Library Journal: Cementing her place in a long line of legendary British crime novelists such as Sayers, Christie, and Conan Doyle, prolific bestseller Perry (author of the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt books) puts her usual skillful historical spin on the genre in this compelling yarn, begun before she died in 2023 and later seamlessly finished by her friend and fellow author Zackheim (The Bone Weaver). The seventh installment in Perry’s Daniel Pitt series (following The Fourth Enemy) is set in pre–World War I England and features barrister Pitt, son of Thomas and Charlotte, and his brilliant pathologist wife Miriam. Readers follow Daniel as he’s thrown into two separate high-stakes murder cases: one, an ongoing sensational London murder trial; the other, the puzzling murder and assault of his law partner’s parents in rural Ipswich. The tension between the two cases drives the story as Daniel is torn between the murders, the locations, and doubts about his abilities. VERDICT Even after more than 100 books, Perry’s storytelling skills were sharp until the end. The strong storyline, intricate plotting, incisive exploration of social issues, and Perry’s trademark active prose make this one of her best. A highly recommended addition to all historical detective fiction collections.
Feb 122026