Book Review: MIDNIGHT AT MARBLE ARCH by Anne Perry (A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt book)

I've read Anne Perry's Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series from the beginning, many MANY books and years ago. MIDNIGHT AT MARBLE ARCH is evidence that the prolific Perry is still writing at her very best.

Victorian malice and foul murder are alive and well in Perry's latest trip to the dark and foggy London of the past. It is 1896 and the city is abuzz as the possibility of a second Boer War draws closer and events in Africa reach out to touch the financial machinations of the very rich.

But events closer to home have brought Thomas and Charlotte Pitt into a strange murder case involving one of society's own.

This is a London in which the upper crust keeps its eyes closed to sexual violence, conspiring to avert scandal even as it pertains to one of their own. When a young girl dives to her death through a window in full view of a frivolous afternoon party and no one is inclined or fast enough to think to save her, you know that these are the sorts of people one had better best avoid.

Since ex-policeman Thomas Pitt was promoted to Head of Special Branch, it is his duty to mingle with 'his betters' even if the effort often fills him with unease and distaste. Author Anne Perry is excellent at probing the fine points of upper class misbehavior and the often extreme levels to which the powerful will go to prevent any tarnish of scandal.

Pitt was not 'well born', but his wife Charlotte was - though she has never regretted marrying policeman Thomas. They've lived a frugal life until the recent promotions which have made the honest and honorable Pitt a rather powerful man, though with few friends in high places and many rancorous enemies. This we've learned over the course of many books in this long-running series.

Before the tragic events of a ghastly afternoon in which the Portuguese Ambassador's sixteen year old daughter is tragically driven to her death, there is another event just as ghastly: the brutal rape and murder of the wife of society banker Rawdon Quixwood. Almost immediately gossip begins blaming Quixwood's lady wife for the violence done her late at night in her own home, especially when it appears she opened the front door to her assailant. When later the coroner states that the lady apparently committed suicide by drinking poison - after the rape - speculation turns feverish.

In Victorian society (as in many others), rape was almost always seen as the 'fault' of the victim. The truth was rarely disclosed as everyone concerned looked the other way and refused - in most cases - to speak to the police. That didn't stop the gossips, though, from destroying the victim's reputation. In a society where women were either ladies or whores, the result wasn't very pretty and justice was often the loser.

Since matters at first appear to be out of the official reach of Special Branch, it falls to Victor Narroway (Lord Narroway) to quietly assist in the investigation of Catherine Quixwood's death - especially since the victim's husband has requested his help. Narroway is a friend of Thomas Pitt and as the retired ex-head of Special Branch, he is in a unique position to dig around informally behind the scenes. In this he is helped by the wise council of his old friend, Charlotte's elegant 'great-aunt' Lady Vespasia Cummings-Gould. The low-key affection between Narroway and Lady Vespasia is one of the pleasures of reading these books.

Eventually it becomes apparent that a serial rapist and murderer is at work in London and although we know fairly early who this might be, there are still many unanswered questions. But when in a dramatic turn of events, a suspect is arrested and put on trial for Catherine Quixwood's brutal assault, as far as society is concerned the case is closed.

The sensational trial that ensues is one of Anne Perry's finest set pieces - something she is especially gifted at creating.

But Narroway and Pitt are not satisfied that the right man is in the dock. (Pitt became involved when the case of the Portuguese Ambassador's daughter was linked to the Quixwood assault. Special Branch has a right to investigate officially when matters of state might be involved.) As the search for clues continues in a frantic race against time, the twisted truth when finally pieced together, is even uglier than first suspected.

Another extremely satisfying tale from the doyenne of Victorian mystery.

Anne Perry is the author of the equally fascinating William Monk books  also set in Victorian England.

Monday Book Review: TREASON AT LISSON GROVE - A Thomas and Charlotte Pitt Mystery

TREASON AT LISSON GROVE (2011) is the very latest in the amazingly prolific author Anne Perry's Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series - the first Pitt book in three years actually - the 26th (!) overall. I've been a fan of her historical mysteries (she writes several series) for years. And while I realize that getting into a series, any series, this far along can be intimidating, I'd still recommend you read a few of the previous books (in the order of their publication) before reading the very latest Pitt or William Monk book. That is, if you don't want to go all the way back to the very beginning. But is you're not intimidated at all then by all means, begin at the beginning. In my view, this is probably more important in the William Monk series now 16 books along. Monk spends the first half of his series as an amnesiac, so you can see why it might be important to go back a few books with him.

TREASON AT LISSON GROVE features one time police Inspector Thomas Pitt, now an officer with Special Branch, the British organization charged with investigating societal unrest and general skulduggery. Pitt has been directly brought in (after being kicked off the police force for doing his job too well and incurring political enemies) by Victor Narraway, head of Special Branch.

The series is set in the latter years of Victoria's reign and over the past several books, Pitt and Narraway, as well as Pitt's wife Charlotte and various other recurring characters have been involved in many intriguing cases featuring dark, murderous secrets and the efforts of those in power to circumvent the law.

Thomas Pitt is an intriguing character. He began years ago as a lowly police inspector in THE CATER STREET HANGMAN, the book in which he first met his future wife. When a sister is strangled by a serial killer, Charlotte, a well-born upper class young woman of independent spirit falls in love with Pitt and scandalizes everyone by marrying him. A decision she has never regretted.

Pitt is a gameskeeper's son who was educated by the estate's owner and thus, he is too well educated for one world and not gentleman enough for the other. Still, by hard work, integrity and gumption he rises within the police force, to a point where he becomes a danger to some powerful shadowy characters working behind the scenes.

Now because of Victor Narraway, Pitt is with Special Branch, head-quartered in Lisson Grove. As this current book begins, Pitt and a fellow officer named Gower, are on the trail of an informer with valuable information regarding a possible international plot. There is great unrest in Europe at this time and England is seen as having the only 'stable' government - it behooves socialists and anarchists working in the shadows, to foment unrest at home. Rumors and conspiracy theories are everywhere. When the informer is brutally murdered, Pitt and Gower follow the suspected killer across the channel to St. Malo on the French Coast.

In the meantime, with Pitt out of the picture, Narraway's enemies strike. He is accused of embezzling funds meant for the safe passage of an Irish informer who has since been killed. The money has shown up in one of Narraway's accounts. Disgraced, Narraway is driven from office.

Because of evidence brought to his attention by Stokes, an officer still loyal to him, Narraway believes the answer to who has engineered this plot against him lies in Ireland - a place where he once worked to foil a tragic conspiracy.. The Irish have long memories and many reasons to hate the English, so it is there that Narraway believes the man who directed the plot against him has surfaced after many years.

Trusting no one, having few friends, Narraway turns to Pitt's wife Charlotte. letting her know where he's going and what has happened. She sees the danger he's in, a danger which will affect her and Thomas directly. Once Thomas returns from assignment he may well be ousted from Special Branch, (he is seen as Narraway's man) if not worse. Narraway's enemies are Thomas's enemies. So for this reason, she insists on going to Ireland to help in any way she can. For societal sensibilities she will travel as Narraway's sister.  But added to the mix is the fact that Victor Narraway is in love with Charlotte and has been for some time.

Back in France, Pitt realizes that he is on a wild goose chase and that something bigger and more important may be happening back home. At this point he has no idea that anything specific has occurred OR that Narraway and Charlotte have departed for Ireland.

The book is divided between Narraway and Charlotte's dangerous adventure in Ireland which culminates in murder and Pitt's eventful and equally dangerous journey back to London to find Narraway gone and Special Branch in disarray. Charlotte's plans have been revealed to him by Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould, an influential family friend with many connections- she is someone who has helped them before. Charlotte had revealed her plans to Lady Vespasia before departing for Ireland. Pitt fears for Charlotte's life, but understands why she would want to help Narraway clear himself. After all, Narraway had stepped in to help Pitt when he was driven from his job.

Incredibly, within a few short, anxious days, Pitt finds himself ensconced as head of Special Branch, a job he is not really suited for but cannot turn down - moreover, a job he doesn't want.

As enemies circle, Pitt realizes that he and Narraway have been split up for a very good reason: there are traitors at Lisson Grove. Traitors working with violent insurgents to overthrow the government. He alone must find the details of the plot - where and when will they strike? How far up the chain of command does the treachery go? He also realizes that his sudden promotion is meant to make him a scapegoat if the plotters succeed.

Author Anne Perry has created in Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, a steadfast, devoted couple whose integrity and compassion are the centerpieces of this series. Over the years as they've withstood many setbacks, grown a family and worked together on cases - Charlotte having easier entry into society, often helpful to Thomas in his earlier police work, she has never once regretted marrying her policeman.

In her two main series, Perry often tackles the difficult themes of social injustice, the plight of the poor, the rigidity and hypocrisy of Victorian society, and the Irish troubles - all in 'real' time. Though rarely do these themes get in the way of the story, rather they are woven expertly throughout. Perry never forgets she's writing mysteries.

If you enjoy suspenseful historical mysteries set in the Victorian era, then Anne Perry is the writer for you. Far as I'm concerned, she has no equal.

To see an entire listing of Anne Perry's books,.please go here.

Sunday Salon: Five MORE Favorite Heroines

1) Stephanie Plum in the hilarious series by Janet Evanovich. Now I admit that Stephanie is the original Jersey Ditz, but I still like her a helluva lot. She is not stupid, she is just hapless. The hap-liest bounty hunter that ever walked the streets looking for lunatic felons. (Does Trenton have any other kind?) First book in the series (though not to my mind, the best): One for the Money.

What I most especially like about Stephanie is this: even though she complains constantly about her family, in truth she loves and needs them in her life, even if they are, shall we say, a bit on the eccentric side. Especially Grandma Mazur, an ancient given to wearing spandex and rhinestone studded sneakers. I like that Stephanie cares for her long-lived hamster, Rex, making sure first thing, when disaster strikes, that he is okay. (How this little furry creature has survived all the explosions, fire bombs and attempts on Stephanie's life defies logic and belief, but in a very good way.)

I like that Stephanie is tempted by not one, but two men, Joe and Ranger. I also like that both men, in turn, are tempted by Stephanie. (We should all have that problem.) I like that her car gets blown up in almost every book. I like Lula and the gang down at Vinnie's Bail Bonds. I like the whole mythical Trenton ambiance invented by Evanovich, helping make Stephanie, very much the Joisey Alice in Wonderland. If you have a sense of fun and appreciate the ridiculous absurdities of life, you will love this series.

2) Flavia de Luce in the absolutely top-notch new series (two books old so far) by Alan Bradley. The first book, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, won just about every award at the Bouchercon By the Bay Mystery Convention last week. The second book: The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag is even better, if you can believe it. Flavia joins the elite ranks of ubiquitous British child eccentrics - she is 11 years old at the beginning of this series and already skilled in chemistry. Luckily for her, there's a handy-dandy laboratory on the top floor of her ramshackle house. I love precocious British children, most especially those on the eve of discovering wisdom.

Ignored by her family, Flavia lives a lonely life in the English countryside of the 1950's. But she is indefatigable in her attempt to construct some sort of life for herself excluding her two awful sisters (in a fairy tale they'd be the wicked stepsisters) and an indifferent father who prefers collecting stamps to caring for his family. There's a wistful sadness that lingers over just about everything in these books, but there's also a great deal of humor. Flavia is an astute observer - not to mention, a genius at concocting poisonous chemical experiments.

3) Lady Frances Derwent in Agatha Christie's often overlooked classic, Why Didn't They Ask Evans? Frankie, as she is known to her friends, never appears in another book and I've often wondered why. She is the epitome of the bright young thing with a title and a brain, a character very popular in the mysteries of the 1930's and 40's. But even though her appearance is limited to this one book, it is an indelible one. She is delightful - a slightly snotty, imperiously well-bred, beautiful young woman with a sense of adventure and fun. She is also, in love with the hapless (there's that word again - maybe I have a thing for hapless. ) son of the local vicar. That much-put-upon vicar is played delightfully (another word I'm over fond of) in the PBS Mystery version, by Sir John Gielgud. No one, and I mean NO ONE IN THE WORLD can wince quite so hilariously as Gielgud and in this version of the Christie tale, he is called on to wince quite regularly - his son is a very trying individual.

Once they save each other's lives, Frankie will very likely marry the vicar's son and spend the rest of their lives living on her estate, happily bossing him around (and he, happily, putting up with it) and solving any mysteries that come their way.

4) Hester Latterly in the William Monk books, by Anne Perry. Hester is a Crimean War veteran, a nurse who's served on the horrific front lines and lived to tell about it. Author Perry writes several historical series, but Hester to me is the stand-out character in one of the two series I'm most familiar with. Even if she is not the main character, she is certainly second lead. If not for her, I believe that William Monk, a character who spends most of the books suffering from amnesia, would probably not have managed as well as he as.

Hester is home from the war in the first book in the series, home to a dark and indifferent London, careless of its wounded veterans. A nurse at a time when nurses were seen as low-life drudges capable of nothing but emptying bed pans and mopping floors. She is expected now to put aside her front line medical knowledge and kowtow to close-minded doctors who know less than she does. Finally admitting there's little she can do to change things, Hester leaves hospital nursing and goes into private practise, doing what she can to make a difference. She then meets and becomes friends with the amnesiac William Monk, a moody, troubled detective working some of the more fearful crimes that Victorian London has to offer.

A series best read in order of publication, the first book is titled: The Face Of A Stranger.

5) Clare Fergusson, retired Army chopper pilot and newly appointed Episcopalian minister, in the series set in a fictional town in upstate New York (where it always seems to be winter), by Award winning author, Julia Spencer-Fleming. The first book in this moody, evocative series is the perfectly titled, In the Bleak Midwinter. This is definitely the sort of series about which it is often said, you must begin at the beginning. No jumping into the books mid-way. Well, I mean, you could, but to my mind, you'd be missing the full impact of the growing (and heartbreaking) relationship between Clare and the very married town sheriff, Russ van Alstyne. How this all works out (if it works out) will keep you guessing from book to book, that's why I say you must begin at the beginning.

Clare is the sort of person most would admire, she is intelligent, stalwart, opinionated, driven to duty, wise in some ways and not-so-wise in others and she has a good sense of humor - not always the best thing for a priest. Last but not least, she knows how to pilot a helicopter - I don't know about you, but that impressed the hell out of me. Clare tries always to do what's right, especially within her new calling. I like the unique dichotomy of Clare as conflicted woman and priest. But as everyone knows, always doing right can be the pits.

Lots of murderous acts and intentions in these cold, lonely, snow covered towns lying in the moody hills of upstate New York. Who knew?