The Hyde Park Headsman

Charlotte & Thomas Pitt #14

by Anne Perry

Not since the bloody deeds of Jack the Ripper have Londoners felt such terror as that aroused by the gruesome beheadings in Hyde Park. And if newly promoted Police Superintendent Thomas Pitt does not quickly apprehend the perpetrator, he is likely to lose his own head, professionally speaking.Yet even with the help of Charlotte Pitt's subtle investigation, the sinister violence continues unchecked. And in a shocking turn of events that nearly convinces the pair of sleuths that they have met their match, the case proves to be Pitt's toughest ever . . . ."Very satisfying, a lovely way to spend a rainy spring weekend." -- USA Today"Thrilling . . . [Perry's] understanding of the historically rich period enables her to devise a plot true to its time yet timeless in its approach to human nature." -- The Orlando Sentinel

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Anne Perry, born Juliet Hulme in England, lived in Scotland most of her life after serving five years in prison for murder (in New Zealand). A beloved mystery authoress, she is best known for her Thomas Pitt and William Monk series.

Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".

Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.

Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories

Reviews

[C. (Comment, don't blank click reviews). · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me share a historic fact. In 1994, this was the last book Anne Perry published before Peter Jackson made a film of her childhood mistake. My New Zealand friend informed me he stuck to her original name for her family’s privacy. A journalist sniffed out the authoress in Scotland and nobody since then, has written a blurb about her without mentioning that traumatic event. We are not our pasts: please exercise respect.

Anne is one of my favourite authors. When I set this hardcover here as the next Charlotte & Thomas Pitt mystery for me to read, I was sad to see that Anne has gone to Heaven, in April 2023. Rest in peace, dear Juliet Anne Hulme Perry! You have earned your peace and rest.

I for one am relieved that volume 14, “The Hyde Park Headsman”, triumphed as one of her five star mysteries. It seemed right, as the final book I have read in the year its authoress was alive. In January 2024, this September 2023 reading journey is the furthest back I am reaching for review writing but glancing at the synopsis is all the refresher I need. I believe this venture earned five stars from me because it accomplished a medley of traits I enjoy. The Sisters and Aunt Vespasia are always enthralling and their elevated dialogue is intelligent, inspiring, and enormously amusing. We also relish Thomas in his promoted role as a chief inspector, which frustrates a contemporary officer who is now under his guidance.

I constantly praise Anne for contriving new ideas each and every time; completely unique cases to solve. This mystery is a standout for deep layers of sensitive family backgrounds and encounters by happenstance that need to be sifted out, to reach the nucleus of the motive for murder.

[Riccarla Roman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ago I read every Thomas and Charlotte Pitt book when it came out. Having just read the Sebastian St. Cyr Regency mysteries, I decided to revisit the Pitts in the later Victorian period. They are as charming as ever although Thomas has now become the Superintendent of the police department. He worries that he isn't ready for such a massive responsibility and the men under him worry if he's ready for the job. Charlotte is renovating a new house while her sister Emily helps her husband run for Parliament. Both of them are worried about their mother and her new beau (a younger man who is an actor!)

Thomas Pitt, however, is much more concerned about who is beheading men and leaving them in Hyde Park. There is no connection among the men, but Pitt doggedly keeps searching for one. He must put up with the men under him who worked with him when he was a policeman and have a hard time accepting him as their superior. Pitt's own superiors are uncertain that he was the right choice because he is not a born aristocrat.

I remember loving the relationship between the Pitts and was a little concerned when Thomas seems to be too interested in the widow of one of the victims. I was hoping this wouldn't be a rift and as usual, their true love saves the day. The identity of the headsman was a surprise as was the reveal that one of these murders is not like the others. There are also such great characters such as Grace, the Pitts' maid and Great-Aunt Vespasia. A few great stories of her during the Regency would be fun.

Anne Perry is a great author writing detailed mysteries and deep character studies that keep you interested to the very end and ready to read another one.

[Gina Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a tricky one. I knew one murderer from the beginning, but there was still a nice twist. Plus, I laughed out loud when Charlotte told a party full of people that Grandmama, who’d been pretending to faint while throwing a fit, was drunk!!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even after finishing this one, I'd be hard-pressed to tell you what the plot was about - wildly disjointed and muddled.

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a lot of pacing and focus problems. The main culprits are too many storylines and too many "Good god, man, do your job!" conversations between Pitt and his superintendent. In addition to the main mystery storyline, there were significant plotlines about Jack's bid for office, Caroline's relationship with a Jewish actor, the Pitt family's move to a larger house, and the continued Inner Circle saga -- none of which I found particularly compelling. It think it's a common pitfall of a long-running episodic mystery series: the author starts working too hard to continue developing the personal lives of the core characters (and also tries to follow secondary and tertiary characters from book to book to book) and the result is that the book does not stand well on its own.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine mystery that only Charlotte and Emily could solve. It's a wonder Pitt and his sergeants get anything done without their help. It is a,gruesome story made less so by the almost *romp* at the end.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas Pitt has been promoted and is now Superintendent of Bow Street station. As a result of this Charlotte is busy moving them into a bigger, better house. And she is still dealing with her worries over her mother's romance with a younger man. And everything may be in jeopardy for the Pitt family when a string of unsolved murders creates public fear, and privately Pitt is pressured to join the evil Inner Circle. The "whodunnit" here is especially interesting and clever, but as always for me it is watching the Pitts in their brilliantly realized world.

[Martina Sartor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meticolosa come sempre la Perry nella descrizione della Londra ottocentesca e dei personaggi delle varie classi sociali, mettendone in evidenza pregi e difetti. Forse stavolta un tantino troppo, quasi a rasentare la pedanteria. Ma l'indagine di Pitt, coadiuvato dall'impareggiabile moglie Charlotte e dalla cognata Emily, riserva alla fine non poche sorprese.

2^ lettura: più leggo la Perry, più la apprezzo, al di là del giallo fine a se stesso.

[Norman Weiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 Sterne für einen flüssig und routiniert erzählten Reihenkrimi aus dem viktorianischen England. Ermittlungen in den besseren Kreisen, in deren Verlauf skandalträchtige Geheimnisse ans Licht kommen - aber welches Geheimnis genau löste die Mordserie aus? Am Ende geht es wie oft in solchen Büchern etwas schnell und kommt auch etwas anders als zunächst gedacht.
Gute Unterhaltung.

[Melissa Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pitt has a promotion and the family is preparing to move into a new house. There's murder after murder and many think there's another Jack the Ripper in town, which puts enormous pressure on Pitt to solve! Not as abrupt an ending as past books, I did have trouble putting it down.

"Not since the bloody deeds of Jack the Ripper have Londoners felt such terror as that aroused by the gruesome beheadings in Hyde Park. And if newly promoted Police Superintendent Thomas Pitt does not quickly apprehend the perpetrator, he is likely to lose his own head, professionally speaking. Yet even with the help of Charlotte Pitt's subtle investigation, the sinister violence continues unchecked. And in a shocking turn of events that nearly convinces the pair of sleuths that they have met their match, the case proves to be Pitt's toughest ever "

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The last few Charlotte and Thomas novels in this series have been disappointing for me. This one was different. The story was more engaging and the eventual “resolve” to the case of the Hyde Park Headsman was satisfying. Thomas’ current situation as the new Superintendent of the police force (replacing his mentor, Micah Drummond) places him in a challenging position in a case difficult to solve and this adds an extra level of tension to this story, As always the antics of sisters, Charlotte and Emily, as they dive into the underbelly of English Society are very entertaining. I recommend as an entertaining read.

[Mary Ellen Barringer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

It was a joy to see Supertendent Pitt in action. Only a shame that his new office was under such scrutiny. Can Perry give the guy a break?

Although I liked much about The Hyde Park Headsman, the last portion of the book seemed farcical. Charlotte and Emily's escapade was so unbelievable and unnecessary. They could have given the info to Pitt.

On the positive side, this book had four different plot lines. Three of them were wound up prior to the final chapters could focus on the main plot line. Cudos to Ms. Perry!

[Tory Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne Perry continues to delight with this new Charlotte and Thomas Pitt mystery. Charlotte, with the help of her sister Emily, help to solve the mystery of a series of murders whose victims are beheaded. By solving it, they help Charlotte's husband, Inspector Pitt, hang onto his job and recent promotion.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the return of Emily, I expected to be thoroughly annoyed with the antics of Charlotte and Emily. As it turns out, the sisters were too busy with other things to interfere too much. I've said it before and I'll say it again, things are better when they stay out of it. The mystery is much better when Thomas is left to his own devices.

[Alanna Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting read, but was slow moving since it was an old-fashioned type of investigation. There was a considerable amount of back and forth and developments were slow to come, so you have to have some patience.

[Simona Moschini · Rating 3 out of 5]

E niente: anche Pitt, come Monk, se non avesse la moglie, la cognata, la zia ricca che lo aiutano, col cavolo che risolverebbe qualche caso.
Però la ricostruzione storica è sempre avvincente e il divertimento assicurato.

[Debbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good mystery in this series. Charlotte and Emily were a little ridiculous and Pitt’s new Superior Officer is super unlikeable. Hope his vitriolic speech calms down in future books in the series.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found in Barcelona op shop. Look it actually quite liked this book in the end but my god it was slow to start. The plot and muddier investigation was interesting but it could have moved so much faster.

[MH · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 🌟

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another in the series about Charlotte Pitt and her inspector husband, who has been promoted to take the place of Micah Drummond, his old superior. Resented by the other men on the force who aren’t of the upper classes, and stymied by a case involving beheadings in Hyde Park, many are calling for Pitt to step down. Charlotte and her sister Emily don’t have as much place in the plot as usual until the last few chapters, when they break into a suspect’s garden to find the final clue to the crimes. The ending seemed contrived to me, although the body of the book seemed better than some of her others.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I enjoyed this outing with the Pitt's. Thomas plays a bigger part with each succeeding novel and I like that because he's a much more interesting character. Perhaps Anne Perry feels that way as well and keeps making him the center of the story. He has an interesting take on events and also an engaging inner life. His promotion to Superintendent is great but also causing him some personnel problems. He works through the problems while trying to solve a high-profile case that may cost him his new job. Meanwhile, Charlotte is fixing up their new home and many minor characters make a welcome appearance, most especially Great-Aunt Vespasia, who is wonderful.

[Georgianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got hooked on reading through this series a few weeks back when I had the flu. I'm not sure I can explain why I enjoy reading about these characters who live in a time and place where everyone has to conform to conventions foreign to life here in New York. I suppose I could come up with some kind of analogy, but I won't. Suffice it to say that the love and regard Charlotte and Thomas have for each other, and the compassion Thomas shows people of all stations in life keep me reading the series just to see how their lives are moving along. Solving a mystery is a plus.

[Sharyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The attention to detail in geography, food, clothes, and appearances that Perry imagines is quite amazing. Thomas Pitt has become Superintendent of Bow Street when several murders occur. Charlotte is preparing their new house and isn't as involved as usual until Pitt's job is threatened. This is a particularly clever mystery and I almost guessed the murderer, but many twists awaited me. There is a cute little undercurrent of jealousy that Charlotte feels towards one of the victims wives, but that is nipped in the bud in a spectacular way. As always, the crime is solved in the very last page.

[Pachy Pedia · Rating 4 out of 5]

El recién ascendido Pitt puede perder todo lo logrado con su esfuerzo cuando se produce una serie de decapitaciones en su distrito.
Este libro de la saga se separa un poco de la línea de los anteriores, ya que hay diversos focos de atención, como las elecciones a las que se presenta el cuñado del protagonista o los amoríos de su suegra. Pero lo que menos me ha gustado es que hay cierto distanciamiento entre Pitt y Charlotte.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh my goodness....have I ever given an Anne Perry book 2 stars?!???!
I just....
There were heads rolling all over the place as the title suggests, but I just didn't care if they caught the killer. It got excruciatingly boggy 2/3 of the way through, and I really had to force myself to finish it. Completely unusual for me with Ms. Perry's books.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ironically, although this was a more exciting story with more novel developments and better pacing than many other Pitt novels, I found myself enjoying it slightly less than the previous one, Farriers' Lane. The premise was excellent and the story less reliant on repetition, but I had three problems with it: the strange but unremarked-upon behavior of the culprit, the over-the-top sympathy for Carvell, and the unfolding of the ending.

Thanks to spectacularly bad luck, I managed to accidentally open the book, when I was about a quarter in, to a page near the end where I glimpsed, "But why did you kill [victim]?" right beside a character's name - so, unfortunately, I had that spoiled for me. Nevertheless, I'm sure I would have guessed the killer because their behavior is quite bizarre, requiring at least a few follow-up questions. Since that never happens, it stuck out.

Several previous Pitt novels have dealt with the subject of homosexuality in Victorian England. I have generally praised this handling because it properly illustrates the extreme stigma held by society at the time, without letting the reader forget that those afflicted by it are still human beings (a balance that many people should strive to find today). In The Hyde Park Headsman, however, I felt that Thomas's sympathy for Carvell went too far. Perhaps it was an uncommonly clumsy attempt to balance several villainous same sex-attracted characters from previous novels, but it didn't ring true for me - in today's terms, it would be like saying, "Sure, that guy molests dogs on the regular, but he truly loved that dog who died and I really don't think he's the killer!" An emotionally mature person, like Thomas has been proven to be time and again, can hold a belief in someone's innocence alongside acknowledgement of a behavior that was, at the time, generally considered as disgusting as canine molestation. I couldn't help but wonder if Anne Perry or the publisher's hand had been forced by some politically correct taskmaster.

Finally, the ending - why are they always so abrupt? The confrontation with the killer verged on melodrama with the way it transpired and the complete lack of explanation as to how such insanity had been mostly concealed. Then, oddly, the book copied almost precisely the ending developments from Farriers' Lane, which diminished their effectiveness. And again, we're left with no closure - just a hasty "all's well that ends well!"

Despite my complaints, I still enjoyed this book very much. The character portraits are as psychologically complex as always, the setting is extremely vivid and detailed, and immersing oneself in the world is not just easy, but fun. When I call an Anne Perry novel subpar, I only mean in relation to other Anne Perry novels. They're all leagues ahead of most other literature, and I can't wait to read the further adventures of Thomas, Charlotte, and their motley little crew.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

**MINOR SPOILERS**
This book is part of the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. It is the first book I have read by the author and the references to prior events were explained. There are also personal storylines for the different characters which appear to span multiple books in the series, but they make the story robust. If they were not part of a series, they might seem unnecessary, but a good author keeps their protagonist and others from becoming stale.
The characters were well drawn with distinct personalities.
Thomas Pitt has been promoted to superintendent and now is only supposed to take cases when it involves the gentry. In this case, the first victim was a Captain in the Royal Navy and who had an Honorable title. Pitt is also dealing with the difficulties inherent in being promoted over his peers.
Pitt becomes involved in a series of murders which do not seem to be related to each other. This happens not long after the unsolved murders of Jack the Ripper and the city is on edge and clamoring for an arrest. Pitt is put under pressure to find someone, anyone to arrest. Few clues are found and they do not appear to narrow the list of suspects at all. Only gradually does a possible picture become clear. There is a surprise twist at the end.
The book moves along at a good pace. The dialogue seems appropriate to the time. The author did a good job at describing facial movements and gestures that a person would naturally make. The point of view varies between Thomas, Charlotte, Gracie (their servant), Emily (Charlotte’s sister), and others. It is easy to tell when the POV changes.
I was a little disappointed by an observation that Charlotte realizes on almost the last page. (Not giving spoilers). I wish it had not been included.
I thought the ending was a bit abrupt and there should have been a post-climatic wrap up or possibly an epilogue.
I plan to continue reading this series.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good, and it moved the plot along for all of the Ellison ladies: Charlotte and Thomas, with his promotion to Superintendent, move to a newer, bigger home; Emily and Jack are working on his (it turns out successful) campaign for Parliament; Caroline is still dating Joshua Fielding, the actor, and we learn at Jack's celebratory party that they get married! That means that Grandmother Ellison, who was living with Caroline and said she wouldn't tolerate the Jewish actor living in her home, will apparently be relocating to Ashworth Hall to live with the Radleys.

I figured out the whodunnit pretty far from the ending, but it was good that there were clues sprinkled throughout, and a limited list of people who could be the culprit. There are 4 murders, all with the victims' heads cut off, but one proves to be a red herring, not committed by the same person. It being the second beheading, though, the police are trying to connect Aidan Aldridge's death with the first one, Captain Oakley Winthrop. Turns out that Winthrop's godson and neighbor, the talented cellist Victor Garrick, is the murderer of the bullies (in addition to Winthrop, who beat up his wife, he kills a omnibus driver who damages his cello and an entitled butler who fires a maid simply for singing a song); his mother Thora was abused by his dead father and he's acting out his rage, taking it out on other men who abuse their power.

Aidan was actually killed by his wife, Dulcie, so that she could marry her lover, the handsome Landon Hurlwood, whose wife has just passed away and is free to remarry. I like that the mystery wasn't clear, and hopefully Pitt, who was threatened with demotion, will keep his position after all. I'm curious how his relationship with the other policemen changes, particularly with Tellman.

[L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew who the killer was very early in the story and couldn't understand why Pitt was so confounded. I'll admit I didn't have the proof, and neither did Pitt, but I had no doubt who had committed the first murder and thought he should be able to see it too, even if he didn't have the proof as yet. I kept reading because Ms. Perry writes a good story.
Pitt's frustration and concerns with his new post are the main focus of this story. Not only is he being pressured by his superiors but he has to deal with envy and subversion from amoung his own men. The reader will want to defend him because we know how good a detective he is and he has an excellent track record. Of course those who can't do the job are telling him how to do his job. They want someone's head, anybody's head, doesn't matter if they are innocent or guilty, to pin the murders on.
In the last few pages we are given (thrown) a clue that should have been within the first hundred pages and I cried UNFAIR! when I read it and consider it a big NO NO for a mystery writer. BIG faux pas! What were you thinking MS. Perry!

[Margie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I skipped as much as possible of the hemming and hawing and rehashing of all the what ifs. It was still a long read. A man's beheaded body is found in a small boat on a lake in the park. As time passes, two or three more are found. Pitt's a superintendent struggling to figure out the connection and his direct reports are pushing against him. His boss is nasty and impatient, eventually firing him for not just arresting the one gay man they discover. Charlotte is getting the new fixer upper they bought with Pitt's raise remodeled and ready. Emily is busy trying to get Jack elected for parliament. Their mom is dating and then marries a theater actor. Pitt eventually lucks into the killer - a young adult cello player who wants to get rid of bullies and who decides to kill Pitt for pushing for answers which seems like bullying. Charlotte and Emily deduces that one murder was a copycat- the wife of the man with a gay lover decided she wanted to her freedom so killed him. Constant reference to the secret and powerful group that runs the world from behind the scenes.