Bedford Square

As with all of Anne Perry's Thomas and Charlotte Pitt novels,I am delighted with Bedford Square. I love reading mysteries and especially about either Victorian (or Regency) England. Her books are clean with no vulgar language and I appreciate this. They are some of the best mysteries I have read and I have read quite a few. Judy Moughon

Anne Perry has outdone herself in this Pitt novel...the sheer intricacy of the plot is enough to keep you turning pages. You have no idea until the last few pages what or who...that is the essence of the great mystery novel....I could not put it down. Her characterizations of Victorian England are superb and her historical research is flawless. What a good read!

I am a huge fan of Anne Perry. I have read all of her books and eagerly look forward to the next one. My actual favourite series is the William Monk series, but the Pitt ones are very good too. This particular one is a very good example of her style of writing and it would be a good book to read first in order to get into the series. Her writing puts the reader right there in Victorian England as no one else can. I never guessed what the motive could be at all and was suitably surprised with the last chapter. A really tight well-knit thriller.

Bedford Square is an excellent entry in the series of books about William Pitt, Superintendent of the Bow Street station, and his higher-born wife Charlotte. Sergeant Tellman, his aide in investigating this case, & the Pitts' maid Gracie play major parts well. I wanted their relationship (reminiscent of the earlier one between Pitt & Miss Charlotte Ellison) to move on to the next level. Aunt Vespasia Cumming-Gould also plays a large part in spite of her age and her growing frailty. General Ballantyne and his insufferable wife Augusta are just as we remember them from two previous books. His fondness for Charlotte is touching and even sad. My only complaint would be that the other characters (aside from Commissioner Cornwallis) are not as fleshed out as they might be. I also was a step ahead of Pitt, but that was because I knew what he knew and also what Charlotte knew. The identity of the murderer does come as a surprise, and the underlying motivation reflects on one of the social ills of the time, as do all of Perry's novels, Inspector Monk's as well as the Pitts'. I found it hard to put this book down and enjoyed it very much.

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