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Daniel Pitt #2
Triple Jeopardy
Young lawyer Daniel Pitt must defend a British diplomat accused of a theft that may cover up a deadly crime in this riveting novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Twenty-one Days.
Daniel Pitt, along with his parents, Charlotte and Thomas, is delighted that his sister, Jemima, and her family have returned to London from the States for a visit. But the Pitts soon learn of a harrowing incident: In Washington, D.C., one of Jemima's good friends has been assaulted and her treasured necklace stolen. The perpetrator appears to be a man named Philip Sidney, a British diplomat stationed in America's capital who, in a cowardly move, has fled to London, claiming diplomatic immunity. But that claim doesn't cover his other crimes. . . .
When Sidney winds up in court on a separate charge of embezzlement, it falls to Daniel to defend him. Daniel plans to provide only a competent enough defense to avoid a mistrial, allowing the prosecution to put his client away. But when word travels across the pond that an employee of the British embassy in Washington has been found dead, Daniel grows suspicious about Sidney's alleged crimes and puts on his detective hat to search for evidence in what has blown up into an international affair.
As the embezzlement scandal heats up, Daniel takes his questions to intrepid scientist Miriam fford Croft, who brilliantly uses the most up-to-date technologies to follow an entirely new path of investigation. Daniel and Miriam travel to the Channel Islands to chase a fresh lead, and what began with a stolen necklace turns out to have implications in three far greater crimes--a triple jeopardy, including possible murder.
Advance praise for Triple Jeopardy
"Readers may find themselves smitten with Daniel and with the dauntless Miriam fforde Croft, whose relationship with Daniel deepens in this episode. . . . Primarily identified for her authentic period sets and well-rendered characters, Perry writes in what she has called the 'Put Your Heart on the Page' method, with the focus placed squarely on what happens to people under the pressure of investigation. This book is an excellent example of her craft."--Booklist
"Veteran Perry dials back the period detail and the updates on the lives of the continuing characters to focus on one of her most teasing mysteries, this time with a courtroom finale that may be her strongest ever."--Kirkus Reviews
Daniel Pitt, along with his parents, Charlotte and Thomas, is delighted that his sister, Jemima, and her family have returned to London from the States for a visit. But the Pitts soon learn of a harrowing incident: In Washington, D.C., one of Jemima's good friends has been assaulted and her treasured necklace stolen. The perpetrator appears to be a man named Philip Sidney, a British diplomat stationed in America's capital who, in a cowardly move, has fled to London, claiming diplomatic immunity. But that claim doesn't cover his other crimes. . . .
When Sidney winds up in court on a separate charge of embezzlement, it falls to Daniel to defend him. Daniel plans to provide only a competent enough defense to avoid a mistrial, allowing the prosecution to put his client away. But when word travels across the pond that an employee of the British embassy in Washington has been found dead, Daniel grows suspicious about Sidney's alleged crimes and puts on his detective hat to search for evidence in what has blown up into an international affair.
As the embezzlement scandal heats up, Daniel takes his questions to intrepid scientist Miriam fford Croft, who brilliantly uses the most up-to-date technologies to follow an entirely new path of investigation. Daniel and Miriam travel to the Channel Islands to chase a fresh lead, and what began with a stolen necklace turns out to have implications in three far greater crimes--a triple jeopardy, including possible murder.
Advance praise for Triple Jeopardy
"Readers may find themselves smitten with Daniel and with the dauntless Miriam fforde Croft, whose relationship with Daniel deepens in this episode. . . . Primarily identified for her authentic period sets and well-rendered characters, Perry writes in what she has called the 'Put Your Heart on the Page' method, with the focus placed squarely on what happens to people under the pressure of investigation. This book is an excellent example of her craft."--Booklist
"Veteran Perry dials back the period detail and the updates on the lives of the continuing characters to focus on one of her most teasing mysteries, this time with a courtroom finale that may be her strongest ever."--Kirkus Reviews
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 20, 2018
1083 people are currently reading
5392 people want to read
About the author
Anne Perry
362 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 446 reviews
November 6, 2021
In this spinoff from Anne Perry's popular 'Detective Thomas Pitt' series, Pitt's son is all grown up and taking center stage in his own novels.
In this second book in the 'Daniel Pitt' series, set in the early 1900s, Thomas's son Daniel - a fledgling attorney at the London law firm of Marcus fford Croft - defends a man accused of embezzling. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
As the story opens, Daniel Pitt is excited to see his sister Jemima, who's come to England from her current home in Washington DC. Jemima, her American husband Patrick Flannery, and their two children have arrived for a visit, and the entire Pitt family has gathered for dinner and conversation. Patrick is happy see his in-laws, but has an additional agenda.
Patrick, who's a policeman in America, pulls Daniel aside and tells him the following story: A British diplomat named Philip Sidney, stationed in Washington DC, assaulted a young woman named Rebecca Thorwood in her bedroom. Sidney then snatched Rebecca's diamond necklace and ran away.
Sidney was spotted by Rebecca's father, who raised the alarm. Unfortunately, justice couldn't prevail because Sidney claimed diplomatic immunity, then fled back to London. Patrick wants Daniel to finagle some way to get Sidney punished.
Jemima aligns with her husband about reviling Sidney, but is concerned that Rebecca might not want the assault made public. People might think Rebecca encouraged Sidney's attentions; made a secret assignation with him; and so on.
In any case, luck (or something else) is on Patrick's side, because Sidney is arrested for embezzling funds from the British Embassy in America. Sidney will now go on trial in England, and events are manipulated so that Daniel will help defend him. The idea is that - during the trial - Daniel will somehow bring up Sidney's assault on Rebecca, and Sidney's reputation will be ruined forever. (This is breathtakingly unethical, of course.)
As things turn out, Daniel takes a liking to Sidney, and starts to doubt the diplomat's guilt of BOTH the assault and the embezzlement. This puts Daniel in a tough position, especially because he fears Patrick may have helped frame Sidney for theft.
The trial begins (justice was much quicker in those days), and while it's proceeding, news arrives that Sidney's colleague in America - who has been mysteriously missing - was found dead. Now it appears Sidney may ALSO be accused of murder.
Needing help to mount a defense, Daniel approaches the forensic pathologist Miriam fford Croft to help investigate. The duo make some very important discoveries, and things take an unexpected turn. To say more would be a spoiler. (For romance lovers, there's a frisson of attraction between Daniel and Miriam, which I expect will play out in future books.)
The ambiance of early 20th century London is well-depicted in the story, as are the social and political mores of the time. Women are viewed as fragile creatures, incapable of dealing with serious issues or doing meaningful work, but there are always one or two ladies that show their mettle in Perry's books. So good on them!
The story is drawn out more than necessary, and feels a bit repetitive - with Daniel constantly cogitating about Jemima's feelings, Sidney's situation, and his own responsibilities. Still, this is a good mystery, appropriate to the time period and setting.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
April 24, 2019
I had an enjoyable time reading TRIPLE JEOPARDY. The story takes place in Great Britain and has quite a few twists and turns. The ending was a surprise for me. I think almost any mystery love will love this novel. I would love to read the first book in this series!
April 4, 2019
A simple, uncomplicated case of murder and courtroom drama this is not. But, then it never is with a writer who not only brings the past of, first Victorian, and now Edwardian London to life, but also brings the reader right inside the minds of the characters who people her stories.
For those new to Anne Perry's books, Triple Jeopardy is the second of the Daniel Pitt stories. The Daniel Pitt stories are a follow up series to the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series. Daniel is their son. He is a lawyer unlike his dad who was a police detective and left the London force to rise through the rank in Special Branch to become its head. Because of the close tie of family and an assumed familiarity with all that came before, new readers should start with Thomas and Charlotte's stories before jumping into Daniel's. And, because they enter into this story, the novella, A New York Christmas, should be read first so the reader has the earlier part of Jemima and Patrick's story.
Triple Jeopardy left me in knots so many times. I was so vested in the characters that I felt what they felt and, particularly, feared what they did. By the time I was done with this investigation and courtroom drama, I was still left with a great deal to unpack. The author tells a cunning murder mystery in a well drawn setting with complex characters and motives, but she's not afraid to ponder social mores and ideologies, too. Justice vs. Revenge, Truth vs. Expediency, A Woman's Reputation exposed to puerile gossip vs. allowing an injustice, and the biggie, presumed innocent until proven guilty, are just some of the major elements brought into play.
So, the skinny on Triple Jeopardy is that young, junior lawyer, Daniel Pitt, gets sideswiped when during her first visit home from America, his sister, Jemima and her husband, Patrick, approach him with a nearly impossible request. A dear friend was assaulted in her own home back in DC and the man who did it is now back in London after claiming diplomatic immunity. They want to get him on a different charge because surely a man that would attack a woman has done other crimes and, if possible, get the other brought into it.
Daniel isn't emotionally involved like his sister and brother in law who he doesn't want to disappoint, but he is uneasy. They are trusting the word of others and he is trusting their word. The actual facts are few, but hearsay is rife. And, things that stack up against Phillip Sydney very neatly. And, yet, a young woman is not faking the assault which really happened and her father swears he saw the man's face clearly before he got away.
Daniel wants to help his sister and her husband get justice for their friend, but he believes that there is something else behind it all.
Daniel is up against powerful people and maybe his own family, but it sure was great seeing him work through all that with the help of Kitteridge, his wry senior partner, the colorful and not always lawful Rowan Blackwood, and the redoubtable criminal pathologist Miriam fford Croft.
Though I felt Jemima and Patrick put Daniel on the spot, I did love that I got to follow up with them after all this time. I always wondered how Jemima and her Irish-American copper were faring.
Miriam and Daniel's interactions are my favorite as there is the low level buzz of attraction with the slight taboo that he is over ten years (maybe even fifteen) her junior.
This was one where I knew exactly who the bad guys were as soon as most of the players were introduced and I even got the general idea of why things were set up the way they were. But, that said, there were a lot of coloring in that I needed to get a better picture so it made more sense for the why behind this villain. In the end, I still had some questions that I didn't think got fully answered like the German angle and how the villain was connected there. Maybe I missed it and will need to go back and look closely. But, beyond that I wanted to know the ramifications for what came now that the truth was out. It ended abruptly with not much of a denouement.
All in all, it was a gently-paced character driven plot with spikes of intrigue and excitement. It was a nice blend of historical setting and courtroom drama. I can't wait for more of Daniel and the others solving mysteries and bringing the answers to the courtroom. This is definitely a series for the historical mystery fan.
I rec'd this book through Net Galley to be read in exchange for an honest review.
For those new to Anne Perry's books, Triple Jeopardy is the second of the Daniel Pitt stories. The Daniel Pitt stories are a follow up series to the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series. Daniel is their son. He is a lawyer unlike his dad who was a police detective and left the London force to rise through the rank in Special Branch to become its head. Because of the close tie of family and an assumed familiarity with all that came before, new readers should start with Thomas and Charlotte's stories before jumping into Daniel's. And, because they enter into this story, the novella, A New York Christmas, should be read first so the reader has the earlier part of Jemima and Patrick's story.
Triple Jeopardy left me in knots so many times. I was so vested in the characters that I felt what they felt and, particularly, feared what they did. By the time I was done with this investigation and courtroom drama, I was still left with a great deal to unpack. The author tells a cunning murder mystery in a well drawn setting with complex characters and motives, but she's not afraid to ponder social mores and ideologies, too. Justice vs. Revenge, Truth vs. Expediency, A Woman's Reputation exposed to puerile gossip vs. allowing an injustice, and the biggie, presumed innocent until proven guilty, are just some of the major elements brought into play.
So, the skinny on Triple Jeopardy is that young, junior lawyer, Daniel Pitt, gets sideswiped when during her first visit home from America, his sister, Jemima and her husband, Patrick, approach him with a nearly impossible request. A dear friend was assaulted in her own home back in DC and the man who did it is now back in London after claiming diplomatic immunity. They want to get him on a different charge because surely a man that would attack a woman has done other crimes and, if possible, get the other brought into it.
Daniel isn't emotionally involved like his sister and brother in law who he doesn't want to disappoint, but he is uneasy. They are trusting the word of others and he is trusting their word. The actual facts are few, but hearsay is rife. And, things that stack up against Phillip Sydney very neatly. And, yet, a young woman is not faking the assault which really happened and her father swears he saw the man's face clearly before he got away.
Daniel wants to help his sister and her husband get justice for their friend, but he believes that there is something else behind it all.
Daniel is up against powerful people and maybe his own family, but it sure was great seeing him work through all that with the help of Kitteridge, his wry senior partner, the colorful and not always lawful Rowan Blackwood, and the redoubtable criminal pathologist Miriam fford Croft.
Though I felt Jemima and Patrick put Daniel on the spot, I did love that I got to follow up with them after all this time. I always wondered how Jemima and her Irish-American copper were faring.
Miriam and Daniel's interactions are my favorite as there is the low level buzz of attraction with the slight taboo that he is over ten years (maybe even fifteen) her junior.
This was one where I knew exactly who the bad guys were as soon as most of the players were introduced and I even got the general idea of why things were set up the way they were. But, that said, there were a lot of coloring in that I needed to get a better picture so it made more sense for the why behind this villain. In the end, I still had some questions that I didn't think got fully answered like the German angle and how the villain was connected there. Maybe I missed it and will need to go back and look closely. But, beyond that I wanted to know the ramifications for what came now that the truth was out. It ended abruptly with not much of a denouement.
All in all, it was a gently-paced character driven plot with spikes of intrigue and excitement. It was a nice blend of historical setting and courtroom drama. I can't wait for more of Daniel and the others solving mysteries and bringing the answers to the courtroom. This is definitely a series for the historical mystery fan.
I rec'd this book through Net Galley to be read in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2019
Triple Jeopardy is the second Daniel Pitt book by Anne Perry, and it’s a worthy successor to the first.
Daniel’s sister and her husband, visiting from Washington DC relate a horrible story; a British diplomat has committed a sexual assault and robbery on a young girl, even to the point of doing so in her bedroom -- in America. The man has grabbed a necklace, claimed diplomatic immunity, and fled home to England. So far he’s escaped justice. They want Daniel Pitt’s help to do something about this. Daniel commits himself immediately, which he will probably live to regret, no doubt.
Daniel’s sister presents an important point -- that it’s Rebecca Thorwood’s word against the man, Philip Sidney. Will the young woman be willing to go public, to face the possible humiliation, if it should get to that point? And of course, behind it all is the feeling that what everyone will think is that she isn’t an innocent victim – that she let Sidney in, tempted him to attack her – “didn’t say no.” How modern this all sounds!
And it may create an international incident – in that the Americans (Rebecca’s family) believe that the British won’t see justice done, as Sidney is a British citizen.
What must happen, then, is justice obtained obliquely. Luckily, Sidney has been arrested for embezzlement, and the evidence seems overwhelming. Daniel, through his law firm, fford Croft and Gibson, will serve as counsel for the defense. But perhaps, he will not try too hard? Will his moral compass be jeopardized? Readers will see.
At first, Daniel and we readers are outraged. A bounder, Sidney has to be. And embezzling from the embassy, to add to it. And yet... Daniel meets the fellow, who swears he has done neither crime, that he is being framed for something he didn’t do. And slowly, slowly, with the help of Miriam fford Croft, friend and frustrated scientist, Daniel begins to believe his client. “Something bigger here than we have realized and a great deal uglier.” And the truth of this is more than anyone could possibly have imagined, at the beginning. There are answers to be found in the death of family far away – the catalyst for everything. Because of a house.
Anne Perry is a master plotter -- Triple Jeopardy is a tour de force in that regard. Perry relates Daniel’s thoughts on all this – there is nothing subtle about it – her skill asserts itself in that his desire to know the truth is something the reader needs to know, too, especially as one delves further and further into the story.
The book finishes up in an exciting fashion, and we are reminded that Daniel is rather a praiseworthy lawyer. For all that is good about this book, however, the ending is much, much too abrupt. For all we have learned about these people, with all the thoughts and opinions and soul searching and recriminations -- and that’s just the good guys -- that ending is rather melodramatic and abrupt; a minor quibble. The story line presages things to come, in British history. It’ll be interesting to see how Ms. Perry handles Daniel’s future.
Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for a copy of this book, in exchange for this review.
Daniel’s sister and her husband, visiting from Washington DC relate a horrible story; a British diplomat has committed a sexual assault and robbery on a young girl, even to the point of doing so in her bedroom -- in America. The man has grabbed a necklace, claimed diplomatic immunity, and fled home to England. So far he’s escaped justice. They want Daniel Pitt’s help to do something about this. Daniel commits himself immediately, which he will probably live to regret, no doubt.
Daniel’s sister presents an important point -- that it’s Rebecca Thorwood’s word against the man, Philip Sidney. Will the young woman be willing to go public, to face the possible humiliation, if it should get to that point? And of course, behind it all is the feeling that what everyone will think is that she isn’t an innocent victim – that she let Sidney in, tempted him to attack her – “didn’t say no.” How modern this all sounds!
And it may create an international incident – in that the Americans (Rebecca’s family) believe that the British won’t see justice done, as Sidney is a British citizen.
What must happen, then, is justice obtained obliquely. Luckily, Sidney has been arrested for embezzlement, and the evidence seems overwhelming. Daniel, through his law firm, fford Croft and Gibson, will serve as counsel for the defense. But perhaps, he will not try too hard? Will his moral compass be jeopardized? Readers will see.
At first, Daniel and we readers are outraged. A bounder, Sidney has to be. And embezzling from the embassy, to add to it. And yet... Daniel meets the fellow, who swears he has done neither crime, that he is being framed for something he didn’t do. And slowly, slowly, with the help of Miriam fford Croft, friend and frustrated scientist, Daniel begins to believe his client. “Something bigger here than we have realized and a great deal uglier.” And the truth of this is more than anyone could possibly have imagined, at the beginning. There are answers to be found in the death of family far away – the catalyst for everything. Because of a house.
Anne Perry is a master plotter -- Triple Jeopardy is a tour de force in that regard. Perry relates Daniel’s thoughts on all this – there is nothing subtle about it – her skill asserts itself in that his desire to know the truth is something the reader needs to know, too, especially as one delves further and further into the story.
The book finishes up in an exciting fashion, and we are reminded that Daniel is rather a praiseworthy lawyer. For all that is good about this book, however, the ending is much, much too abrupt. For all we have learned about these people, with all the thoughts and opinions and soul searching and recriminations -- and that’s just the good guys -- that ending is rather melodramatic and abrupt; a minor quibble. The story line presages things to come, in British history. It’ll be interesting to see how Ms. Perry handles Daniel’s future.
Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for a copy of this book, in exchange for this review.
February 9, 2019
I found the mystery in this second installment of the Daniel Pitt series to be interesting and puzzling. I had an idea of what the solution might involve, but I was wrong. It did wrap up with a bang and minimal explanation, which made me felt that all that had gone before could have been abbreviated to match the compactness of the finale.
Overall, I like the main character. He is pleasant and not overconfident as he learns the ropes of his legal profession. I also enjoyed the reappearance of Miriam fford Croft, 40-year-old doctor and pathologist who is not allowed to practice because she is a woman. Her explanation of forged vs. legitimate handwriting was very interesting. She is a well-written blend of mostly capable and slightly vulnerable, and it raises intriguing questions for the reader about where her relationship with the much younger Daniel Pitt is heading.
The thing that prevents me from rating it higher is the unnaturalness of the characters' speech and interaction. They are all extremely eloquent and long-windedly introspective, and they seem to read each other's minds with exceptional accuracy. Indeed, one wonders why speech is necessary at all for them, because it would seem they could carry on entire dialogues by merely interpreting each other's posture and raised eyebrows.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me access to this advance review copy.
Overall, I like the main character. He is pleasant and not overconfident as he learns the ropes of his legal profession. I also enjoyed the reappearance of Miriam fford Croft, 40-year-old doctor and pathologist who is not allowed to practice because she is a woman. Her explanation of forged vs. legitimate handwriting was very interesting. She is a well-written blend of mostly capable and slightly vulnerable, and it raises intriguing questions for the reader about where her relationship with the much younger Daniel Pitt is heading.
The thing that prevents me from rating it higher is the unnaturalness of the characters' speech and interaction. They are all extremely eloquent and long-windedly introspective, and they seem to read each other's minds with exceptional accuracy. Indeed, one wonders why speech is necessary at all for them, because it would seem they could carry on entire dialogues by merely interpreting each other's posture and raised eyebrows.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me access to this advance review copy.
May 6, 2019
Very well-done court-room thriller with multiple twists, turns and startling revelations. Young barrister Daniel Pitt really has a tough case on his hands.
Almost nothing is ever as it seems in an Anne Perry mystery. The reader can trust the word of very few characters--most of the remainder will be lying about something, either deliberately or because they themselves don't know the truth and they are just repeating lies that have been told them. Daniel has to sort them all out before the whole mystery makes any sense to him.
It was nice to encounter again Daniel's fellow barrister Kitteridge and forensic scientist Dr Miriam fford-Croft. Daniel's sister Jemima and her husband Patrick are visiting London from Washington, DC and set the ball rolling on the legal side of the story. But it was good to see her and her family and to see the relationship between Daniel and his sister, now that they are both full-fledged adults.
Readers new to this series need not have read the first one (nor any of the long-running series featuring Daniel's parents, Thomas and Charlotte). I am really enjoying the adventures of young Daniel and am eager to the read the next installment (whenever it comes out).
Almost nothing is ever as it seems in an Anne Perry mystery. The reader can trust the word of very few characters--most of the remainder will be lying about something, either deliberately or because they themselves don't know the truth and they are just repeating lies that have been told them. Daniel has to sort them all out before the whole mystery makes any sense to him.
It was nice to encounter again Daniel's fellow barrister Kitteridge and forensic scientist Dr Miriam fford-Croft. Daniel's sister Jemima and her husband Patrick are visiting London from Washington, DC and set the ball rolling on the legal side of the story. But it was good to see her and her family and to see the relationship between Daniel and his sister, now that they are both full-fledged adults.
Readers new to this series need not have read the first one (nor any of the long-running series featuring Daniel's parents, Thomas and Charlotte). I am really enjoying the adventures of young Daniel and am eager to the read the next installment (whenever it comes out).
April 28, 2019
Triple Jeopardy by Anne Perry is book two of her Daniel Pitt mystery series. I have not read the first book in this series but was able to easily follow the story, though a little more backstory would have enhanced the storyline.
Daniel Pitt, a newly practicing lawyer, finds himself drawn into a complicated situation when his sister, Jemima Flannery, and her family visit London from their home in Washington. Jemima and her husband, Patrick, ask Daniel for help bringing a British diplomat to justice. Daniel investigates the alleged crime that occurred in America, because the diplomat fled to London under diplomatic immunity. The mystery only deepens when a suspected conspirator is found dead in America. Daniel doesn’t know who to trust, so he asks his friend Miriam Croft, a forensic pathologist, to help him with the investigation.
Triple Jeopardy starts a little slow but picks up about a quarter of the way through and flows beautifully from there. Ms. Perry was able to seamlessly blend multiple moral elements. There is an emphasis on family unity and loyalty to family and friends. Honoring oneself, having a personal code of ethics and national pride are also featured prominently. The scenery is well depicted with very descriptive details, especially of the ocean separating Daniel and his parents from his sister and her family. The relationship between Daniel and Miriam adds a sense of budding romance. The ending is somewhat drawn out, but it’s surprising and appropriate. Fans of the mystery genre will thoroughly enjoy this story. Overall I really enjoyed this novel and rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
My thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
Daniel Pitt, a newly practicing lawyer, finds himself drawn into a complicated situation when his sister, Jemima Flannery, and her family visit London from their home in Washington. Jemima and her husband, Patrick, ask Daniel for help bringing a British diplomat to justice. Daniel investigates the alleged crime that occurred in America, because the diplomat fled to London under diplomatic immunity. The mystery only deepens when a suspected conspirator is found dead in America. Daniel doesn’t know who to trust, so he asks his friend Miriam Croft, a forensic pathologist, to help him with the investigation.
Triple Jeopardy starts a little slow but picks up about a quarter of the way through and flows beautifully from there. Ms. Perry was able to seamlessly blend multiple moral elements. There is an emphasis on family unity and loyalty to family and friends. Honoring oneself, having a personal code of ethics and national pride are also featured prominently. The scenery is well depicted with very descriptive details, especially of the ocean separating Daniel and his parents from his sister and her family. The relationship between Daniel and Miriam adds a sense of budding romance. The ending is somewhat drawn out, but it’s surprising and appropriate. Fans of the mystery genre will thoroughly enjoy this story. Overall I really enjoyed this novel and rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
My thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
April 1, 2019
The year is 1910 and young barrister Daniel Pitt is anxious as he steps into Sir Thomas Pitt's home. It's not his parents who have him on tenterhooks but rather the return to England of his older sister who had married an American and now makes her home in Washington, D.C. Daniel and his sister, Jemima, were once very close in his youth and now, after all this time, he's not sure what to expect. It's been four years since last they saw each other. And on top of that, she has brought her husband Patrick and two daughters Sophie and Cassie with her - all people unknown to Daniel. After the ice is broken they all settle into congenial conversation.
As it turns out, Jemima's and Patrick's visit is not solely a social one. Patrick takes Daniel aside and shares with him a story of great injustice and implores Daniel to help balance the scales. A month or so ago, Jemima's dear and rather well off friend, Rebecca Thorwood, had been assaulted in the middle of the night while in bed and a beloved pendant, and gift from her godmother, was ripped from her neck causing cuts to her throat. Rebecca's father swears that he recognized the assailant as British diplomat Philip Sidney, who presumably fled to the embassy and claimed diplomatic immunity. Sidney soon is dispatched back to London by a superior for Sidney's own safety. Then it comes to light that Sidney was skimming a bit off the books at the embassy and now finds himself arrested and subjected to the British court system. Patrick implores Daniel to find a way to shed light on the additional wrongs suffered at the hands of Mr. Sidney as a way of getting justice for Rebecca.
Sure enough, Daniel ends up defending the scoundrel. As more and more evidence comes to light, nothing is as it originally seemed. So who really is telling tales and who's telling the truth. With the assistance of Miss Miriam fford Croft, Daniel's boss' daughter and a highly learned and skilled physician, Daniel seeks the evidence needed to bring the truth to light.
Although this is the second installment in the Daniel Pitt mystery series, the book stands well enough on its own. The characters are well developed and the reader quickly gets a strong sense of each character's nature, knowledge and passion. The story is a bit non-orthodox police procedural and courtroom drama with sweet family relations thrown in for the personal touch. There's definitely a bit of chemistry between Daniel and Miss Miriam fford Croft. Daniel admires her tremendously and may be a bit intimidated by her. But one thing he knows for certain about her, she is confident, capable and exceedingly bright. She's definitely someone you want in your court.
I have enjoyed both books in this series spun off from the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt mystery series and no doubt, I will continue with it. If historical fiction with a touch of mystery and courtroom drama appeals then this could well be a book for you too.
I am grateful to Ballantine Books for providing a free uncorrected proof of this book through Netgalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
As it turns out, Jemima's and Patrick's visit is not solely a social one. Patrick takes Daniel aside and shares with him a story of great injustice and implores Daniel to help balance the scales. A month or so ago, Jemima's dear and rather well off friend, Rebecca Thorwood, had been assaulted in the middle of the night while in bed and a beloved pendant, and gift from her godmother, was ripped from her neck causing cuts to her throat. Rebecca's father swears that he recognized the assailant as British diplomat Philip Sidney, who presumably fled to the embassy and claimed diplomatic immunity. Sidney soon is dispatched back to London by a superior for Sidney's own safety. Then it comes to light that Sidney was skimming a bit off the books at the embassy and now finds himself arrested and subjected to the British court system. Patrick implores Daniel to find a way to shed light on the additional wrongs suffered at the hands of Mr. Sidney as a way of getting justice for Rebecca.
Sure enough, Daniel ends up defending the scoundrel. As more and more evidence comes to light, nothing is as it originally seemed. So who really is telling tales and who's telling the truth. With the assistance of Miss Miriam fford Croft, Daniel's boss' daughter and a highly learned and skilled physician, Daniel seeks the evidence needed to bring the truth to light.
Although this is the second installment in the Daniel Pitt mystery series, the book stands well enough on its own. The characters are well developed and the reader quickly gets a strong sense of each character's nature, knowledge and passion. The story is a bit non-orthodox police procedural and courtroom drama with sweet family relations thrown in for the personal touch. There's definitely a bit of chemistry between Daniel and Miss Miriam fford Croft. Daniel admires her tremendously and may be a bit intimidated by her. But one thing he knows for certain about her, she is confident, capable and exceedingly bright. She's definitely someone you want in your court.
I have enjoyed both books in this series spun off from the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt mystery series and no doubt, I will continue with it. If historical fiction with a touch of mystery and courtroom drama appeals then this could well be a book for you too.
I am grateful to Ballantine Books for providing a free uncorrected proof of this book through Netgalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.
April 30, 2019
I thought I had the first Daniel Pitt on hold at my library, but it turned out to be the second. Just as well, not a problem. This book was enough introduction for me. I did enjoy Perry's books for many years and wouldn't miss one as they came rolling out.
I find my reading tastes have changed and won't pursue other tales of Daniel practicing law.
Perry did weave a good plot with courtroom surprises and highly dramatic ending.
I find my reading tastes have changed and won't pursue other tales of Daniel practicing law.
Perry did weave a good plot with courtroom surprises and highly dramatic ending.
July 11, 2019
Triple Jeopardy is the second book in the Daniel Pitt series by Anne Perry. Being a fan of the author's Charlotte & Thomas Pitt series and her William Monk series. I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately I just couldn't get into this book. I tried a number of times but could not find the flow that the authors' other two series had. It could be that I did not read the first book in this series.
I'm determined to try again to read this book and when I do I will update this review.
I'm determined to try again to read this book and when I do I will update this review.
August 25, 2019
I switched between the hardcover book and the audiobook on Scribd for this second entry in the Daniel Pitt series.
As a longtime fan of Perry’s Thomas and Charlotte Pitt and Monk Victorian mysteries, I’m used to her sometimes densely written mysteries, with fascinating characters, lots of tortured inner monologues, and layers upon layers of intrigues, secrets and confusing misdirection.
She also writes exciting courtroom drama, ratcheting up the do-or-die tension cloaked in oh-so-correct British self-control. This new series is offering her wonderful scope for these gifts, as Daniel is a young barrister who of course spends plenty of time in court, and has a delightfully quirky but brilliant set of friends and recurring characters, such as the slightly older but more experienced barrister, Kitteridge, the head of their firm (and the requisite wise, older, well-connected person in any series) Marcus fford Croft, who also comes with the potential love interest, his daughter, Miriam, older than Daniel, but a fully qualified pathologist, only kept from practicing because she’s a woman. But she’s an intrepid scientist and good at investigative techniques and making concise, clear statements in court, clear to the jury and saving the case - at least in the last book (Twenty-One Days) and this one.
This book took a while to get going, and had so many wheels within wheels I was confused, and almost ready to give up, as was poor Daniel, but Perry gave us a slam bang finish to make up for it! Also, Jemima, Daniel’s beloved older sister, is back home from America with her husband, Patrick, and their two small kids, so it’s quite a reunion for long-standing fans of the Pitt series!
As the book opens, Daniel is meeting his brother-in-law, a policeman from Washington, DC, for the first time; Patrick wastes no time asking Daniel’s help with a case - a young British diplomat stationed in DC supposedly broke into the home of a young woman and ripped a necklace from her throat when she awoke to find him in her room. He was seen by the girl’s father, a well-respected and wealthy philanthropist, as he rushed to his daughter’s aid, but managed to sneak home to England under diplomatic immunity. Now Patrick and Jemima, friends of the girl and family, want Daniel to help ensure the young man faces justice.
This is where it felt confusing and frankly, too much of a stretch to me; the young diplomat, Sidney, has been arrested for embezzlement while stationed at the Washington embassy. Daniel is asked to defend him so that the story of the attack on the girl could come out under cross examination.
Now, this made no sense to me - why would the family of a sheltered young woman want her to relive a harrowing experience in court? How’d the young guy conveniently get caught embezzling? Why’d it take so long to catch - didn’t they audit their books? Wouldn’t it be unethical for Daniel to take on a case as defense counsel with the intent of introducing damning evidence against his own client? Why didn’t they just make Sidney pay it back, ruin his life and kick him out? See, wheels within wheels - until Daniel, Kitteridge and Miriam start asking questions and picking apart the story, which seemed, and was, all a cover for something much more sinister.
My favorite part was when Miriam and Daniel finally think they’ve found a clue to the core of the matter, and go off to the Channel Islands to investigate - things really picked up then! So, my original three and a half star rating because of the snail’s pace and dense plotting was knocked up to four stars for an excellent last third or so, and a satisfying, dramatic courtroom resolution. I look forward to the next in the series, and hope for more of the same!
As a longtime fan of Perry’s Thomas and Charlotte Pitt and Monk Victorian mysteries, I’m used to her sometimes densely written mysteries, with fascinating characters, lots of tortured inner monologues, and layers upon layers of intrigues, secrets and confusing misdirection.
She also writes exciting courtroom drama, ratcheting up the do-or-die tension cloaked in oh-so-correct British self-control. This new series is offering her wonderful scope for these gifts, as Daniel is a young barrister who of course spends plenty of time in court, and has a delightfully quirky but brilliant set of friends and recurring characters, such as the slightly older but more experienced barrister, Kitteridge, the head of their firm (and the requisite wise, older, well-connected person in any series) Marcus fford Croft, who also comes with the potential love interest, his daughter, Miriam, older than Daniel, but a fully qualified pathologist, only kept from practicing because she’s a woman. But she’s an intrepid scientist and good at investigative techniques and making concise, clear statements in court, clear to the jury and saving the case - at least in the last book (Twenty-One Days) and this one.
This book took a while to get going, and had so many wheels within wheels I was confused, and almost ready to give up, as was poor Daniel, but Perry gave us a slam bang finish to make up for it! Also, Jemima, Daniel’s beloved older sister, is back home from America with her husband, Patrick, and their two small kids, so it’s quite a reunion for long-standing fans of the Pitt series!
As the book opens, Daniel is meeting his brother-in-law, a policeman from Washington, DC, for the first time; Patrick wastes no time asking Daniel’s help with a case - a young British diplomat stationed in DC supposedly broke into the home of a young woman and ripped a necklace from her throat when she awoke to find him in her room. He was seen by the girl’s father, a well-respected and wealthy philanthropist, as he rushed to his daughter’s aid, but managed to sneak home to England under diplomatic immunity. Now Patrick and Jemima, friends of the girl and family, want Daniel to help ensure the young man faces justice.
This is where it felt confusing and frankly, too much of a stretch to me; the young diplomat, Sidney, has been arrested for embezzlement while stationed at the Washington embassy. Daniel is asked to defend him so that the story of the attack on the girl could come out under cross examination.
Now, this made no sense to me - why would the family of a sheltered young woman want her to relive a harrowing experience in court? How’d the young guy conveniently get caught embezzling? Why’d it take so long to catch - didn’t they audit their books? Wouldn’t it be unethical for Daniel to take on a case as defense counsel with the intent of introducing damning evidence against his own client? Why didn’t they just make Sidney pay it back, ruin his life and kick him out? See, wheels within wheels - until Daniel, Kitteridge and Miriam start asking questions and picking apart the story, which seemed, and was, all a cover for something much more sinister.
My favorite part was when Miriam and Daniel finally think they’ve found a clue to the core of the matter, and go off to the Channel Islands to investigate - things really picked up then! So, my original three and a half star rating because of the snail’s pace and dense plotting was knocked up to four stars for an excellent last third or so, and a satisfying, dramatic courtroom resolution. I look forward to the next in the series, and hope for more of the same!
April 8, 2019
Stunning revelation!
A slow beginning opening with a Pitt family reunion. Daniel's sister Jemima, her husband Patrick and their two lovely children having come from Washington D.C. to England for a visit. A visit that coincides with the charge of embezzlement for a young English diplomat, Philip Sidney, who had fled Washington claiming diplomatic immunity against a more serious charge, the attack and theft from a young woman Miss Rebecca Thorwood whilst she was sleeping. Rebecca is a friend of Jemima's. Her father is a powerful man and has been a friend to Patrick. Patrick wants to see the opportunistic coward Sidney brought to justice. Coincidentally the Thorwoods have arrived in London to settle an inheritance for Rebecca from her aunt. Rebecca's parents desire for punishment of Sidney seems to override the harm the publicity might do to their shy, retiring daughter. Patrick requests that Daniel take on the case of defending Sidney and in doing so reveal his attack on Rebeccca, "a smaller case to carry a bigger one.”
Disgusted by the cowardly Sidney staining the reputation of the Foreign Office, Daniel intends to help his brother-in-law seek justice for Rebecca. However as he becomes more familiar with the case he realizes that things just don't fit together. He also questions his own actions if he doesn't give his client a determined defense.
The whole setup is puzzling in the extreme. It's only after he approaches his friend and forensic pathologist, Dr. Miriam fforde Croft, for her help that things become even more disjointed. The patterns are just not there. Daniel senses that there is a "dark center of the whole elaborate web of accusations and lies, [an] unseen shape." As Daniel tries to put form and reason to the case's many conundrums, with the guidance of Miriam and other friends, things start slowly to become apparent to Daniel. (Not to me!)
The climax is just that! Surprisingly brief and fittingly concluded. I did not see it coming although with hindsight there were clues along the way.
I must admit from the measured start I wondered where things were going. By the end I was deeply immersed in not only Daniel's stunning court case resolution, but his relationship with his family and various friends. I was charmed by the whisper of his feelings for Miriam, the slight moments of awareness between the two, quickly dispatched. Which is ridiculous as Miriam is much older than Daniel and "she must look at him as if he were a boy". Mmm?!
A Random House - Ballantine ARC via NetGalley
A slow beginning opening with a Pitt family reunion. Daniel's sister Jemima, her husband Patrick and their two lovely children having come from Washington D.C. to England for a visit. A visit that coincides with the charge of embezzlement for a young English diplomat, Philip Sidney, who had fled Washington claiming diplomatic immunity against a more serious charge, the attack and theft from a young woman Miss Rebecca Thorwood whilst she was sleeping. Rebecca is a friend of Jemima's. Her father is a powerful man and has been a friend to Patrick. Patrick wants to see the opportunistic coward Sidney brought to justice. Coincidentally the Thorwoods have arrived in London to settle an inheritance for Rebecca from her aunt. Rebecca's parents desire for punishment of Sidney seems to override the harm the publicity might do to their shy, retiring daughter. Patrick requests that Daniel take on the case of defending Sidney and in doing so reveal his attack on Rebeccca, "a smaller case to carry a bigger one.”
Disgusted by the cowardly Sidney staining the reputation of the Foreign Office, Daniel intends to help his brother-in-law seek justice for Rebecca. However as he becomes more familiar with the case he realizes that things just don't fit together. He also questions his own actions if he doesn't give his client a determined defense.
The whole setup is puzzling in the extreme. It's only after he approaches his friend and forensic pathologist, Dr. Miriam fforde Croft, for her help that things become even more disjointed. The patterns are just not there. Daniel senses that there is a "dark center of the whole elaborate web of accusations and lies, [an] unseen shape." As Daniel tries to put form and reason to the case's many conundrums, with the guidance of Miriam and other friends, things start slowly to become apparent to Daniel. (Not to me!)
The climax is just that! Surprisingly brief and fittingly concluded. I did not see it coming although with hindsight there were clues along the way.
I must admit from the measured start I wondered where things were going. By the end I was deeply immersed in not only Daniel's stunning court case resolution, but his relationship with his family and various friends. I was charmed by the whisper of his feelings for Miriam, the slight moments of awareness between the two, quickly dispatched. Which is ridiculous as Miriam is much older than Daniel and "she must look at him as if he were a boy". Mmm?!
A Random House - Ballantine ARC via NetGalley
May 16, 2019
Daniel Pitt is a young lawyer called onto defend a British diplomat who has been accused of murder. Meanwhile, Daniel, as well as his parents, Charlotte and Thomas, are quite pleased that his sister Jemima is visiting from the States. She doesn't come home happy, however, because, shortly before her trip, Jemima's good friend was assaulted and is now missing a family heirloom.
Daniel must not defend the man accused of taking the heirloom, someone named Phillip Sidney, who made a rapid departure to London, and who has claimed diplomatic immunity. From the outset, Daniel is torn. Daniel feels that he may not be getting whole truth from Sidney and goes further than his role as attorney. He now becomes a detective of sorts, trying to discover any missing pieces. As facts are revealed, Daniel soon realizes that more than theft has occurred, there may indeed be a murder involved.
While Daniel pursues facts, he calls on his friend, Miriam Croft, who is a pathologist, to assist him. Meanwhile, Daniel would rather be enjoying time spent with his family, including his little nieces. But, he is dedicated to his task of either representing Sidney, and, at the very least, uncovering the truth.
This is a terrific story, set back in history a bit, and is full of intrigue, as well as a strong connection to family. I enjoyed the slow burn involved when it came to Daniel and Miriam, as they became closer as friends. This thrilling read had a powerful conclusion. Triple Jeopardy is the second book in the Daniel Pitt series. I look forward to continuing to read this series by Anne Perry.
Many thanks to Ballantine and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Daniel must not defend the man accused of taking the heirloom, someone named Phillip Sidney, who made a rapid departure to London, and who has claimed diplomatic immunity. From the outset, Daniel is torn. Daniel feels that he may not be getting whole truth from Sidney and goes further than his role as attorney. He now becomes a detective of sorts, trying to discover any missing pieces. As facts are revealed, Daniel soon realizes that more than theft has occurred, there may indeed be a murder involved.
While Daniel pursues facts, he calls on his friend, Miriam Croft, who is a pathologist, to assist him. Meanwhile, Daniel would rather be enjoying time spent with his family, including his little nieces. But, he is dedicated to his task of either representing Sidney, and, at the very least, uncovering the truth.
This is a terrific story, set back in history a bit, and is full of intrigue, as well as a strong connection to family. I enjoyed the slow burn involved when it came to Daniel and Miriam, as they became closer as friends. This thrilling read had a powerful conclusion. Triple Jeopardy is the second book in the Daniel Pitt series. I look forward to continuing to read this series by Anne Perry.
Many thanks to Ballantine and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 6, 2019
This is the second installment of the new Daniel Pitt series, the son of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt. I really like this character and find him quite refreshing. He's a new lawyer just getting his bearings and is likable. This one features his sister, Jemima, returning home from America for a visit with her new husband and two young daughters.
Her new husband is a policeman who seeks Daniel's help in a case. The case is so convoluted and silly that I almost stopped reading it. I am glad I continued because the ending was decent and tied things up nicely. I like the new characters introduced in this series including Miriam Blackwood, the female forensic scientist.
There's a lot to like about this new series but the terrible plot almost did it in. It worked itself out before the ending but still a good copy editor could have made it better from the beginning. I will continue to read the series but I have my fingers crossed the next one has a better plot and a copy editor.
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Her new husband is a policeman who seeks Daniel's help in a case. The case is so convoluted and silly that I almost stopped reading it. I am glad I continued because the ending was decent and tied things up nicely. I like the new characters introduced in this series including Miriam Blackwood, the female forensic scientist.
There's a lot to like about this new series but the terrible plot almost did it in. It worked itself out before the ending but still a good copy editor could have made it better from the beginning. I will continue to read the series but I have my fingers crossed the next one has a better plot and a copy editor.
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
April 27, 2019
First Sentence: Daniel rang the doorbell, then stepped back.
Jemima Pitt has returned to England with her American policeman husband Patrick and their infant child. As well as visiting the Pitt family, they’ve come to ask a favor of Daniel. British Diplomat Philip Sidney attacked Jemima's friend, Rebecca, in her bedroom and stole a necklace whilst Philip was stationed in Washington, D.C. Under protection of diplomatic immunity, he returned to England. Jemima and Patrick want Daniel's help in bringing Sidney to justice. Brought up on charges of embezzlement, Sidney asks Daniel to represent him. After a murder back in Washington, and the possibility of the case becoming a major international incident, Daniel, along with forensic scientist Mariam fford Croft, travel to the Channel Island to learn the truth.
One often worries as to what an author will do when the protagonist of a long-running series ages. Ms. Perry solved the problem by having the protagonist's children age as well and now, for the second time, we have Daniel Pitt stepping into the foreground. So as not to lose readers, new or old, Perry summarizes the backgrounds of the members of the Pitt family. This is particularly helpful to those who are new to Anne Perry's very well-done historical mysteries.
The story, quite appropriately, raises the issue of prejudice against Jews and the Irish, the latter seamlessly incorporated by the fact of Rebecca's husband, and Daniel's brother-in-law, both being of Irish heritage. That there is a role-reversal between Jemima and Patrick when discussing Rebecca's situation is interesting and very well done. Penny does a masterful job of presenting both sides of the situation and its possible outcome. Moreover, she places doubts in one's mind regarding the motives and possible guilt of the characters. There is so much "here" here.
Perry can make even basic English cooking sound delicious—"Lamb chops; the freshest of peas, as mild and delicate as possible, with a little mint and plenty of butter, and boiled potatoes." However, the transition from food to a very astute observation—"Have you noticed how often it is not the crime or the disaster of a scandal that brings down an otherwise great man, but the lies he tells to avoid admitting it?"—is extremely well done.
Perry's characters are some of the most fully-developed one will find. Each has complexity and definition. Even the most severe of them can occasionally make one smile; if not at a bit of dialogue, then at the very human attributes. Mariam fford Croft is one such character and, true to form, only Perry could create such a strong connection between two characters without its being romantic.
The occasional bon mot lightens a scene—"Not another corpse to dig up, I trust? You're a little early. We don't do that sort of thing until midnight. It tends to disturb the locals." Those are balanced by ideas that make one stop and consider—"We all make mistakes, Jem. It's how we live with them afterward that matters. Accept that we really were wrong, don't make excuses or blame anyone else. The moment you say 'I was wrong' you can begin to move on."
"Triple Jeopardy" is an extremely well-done story of families, loyalty, and betrayal. Filled with excellent characters, it is brought to a dramatic and explosive conclusion.
TRIPLE JEOPARDY (HistMys-Daniel Pitt-London-1910) - VG
Perry, Anne – 2nd in series
Ballentine Books – April 2019
Jemima Pitt has returned to England with her American policeman husband Patrick and their infant child. As well as visiting the Pitt family, they’ve come to ask a favor of Daniel. British Diplomat Philip Sidney attacked Jemima's friend, Rebecca, in her bedroom and stole a necklace whilst Philip was stationed in Washington, D.C. Under protection of diplomatic immunity, he returned to England. Jemima and Patrick want Daniel's help in bringing Sidney to justice. Brought up on charges of embezzlement, Sidney asks Daniel to represent him. After a murder back in Washington, and the possibility of the case becoming a major international incident, Daniel, along with forensic scientist Mariam fford Croft, travel to the Channel Island to learn the truth.
One often worries as to what an author will do when the protagonist of a long-running series ages. Ms. Perry solved the problem by having the protagonist's children age as well and now, for the second time, we have Daniel Pitt stepping into the foreground. So as not to lose readers, new or old, Perry summarizes the backgrounds of the members of the Pitt family. This is particularly helpful to those who are new to Anne Perry's very well-done historical mysteries.
The story, quite appropriately, raises the issue of prejudice against Jews and the Irish, the latter seamlessly incorporated by the fact of Rebecca's husband, and Daniel's brother-in-law, both being of Irish heritage. That there is a role-reversal between Jemima and Patrick when discussing Rebecca's situation is interesting and very well done. Penny does a masterful job of presenting both sides of the situation and its possible outcome. Moreover, she places doubts in one's mind regarding the motives and possible guilt of the characters. There is so much "here" here.
Perry can make even basic English cooking sound delicious—"Lamb chops; the freshest of peas, as mild and delicate as possible, with a little mint and plenty of butter, and boiled potatoes." However, the transition from food to a very astute observation—"Have you noticed how often it is not the crime or the disaster of a scandal that brings down an otherwise great man, but the lies he tells to avoid admitting it?"—is extremely well done.
Perry's characters are some of the most fully-developed one will find. Each has complexity and definition. Even the most severe of them can occasionally make one smile; if not at a bit of dialogue, then at the very human attributes. Mariam fford Croft is one such character and, true to form, only Perry could create such a strong connection between two characters without its being romantic.
The occasional bon mot lightens a scene—"Not another corpse to dig up, I trust? You're a little early. We don't do that sort of thing until midnight. It tends to disturb the locals." Those are balanced by ideas that make one stop and consider—"We all make mistakes, Jem. It's how we live with them afterward that matters. Accept that we really were wrong, don't make excuses or blame anyone else. The moment you say 'I was wrong' you can begin to move on."
"Triple Jeopardy" is an extremely well-done story of families, loyalty, and betrayal. Filled with excellent characters, it is brought to a dramatic and explosive conclusion.
TRIPLE JEOPARDY (HistMys-Daniel Pitt-London-1910) - VG
Perry, Anne – 2nd in series
Ballentine Books – April 2019
October 24, 2019
This was an excellent book. I love the way Anne Perry enfolds you in her stories. This one concerned Daniel Pitt, his sister ,and her husband, and two daughters . His father Sir Thomas Pitt, and his wife are also mentioned. Daniel has taken on a case that may cost him his job. The investigation, and the trial goes in many directions, as the charges mount up. I must say that I only guessed part of the ending. The book welcomes you into a warm and caring family, but one that has always fought for truth. I have read all of her books, and this one was stellar. A true Paige turner, and not to be missed. 5 deserved stars.
April 18, 2019
I’m a fan of Anne Perry, and this book is up to her usual standards. I’ll note that many of the more glowing reviews are from readers of free copies from Net Galley or the publisher, and I’m beginning to become suspicious of the waves of four- and five-star ratings that typically emerge from reading for free. Kind of like I’m becoming suspicious of the four- and five-star reviews of “free” self-published books. I’m beginning to wonder if the reader not having any financial skin in the game unintentionally taints his or her review. Hmmmm.
Nonetheless, I didn’t engage with Triple Jeopardy easily, and I think my distance had to do with a few of the characters, the stereotypic treatment of ethnicities, and a really looping plot line. (I realize that stereotypes usually develop from facts and behavior, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy reading stereotypes.) I particularly had trouble with Daniel Pitt’s sister and brother-in-law, both their wobbly and seemingly shallow relationship, and the brother-in-law’s acerbic and erratic character in particular. Also, although I realize that Perry has spun Daniel Pitt off from his father, I do miss the elder Pitt’s wisdom and gravitas, as well as the empathy and humor of Daniel’s mom, Charlotte.
All in all, a nice read, but not a favorite in Perry’s work.
Nonetheless, I didn’t engage with Triple Jeopardy easily, and I think my distance had to do with a few of the characters, the stereotypic treatment of ethnicities, and a really looping plot line. (I realize that stereotypes usually develop from facts and behavior, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy reading stereotypes.) I particularly had trouble with Daniel Pitt’s sister and brother-in-law, both their wobbly and seemingly shallow relationship, and the brother-in-law’s acerbic and erratic character in particular. Also, although I realize that Perry has spun Daniel Pitt off from his father, I do miss the elder Pitt’s wisdom and gravitas, as well as the empathy and humor of Daniel’s mom, Charlotte.
All in all, a nice read, but not a favorite in Perry’s work.
March 30, 2019
Series: Daniel Pitt #2
Publication Date: 4/9/19
Number of Pages: 288
Anne Perry is a master storyteller and this new series just adds to her legend. I have followed and loved the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series from the beginning and to now have their son Daniel with his own series is delightful. The first book in the series, Twenty-One Days, was an outstanding read and a great introduction to this new series. In this book, we find recurring characters from the first book – and I hope they will be recurring characters throughout the series because I liked them all very well. I particularly like Miriam Fford Croft who is an anomaly for her time – she is brilliant and has studied forensic sciences and has passed all of the tests to become a doctor, but she can’t be a doctor because she is a female. I also think she might turn out to be Daniel’s love interest even though she is 15 years older than him – he’s twenty-five and she is soon to be forty.
Daniel is so excited! His sister Jemima is visiting from America with her husband and their two daughters. Daniel has never met her husband nor her daughters and he’s so excited to meet them – especially his nieces. He’s also apprehensive because he hasn’t seen Jemima in four years and he wonders if she has changed. They were so close growing up and he doesn’t want to lose that even though they live on different continents. Her husband is an Irish-American police detective named Patrick Flannery.
When Daniel first meets Patrick, he has quite a story to tell Daniel and he asks Daniel for his help. Daniel is a very honorable, honest and upstanding young man (just like his dad) who has devoted his life to the justice system and he is outraged and angry at the tale Patrick has told him. A diplomat from the British Embassy in Washington DC broke into the home of a prominent American citizen, he assaulted (not raped) the daughter of the home in her bedroom and snatched a necklace from her neck and made his escape – but not before her father saw and recognized him. That same diplomat claimed diplomatic immunity and immediately returned to London. Daniel is outraged at this miscarriage of justice and wonders how he can help bring the blackguard to justice.
Soon, the method presents itself and Daniel is prepared to leap in, but then, he meets the young man and starts to wonder if he knows all he needs to know about the case. Patrick is adamant that the young man is guilty, Jemima is torn, and Daniel just doesn’t know. As Daniel digs, he comes to believe there is a bigger, darker secret yet to be uncovered. That doesn’t mean the man isn’t guilty – it just means there is more to know.
Daniel investigates and more and more things seem – just – wrong – not quite adding up. He asks his friend Roman Blackwell (from book one) to learn what he can of the young man and then later he brings Miriam in to do some forensic work. They all uncover more and more information that makes Daniel believe he’s in a bed of quicksand – a bottomless pool of secrets.
The ending is quick, short and unexpected. Maybe a bit too abrupt for my liking. I thought that some leaps of logic that Miriam made were more like leaping canyons rather than fissures and I didn’t see anything presented at that point that would actually justify that leap. Then, once that leap was made, we didn’t see the evidence until Daniel presented it. I would have liked to see more of that investigation and how they got there.
This is a delightful read and I absolutely LOVED that Charlotte and Thomas Pitt made appearances. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed if you give the book a try!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 4/9/19
Number of Pages: 288
Anne Perry is a master storyteller and this new series just adds to her legend. I have followed and loved the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series from the beginning and to now have their son Daniel with his own series is delightful. The first book in the series, Twenty-One Days, was an outstanding read and a great introduction to this new series. In this book, we find recurring characters from the first book – and I hope they will be recurring characters throughout the series because I liked them all very well. I particularly like Miriam Fford Croft who is an anomaly for her time – she is brilliant and has studied forensic sciences and has passed all of the tests to become a doctor, but she can’t be a doctor because she is a female. I also think she might turn out to be Daniel’s love interest even though she is 15 years older than him – he’s twenty-five and she is soon to be forty.
Daniel is so excited! His sister Jemima is visiting from America with her husband and their two daughters. Daniel has never met her husband nor her daughters and he’s so excited to meet them – especially his nieces. He’s also apprehensive because he hasn’t seen Jemima in four years and he wonders if she has changed. They were so close growing up and he doesn’t want to lose that even though they live on different continents. Her husband is an Irish-American police detective named Patrick Flannery.
When Daniel first meets Patrick, he has quite a story to tell Daniel and he asks Daniel for his help. Daniel is a very honorable, honest and upstanding young man (just like his dad) who has devoted his life to the justice system and he is outraged and angry at the tale Patrick has told him. A diplomat from the British Embassy in Washington DC broke into the home of a prominent American citizen, he assaulted (not raped) the daughter of the home in her bedroom and snatched a necklace from her neck and made his escape – but not before her father saw and recognized him. That same diplomat claimed diplomatic immunity and immediately returned to London. Daniel is outraged at this miscarriage of justice and wonders how he can help bring the blackguard to justice.
Soon, the method presents itself and Daniel is prepared to leap in, but then, he meets the young man and starts to wonder if he knows all he needs to know about the case. Patrick is adamant that the young man is guilty, Jemima is torn, and Daniel just doesn’t know. As Daniel digs, he comes to believe there is a bigger, darker secret yet to be uncovered. That doesn’t mean the man isn’t guilty – it just means there is more to know.
Daniel investigates and more and more things seem – just – wrong – not quite adding up. He asks his friend Roman Blackwell (from book one) to learn what he can of the young man and then later he brings Miriam in to do some forensic work. They all uncover more and more information that makes Daniel believe he’s in a bed of quicksand – a bottomless pool of secrets.
The ending is quick, short and unexpected. Maybe a bit too abrupt for my liking. I thought that some leaps of logic that Miriam made were more like leaping canyons rather than fissures and I didn’t see anything presented at that point that would actually justify that leap. Then, once that leap was made, we didn’t see the evidence until Daniel presented it. I would have liked to see more of that investigation and how they got there.
This is a delightful read and I absolutely LOVED that Charlotte and Thomas Pitt made appearances. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed if you give the book a try!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 24, 2021
I enjoyed the second in the new Daniel Pitt series even more than the inaugural book. The mystery in this one was much more accessible and engaging. I was shocked at the ending, though not surprised. Even though very byzantine it was logical and even plausible. The book is capped by a dandy courtroom drama and I love the last sentence in the book. I just wish it wasn't the last sentence. Anne is infamous for ending her books very abruptly. At this point, its kind of her signature.
The best thing about the book was that we see a whole lot of the family and the return of Jemima. I was gratified to learn more of the relationship with her husband Patrick who was introduced to us in her short story, A New York Christmas. They are still very much in love and the parents of two young girls. They still have important discussions and even disputes concerning loyalty, justice, one's place in society, trust, and important priorities. We see they have a deep connection besides their love, yet they are each their own person with their own perspectives. Given some hints in this book, I suspect it won't be long before we see much more of Jemima and Patrick even though they will be heading back to the United States for the time being. I have been reading about the Pitts for 35 years so they are kind of like my fictional family.
I admire and esteem Miriam, but have mixed feelings concerning the attraction between her and Daniel. I think he is just too young for her. We'll see. Going by past history with 3 other couples, I fear I see the handwriting on the wall.
Unlike this one, which I kind of put off reading, I will dive right into the next in the series. After all, we still have the reintroduction of Emily and her family to look forward to.
The best thing about the book was that we see a whole lot of the family and the return of Jemima. I was gratified to learn more of the relationship with her husband Patrick who was introduced to us in her short story, A New York Christmas. They are still very much in love and the parents of two young girls. They still have important discussions and even disputes concerning loyalty, justice, one's place in society, trust, and important priorities. We see they have a deep connection besides their love, yet they are each their own person with their own perspectives. Given some hints in this book, I suspect it won't be long before we see much more of Jemima and Patrick even though they will be heading back to the United States for the time being. I have been reading about the Pitts for 35 years so they are kind of like my fictional family.
I admire and esteem Miriam, but have mixed feelings concerning the attraction between her and Daniel. I think he is just too young for her. We'll see. Going by past history with 3 other couples, I fear I see the handwriting on the wall.
Unlike this one, which I kind of put off reading, I will dive right into the next in the series. After all, we still have the reintroduction of Emily and her family to look forward to.
April 23, 2019
This book had a good story, although it was not as engaging as the first Daniel Pitt novel. It seemed too episodic, and the character of Daniel's brother-in-law was not developed or tied back in at the end. In fact, nothing was tied back in at the end--the novel ends abruptly with no denouement. So the reader is left to wonder how things turned out for many of the characters whose situations kept coming up to create issues or tension in the story and to motivate Daniel's actions. I don't mean continuing characters who are likely to be further developed in subsequent entries in the series, but characters who are important to this story but are unlikely to turn up later. And the resolution of the plot, between the appearance of Thomas Pitt to testify in court to an accident that involves the ultimate villains, had a deus-ex-machina quality that made the ending seem even more abrupt. It's as though Perry spent a lot of time developing the plot and then had to hurry and finish the novel without wanting to have the final situations come up more naturally or explain what happened after the climax--as though she'd reached some page limit. Satisfying until you get to the end and turn the page to see what happens, and look back to say, "That's all? That's the way it ends? What happens to A, B, and C?"
February 4, 2019
Perry has started a fascinating new series on the son of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, and this is the second entry, set in the second decade of the twentieth century. Daniel Pitt is a young barrister who gets entangled with a case that comes to him via his brother-in-law from the US. Daniel's sister Jemima, her husband Patrick, a Washington DC policeman, and their two young children, are in England for a visit. Patrick presents Daniel with a crime committed in DC by a member of the British embassy in DC who has claimed diplomatic immunity and fled back to England. For the first time in his career, Daniel assumes the lead on the case, rather reluctantly and feeling well over his head. Emotions and convictions swing back and forth, as Daniel has to carefully navigate the truth while dealing with not only his case and colleagues, but also his family. The loyalties of family and country are explored here by Perry in her densely thoughtful manner. Perry again gives readers a very timely story about political and familial entanglements that are remarkably prescient.
August 23, 2019
This is the second of the series of the Pitt Family; this time it involves young Daniel Pitt. He is an up and coming lawyer in Edwardian England. An excellent read.
April 5, 2019
Originally published at Reading Reality
In my review of the first Daniel Pitt story, Twenty-One Days, I said that Daniel, his cast of irregulars, and the methods they use to discover the truth reminded me more than a bit of the Canadian TV series Murdoch Mysteries.
That’s still very much true in Daniel’s second outing, along with more than a bit of Law and Order UK, perhaps as the early 20th century edition. Perhaps with a bit of the Bess Crawford mystery book series, or the early adventures of Maisie Dobbs.
While Daniel Pitt is a (very junior) practicing lawyer, the year is 1910, and the case he is involved in has ties to the police, both in America and in England. It is also ultimately connected to the war with Germany that can be seen on the darkening horizon by those who are willing to look.
Not that Daniel sees the larger picture at the beginning. The case starts out rather small – and rather close to home.
His older sister Jemima, along with her American husband Patrick and their two little girls, have come to London to visit the family. Along with a story to tell that is not exactly their own.
A friend of Jemima’s was assaulted in the middle of the night in her own bedroom in Washington D.C. A necklace of little financial value but great sentimental attachment was ripped from her neck. Her screams brought her parents down the hall, and they identified her attacker as a young man of their acquaintance. A man who served as a junior functionary at the British Embassy.
The man claimed diplomatic immunity and fled to his home shores, followed in short order by Jemima and her family, the victim and her family, and papers proving that the young man committed embezzlement during his posting at the Embassy.
It may not be possible to try him in America for his assault on the young women, but it is definitely possible for him to be tried for stealing money from the Crown – no matter how small the amounts.
Daniel Pitt finds himself in the case up to the neck – his own if not his client’s. At first he believes the man is guilty – if not of the embezzlement then certainly of the assault. But the more he digs into the case – and the better he gets to know his client – the more he realizes that nothing about the entire thing makes any sense at all.
Not the original assault, not the embezzlement, and not the murder of the poor clerk who discovered the financial irregularities. Unless there’s something hidden underneath it all. And that the “original” assault was not the originating event at all – but instead the first in a series of increasingly desperate cover ups.
Daniel will have to dig deeply in order to find the answer. Very deeply indeed – both into the past and under the ocean – in order to come at the truth.
Escape Rating A: Reminiscent of the first book in this series, Daniel comes to this case through a family connection. And much of his internal tension throughout his investigation revolves around that family.
Initially, everyone is sure that the accused is guilty, if not of the financial misappropriations, then of the much more serious assault – a charge that cannot be brought forward in law. At the same time, once Daniel takes the case, he has to defend his client to the best of his ability, both to prevent a mistrial and in order to be able to live with himself.
But he’s caught on the horns of a dilemma – his introduction to this mess is through his brother-in-law the American cop. He fears that Patrick may have had something to do with the evidence of embezzlement arriving almost out of nowhere, and he fears alienating his sister if he makes that accusation plain.
At the same time Jemima is having her own doubts, both about her husband’s involvement in the case as well as whether her friend should push for the circumstances to be made public. Even though nothing happened beyond the theft of the necklace, the rumors that will follow the young woman for the rest of her life over this will be vicious and will never go completely away.
What makes the story work so well is the character of Daniel himself. We know what he came from, his parents were the protagonists in this author’s long-running and much-beloved historical mystery series named for them, Charlotte and Thomas Pitt.
Their series begins with The Cater Street Hangman and follows the romance and eventual marriage between Thomas, police detective and gamekeeper’s son and Charlotte, a daughter of the aristocracy. During that series, Thomas rises from detective to his position in 1910, head of Special Branch, the police department that deals with terrorism and treason.
But Daniel Pitt is very young, both as a man and as a lawyer. He often finds himself in over his head, and feels constrained about asking his father for advice – at least partially because he is all too aware that he was initially taken on by his firm because his father requested a favor from the senior partner. Daniel does not want to feel any more beholden to his father’s connections than he already does.
So Daniel comes at his cases from a different angle altogether – although in this particular case that angle results in him calling his own father to the witness stand!
In the end, Daniel solves this case with more than a little help from his rather irregular friends. And that’s what makes it such a page-turner from beginning to end.
In my review of the first Daniel Pitt story, Twenty-One Days, I said that Daniel, his cast of irregulars, and the methods they use to discover the truth reminded me more than a bit of the Canadian TV series Murdoch Mysteries.
That’s still very much true in Daniel’s second outing, along with more than a bit of Law and Order UK, perhaps as the early 20th century edition. Perhaps with a bit of the Bess Crawford mystery book series, or the early adventures of Maisie Dobbs.
While Daniel Pitt is a (very junior) practicing lawyer, the year is 1910, and the case he is involved in has ties to the police, both in America and in England. It is also ultimately connected to the war with Germany that can be seen on the darkening horizon by those who are willing to look.
Not that Daniel sees the larger picture at the beginning. The case starts out rather small – and rather close to home.
His older sister Jemima, along with her American husband Patrick and their two little girls, have come to London to visit the family. Along with a story to tell that is not exactly their own.
A friend of Jemima’s was assaulted in the middle of the night in her own bedroom in Washington D.C. A necklace of little financial value but great sentimental attachment was ripped from her neck. Her screams brought her parents down the hall, and they identified her attacker as a young man of their acquaintance. A man who served as a junior functionary at the British Embassy.
The man claimed diplomatic immunity and fled to his home shores, followed in short order by Jemima and her family, the victim and her family, and papers proving that the young man committed embezzlement during his posting at the Embassy.
It may not be possible to try him in America for his assault on the young women, but it is definitely possible for him to be tried for stealing money from the Crown – no matter how small the amounts.
Daniel Pitt finds himself in the case up to the neck – his own if not his client’s. At first he believes the man is guilty – if not of the embezzlement then certainly of the assault. But the more he digs into the case – and the better he gets to know his client – the more he realizes that nothing about the entire thing makes any sense at all.
Not the original assault, not the embezzlement, and not the murder of the poor clerk who discovered the financial irregularities. Unless there’s something hidden underneath it all. And that the “original” assault was not the originating event at all – but instead the first in a series of increasingly desperate cover ups.
Daniel will have to dig deeply in order to find the answer. Very deeply indeed – both into the past and under the ocean – in order to come at the truth.
Escape Rating A: Reminiscent of the first book in this series, Daniel comes to this case through a family connection. And much of his internal tension throughout his investigation revolves around that family.
Initially, everyone is sure that the accused is guilty, if not of the financial misappropriations, then of the much more serious assault – a charge that cannot be brought forward in law. At the same time, once Daniel takes the case, he has to defend his client to the best of his ability, both to prevent a mistrial and in order to be able to live with himself.
But he’s caught on the horns of a dilemma – his introduction to this mess is through his brother-in-law the American cop. He fears that Patrick may have had something to do with the evidence of embezzlement arriving almost out of nowhere, and he fears alienating his sister if he makes that accusation plain.
At the same time Jemima is having her own doubts, both about her husband’s involvement in the case as well as whether her friend should push for the circumstances to be made public. Even though nothing happened beyond the theft of the necklace, the rumors that will follow the young woman for the rest of her life over this will be vicious and will never go completely away.
What makes the story work so well is the character of Daniel himself. We know what he came from, his parents were the protagonists in this author’s long-running and much-beloved historical mystery series named for them, Charlotte and Thomas Pitt.
Their series begins with The Cater Street Hangman and follows the romance and eventual marriage between Thomas, police detective and gamekeeper’s son and Charlotte, a daughter of the aristocracy. During that series, Thomas rises from detective to his position in 1910, head of Special Branch, the police department that deals with terrorism and treason.
But Daniel Pitt is very young, both as a man and as a lawyer. He often finds himself in over his head, and feels constrained about asking his father for advice – at least partially because he is all too aware that he was initially taken on by his firm because his father requested a favor from the senior partner. Daniel does not want to feel any more beholden to his father’s connections than he already does.
So Daniel comes at his cases from a different angle altogether – although in this particular case that angle results in him calling his own father to the witness stand!
In the end, Daniel solves this case with more than a little help from his rather irregular friends. And that’s what makes it such a page-turner from beginning to end.
March 27, 2019
When new lawyer Daniel Pitt meets his sister’s husband for the first time, Patrick asks him for help with a case. Daniel’s sister Jemima and her husband are friends with a young woman who was attacked in her own bedroom in Washington, DC. The woman’s dad has identified a British diplomat as the attacker, but the man claims diplomatic immunity and returns to London. Patrick and the young woman’s influential family have a plan to get justice for their daughter, but need Daniel’s help. Daniel agrees to help, but then worries he may be in over his head.
This book is set in London in 1910. Daniel Pitt is the son of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, who were the main characters in another of Anne Perry’s mystery series. This series continues the Thomas Pitt series in some ways, but Daniel is the now the main character. Thomas and Charlotte make appearances and Thomas plays an important role in this book. It’s not necessary to have read the prior books, but longtime readers like me will enjoy catching up with the elder Pitts and getting to know Daniel and his sister Jemima. Jemima plays a large part in this story and she has grown up to be an intelligent, independent, and outspoken woman. She works well with Daniel, who is also intelligent and is eager to do a good job in his new career.
The case is much more complex than it looks and Daniel doesn’t know who to believe or who he can trust. At times, he even has doubts about his brother-in-law which saddens him to think he could damage the relationship between him and his sister. Daniel, Jemima, and Patrick all want to do the right thing, but often have different ideas about how to do that. The solution is something none of the three could have imagined. I was surprised by the dramatic ending when the motive was revealed.
The book does a good job of building the suspense over what the truth really is, so much so that the middle part of the story moves a little slowly. However, the story picks up and gets really good. Unfortunately, it ends rather abruptly. I think if there had been one more chapter to wrap things up and show the aftermath, the ending would have been much more satisfying. I still enjoyed the book and am interested in seeing what is in store for Daniel in future books.
I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Ballantine Books. The books was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
This book is set in London in 1910. Daniel Pitt is the son of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, who were the main characters in another of Anne Perry’s mystery series. This series continues the Thomas Pitt series in some ways, but Daniel is the now the main character. Thomas and Charlotte make appearances and Thomas plays an important role in this book. It’s not necessary to have read the prior books, but longtime readers like me will enjoy catching up with the elder Pitts and getting to know Daniel and his sister Jemima. Jemima plays a large part in this story and she has grown up to be an intelligent, independent, and outspoken woman. She works well with Daniel, who is also intelligent and is eager to do a good job in his new career.
The case is much more complex than it looks and Daniel doesn’t know who to believe or who he can trust. At times, he even has doubts about his brother-in-law which saddens him to think he could damage the relationship between him and his sister. Daniel, Jemima, and Patrick all want to do the right thing, but often have different ideas about how to do that. The solution is something none of the three could have imagined. I was surprised by the dramatic ending when the motive was revealed.
The book does a good job of building the suspense over what the truth really is, so much so that the middle part of the story moves a little slowly. However, the story picks up and gets really good. Unfortunately, it ends rather abruptly. I think if there had been one more chapter to wrap things up and show the aftermath, the ending would have been much more satisfying. I still enjoyed the book and am interested in seeing what is in store for Daniel in future books.
I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Ballantine Books. The books was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2019
Perry's writing is so familiar to me, as are the Pitt family, that I feel I'm catching up with friends. As Daniel is a barrister she'll have some plot turns to attend to to get him involved as he seems set to carry the mantle for the mystery solving Pitts. But she does have a way with a story.
July 14, 2022
I casi di Daniel Pitt stanno diventando appassionanti come quelli di suo padre Thomas. I gialli virano più sulla parte "legal", ma la sorpresa dell'ultimissima pagina a cui la Perry ci ha abituato non manca.
December 27, 2020
3.5 stars
I'm really liking Daniel Pitt. I really like the characters, I think the mystery in this one went on a little too long and I figured out who did it the first time I met that character, though I didn't know the why until Daniel figured it out. I think I will be continuing with the series.
I'm really liking Daniel Pitt. I really like the characters, I think the mystery in this one went on a little too long and I figured out who did it the first time I met that character, though I didn't know the why until Daniel figured it out. I think I will be continuing with the series.
May 18, 2019
The book is a good read.But the endless questions about the right thing to do between family members and then friends went on far to much for me. Anne Perry barely scratched the surface with Patrick,you got glimpses and then they were gone.I also still find Daniel Pitt a little to wooden for my liking. The ending was abrupt and made me wonder what happened to some of the people in the book.
December 13, 2025
Really slow. I enjoyed the last 50 pages but it was very repetitive up until that point
June 15, 2019
I’m such a sucker for a series, and a series that now features the next generation—Jemima!—is almost good to be true. I’ll tear through these as quickly as Perry can churn them out.
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