Murder on the Serpentine - (Charlotte and Thomas Pitt) by Anne Perry (Paperback)

About the Book

Originally published in hardcover in 2017.

Book Synopsis

In the history of Anne Perry's bestselling Victorian mystery series, the stakes have never been greater than now--as a mission for queen and country places the future of the British Empire squarely in Thomas Pitt's hands.

It is not the custom for the commander of Special Branch to receive a royal summons--so Thomas Pitt knows it must be for a matter of the gravest importance. The body of Sir John Halberd, the Queen's confidant, has been found in the shallow water of the Serpentine in Hyde Park, bearing the evidence of a fatal blow to the head. At Her Majesty's request, Sir John had been surreptitiously investigating Alan Kendrick, a horse-racing enthusiast who seems to have had an undue amount of influence on her son, the Prince of Wales.

Now Commander Pitt must navigate the corridors of power with the utmost discretion and stealth, for it seems certain that Sir John's killer is a member of the upper classes. Aided by his wife, Charlotte, and her social contacts, Pitt seeks out the hidden motives behind the polite façade of those to the manner born--and uncovers a threat to the throne that could topple the monarchy.

With Murder on the Serpentine, Thomas Pitt nears a crossroads in his brilliant career--one that promises new challenges, both professional and personal, still to be met. But first, he and Charlotte must conquer the twists and turns of suspense master Anne Perry's most cunningly crafted plot yet--to achieve their finest hour, or suffer their darkest.

Praise for Murder on the Serpentine

"For nearly four decades Anne Perry's riveting detective novels have played out against the backdrop of the Victorian era. Fans of British royalty will delight in Murder on the Serpentine, which spotlights the woman this British author reminds us was 'queen and empress of a quarter of the earth' during her 63-year reign. . . . Perry writes meticulously laid-out police procedurals, and Pitt's methodical investigation sets the novel's early, steady pace."--The Washington Post

"The mystery may follow familiar lines, but even newcomers are likely to be charmed by scenes that deepen Pitt's family relationships. This entry's main strength lies in the quiet, emotionally intelligent interactions among its characters."--Publishers Weekly

"[Anne] Perry returns with another engrossing read brimming with superb period details and complex characters."--RT Book Reviews

"Marvelous . . . Perry delivers once again by simply doing what she does better than anyone else--capturing the flavor, spirit and political temperature of Victorian-era London."--Bookreporter

Review Quotes

"For nearly four decades Anne Perry's riveting detective novels have played out against the backdrop of the Victorian era. Fans of British royalty will delight in Murder on the Serpentine, which spotlights the woman this British author reminds us was 'queen and empress of a quarter of the earth' during her 63-year reign. . . . Perry writes meticulously laid-out police procedurals, and Pitt's methodical investigation sets the novel's early, steady pace. The tone becomes darker and more urgent when Pitt bumps up against Halberd's and Kendrick's friends and enemies, as well as their 'downstairs' help--the people who always know best what's going on in their masters' lives. Blackmail, double agents, illicit weapon sales and the stench of treason arm this novel with the power to entertain as well as enlighten readers on matters of history, crime-solving and devotion to queen and family. In a lovely closing scene, Her Majesty bequeaths Pitt with a most satisfying gift, one that will have Perry's fans cheering."--The Washington Post

"The mystery may follow familiar lines, but even newcomers are likely to be charmed by scenes that deepen Pitt's family relationships. This entry's main strength lies in the quiet, emotionally intelligent interactions among its characters."--Publishers Weekly

"[Anne] Perry returns with another engrossing read brimming with superb period details and complex characters."--RT Book Reviews

"Marvelous . . . Perry delivers once again by simply doing what she does better than anyone else--capturing the flavor, spirit and political temperature of Victorian-era London."--Bookreporter

PRAISE FOR ANNE PERRY'S CHARLOTTE AND THOMAS PITT NOVELS

Treachery at Lancaster Gate

"A story that is as exciting and tense as it is revealing and thought-provoking."--Yorkshire Evening Post

The Angel Court Affair

"Perry melds the intellectual debates of the day with a suspenseful plot line."--Publishers Weekly

Death on Blackheath

"Thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining . . . The period detail is beautifully done, and realistic characters and tense action are woven seamlessly together."--Historical Novels Review

Midnight at Marble Arch

"Sweeping and scandalous . . . Perry has perfected a delicate touch."--The New York Times Book Review

Dorchester Terrace

"The always clever Anne Perry infuses Dorchester Terrace with the right amount of intrigue and complex relationships that have made this prolific series one of the finest in modern mystery fiction."--Bookreporter

About the Author

Anne Perry was the bestselling author of two acclaimed series set in Victorian England: the William Monk novels and the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novels. She was also the author of a series featuring Charlotte and Thomas Pitt's son, Daniel, as well as the Elena Standish series; a series of five World War I novels; twenty-one holiday novels; and a historical novel, The Sheen on the Silk, set in the Byzantine Empire. Anne Perry died in 2023.