Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Bedford Square
Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Anne Perry
Class/Genre: Mystery Cozy Historical Police Procedural
Series: Thomas & Charlotte Pitt # 19
Ballantine, Apr 1999, $24.95, 336 pp.
Bow Street Superintendent Thomas Pitt investigates the corpse found on the steps of the BEDFORD SQUARE home of General Brandon Balantine. Among the possessions the shabbily dressed victim held is a snuffbox that belongs to the General, who insists he does not recognize the body as anyone he knows. No one else steps forward with the victim's identity. Meanwhile, added to that dilemma is the General's high position in society. All this makes for a difficult investigation.
To gain entrance to the elite, Thomas turns to his spouse Charlotte, an individual born at a higher station than him. This pays off when she learns that someone was blackmailing the General. Soon the married couple discovers other members of the gentry have been the recipient of extortion. Though they do not know what it is, the duo believes that something or someone connects the murder with the blackmail. Now, all they have to do is find the missing link.
BEDFORD SQUARE, the sixth Thomas and Charlotte Pitt Victorian mystery, is a historical who-done-it fan's ultimate delight. The story line vividly brings to life 1890 England. So colorful is the detail, readers will believe they have been transported there. Diametrically opposite to the meaning of their name, the Pitts are a warm, witty duo, whose teamwork adds luster to the tale. The secondary characters, especially the servants, bring depth to this Victorian England novel. With this series and her William Monk stories, Anne Perry has carved out a deserved niche with her entertaining Victorian era novels.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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