Silence in Hanover Close

In this volume of the Pitt series of mysteries set in late 19th-century London, Charlotte Pitt's sister Emily Ashworth relieves the boredom of mourning following her husband's death (see Cardington Crescent) by going undercover as a lady's maid to help Charlotte and Thomas Pitt uncover a murderer in the exclusive Hanover Close. When Thomas Pitt is asked by his superiors to open a three-year old unsolved mystery, he has no idea that he will put his family--and himself--in so much danger. It is Emily and her great-aunt Vespasia who finally save the day (and Thomas!).Silence in Hanover Close is one of the best books in the series because here we get to see Emily FINALLY get a clue as to how hard life is for the rest of London. I took a great deal of satisfaction in Emily's new recognition of how hard it was to iron perfect ruffles, and learned how to cut and butter paper thin slices of bread for tea (try the method in the book--it really works, and then you can have your friends over for a book discussion complete with English cucumber sandwiches). Thomas' own danger adds a higher level of drama to the conclusion of the case.

. . .and we do mean that literally. Thomas and Charlotte helped clear her name when her first husband was poisoned. . .now it's her turn to try and do the same for one of them. This is one of the best in the series--and at the same time one of the hardest to read. If you read these books in order of publication, by now you should have come to really care about these characters and what happens to them. Here one of them suffers--and may hang--unjustly. Thank Heaven for Emily and wonderful folks like Great-Aunt Vespasia, who get out of their comfort zones here so that the one whodunnit gets what he--or she--deserves. Brava, Anne Perry!

Perry never fails to weave interesting characters into a complex and compelling story that combines psychological study with a historical overview of the fascinating Victorian milieu. In this novel, however, she has outdone herself. Emily truly comes alive in a clever and dangerous masquerade. The theme of masquerade carries over to the mysterious figure of "Cerise," the glamorous and possibly treacherous woman for whom Pitt relentless searches before murder can strike again. The end is a complete surprise, both delightful and sad.Perhaps my favorite of the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt stories.

Not only are the supporting characters fascinating, but Perry truly plunges into and explores personal turning points for Pitt, Charlotte, and Emily. Some twists are a little too convenient, but one of the most important novels in the series. (I'd suggest reading them chronologically, however.) The ending makes it.