I do love this series for the easiness and soeed at which they are read. In times of sensual and emotional overload (from whole two simply amazing books I am reading at the moment), this book made a good relaxation and for this I am greatful.

This was one of my favorites in the series until I got to the ending. How do I know who the killer is, but not know why? The explanation at the end was so purposefully vague that I'm not sure what happened. I thought it was just me until I read a bunch of the reviews...many felt as if they had missed something! There are some interesting theories out there, but it should be more conclusive somehow. I get being vague so as to not reveal the dead's secrets to other characters, but to keep it from your readers seems a smidge excessive. Or perhaps I'm just slow. Or maybe I did get it, but the "it" had no impact. Frustrating. Plus the trademark abrupt ending, classic.

Cardington Crescent is the 8th novel in Anne Perry’s Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series. Perry does a fabulous job of capturing the details of a Victorian detective mystery- the class restrictions, social mores, interior design, etc. of the 1880s. Cardington Crescent follows the Pitts as they investigate two murders- an unknown housemaid whose body appears chopped up in pieces in Bloomsbury, and Charlotte’s brother-in-law, Lord George Ashworth, at his uncle’s townhouse in Cardington Close. The mystery spends most of its time in the stuffy drawing and dining rooms where George spent his last few days, with Charlotte joining the household ostensibly to comfort her sister but also to help her husband solve the murder.

I cannot get over the historical detail that Perry builds into her novels, from the duties performed by the ladies maids to the social expectations for women to the sleeping arrangements for the uppercrust- its all so richly textured. As with the other Perry novels I’ve read, some of the detail can slow things down, especially at the beginning before the crimes are introduced, but the payout at the end is worthwhile- its like a history lesson disguised by a murder mystery.

Finally, and unrelated to this particular novel but absolutely related to Anne Perry’s bonkers life story: in googling to find out what number this book was in the series, I discovered that Anne Perry was formerly known as Juliet Hulme, aka one of two teenage girls who murdered a woman in New Zealand in the 1950s. The story is fascinating (lesbian overtones and shades of Slender Man) and Peter Jackson obviously thought so too- his 1994 film Heavenly Creatures dramatized Anne/Juliet’s story (and also featured Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet in their first screen debuts). A former child murderer, now writing (excellent) Victorian murder mysteries- so, so weird.

I rate this as one of the best of the series. Anne Perry was brave to shake up the story of the core characters, giving her a path forward for the later novels in the series. Also, this novel kept me anxious to read on and discover both whodunit and why.

4/5
Opinión:
Este ha sido uno de los libros de misterio que más me ha gustado en mucho tiempo.
Argumentos negativos de esta novela:
-El principio de la historia de Emily es muy lento y se me hizo un poco cuesta arriba
- Parecido a el argumento anterior es que había escenas muy detalladas y se hacia aburrido de leer
-Esto no lo considero algo negativo pero el final se me ha quedado corto o soso , yo me esperaba otra cosa, algo más impactante

Argumentos positivos de esta novela
-Me ENCANTA todo el drama de los secretos de familia y todo lo que engloba los problemas que tenia entre si me encantaba, las discusiones el las comidas, las indirectas de las abuelas...
-Los personajes me encantan en el sentido de que la autora hace que odies mucho a algunos (Eustance , la abuela March)y hace que sientas mucha empatía hacia otros
- Que este ambientado en la época victoriana.Me encantan las novelas que están ambientadas en épocas antiguas
- He conseguido adivinar al asesino , no se si por que era muy fácil de deducir pero me ha hecho muy feliz poder adivinarlo .

En resumen este libro en mi opinion tiene mas argumento a favor que en contra siento que aunque no llega a el 5 ha sido una lectura muy amena y divertida.

Maybe it's just I haven't read a Pitt novel in awhile but this one was thoroughly enjoyable, well written, had great character observations, contained lots of Aunt Vespasia and didn't abruptly end as the books in this series tend to do. I also feel the stakes were higher with Charlotte's sister, Emily, suspected of murder.

No spoilers, but I literally didn't understand the ending. Perhaps I'm too thick, but when I expected a final chapter, there was an introduction to the next book. V disappointed.

Maybe the best one in the series so far. I love Emily so any plot revolving around her feels cool. However, as usual, the ending left me cold. Not its resolution, but the lack of aftermath. I feel they are kindof needed and I have none. I guess it's a mark from the authoress but, at the same time, I think some kind of reaction from the characters would be needed.

Always the Best

Every time I finish one of Anne Perry's mystery novels and I have read several , I decide the most recent has been the best .
Do read my most recent "Best" . I am off to read another.

In the Victorian era during which time this series is set, scandal in the upper classes is to be avoided at all costs. While Emily married into the upper classes and became Lady Ashworth, older sister Charlotte married a policeman – Thomas Pitt. For some people in their circles, it causes discomfort, for there is no more certain way to invite scandal than to have the police in their homes searching for evidence and asking questions both above stairs and below stairs.

Cardington Crescent is a Society address, and there is a large house party with some attendees staying as long as a month. During this time there are tensions and intrigues aplenty. However, while they may be observed, they are not talked about.

When a member of the family is murdered, Charlotte’s sister Emily becomes one of the suspects. Aunt Vespasia, an elderly lady who is Emily’s aunt by marriage asks Charlotte to come and stay with Emily until the murderer is apprehended.

There is a sub-plot that runs through this story as well, and while Inspector Thomas Pitt solves that one, Charlotte does most of the groundwork of the house party murder and is the first to realize what had happened. But not before a second murder occurs.

This novel introduces more fascinating details about the Victorian age and the story moves along at a fast clip with at least two other sub-plots simmering just below the surface and adding to the suspense.

As always, Anne Perry’s storytelling skills and writing abilities ensured that I was fully engaged in this read from the beginning through to the end. And, as always – I look forward to my next mystery with Charlotte and Thomas Pitt.

Just as brilliant as all the others

A really enjoyable read , I find Anne Perry's writing addictive; her descriptions of Victorian London, awakens the senses and takes you right there with some really wonderful characters along for the ride. Highly recommend

Emily's emotional arc in this one is powerful, but it's also a bit jolting. We go from the previous book where George was actively and voluntarily helping Emily investigate and the closeness that brought them to George's eye really wandering.