Description
"[ Silence in Hanover Close is] a complex, gripping, and highly satisfying mystery . . . An adroit blend of thick London atmosphere and a convincing cast . . .xa0A bonus is a totally surprising yet wonderfully plausible finale.” — Publishers Weekly “Lovers of historical fiction and mystery dare not miss [ Silence in Hanover Close ] . . . Pervasive period ambiance; distinctive, literate use of dialogue and accent; effective portrayal of class subtleties; and deeply human characters make this superb, memorable reading.” — Library Journal “When Anne Perry puts Thomas and Charlotte Pitt on the case, we are in exemplary Victorian company.” — The New York Times “When it comes to the Victorian mystery, Anne Perry has proved that nobody does it better.” — The San Diego Union-Tribune “The period detail remains fascinating, and [Anne Perry’s] grasp of Victorian character and conscience still astonishes.” — The Plain Dealer “Pitt’s compassion and Charlotte’s cleverness make them compatible sleuths, as well as extremely congenial characters . . . Perry has the gift of making [the Victorian era] all seem immediate and very much alive.” — The Philadelphia Inquirer Anne Perry (b. 1938) is a bestselling author of historical detective fiction, most notably the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series and the William Monk series, both set in Victorian England. Her first book, The Cater Street Hangman (1979), launched both the Pitt series and her career as a premier writer of Victorian mysteries. Other novels in the series include Resurrection Row , Death in the Devil’s Acre , and Silence in Hanover Close , as well as more than twenty others. The William Monk series of novels, featuring a Victorian police officer turned private investigator, includes Funeral in Blue , The Twisted Root , and The Silent Cry . In addition to these series, Perry is also author of the World War I novels No Graves as Yet , Shoulder the Sky , Angels in the Gloom , and others, as well as several collections of short stories. Perry’s novels have appeared on bestseller lists around the world and she has over twenty-five million books in print worldwide. She lives in Scotland. From the Inside Flap or Thomas Pitt is asked to reopen a three-year-old murder case which had taken place in London's luxurious Hanover Close, he knows that his superiors want him to smooth things over. But that is just not the way Pitt operates. With his wellborn wife, Charlotte, to aid him in penetrating the well-known reserve of high society, the inquisitive Pitts discover a secret so shocking it would lead to more deaths--and, quite possibly -- Pitt's own...."[A] complex, gripping and highly satisfying mystery...An adroit blend of thick London atmosphere and a convincing cast...A totally surprising yet wonderfully plausible finale."PUBLISHERS WEEKLY --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From Publishers Weekly Inspector Thomas Pitt, Anne Perry's gentle and astute hero of eight other Victorian mysteries, assumes a secondary role in this complex, gripping and highly satisfying mystery. High officials in the Foreign Office wish to reopen the unsolved murder case of one of their diplomats, Robert York, and Pitt is reluctantly chosen by Supt. Ballarat, his arrogant and ambitious superior, to head the investigation. Ballarat is fearful of offending powerful friends, so he cautions Pitt to be thoroughly discreet, thus rendering him ineffectual. Charlotte, Pitt's able wife, decides to aid him by exploring the upper levels of society that are closed to a police inspector. Skillfully assuming the role of a country girl with breeding and money, she befriends key figures in the York murder: Veronica, the stunning yet fragile widow, and Loretta, York's steely and self-contained mother. Emily, Charlotte's titled and wealthy sister, carries the investigation a step further by hiring on as Veronica's ladies' maid, where, her real identity unknown, she is able to eavesdrop on both upstairs and downstairs gossip. The mystery is an adroit blend of thick London atmosphere and a convincing cast, mingled with the complex and straitlaced conventions of Victorian England. A bonus is a totally surprising yet wonderfully plausible finale. Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. From Library Journal Lovers of historical fiction and mystery dare not miss this newest title, featuring late Victorian Inspector Pitt ( Paragon Walk , Cardington Crescent ). Unjustly accused of murdering a prostitute central to a case, Pitt languishes in prison, unable to prowl. Wife Charlotte therefore plays a more important role than usual, as she and sister Emily desperately employ disguise and deceit to save Pitt from wrongful hanging. Pervasive period ambience; distinctive, literate use of dialogue and accent; effective portrayal of class subtleties; and deeply human characters make this superb, memorable reading. REKCopyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. Read more
Features & Highlights
- Inspector Pitt is charged with murder in this “gripping and highly satisfying” entry in the
- New York Times
- –bestselling Victorian mystery series (
- Publishers Weekly
- ).
- At the behest of his superior, Thomas Pitt reopens a case gone cold. Three years prior, Robert York, an important member of the British Foreign Office, was murdered in his home in London’s exclusive Hanover Close. Pitt has been advised to handle the situation with the utmost discretion, given the compromising circumstances of the crime: a distinguished victim from a powerful family, whispered rumors of treason, and the unimpeachable reputation of the widow, whose imminent marriage to a high-level diplomat could be cause for concern. One of Pitt’s first leads, a York family housemaid, seems innocent enough, but shortly after his interrogation, the woman is found dead. To make matters worse, Pitt is accused of the crime and thrown into prison. Now, only Charlotte and her recently widowed sister, Emily, Lady Ashworth, stand between one of Victorian England’s most adept private investigators and the gallows. From the upstairs drawing rooms to the servants’ downstairs quarters, Charlotte and Emily play a deadly game—and it may be only a matter of time before a killer gets the best of both of them.
