Books by Anne Perry

Book SynopsisThe third novel in Anne Perry''s breathtakingly tense and exciting spy thriller series, featuring young British photographer and secret agent Elena Standish, set in the 1930s when the world was a place of increasing fear and uncertainty... Spring, 1934. With the threat of war looming, political tensions begin to rise... Elena Standish, a young English photographer who works for British Intelligence, is visiting her grandparents'' home in Washington DC when tragedy strikes. A lavish party is held to mark her grandparent''s sixtieth wedding anniversary and Elena takes pride in capturing the event on camera, but when the beautiful wife of a renowned scientist is found murdered in the driveway, allegedly run over by Elena''s grandfather''s car, Elena''s world is turned upside down.Arrested on suspicion of murder, Wyatt Baylor protests his innocence, claiming he has enemies who are trying to frame him. But who are these Trade ReviewMasterful! It's exceedingly rare for an author to have the talent to blend classic elements of a thriller with compelling family dynamics and geopolitical intrigue, but Anne Perry pulls it off ... And I guarantee you'll love Elena Standish! Brava!Readers will root for the forceful, independent Elena, who will appeal to Maisie Dobbs fans. Perry knows how to ratchet up the international intrigue * Publishers Weekly *The perfect time period to showcase a family's impassioned defence of democracy and social justice in the face of rising totalitarianism. . . At turns heartbreaking and action-packed, this gripping and superbly written story proves Perry still has what it takes * Library Journal *Elena's many narrow escapes and Perry's immersive re-creation of Nazi-era Europe will keep readers enthralled...but it is the smart, gritty heroine herself who will ensure that readers eagerly anticipate the next in the series * Booklist *Reminiscent of works by Eric Ambler and Graham Greene. Perry conjures the mixed emotions and misplaced optimism of a period when many Establishment figures were desperate to avoid another world war * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisThe second shocking William Monk mystery from Anne Perry

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Book SynopsisHe is not going to die, after all, in this Victorian pesthouse called a hospital. But the accident that felled him on a London street has left him with only half a life, because his memory and his entire past have vanished. His name, they tell him, is William Monk, and he is a London police detective; the mirror reflects a face that women woud like, but he senses he has been more feared than loved. Monk is given a particularly sensational case: the brutal murder of Major the Honourable Joscelin Grey, Crimean war hero and a popular man about town, in his rooms in fashionable Mecklenburgh Square. It''s an assignment to make or break an investigator, for the exalted status of the victim puts any representative of the police in the precarious position of having to pry into a noble family''s secrets. Suggesting that his superior, the wily Runcorn, hopes he will fail, Monk returns to a world where he cannot distinguish friend from foe. Grasping desperately for any clue to his own

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Book SynopsisWhen nurse Hestor Latterly accompanies the elderly Mrs Mary Farraline on a short trip to London, her only medical duty is to ensure her charming patient takes her heart medicine. But Mrs Farraline dies during the night. When her missing brooch ''turns up'' in Hester''s possession she is arrested for theft, until a post-mortem reveals a lethal dose of medicine in Mrs Farraline''s body, and the charge becomes murder. Inspector William Monk must find a killer amongst the aloof Farraline clan, and in a Scottish courtroom the family''s secrets will be exposed - or buried for ever.

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Book SynopsisAfter a brilliant military career in India, General Thaddeus Carlyon finally meets death not in the frenzy of battle, but at a London dinner party, in what appears to be a freak accident. But the General''s beautiful wife readily confesses that she killed him - a story she clings to even under the shadow of the gallows. Investigator William Monk, nurse Hestor Latterly and Oliver Rathbone, counsel for the defence, work feverishly to break down the silence of the accused and her husband''s proud family; and with the trial only days away they inch towards the appalling heart of the mystery.

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Book SynopsisWhen her brother arrives on her doorstep, Hester Monk is shocked - as much by the unexpectedness of the visit as by the reason for it. For since her marriage to Monk, Charles and his elegant wife, Imogen, have kept their distance. But now Charles needs Hester''s help. He believes Imogen is having an affair - there can be no other explanation for her recent strange behaviour. However, before Hester is able to investigate, a tragedy occurs. In a nearby artist''s studio two women have been brutally killed. Having left the police force with extreme ill feeling between himself and his superior, the last thing Monk wants to do is face the demons of his past. But, in the course of his work, Monk is left with no choice but to visit his old adversary, Runcorn, and involve himself with the sensational murder case.Trade ReviewAnne Perry's novels are New York Times bestsellers and have earned much critical acclaim: 'Give her a good murder and a shameful social evil, and Anne Perry can write a Victorian mystery that would make Dickens' eyes pop out * New York Times Book Review *A totally contemporary feel ... admirably well-written * Guardian *Her Victorian England pulsates with life and is peopled with wonderfully memorable characters * Faye Kellerman *A complex plot supported by superb storytelling ... and William Monk, a contender for the post of Most Original Investigator in recent fiction * Scotland on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisThe fifth in Anne Perry''s series of charming Christmas novellas.For Superintendent Runcorn, Christmas has rarely looked so bleak. Believing that a change of scenery may help him finally forget Melisande Ewart, Runcorn heads for the beautiful, desolate Isle of Anglesey. Any hopes of Christmas passing quietly are dashed, however, when he discovers Melisande is also in Anglesey and, moreover, that she is engaged to another man. Then the local vicar''s sister is found murdered and Melisande''s brother is implicated in the crime. Determined to assist Melisande in her time of need, Runcorn resolves to find the killer. Is it possible in doing so, that he will also win the heart of his one true love?Trade ReviewPraise for Anne Perry's other Christmas novellas: 'This brief work has an almost Jamesian subtlety, and with its powerful message of responsibility and redemption - "We need both to forgive and to be forgiven" - it conveys a moral force in keeping with the season * Wall Street Journal *The tale is redolent with Victorian atmosphere, from the hypocritical snobbishness to the rigid social conventions of the time * Tangled Web *If you don't have a lump in your throat by the time you finish the final few pages, you shouldn't have had all that sherry * Yorkshire Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisDecember 1890: Eleven days before Christmas, Clarice and her husband, Reverend Dominic Corde, arrive in the idyllic village of Cottisham to watch over the Reverend Wynter''s flock, whilst he takes a richly deserved holiday.With its village green and thatched cottages, Cottisham is a far cry from the bleak London parish they''ve left behind. But Clarice can''t shake the feeling that the welcoming smiles of the locals are hiding dark secrets. When a shocking discovery confirms her suspicions, Clarice can''t resist investigating. Could it be that the Reverend is not all that he seems? Are there black sheep in the fold? One thing is certain: Clarice is determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means putting her own life in danger.Trade ReviewPraise for Anne Perry's other Christmas novellas: 'This brief work has an almost Jamesian subtlety, and with its powerful message of responsibility and redemption - "We need both to forgive and to be forgiven" - it conveys a moral force in keeping with the season * Wall Street Journal *The tale is redolent with Victorian atmosphere, from the hypocritical snobbishness to the rigid social conventions of the time * Tangled Web *If you don't have a lump in your throat by the time you finish the final few pages, you shouldn't have had all that sherry * Yorkshire Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisTWENTY-ONE DAYS is the first in an exciting new generation of Pitt novels, featuring Daniel Pitt, by New York Times bestseller and queen of Victorian crime, Anne Perry.1910. Sir Thomas Pitt''s son, Daniel, is in the middle of his first case as a barrister when he is summoned to the Old Bailey for an important trial. Renowned biographer Russell Graves is charged with the brutal murder of his wife and Daniel must assist in his defence.When the jury finds the accused guilty, Graves insists he has been framed. He is writing a shocking exposé of a powerful figure, revealing state secrets so damning that someone might well have wanted to silence him. With the reputations of those closest to him at stake, Daniel has twenty-one days to uncover the truth and ensure that an innocent man isn''t sent to the gallows . . .''Anne Perry''s Victorian mysteries are marvels of plot construction'' New York TimesTrade ReviewPraise for Anne Perry: 'There is a freshness about [Perry's] writing which makes it truly exceptional and I was gripped until the final page. Death on Blackheath was one of the best books I've read this year and I cannot recommend it highly enough' * Eurocrime *A page-turning thriller . . . blending compelling plotting with superbly realized human emotion and exquisite period detail -- Jeffery Deaver'Anne Perry's Victorian mysteries are marvels of plot construction' * New York Times *A truly unusual mystery * Publishers Weekly *'Elegantly constructed and nail-bitingly tense' * Good Book Guide *Perry is a master at illuminating the wrongs of the Victorian age * Booklist *The monsters Anne Perry creates are not easy to live with, and their actions linger long after the book is closed * New York Journal of Books *

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Book SynopsisA daring rescue reveals the true meaning of Christmas...The queen of Victorian crime, New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry returns with the 16th novella in her festive crime series.Christmas is coming and the streets of London are full of festive cheer. As young Worm returns to his home at the Portpool Lane clinic, he encounters the most beautiful woman he has ever seen and, spellbound, he follows her until she is dragged away by two evil-looking men. Convinced that she is in grave danger, Worm begs Squeaky Robinson to help him track her down. But Elouise is embroiled with dangerous criminals who want information that only she can tell. They will stop at nothing to get what they want and, with Christmas day fast approaching, Worm and Squeaky must conjure up a daring plan to help Elouise before it is too late.Praise for Anne Perry''s Christmas novellas: ''A bite-sized mystery that could be fitted in after your Christmas Trade ReviewPraise for Anne Perry's Christmas novellas: 'A bite-sized mystery that could be fitted in after your Christmas lunch' Daily Telegraph * Daily Telegraph *If Christmas puts you in the mood for a good Agatha Christie, try Perry * Glasgow Evening Times *Delightful...The perfect gift for a whodunit addict * Oxford Times *With its powerful message of responsibility and redemption - 'We need both to forgive and to be forgiven' - it conveys a moral force in keeping with the season * Wall Street Journal *A Christmas cracker full of rich storytelling, classic conundrums, timeless life lessons and the gift of forgiveness * Lancashire Evening Post *The tale is redolent with Victorian atmosphere, from the hypocritical snobbishness to the rigid social conventions of the time * Tangled Web *[An] engaging historical mystery . . . a winner * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author Anne Perry brings us the second exciting instalment in her new thriller series, set in a time of increasing fear and violence across Europe in the 1930s and featuring British photographer and secret agent Elena Standish. It is the autumn of 1933 and, fresh from her exploits in Berlin, young British photographer Elena Standish is chosen for a secret assignment in Trieste to establish contact with an MI6 agent whose handler has gone missing, presumed dead. Elena''s mission is to bring back the agent along with top secret information that could save the lives of thousands of people. But the agent is none other than Aiden Strother, the lover who broke Elena''s heart six years ago when he betrayed his country. With the revelation from MI6 that Aiden is, in fact, a loyal double agent, Elena knows she must put her sense of duty before her personal pride. But with political tension growing across Europe, the unstoTrade ReviewMasterful! It's exceedingly rare for an author to have the talent to blend classic elements of a thriller with compelling family dynamics and geopolitical intrigue, but Anne Perry pulls it off like the consummate pro that she is. And, on top of all that, Death in Focus is written in her unique literary voice. And I guarantee you'll love Elena Standish! Brava! -- Jeffery DeaverAnne Perry's Victorian mysteries are marvels of plot construction... truly remarkable * New York Times *There is a freshness about [Perry's] writing which makes it truly exceptional and I was gripped until the final page. Death on Blackheath was one of the best books I've read this year and I cannot recommend it highly enough * Euro crime *Elegantly constructed and nail-bitingly tense * Good Book Guide *The investigation concludes in a hold-your-breath trial... A brilliant Victorian police procedural in which well-realized characters and settings are fascinating in themselves * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisThe Fourth Enemy is the sixth gripping instalment in an exciting new generation of Pitt novels from the pen of highly acclaimed crime writer and New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry.A sensational fraud case provides Daniel Pitt with his greatest challenge yet . . .When a heart attack forces Marcus fford Croft to retire from his chambers, his daughter Miriam and son-in-law Daniel are relieved that he is stepping down and handing over to Toby Kitteridge. But Daniel and Toby are concerned that their new recruit, Gideon Hunter KC, who is a brilliant barrister with a penchant for taking risks, could jeopardise their chambers'' hard-won reputation . . .Daniel''s old friend Inspector Ian Frobisher then alerts him to the fact that one of England''s most influential newspaper tycoons, Malcolm Vayne, is about to be arrested for fraud. Hunter jumps at the chance to prosecute in such a high-profile and controversial case, and Daniel soTrade ReviewOne of her most teasing mysteries, this time with a courtroom finale that may be her strongest ever * Kirkus Reviews *A truly unusual mystery * Publishers Weekly *Elegantly constructed and nail-bitingly tense * Good Book Guide *Engrossing . . . The book gallops to a dramatic conclusion * Washington Times Daily *There is a freshness about [Perry's] writing which makes it truly exceptional * Eurocrime *Anne Perry's Victorian mysteries are marvels of plot construction * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author Anne Perry''s twentieth heart-warming Christmas mystery.The festive season is fast approaching, and Dr Crowe and his young apprentice Scuff are busy, as always, tending London''s sick and wounded. This year, however, Crowe is increasingly distracted by memories of a former patient, Eliza Hollister, for whom he cared deeply.When Crowe sees Ellie being bullied by her domineering fiancé in the street, he is convinced that she is marrying a man she doesn''t love, and he is determined to find out why. While Crowe starts his investigations, Scuff is left to run the clinic - with a little help from a rather unexpected source. Forced to enter a dangerous world of blackmail and deception, will Crowe manage to reveal the truth before the bells ring out for Christmas?A Christmas Deliverance is a heart-warming festive mystery set in Victorian London from the pen of the New York Times bestselling auth

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author Anne Perry''s twenty-first heart-warming Christmas novella.When Mariah Ellison arrives in the picturesque village of St Helen''s to spend the festive season with her old friend Sadie Alsop, she is shocked to discover that Sadie has vanished. Her husband has no idea where she has gone or when she will return but, thankfully, Mariah has other friends in the village who are willing to offer their hospitality. Once settled, she begins a rigorous search for Sadie that is fuelled by malicious gossip as harsh as the winter snow. Has Sadie run away? Has she been kidnapped? Has someone harmed her? And how long can she survive if she has no shelter from the bitterly cold weather? As Christmas Day approaches, Mariah is increasingly determined to solve the mystery of Sadie''s disappearance and bring her home in time to celebrate Yuletide together . . .

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Book SynopsisA festive house party takes a sinister turn...Victor Narraway and his wife, Lady Vespasia, are invited to spend Christmas at Cavendish Hall with a gathering of old acquaintances, but it is not the quiet, rather stiff house party they had expected. While there, Victor must undertake his final mission for Special Branch, reminiscent of another one in the past, at which he had tragically failed.When disaster strikes and one of the guests is left for dead, Victor fears that history is repeating itself. But which of them is intent on murder? And can Victor accept that he is not to blame...?A Christmas Gathering is the gripping new festive mystery from the pen of Anne Perry, the master of Victorian crime.Trade ReviewPraise for Anne Perry's Christmas novellas: 'A bite-sized mystery that could be fitted in after your Christmas lunch - Daily TelegraphIf Christmas puts you in the mood for a good Agatha Christie, try Perry - Glasgow Evening TimesDelightful...The perfect gift for a whodunit addict - Oxford TimesWith its powerful message of responsibility and redemption - 'We need both to forgive and to be forgiven' - it conveys a moral force in keeping with the season - Wall Street Journal

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Book SynopsisThe fourth novel in Anne Perry''s breathtakingly tense and exciting spy thriller series, featuring British secret agent Elena Standish, who will need every ounce of her strength and ingenuity to survive what lies ahead...It is the summer of 1934 when MI6 receives intelligence that two German scientists have made a breakthrough in germ warfare. British agent Elena Standish must return to Berlin to prevent unimaginable horror and, with the help of her trusted friend, Jacob Ritter, embark upon a mission fraught with fear and uncertainty. Meanwhile, her grandfather''s old adversary Johann Paulus has risen to power as an adviser to Hitler. By his side is his loyal supporter Hans Beckendorff, who is married to Elena''s childhood friend. But when Hans witnesses the bloodshed and atrocities of the Night of the Long Knives, he is torn between ambition and the realisation that he must protect his family from harm.Trade ReviewMasterful! It's exceedingly rare for an author to have the talent to blend classic elements of a thriller with compelling family dynamics and geopolitical intrigue, but Anne Perry pulls it off ... And I guarantee you'll love Elena Standish! Brava! -- Jeffery DeaverReaders will root for the forceful, independent Elena, who will appeal to Maisie Dobbs fans. Perry knows how to ratchet up the international intrigue * Publishers Weekly *The perfect time period to showcase a family's impassioned defence of democracy and social justice in the face of rising totalitarianism. . . At turns heartbreaking and action-packed, this gripping and superbly written story proves Perry still has what it takes * Library Journal *Elena's many narrow escapes and Perry's immersive re-creation of Nazi-era Europe will keep readers enthralled...but it is the smart, gritty heroine herself who will ensure that readers eagerly anticipate the next in the series * Booklist *Reminiscent of works by Eric Ambler and Graham Greene. Perry conjures the mixed emotions and misplaced optimism of a period when many Establishment figures were desperate to avoid another world war * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisDeath might be commonplace in 1857 in the Royal Free Hospital in London''s Gray''s Inn Road, but murder certainly isn''t. When the body of Prudence Barrymore, a gently bred, dedicated and passionate nurse, is discovered stuffed into a laundry chute no one - high born or low - can be beyond suspicion. But the police seem determined to concentrate their efforts on proving Dr Kristian Beck the culprit - because he is foreign. Concerned and unhappy with this state of affairs, Lady Callandra Daviot of the Board of Governers asks Investigator William Monk to pursue the case.Monk, frustrated by the lingering traces of amnesia caused by an accident, agrees, and calls upon his old colleagues to aid him. Hester Latterly, an independent young woman who served with Florence Nightingale in the Crimean War, knew the dead woman there; Hester''s profession provides the perfect cover for her to obtain work at the Royal Free. And Oliver Rathbone, a brilliant barrister, who is brought in as counse

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Book SynopsisYoung Killian Melville is arguably the most brilliant architect of the age; passionate about his art, he is liked by everyone. So when he visits Sir Oliver Rathbone, in need of a lawyer to represent him over his alleged ''breach of promise'' to marry the daughter of his patron, Rathbone agrees despite his misgvings. The case is not an easy one. Zillah is beautiful and even-tempered, heiress to a fortune and a good friend. What more could any man want? And why would Melville risk losing the professional reputation he has worked all his life to build? Frustrated by his client''s refusal to divulge any further information, and convined he is keeping something from him, Rathbone, his own professional integrity at stake, decides to ask his close friend Hester Latterly for an objective opinion about the case. She, meanwhile, has contacted William Monk to investigate a mysterious family matter from twenty years ago. Little do they realise that the three of them are about to

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Book Synopsis“[A] magic kingdom of Victorian murder and intrigue.”—The New York Times Book Review   Thomas Pitt is now the powerful head of Britain’s Special Branch, and some people fear that he may have been promoted beyond his abilities. His own self-doubt is fueled by rumors of a plot to blow up connections on the Dover-London rail line, on which Austrian duke Alois Habsburg is soon to travel. But why destroy an entire train to kill one obscure Austrian royal? Are the rumors designed to distract police from an even more devastating plot? Meanwhile, in a London sickroom, an old Italian woman is terrified that as she sinks into dementia, she may divulge secrets from her career as a revolutionary spy. And behind the doors of a stately manor, a beautiful young Croatian woman hoards mysteries of her own. Pitt and his clever wife, Charlotte, need these two fascinating women to tell them things they desperately need to know—before death an

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Book SynopsisWhen a ransom exchange turns deadly in this thrilling mystery from bestselling author Anne Perry, Commander William Monk faces an unthinkable possibility: betrayal by his own men. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST CRIME NOVELS OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW • “Riveting . . . one of the series’ more powerful recent entries.”—Publishers Weekly When kidnappers choose a broken-down waterside slum as the site of a ransom exchange for the wife of wealthy real estate developer Harry Exeter, the Thames River Police and Commander William Monk shadow Harry to the spot to ensure that no harm comes to him or his captive wife. But on arrival, Monk and five of his best men are attacked from all sides. Certain that one of his colleagues has betrayed him, Monk delves into each of their pasts, one of which hides a dreadful secret. Soon facing a series of deadly obstructions, Monk must choose between his own saf

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Book SynopsisTwo fiery deaths have young lawyer Daniel Pitt and his scientist friend Miriam fford Croft racing to solve a forensic crisis in this explosive new novel from New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry.NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WALL STREET JOURNAL When a desperate woman comes to Daniel Pitt seeking a lawyer for her boyfriend, Rob Adwell, Daniel is convinced of the young man’s innocence. Adwell has been accused of murder and of setting a fire to conceal the body, but Daniel is sure that science can absolve him—and Miriam fford Croft is the best scientist he knows. Miriam connects Daniel with her former teacher Sir Barnabas Saltram, an expert in arson, and together, they reveal Adwell’s innocence by proving that an accidental fire caused the victim’s death. But it’s not long before Adwell is killed in the same fiery fashion. If these deaths are, in fact, murders, what essential clue could Dani

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Book SynopsisOn her first mission for MI6, the daring young photographer at the heart of this thrilling new mystery series by bestselling author Anne Perry travels to Mussolini’s Italy to rescue the lover who betrayed her.Britain’s secret intelligence service, MI6, has lost contact with its informant in northern Italy, just as important information about the future plans of Austria and Nazi Germany is coming to light. And young Elena Standish, to her surprise, is the only person who can recognize MI6’s man—because he is her former lover. Aiden Strother betrayed Elana six years ago, throwing shame on her entire family. Now, with so much to prove, Elena heads to Trieste to track down Aiden and find out what happened to his handler, who has mysteriously cut off contact with Britain. As Elena gets word of a secret group working to put Austria in the hands of Germany, her older sister, Margot, is in Berlin to watch a childhood friend get married—to a

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Book SynopsisDaniel Pitt’s investigation into his colleague’s murder leads him through London’s teeming underbelly to the suspicious dealings of one of England’s most influential shipbuilding magnates in a thrilling novel from New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry.“Timely . . . and engaging . . . another terrific mystery.”—BookreporterWhen junior barrister Daniel Pitt is summoned to the scene of a murder in the London district known as Mile End, he knows only that the victim is a senior barrister from the same firm. To Daniel’s relief, it is not his close friend Toby Kitteridge, but the question remains: What was this respected colleague doing in such a rough part of the city? The firm’s head, Marcus fford Croft, may know more than he admits, but fford Croft’s memory is not what it used to be, and his daughter, Miriam—Daniel’s sometime sidekick—isn’t in the country

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Book SynopsisA personal trip turns perilous for Elena Standish after the murder of a British spy forces her to face dark family secrets in this exciting 1930s mystery by bestselling author Anne Perry.“An absorbing and calculating thriller/mystery that grabs the reader from the first page.”—Great Mysteries and ThrillersOn her first trip to Washington, D.C., Elena Standish finally gets to visit her American mother’s wealthy parents and their magnificent home. Elena’s grandparents are marking a milestone anniversary by throwing an elaborate party with the influential friends of her grandfather, a prominent political industrialist. Even President and First Lady Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt are there, and Elena takes pride in capturing the illustrious guests on camera. But the festivities come to a sudden and tragic end when one of the guests, Lila Worth, is run over by a car in the driveway outside. Elena believes Lila was try

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Book SynopsisGenvieve Stonefield''s husband Angus is missing when she seeks William Monk''s help to find him. She is convinced that he has been murdered by his twin brother Caleb, a shadowy figure who lives in the slums bordering the Thames and has always hated his respectable businessman brother. Although worried about Hester Latterly''s health as she nurses victims of a typhoid outbreak in Limehouse, and threatened by a personal scandal, Monk is determined to bring one of the most bizarre cases he has ever encountered to its conclusion.

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Book SynopsisIt''s 1859 and throughout Europe tremendous upheavals have taken place. Hester Latterly is nurse to the sick son of a German Baron and his family, who have moved to London from one of the many small principalities between Prussia and Bavaria - and the Baroness tells Hester about her kingdom''s famous royal family...Handsome Prince Friedrich was one of just two heirs to the crown, considered the perfect match by every woman of the land. But during an affair with Countess Zorah Rostova, he meets the alluring and sophisticated Gisela - with whom he falls deeply in love. He can have Gisela or the crown, but not both. He chooses Gisela, marries her in Venice and, after many years, tragically dies in England. Now, Countess Zorah, having accused the widowed Princess of murdering Friedrich, is being sued in the biggest slander trial of the century - and the only way that she can defend herself is to prove that Gisela is indeed guilty. But in doing so she must sully the greatest love

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Book SynopsisIn the dead of night in a notorious area of Victorian London''s East End known as St Giles a factory girl stumbles over the bloody bodies of two City gentlemen. When Detective John Evan finally arrives at the scene, he is confronted by a most difficult investigation. First he must identify the men. Then he must find out why men of means and social standing would go to such a sordid area. Most importantly, who are their assailants? And how could they escape unharmed and unnoticed? Mercifully the younger victim is not quite dead. Having sustained terrible internal injuries, he''s later released home from hospital severely traumatised and unable to speak - to be told that the other victim, his father, is dead, and Hester Latterly has been employed to help nurse him back to full recovery. With too many obstacles impeding his progress, Evan finally enlists the aid of his old friend, William Monk, who, together with Hester''s help, must unravel one of his most complex and shocking

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Book SynopsisWhen a man is found murdered on the doorstep of a respectable house in Bedford Square, Victorian England''s finest and most controversial policeman, Thomas Pitt, is called immediately to the scene. The only clue to the victim''s identity is a silver snuff box found on the body, curiously at odds with the man''s dishevelled appearance. Pitt soon discovers that the box, and the house where the body was found, belong to General Balantyne, a man Pitt knows to be a pillar of the community. He is dismayed to learn that Balantyne can barely recall the evening, let alone account for his movements.Trade Review'A splendidly plotted yarn' Publishers WeeklyGive her a good murder and a shameful social evil, and Anne Perry can write a Victorian mystery that would make Dickens' eyes pop out * New York Times Book Review *Beautifully crafted * Cosmopolitan *'The Troubles perfectly suit Perry's gift for rooting large-scale social conflict in the minutiae of domestic intrigue' Kirkus ReviewsHer Victorian England pulsates with life and is peopled with wonderfully memorable characters * Faye Kellerman *'Perry's narrative is as statley and elegant as a royal barge on the Thames' Washington Post'Master storyteller Anne Perry moves closer to Dickens as she lifts the lace curtain from Victorian society to reveal its shocking secrets' Sharyn McCrumbThe novel has a totally contemporary feel and is admirably well-written * Guardian *A complex plot supported by superb storytelling * Scotland on Sunday *'A complex plot supported by superb storytelling...and William Monk, a contender for the post of Most Original Investigator in recent fiction' Scotland on Sunday'Ms Perry fashions a Victorian story with the sophisticated characterisation and psychological suspense that are everyday tools of the contemporary writer...the result is first rate' New York Times Book Review'Her Victorian England pulsates with life and is peopled with wonderfully memorable characters' Faye Kellerman'[A] surpassingly excellent historical and psychologically intricate mystery' Publishers Weekly'Beautifully crafted' Cosmopolitan'Perry's narrative is as stately and elegant as a royal barge on the Thames...with a final courtroom confrontation that's a humdinger' Washington Post Book World'The novel has a totally contemporary feel and is admirably well-written' Guardian

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