In the history of Anne Perryâs bestselling Victorian mystery series, the stakes have never been greater than nowâas a mission for queen and country places the future of the British Empire squarely in Thomas Pittâs hands.
It is not the custom for the commander of Special Branch to receive a royal summonsâso Thomas Pitt knows it must be for a matter of the gravest importance. The body of Sir John Halberd, the Queenâs confidant, has been found in the shallow water of the Serpentine in Hyde Park, bearing the evidence of a fatal blow to the head. At Her Majestyâs request, Sir John had been surreptitiously investigating Alan Kendrick, a horse-racing enthusiast who seems to have had an undue amount of influence on her son, the Prince of Wales.
Now Commander Pitt must navigate the corridors of power with the utmost discretion and stealth, for it seems certain that Sir Johnâs killer is a member of the upper classes. Aided by his wife, Charlotte, and her social contacts, Pitt seeks out the hidden motives behind the polite façade of those to the manner bornâand uncovers a threat to the throne that could topple the monarchy.
With Murder on the Serpentine, Thomas Pitt nears a crossroads in his brilliant careerâone that promises new challenges, both professional and personal, still to be met. But first, he and Charlotte must conquer the twists and turns of suspense master Anne Perryâs most cunningly crafted plot yetâto achieve their finest hour, or suffer their darkest.
Praise for Murder on the Serpentine
âFor nearly four decades Anne Perryâs riveting detective novels have played out against the backdrop of the Victorian era. Fans of British royalty will delight in Murder on the Serpentine, which spotlights the woman this British author reminds us was âqueen and empress of a quarter of the earthâ during her 63-year reign. . . . Perry writes meticulously laid-out police procedurals, and Pittâs methodical investigation sets the novelâs early, steady pace.ââThe Washington Post
âThe mystery may follow familiar lines, but even newcomers are likely to be charmed by scenes that deepen Pittâs family relationships. This entryâs main strength lies in the quiet, emotionally intelligent interactions among its characters.ââPublishers Weekly
â[Anne] Perry returns with another engrossing read brimming with superb period details and complex characters.ââRT Book Reviews
âMarvelous . . . Perry delivers once again by simply doing what she does better than anyone elseâcapturing the flavor, spirit and political temperature of Victorian-era London.ââBookreporter
In the history of Anne Perryâs bestselling Victorian mystery series, the stakes have never been greater than nowâas a mission for queen and country places the future of the British Empire squarely in Thomas Pittâs hands.
It is not the custom for the commander of Special Branch to receive a royal summonsâso Thomas Pitt knows it must be for a matter of the gravest importance. The body of Sir John Halberd, the Queenâs confidant, has been found in the shallow water of the Serpentine in Hyde Park, bearing the evidence of a fatal blow to the head. At Her Majestyâs request, Sir John had been surreptitiously investigating Alan Kendrick, a horse-racing enthusiast who seems to have had an undue amount of influence on her son, the Prince of Wales.
Now Commander Pitt must navigate the corridors of power with the utmost discretion and stealth, for it seems certain that Sir Johnâs killer is a member of the upper classes. Aided by his wife, Charlotte, and her social contacts, Pitt seeks out the hidden motives behind the polite façade of those to the manner bornâand uncovers a threat to the throne that could topple the monarchy.
With Murder on the Serpentine, Thomas Pitt nears a crossroads in his brilliant careerâone that promises new challenges, both professional and personal, still to be met. But first, he and Charlotte must conquer the twists and turns of suspense master Anne Perryâs most cunningly crafted plot yetâto achieve their finest hour, or suffer their darkest.
Praise for Murder on the Serpentine
âFor nearly four decades Anne Perryâs riveting detective novels have played out against the backdrop of the Victorian era. Fans of British royalty will delight in Murder on the Serpentine, which spotlights the woman this British author reminds us was âqueen and empress of a quarter of the earthâ during her 63-year reign. . . . Perry writes meticulously laid-out police procedurals, and Pittâs methodical investigation sets the novelâs early, steady pace.ââThe Washington Post
âThe mystery may follow familiar lines, but even newcomers are likely to be charmed by scenes that deepen Pittâs family relationships. This entryâs main strength lies in the quiet, emotionally intelligent interactions among its characters.ââPublishers Weekly
â[Anne] Perry returns with another engrossing read brimming with superb period details and complex characters.ââRT Book Reviews
âMarvelous . . . Perry delivers once again by simply doing what she does better than anyone elseâcapturing the flavor, spirit and political temperature of Victorian-era London.ââBookreporter