1/17/18 $1.99 for Kindle.

Two stories—Pitt is trying to find the identity and killer of a young woman whose body has been found in six paper-wrapped parcels and Charlotte’s sister has been accused of poisoning her husband. I was sad to see George killed off as I enjoyed the relationship between he and Emily.

Perry kills off a fairly major character and Charlotte, her sister Emily and Thomas solve that crime, while Thomas solves at least one other crime on the side. Again, Victorian “Society” was so stifling for everyone—especially women!

I have become totally addicted to these. I started the series while home with the flu and I'm up to #10 and just waiting for my library hold to download. I am thoroughly entertained. Reading them consecutively, one right after the other, is probably not the best approach since there is some necessary descriptive repetition of the main characters, but her knowledge of the political and historical concerns of the time along with the delineation of the differences between the various classes make for an entertaining read. Her description of the fashions of the times in terms of dress and home decor provide a sense of place and time moves along as modern conveniences like electric lighting and telephones are gradually being incorporated into the story. Perfect for when I can't handle the real news. I'd rather read historical mystery fiction.

Ending is lousy. Worst of the lot so far, and kills the rating. One reader here on Goodreads says she understands it, but I'm not convinced of her explanation. Seriously, Anne Perry, is even a few pages of denouement too much to ask?

Thomas is called into a gruesome murder in which a young woman was chopped into pieces and left in packages throughout the area. With nothing more than her mutilated body, Thomas despairs of ever catching the killer.

Emily and George go to visit his family. However, the visit turns problematic when George begins what seems to be an affair with his cousins wife, Sybilla. The disaster escalates when Emily discovers George dead in his bed shortly after having his morning coffee.

Facing the grief of her husband's betrayal and death are bad enough, but now Emily is under suspicion of murder. Charlotte arrives to comfort her sister, but Thomas's role is much more official and will require discretion to uncover the killer, but can he truly eliminate Emily from the suspect pool?

While juggling both murders, Thomas is called in on a third when Sybilla is found strangled with her own hair. Could Emily really have been so jealous? Who else in the house had motive to kill both victims? As Thomas digs into Sybilla, he finds another connection to the earlier murder and mutilation. Could the 2 crimes be connected?

Anne Perry's depiction of late Victorian era mores are excellently portrayed in her novels. I personally wish the summation in identifying the perpetrator of the crimes was more fleshed out in the reasons for why the murders were committed and the aftermath of what happens to the remaining family. The ending was just too abrupt to due justice to an otherwise excellent story.

Charlotte Pitt's sister, Emily and her husband, George, are houseguests of the March Family that live on Cardington Crescent. George is murdered and it looks like Emily will be charged with his murder. Thomas investigates. Of course, Charlotte helps. Then another murder follows. Good read.

Good Anne Perry but I liked the last book better. Ended rather abruptly.

I listen to these books just to go somewhere else in my head. Thank you, Anne Perry, thank you Davina Porter.

such an odd ending.

One of the better books in the series.