic Jemima starving for the vote?
Queen Victoria in her last couple of years must have really been beyond miserable. In reality, she had to be.
Because fashion and the highest classes feature first, second and foremost throughout this entire read. Including our Queen and her oldest male offspring, just a short time from becoming Edward VII. And one of the few particulars that I did NOT enjoy was that the reader is constantly reminded that Thomas truly belongs in the stables and not in the drawing room addressing the club men. Yes, we know he was a charity schooling case through his father's employer's patronage. That and Charlotte's constant need to prove connection and initiative within her marriage while apologizing for the form of it- those aspects are universal repeaters in this series. Not a bad thing for most, but for myself- I do not like constant reminders. We readers of series, are not that opaque. Or is it the word count per $$$?
Regardless, this one is a 3 star for the first half and then just about page 160 or so it soars. It becomes not politico only, but also espionage and double agent worthy. And it had some twists that I didn't see coming at all, on top of it. It's a real plus for the entire read, to have this occur. In genre of copper, mystery, grit. or cozy- the who-dun-it, I find, is usually and almost always for me- the other way around. First half dishy, second half tricky and usually unimaginative. This one? No, exactly the opposite.
And if you are of the fashion and trend crowd- this one gushes with Charlotte borrowing clothes from her fashion plate sister (getting around the weight and height differences explained too). And it ends with everybody having to get dressed to the teeth for the tour de force.
So do not forget your gems, jewels, furs (despite it being the end of summer) and fresh flowers are absolutely required hair wear.
Good progression to the family and extended household help picture too! But I wanted to hear a little more about their former maid's new marriage and family. One middle class and upwardly mobile married young establishment coming up sometime in #33 or #34?
You really got to hand it to her, even with the numerous redundancies of "connection" and introducing new progressive features into the picture all the time (we are on the verge of Charlotte doing the suffrage starve soon?)- she can really pour out these plots. Or no, it will probably be an anorexic Jemima starving for the vote?
Queen Victoria in her last couple of years must have really been beyond miserable. In reality, she had to be.
March 6, 2017
Commander Thomas Pitt gets set onto his latest case by none other than the queen herself. This quickened my interest and had me eager to be along with Pitt and Charlotte as they hunted down the truth. Pitt's case is two-fold. He must determine if a death of a man in a pleasure boat was accident or murder and he must find out what the man knew about one of the Prince's rising star friends.
Murder on the Serpentine was more quiet and cunning rather than heart-stopping intensity. I loved how it returned to the feel of the older books for this middle-aged husband and wife detecting team. In the last several books, Pitt's cases were getting away from team detecting because Charlotte couldn't help with spies and anarchist issues, but this one took things back into the world that Charlotte and her sister Emily know well- drawing room and garden parties where the real clues are to be found among the aristocracy.
It was also reminiscent of the early years of their marriage when they had to work to make a class-difference relationship and two strong personalities with stronger opinions really work as they solved Pitt's cases. In this one, Charlotte is having a mid-life crisis moment of 'does he still love me? See me as attractive?' and 'have I become boring and predictable?' Pitt is having his own crisis involving conscious as he must determine if the ends justify the means with the ‘good of the many outweighing the needs of the one’ sort of thing with his position of Commander of Special Branch. It was interesting exploring these personal plot threads alongside the actual mystery.
Now if there was a part that was a wee bit disappointing- and I do mean minor- it was that the actual murderer and reason came out well early of the end. This was on purpose and happened well after much work was done to find the truth, but I missed that never knowing feeling and big twists to give me the aha at the end. This one becomes more a thing about how to get the perpetrator particularly since things must be kept discreet with the royal family involved.
As is always the case, this book was loaded with authentic historical detail on high Victorian society, British world affairs like the fear and warmongering between the Boer Wars, the rising power of Germany, and the latter days of Victoria's reign. Neat to see the forensics and ways of police work at the time for Pitt's part of the story and also fascinating to get Charlotte's side as she navigates drawing room afternoons with other ladies and attends a woman's club for women serious about women's rights.
This author's gift is allowing the reader to get to know the cast of characters through and through with their strengths and flaws so motives and actions become as intriguing as the mystery itself which is rolled up with these character studies.
In summary, this was another grand installment and I loved that fun surprise at the end of this one and look forward to seeing how it will affect the future books of the series. While, I think a reader could pick up any story in the series and enjoy it as a standalone mystery for the most part, personally I recommend getting them in order because the series is very much about the characters ongoing stories that carry through and there will be multiple references to the past and other regular characters. Either way, I can recommend these who enjoy a strong character-driven and historical authentic feel to a husband and wife detective series.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Murder on the Serpentine was more quiet and cunning rather than heart-stopping intensity. I loved how it returned to the feel of the older books for this middle-aged husband and wife detecting team. In the last several books, Pitt's cases were getting away from team detecting because Charlotte couldn't help with spies and anarchist issues, but this one took things back into the world that Charlotte and her sister Emily know well- drawing room and garden parties where the real clues are to be found among the aristocracy.
It was also reminiscent of the early years of their marriage when they had to work to make a class-difference relationship and two strong personalities with stronger opinions really work as they solved Pitt's cases. In this one, Charlotte is having a mid-life crisis moment of 'does he still love me? See me as attractive?' and 'have I become boring and predictable?' Pitt is having his own crisis involving conscious as he must determine if the ends justify the means with the ‘good of the many outweighing the needs of the one’ sort of thing with his position of Commander of Special Branch. It was interesting exploring these personal plot threads alongside the actual mystery.
Now if there was a part that was a wee bit disappointing- and I do mean minor- it was that the actual murderer and reason came out well early of the end. This was on purpose and happened well after much work was done to find the truth, but I missed that never knowing feeling and big twists to give me the aha at the end. This one becomes more a thing about how to get the perpetrator particularly since things must be kept discreet with the royal family involved.
As is always the case, this book was loaded with authentic historical detail on high Victorian society, British world affairs like the fear and warmongering between the Boer Wars, the rising power of Germany, and the latter days of Victoria's reign. Neat to see the forensics and ways of police work at the time for Pitt's part of the story and also fascinating to get Charlotte's side as she navigates drawing room afternoons with other ladies and attends a woman's club for women serious about women's rights.
This author's gift is allowing the reader to get to know the cast of characters through and through with their strengths and flaws so motives and actions become as intriguing as the mystery itself which is rolled up with these character studies.
In summary, this was another grand installment and I loved that fun surprise at the end of this one and look forward to seeing how it will affect the future books of the series. While, I think a reader could pick up any story in the series and enjoy it as a standalone mystery for the most part, personally I recommend getting them in order because the series is very much about the characters ongoing stories that carry through and there will be multiple references to the past and other regular characters. Either way, I can recommend these who enjoy a strong character-driven and historical authentic feel to a husband and wife detective series.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2017
For complete review check out my blog at https://booksaplentybookreviews.blogs...
June 4, 2020
I had wondered, when I saw that Perry had turned to writing about Daniel Pitt, if this was the last of the Thomas and Charlotte novels, and it seems that it is! The ending was delightfully satisfying, which will make parting (or at least, moving on to the Daniel books) so much less sorrowful. The mystery itself was interesting in that you pretty much knew from the first chapter who had done something bad, but it took a while to figure out why, which was very interesting. I do wish one of the deaths hadn't happened because . . . well, it just seemed unnecessarily harsh.
Also, how is Somerset Carlisle still just walking around? He like, stole and defiled bodies for attention the year before. And now Pitt's all, You know who is great at helping? Somerset Carlisle! Pitt, my man, Carlisle is insane, you know that, right? On the other hand, he's a wealthy Member of Parliament. So it's probably pretty realistic that he's still just walking around, throwing parties, drinking whiskey, and gossiping about state secrets.
Also, how is Somerset Carlisle still just walking around? He like, stole and defiled bodies for attention the year before. And now Pitt's all, You know who is great at helping? Somerset Carlisle! Pitt, my man, Carlisle is insane, you know that, right? On the other hand, he's a wealthy Member of Parliament. So it's probably pretty realistic that he's still just walking around, throwing parties, drinking whiskey, and gossiping about state secrets.
March 14, 2017
Death and intrigue in high places.
In this novel Pitt finds himself undertaking a mission for Queen Victoria. One that could have grave consequences for the Prince of Wales and the future of the monarchy.
We meet some interesting new characters along with old friends.
A boating accident on the Serpentine, 'a decorative stretch of water that curved across the middle of Hyde Park.' In the dead of night of a trusted and favoured courtier of the Queen's--Sir John Halberd drowns. This leads to Pitt being called before the highest figure in the land. His task, to discreetly continue the inquiries Halberd had undertaken for the Queen and to discover the truth behind the boating 'accident.' It seems embroiled in the affair is Delia Kendrick, a former mistress of the Prince of Wales and now wife to one of his closet friends.
For me a huge part of the intrigue of this novel lies in the emotional and psychological struggle that Pitt has to come to terms with. We see him wrestle with his conscience and ideals as he fully assumes the mantle of Commander of Special Branch. Trying to formulate the ways between honourable behaviour and necessity for the good of all. A very rocky path.
Victor Narraway and Vespasia are out of the country. Normally Pitt would consult Victor when the action moves into the upper stratosphere of high society. Now Pitt has to rely on his own resources and Victor's notebooks.
Looming on the horizon is the possibility of a second Boer War. Murder, suicide and gun running are in the mix.
Charlotte cannot enter so readily into Pitt's cases--these are now concerned with State secrets and anarchy. She does however do what she can.
I find her inclusion into the Lady's Club and murmurs of the suffragette movement interesting. Ah, if that came to pass that could open up a whole lot of possibilities, even conflicts for Pitt and Charlotte. But I digress!
Another fascinating addition to the Pitt collection.
A NetGalley ARC
In this novel Pitt finds himself undertaking a mission for Queen Victoria. One that could have grave consequences for the Prince of Wales and the future of the monarchy.
We meet some interesting new characters along with old friends.
A boating accident on the Serpentine, 'a decorative stretch of water that curved across the middle of Hyde Park.' In the dead of night of a trusted and favoured courtier of the Queen's--Sir John Halberd drowns. This leads to Pitt being called before the highest figure in the land. His task, to discreetly continue the inquiries Halberd had undertaken for the Queen and to discover the truth behind the boating 'accident.' It seems embroiled in the affair is Delia Kendrick, a former mistress of the Prince of Wales and now wife to one of his closet friends.
For me a huge part of the intrigue of this novel lies in the emotional and psychological struggle that Pitt has to come to terms with. We see him wrestle with his conscience and ideals as he fully assumes the mantle of Commander of Special Branch. Trying to formulate the ways between honourable behaviour and necessity for the good of all. A very rocky path.
Victor Narraway and Vespasia are out of the country. Normally Pitt would consult Victor when the action moves into the upper stratosphere of high society. Now Pitt has to rely on his own resources and Victor's notebooks.
Looming on the horizon is the possibility of a second Boer War. Murder, suicide and gun running are in the mix.
Charlotte cannot enter so readily into Pitt's cases--these are now concerned with State secrets and anarchy. She does however do what she can.
I find her inclusion into the Lady's Club and murmurs of the suffragette movement interesting. Ah, if that came to pass that could open up a whole lot of possibilities, even conflicts for Pitt and Charlotte. But I digress!
Another fascinating addition to the Pitt collection.
A NetGalley ARC
January 20, 2025
This is probably the last Pitt book, so my four star review is cumulative to the series, and I consider this to be a series review. If you haven't read these books, please consider this review as a spoiler.
This is the sort of series I relish, with characters who grow and change and become very real. The crimes/mysteries are important, but a clever plot with flat characters doesn't make for a Good Re-Read! These do.
We start in The Cater Street Hangman with the brash, fairly young police Inspector, Thomas Pitt, and with Charlotte Ellison, the daughter of a rich banker, not nobility, but gentry. Twenty years later in this book, Pitt has progressed up the ranks, lost his position with the police, become an agent for Special Branch (terrorism), and here, is Commander of Special Branch, trying to solve a murder personally for Queen Victoria.
We've watched Pitt and Charlotte raise a family, and move up the social scale from fairly basic living to Victorian (soon to be Edwardian) comfort. We've watched the Pitts' maid, Gracie, go from being a scruffy scrap to a married woman with children of her own, and the evolution of her husband, Samuel Tellman, into a truly great policeman. We've seen Charlotte's sister Emily (who with Charlotte has meddled in many a Pitt case) marry nobility, become a widow, and find true love the second time around, their mother Caroline embark on a socially daring marriage to a younger man, and learned why Grandmama Mariah is such an unhappy old lady. And we've seen the Pitt children grow up--Perry is now moving on to a series of novels about Daniel as an adult.
My biggest quibble with the series is continuity. In the last book Perry seems to forget the children's ages (at the end they seem to be 4 years apart instead of 2) and she talks about memories in their Keppel Street house when Jemima was little, when they'd moved in when she was at least 6 or 7, and other events seem to be revised randomly. And then there is Vespasia.
Ah, Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould, Perry's own favorite character and the favorite of many a reader. She was probably born circa 1818 or even earlier, because her history recalls her having fought with the revolutionaries of Europe in 1848 "as a young woman." She also remembers victories of the Napoleonic wars--as a young child it is stated, but none the less, those dates are fixed in history. Most of the early books note how old she is, and even speak of her increasing frailty and how everyone will miss her when she is gone.
But then, apparently either Vespasia takes up with vampires, or finds the Fountain of Youth, or something such. Because suddenly she is no more than in her 60s and finds romance with Victor Narroway, who seems to be anywhere from 50 to 65! It's weird, and disquieting.
The fact that I note this and it upsets me tells its own tale. I love these books, this was at least my 5th or 6th re-reading of the series, and each time I feel as if I had visited friends that I care about.
And I will forgive Perry the lapses in exchange for the joys this series continues to hold for me.
2025:1One last note about this particular book: Queen Victoria and everyone else refer to the Prince of Wales as "Edward," and they wouldn't have. He was Albert Edward, generally known as "Bertie," and Queen Victoria expected that he would take the throne as Albert Edward. Instead, he chose to be crowned as Edward the 7th. But he did not declare this until after Victoria's death, just before his coronation. I know this is a quibble, but Perry was such a good historian that this bugs me every time I read it.
This is the sort of series I relish, with characters who grow and change and become very real. The crimes/mysteries are important, but a clever plot with flat characters doesn't make for a Good Re-Read! These do.
We start in The Cater Street Hangman with the brash, fairly young police Inspector, Thomas Pitt, and with Charlotte Ellison, the daughter of a rich banker, not nobility, but gentry. Twenty years later in this book, Pitt has progressed up the ranks, lost his position with the police, become an agent for Special Branch (terrorism), and here, is Commander of Special Branch, trying to solve a murder personally for Queen Victoria.
We've watched Pitt and Charlotte raise a family, and move up the social scale from fairly basic living to Victorian (soon to be Edwardian) comfort. We've watched the Pitts' maid, Gracie, go from being a scruffy scrap to a married woman with children of her own, and the evolution of her husband, Samuel Tellman, into a truly great policeman. We've seen Charlotte's sister Emily (who with Charlotte has meddled in many a Pitt case) marry nobility, become a widow, and find true love the second time around, their mother Caroline embark on a socially daring marriage to a younger man, and learned why Grandmama Mariah is such an unhappy old lady. And we've seen the Pitt children grow up--Perry is now moving on to a series of novels about Daniel as an adult.
My biggest quibble with the series is continuity. In the last book Perry seems to forget the children's ages (at the end they seem to be 4 years apart instead of 2) and she talks about memories in their Keppel Street house when Jemima was little, when they'd moved in when she was at least 6 or 7, and other events seem to be revised randomly. And then there is Vespasia.
Ah, Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould, Perry's own favorite character and the favorite of many a reader. She was probably born circa 1818 or even earlier, because her history recalls her having fought with the revolutionaries of Europe in 1848 "as a young woman." She also remembers victories of the Napoleonic wars--as a young child it is stated, but none the less, those dates are fixed in history. Most of the early books note how old she is, and even speak of her increasing frailty and how everyone will miss her when she is gone.
But then, apparently either Vespasia takes up with vampires, or finds the Fountain of Youth, or something such. Because suddenly she is no more than in her 60s and finds romance with Victor Narroway, who seems to be anywhere from 50 to 65! It's weird, and disquieting.
The fact that I note this and it upsets me tells its own tale. I love these books, this was at least my 5th or 6th re-reading of the series, and each time I feel as if I had visited friends that I care about.
And I will forgive Perry the lapses in exchange for the joys this series continues to hold for me.
2025:1One last note about this particular book: Queen Victoria and everyone else refer to the Prince of Wales as "Edward," and they wouldn't have. He was Albert Edward, generally known as "Bertie," and Queen Victoria expected that he would take the throne as Albert Edward. Instead, he chose to be crowned as Edward the 7th. But he did not declare this until after Victoria's death, just before his coronation. I know this is a quibble, but Perry was such a good historian that this bugs me every time I read it.
February 14, 2022
Abandonado.
April 6, 2017
First Sentence: The man stood in front of Thomas Pitt in the untidy office, papers all over the desk from half a dozen cases Pitt was working on.
Queen Victoria summons Commander Thomas Pitt to investigate the murder of her confidant, Sir John Hilberd. Sir John had been looking into the influence Alan Kendrick, a horse-racing enthusiast, might have on Victoria’s son, the Prince of Wales and, perhaps, prove a danger to the monarchy.
Perry so perfectly creates the environment of the time, the constraints and social restrictions on men and women, and the division of the classes—“Aunt Vespasia calls all her maids Gwen, regardless of what their names really are. I don’t think they mind.” Perry’s details are exacting, right down to the way we imagine Queen Victoria might sound.
This is a time when Germany and the Kaiser are looking at expanding their power. That the Pitt’s son, Daniel, realizes this and wants to study German, looking at a possible career in the diplomatic service, is interesting and a possible bridge to the series’ future.
The Boar War, and that there were actually two Boar Wars, isn’t something about which most know very much. While this doesn’t go into the war, it focused a bit on the lead up to it. It deals with the issue of the greed of men, and on trading connections for profit.
For those who follow the series, it is nice to see Charlotte and her sister, Emily, working together again to help Pitt in his investigation. Perry’s descriptions of fashion and food provide us a true sense of place and time, as do the inclusions of actual historical events and the social issues of the time.
“Murder on the Serpentine” is a very good entry into and excellent series. Redemption is a theme which runs through the series. The manner in which the villain is dealt with is satisfactory and very effective, and the ending particularly gratifying.
MURDER ON THE SERPENTINE (Pol Proc-Thomas/Charlotte Pitt-England-Victorian)-VG
Perry, Anne – 32nd in series
Ballentine Books – March, 2017
Queen Victoria summons Commander Thomas Pitt to investigate the murder of her confidant, Sir John Hilberd. Sir John had been looking into the influence Alan Kendrick, a horse-racing enthusiast, might have on Victoria’s son, the Prince of Wales and, perhaps, prove a danger to the monarchy.
Perry so perfectly creates the environment of the time, the constraints and social restrictions on men and women, and the division of the classes—“Aunt Vespasia calls all her maids Gwen, regardless of what their names really are. I don’t think they mind.” Perry’s details are exacting, right down to the way we imagine Queen Victoria might sound.
This is a time when Germany and the Kaiser are looking at expanding their power. That the Pitt’s son, Daniel, realizes this and wants to study German, looking at a possible career in the diplomatic service, is interesting and a possible bridge to the series’ future.
The Boar War, and that there were actually two Boar Wars, isn’t something about which most know very much. While this doesn’t go into the war, it focused a bit on the lead up to it. It deals with the issue of the greed of men, and on trading connections for profit.
For those who follow the series, it is nice to see Charlotte and her sister, Emily, working together again to help Pitt in his investigation. Perry’s descriptions of fashion and food provide us a true sense of place and time, as do the inclusions of actual historical events and the social issues of the time.
“Murder on the Serpentine” is a very good entry into and excellent series. Redemption is a theme which runs through the series. The manner in which the villain is dealt with is satisfactory and very effective, and the ending particularly gratifying.
MURDER ON THE SERPENTINE (Pol Proc-Thomas/Charlotte Pitt-England-Victorian)-VG
Perry, Anne – 32nd in series
Ballentine Books – March, 2017
April 13, 2017
I’ve read many of the Ann Perry Thomas Pitt novels and have loved them all. One of the things I appreciate most about her writing is that she is always bang on with the details of the period – the dress, the manners and mannerisms, divisions among the social classes and the restrictions between the sexes, just to name a few.
In this story, Thomas is pulled in by none other than the grieving Queen of England herself, and then sworn to secrecy … to all. This leaves Thomas out on his own, unable to rely on his usually trusty tired and true colleagues and network of friends and family. However, Charlotte, Thomas’ wife, knows her husband far too well. After an abnormally fast invitation to and attendance to a social event, one Thomas would ordinarily avoid, Charlotte notices Thomas is in investigator mode, and that he’s worried. Knowing she can’t ask, and he can’t tell anything about a case in his new role, she’s left contacting her sister Emily as a way back into the society role to gain access to people who might have information about the death of a very dear friend of the Queen, Halberd, under unusual circumstances.
Thomas and his small crew determine that there was indeed foul play on the Serpentine and that Halberd was likely the victim of murder.
The trail is complex, the story intriguing and the characters delightful and true. It is always such a pleasure to travel back in time on a thrilling adventure of mystery and discovery with Ann Perry.
A very special thank you to the Publisher, Ann Perry and to NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy – much appreciated!
In this story, Thomas is pulled in by none other than the grieving Queen of England herself, and then sworn to secrecy … to all. This leaves Thomas out on his own, unable to rely on his usually trusty tired and true colleagues and network of friends and family. However, Charlotte, Thomas’ wife, knows her husband far too well. After an abnormally fast invitation to and attendance to a social event, one Thomas would ordinarily avoid, Charlotte notices Thomas is in investigator mode, and that he’s worried. Knowing she can’t ask, and he can’t tell anything about a case in his new role, she’s left contacting her sister Emily as a way back into the society role to gain access to people who might have information about the death of a very dear friend of the Queen, Halberd, under unusual circumstances.
Thomas and his small crew determine that there was indeed foul play on the Serpentine and that Halberd was likely the victim of murder.
The trail is complex, the story intriguing and the characters delightful and true. It is always such a pleasure to travel back in time on a thrilling adventure of mystery and discovery with Ann Perry.
A very special thank you to the Publisher, Ann Perry and to NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy – much appreciated!
February 25, 2017
This is the 32nd Thomas and Charlotte Pitt book. That in itself is an amazing feat. I must say that I have not read these books in a while but I do enjoy them. This one was particularly enticing. They are mysteries so I won't say too much about what is happening. Just know that Thomas is asked to find out just who murdered a very nice and well liked gentleman. He is commissioned by the Queen herself. Oh...that would be Queen Victoria! Her request is top secret and Thomas is a bit obsessed with all of the mystery surrounding this death. Everyone really just wants it to "go away" but Thomas is unlikely to let that happen. Thomas always has help from his lovely and very perceptive wife...Emily. In this case he is keeping information from her but she is quietly helping her anyway.
Characters were rich and interesting...storyline was really good...readers who love quaint English mysteries should love this one!
Characters were rich and interesting...storyline was really good...readers who love quaint English mysteries should love this one!
March 6, 2019
Maybe a 3.5 for old time's sake.
Thomas and Charlotte have been great companions,for me through 32 (!) books but I think I'm happy im at the end. This particular one could have been half as long but for the constant angst Thomas has about not measuring up or being too cruel or whether Narraway was cruel etc.etc.etc. And the rehashing of Charlotte's past help and how he can't share his cases with her. It's almost as if Perry was summarizing for the last of the series. I suppose we can assume,since there's now a Daniel Pitt book, that this is the last of this series. The ending was quite gratifying after all these many mysteries.
Thomas and Charlotte have been great companions,for me through 32 (!) books but I think I'm happy im at the end. This particular one could have been half as long but for the constant angst Thomas has about not measuring up or being too cruel or whether Narraway was cruel etc.etc.etc. And the rehashing of Charlotte's past help and how he can't share his cases with her. It's almost as if Perry was summarizing for the last of the series. I suppose we can assume,since there's now a Daniel Pitt book, that this is the last of this series. The ending was quite gratifying after all these many mysteries.
April 10, 2017
I always enjoy an Anne Perry book. This one had many details to follow, without the usual help. The queen requests Pitts help, after learning of her dear friends death. This started a long ,and crooked path, concerning spies, illicit affairs, children that were born on the,wrong side of the blanket, to the very wealthy, and more murder. I missed the usual banter between Pitt, and Charlotte, and they seem to walk on egg shells around each other. The pairing of Emily, and Charlotte together was great fun, but I missed her famous aunt. Narroway was not there to advise pit, so he had to reach out to other for help, and to discuss possible concerns. I thought it drug a bit, but was a steady read. I have read every book, and when I am twenty pages from the end, and the plot is,wrapping up, I am sad. The,end of the book was perfect..I will look forward to book thirty three.
March 23, 2017
I am still reading this series, but it is not my favorite. The themes and emotional preoccupations tend to be repetitive, and the dialogue is rarely subtle and fairly often overwrought. (Perhaps over-the-top insults were part of the culture of late Victorian England, though I have no particular reason to think so -- but if that's the case, it's an example of how truth does not always make the most convincing fiction.)
I do, however, enjoy Thomas and Charlotte Pitt and Charlotte's sister Emily as characters, and we get to spend a good deal of time with them here. I've also become more interested recently in Queen Victoria, who (odd though this sounds, in a way) plays a supporting role. And the resolution of the plot includes a particularly deft and daring way of handling a difficult dilemma.
I do, however, enjoy Thomas and Charlotte Pitt and Charlotte's sister Emily as characters, and we get to spend a good deal of time with them here. I've also become more interested recently in Queen Victoria, who (odd though this sounds, in a way) plays a supporting role. And the resolution of the plot includes a particularly deft and daring way of handling a difficult dilemma.
October 17, 2018
I always find this series to be well-written but a bit pedestrian. Perry has obviously done her research on this era and the characters are well-drawn but I just find the series to be on the dull side. One reason for this is that everyone is either really unbelievably well-meaning or absolutely nasty. There seems to be no in-between and I find it hard to believe that so many questioned, as they do in this book, the blatant jingoism and imperialism of the Victorian age. It's all so bloodless which is strange, or perhaps not strange, given Perry's own personal history. I am not trying to be disrespectful of someone who obviously has paid her dues. I just don't find any probing dissections of the human psyche here. All of a sameness to me as if she wants to convince us to believe in the milk
of human kindness.And too much agonizing and breast-beating going on here.
of human kindness.And too much agonizing and breast-beating going on here.
August 15, 2018
I really didn’t want this one to end, but it was the best possible ending, so there’s that. <3
The next book, which shows up as #33, is about Daniel, who’s the Pitt’s son. I’m disappointed, because I thought there was one more devoted just to Charlotte and Thomas, but it’s the same world, family, and timeline, so I’ll allow it.
The next book, which shows up as #33, is about Daniel, who’s the Pitt’s son. I’m disappointed, because I thought there was one more devoted just to Charlotte and Thomas, but it’s the same world, family, and timeline, so I’ll allow it.
May 2, 2017
This book bored me and I've made the decision to not read further. After all, #32 in a series is rather taking it a bit far when interest was lost quite some time ago.
December 21, 2017
The queen of the Victorian mystery, New York Times bestseller Anne Perry returns with the 32nd novel in the Inspector Pitt series. The Queen summons Pitt to Buckingham Palace and he complies. She asks him as the Commander of the Special Branch to look into a mystery concerning the body of Sir John Halberd, the Queen's confidante, found on Serpentine in shallow water and had appeared to have been knocked in the head by an errant oar. Speculation is rife with all sorts of possible causes, including the thought that he had gone there for an encounter of the sordid kind. Sir John had been surreptitiously investigating Alan Kendrick, a horse-racing enthusiast who seems to have an undue amount of influence with her son, the Prince of Wales. Now, Pitt must investigate the corridors of power with discretion and stealth, for it seems that Sir John's killer is a member of the upper classes. I especially love reading about the Queen who is now old and frail. Pitt remembers when the King Albert was alive and what wonderful rulers they were. A special interest for me is Pitt's marriage to Charlotte and their two children. Also Charlotte's sister is Emily who is married to a Lord with quite a lot of influence. Before Pitt became Special Branch, his wife, who had once been a detective, used to help Pitt in his investigations. Now, he fears for her to get involved. So, what are two women to do? of course, the simply investigate on their own and prominent parties where there is much gossip. Perry's style of writing is perfect for mysteries. She delineates her characters in such a way as to make reading truly enjoyable. I give this Victorian novel five stars.
March 21, 2017
I always enjoy the Charlotte & Thomas Pitt books; likeable characters, historical setting, and an interesting mystery - but not too emotionally taxing, so a nice relaxing read.
In this one, Queen Victoria asks Thomas to find out whether the death-by-drowning-accident of one of her friends was an accident or not. The friend had been investigating the doings of one of Prince Bertie's friends, and had something to tell the Queen...
To be fair, the mystery in this one wasn't terribly mysterious. It was pretty obvious from the beginning what was going on, and therefore the revelation of the murderer wasn't very revelatory. What made this book four stars rather than three was watching Thomas deal with the ethical issues involved with being Commander of Special Branch, and also realising that small mistakes early on might store up big trouble in later life (does this sound familiar, anyone? *cough* Social media Twitter mobs *cough*). Thomas, without the aid of Victor Narraway (who is off travelling with Aunt Vespasia), has to find his way through the problems himself.
Charlotte, too, is involved (along with Emily), and we get some insight into Charlotte's feelings about the way Thomas now has to exclude her from much of the detail of his work.
In some ways, I wonder if this book is a turning point for Thomas, where he really starts to accept what being Commander of Special Branch means, and how he is going to have to change, and what he is going to have to do, to fulfil his responsibilities to the people he serves and protects.
I enjoyed this, and it's a nice addition to the series - although not a good place to start if you haven't read any of the previous books.
In this one, Queen Victoria asks Thomas to find out whether the death-by-drowning-accident of one of her friends was an accident or not. The friend had been investigating the doings of one of Prince Bertie's friends, and had something to tell the Queen...
To be fair, the mystery in this one wasn't terribly mysterious. It was pretty obvious from the beginning what was going on, and therefore the revelation of the murderer wasn't very revelatory. What made this book four stars rather than three was watching Thomas deal with the ethical issues involved with being Commander of Special Branch, and also realising that small mistakes early on might store up big trouble in later life (does this sound familiar, anyone? *cough* Social media Twitter mobs *cough*). Thomas, without the aid of Victor Narraway (who is off travelling with Aunt Vespasia), has to find his way through the problems himself.
Charlotte, too, is involved (along with Emily), and we get some insight into Charlotte's feelings about the way Thomas now has to exclude her from much of the detail of his work.
In some ways, I wonder if this book is a turning point for Thomas, where he really starts to accept what being Commander of Special Branch means, and how he is going to have to change, and what he is going to have to do, to fulfil his responsibilities to the people he serves and protects.
I enjoyed this, and it's a nice addition to the series - although not a good place to start if you haven't read any of the previous books.
April 18, 2017
The Thomas & Charlotte Pitt novels are set in England in the mid-1800's. Thomas was previously a policeman but is now head of the Special Branch of the government.
He is called to the palace where Queen Victoria asks him to investigate the death of one of her advisers, Sir John Halberd. She had asked Sir John to find out more about an acquaintance of her son, Edward. She believes this man is a bad influence on the prince. Sir John was to have visited her and make a report but his body was found the night before the meeting. The queen is 80 years old and is worried about what will happen when she dies and Edward takes over.
The death was ruled an accident but, as Pitt investigates, he believes that is was murder. All the suspects are members of the upper class. All must be handled with great discretion. In the past, he has contacted his mentor, Narraway, for assistance but Narraway is away on a trip.
Charlotte's sister, Emily, is married to a member of Parliament. She and Charlotte begin attending social events to see what information can be learned through society gossip.
A case is slowly built, another murder occurs, there are rumors of a second Boer war - many threads have to be tied together.
He is called to the palace where Queen Victoria asks him to investigate the death of one of her advisers, Sir John Halberd. She had asked Sir John to find out more about an acquaintance of her son, Edward. She believes this man is a bad influence on the prince. Sir John was to have visited her and make a report but his body was found the night before the meeting. The queen is 80 years old and is worried about what will happen when she dies and Edward takes over.
The death was ruled an accident but, as Pitt investigates, he believes that is was murder. All the suspects are members of the upper class. All must be handled with great discretion. In the past, he has contacted his mentor, Narraway, for assistance but Narraway is away on a trip.
Charlotte's sister, Emily, is married to a member of Parliament. She and Charlotte begin attending social events to see what information can be learned through society gossip.
A case is slowly built, another murder occurs, there are rumors of a second Boer war - many threads have to be tied together.
March 18, 2017
Thomas Pitt, now head of Special Branch in this 32nd in the series, is given an assignment by Queen Victoria that will demand all his skills and may confront him with a moral dilemma.
Sir John Halberd, a close confidante of the queen, has drown in what appears to be a boating accident in the Serpentine. Halberd was on a mission for her majesty and she is eager to learn the circumstances of his death. It isn't long before Pitt concludes Halberd's death was no accident.
Complicating the investigation is the fact Halberd was looking into the background of Alan Kendrick, an associate of Edward, Prince of Wales, thus taking Pitt into a social world above his humble origins. A wrong move could damage the security of his hard-won job. Victor and Vespacia Narraway are out of the country and Pitt can't rely on their assistance.
Nasty rumors of blackmail and assignations with tainted women threaten Halberd's reputation and there are issues in the case indicating it could even damage the image of the prince. Edward has been drawn to Kendrick through their mutual interest in horses and racing, but it soon becomes apparent the latter is using the prince for other purposes.
Charlotte and her sister Emily are eager to assist Pitt in weaving through the intricacies of society and willingly take risks which cause him concern. The case proves one of the most daunting of Pitt's career, putting him and his family in danger and it takes some maneuvering and use of tools which make him uneasy to bring it to a conclusion.
As always, Perry demonstrates astute knowledge of the Victorian world and weaves a fascinating web that keeps us reading with bated breath.
Sir John Halberd, a close confidante of the queen, has drown in what appears to be a boating accident in the Serpentine. Halberd was on a mission for her majesty and she is eager to learn the circumstances of his death. It isn't long before Pitt concludes Halberd's death was no accident.
Complicating the investigation is the fact Halberd was looking into the background of Alan Kendrick, an associate of Edward, Prince of Wales, thus taking Pitt into a social world above his humble origins. A wrong move could damage the security of his hard-won job. Victor and Vespacia Narraway are out of the country and Pitt can't rely on their assistance.
Nasty rumors of blackmail and assignations with tainted women threaten Halberd's reputation and there are issues in the case indicating it could even damage the image of the prince. Edward has been drawn to Kendrick through their mutual interest in horses and racing, but it soon becomes apparent the latter is using the prince for other purposes.
Charlotte and her sister Emily are eager to assist Pitt in weaving through the intricacies of society and willingly take risks which cause him concern. The case proves one of the most daunting of Pitt's career, putting him and his family in danger and it takes some maneuvering and use of tools which make him uneasy to bring it to a conclusion.
As always, Perry demonstrates astute knowledge of the Victorian world and weaves a fascinating web that keeps us reading with bated breath.
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