Customer Reviews

The Hyde Park Headsman

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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

While this was not my favorite Perry novel, I enjoyed it far more than some of the other reviewers seemed to. The story centers around a series of beheadings that are discovered in or around the Hyde Park area of London. In addition to trying to solve these mysteries, Thomas Pitt must deal with conflict created by both subordinates and superiors who doubt that he is qualified for the Superintendent position to which he has recently been promoted. His inability to solve the mystery also becomes an issue in his brother-in-law's campaign for a seat in the House of Commons.

In terms of my enjoyment of the novel, I think it makes a difference that I have read all of the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt novels up through this one. Over the course of those 10+ novels, Perry has created an interesting and likable couple that I enjoy following through their various adventures. The new characters introduced in Hyde Park Headsman are not as interesting as those found in some of her other novels, and this work lacks the psychological depth of some of the earlier works. Nonetheless, for those who have gotten to know Thomas and Charlotte through the earlier novels, this is an enjoyable page-turner.

This is one of the better mysteries in the series set in 1880s London which feature Inspector Thomas Pitt and his wife, Charlotte (and a growing number of his in-laws, too). Pitt has just been promoted to be Superintendent of the Bow Street station, and he's beginning to discover the difficulties inherent in the increased responsibility. Then a decapitated body turns up in a small boat off the Serpentine and the public, which hasn't forgotten the Ripper killings the previous year, begins to get nervous. And then a second beheading occurs, and then a third, and Pitt can't find anything the three murders have in common. While Pitt struggles with the case, moreover, Charlotte is busy with the new house they've just bought on the strength of his increased salary, and Emily is deeply involved with her new husband's second campaign for a seat in Parliament. The Inner Circle is strongly in the background this time, which is unfortunate -- especially since the description of its activities reminds one of Prof. Moriarty's organization.

Too many of the negative reviews seem to come from people who were hostile to the book before they had even read it, or because it was simply not the type of book they were looking for. For those who like historical mysteries, particularly Victorian, in which the manners and mores of the period play an important role in the motives of the characters and the solution of the crime, Anne Perry's books are page-turners, especially the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series. However, I do agree with those who say that this is not one of her best. I wish she would drop the Inner Circle, a hackneyed and irritating plot device. If you don't know her books, I recommend reading them in strict chronological order, but be sure to start with this series, not the definitely inferior William Monk one. This will draw you into the development of the series characters,Thomas and Charlotte and her family (he has none) and carry you through the occasional slightly weaker books. I said " Slightly weaker". To read some of the reviews you would imagine this book is a disaster. It isn't. It's an enjoyable read, just not up to her brilliant best.

While the killer is easily figured out (for us reading the book) the main thrust of this book is the continuing story of Pitt and his work. The benefit of reading a long series is those readers can follow a family through good years and bad, anticipating the continuation of a story line. Some of the sub-plots in this book will be continued in future volumes. I felt Charlotte and Emily were underused in this story although Perry explained that away. Not the best in the series, not the worst.

This Victorian mystery is plagued with writing problems. Needless dialog along the lines of "`Thank you,'" she answered" amounts to tediously obvious storytelling. It's full of frills that go nowhere; a secret-society subplot doesn't come to fruition, and the lead character is noted to carry odd items in his pocket as wan attempt to give him personality rather than as a potentially interesting plot device. There's also a lot of padding from soap-opera details of the character's lives and their progression since the last novel in the series.

The mystery in itself did contain one twist, but in the main I sussed out the killer at least halfway through. Boring. So then I wanted detailed explanations, and Perry offered few--including the key question of why the bodies were dumped in the titular park.

So what you're left with is Perry's agenda, which is mostly comprised of fairly sophisticated feminism and more shrill anti-classism. Hardly unique enough to be worth the trouble. A good Jack the Ripper history (and there is one good one) provides a greater wealth of period detail with more human interest and a much better mystery. --J.Ruch

I tried to listen to the taped version. It's 12 two-sided tapes, with an advertised running time of 15 hours and 5 minutes. After about 10 hours into a car trip, we voted unanimously to put in the last tape, just so we could satisfy our "Who dunnit?" curiosity. Alas, even that strategy was frustrated, as only one of the murders is solved on the last tape. The writer's style is both pretentious and repetitious, a deadly combination. After we had heard "lugubrious" for the third time, the groans became audible, even above the traffic noise. The writer's obvious fascination with the styles, manners and customs of London in 1890 have led her to assume that all her readers are similarly inclined. For me, they got in the way of the story... constantly! I got the book/tapes from the local library, so it was free. It still wasn't worth the price. Unless you're fascinated by the trivial aspects of living in London circa 1890, save yourself from a gruesome ordeal.

Just a very tedious book, with far too many extraneous details and repetition. Not a bargain at any price.

This story was better than highgate rise. I thought it was well told. The very last few pages dragged on a little too much. I am still looking for something within the pages to make me "feel" something for the characters. There is still that undefinable something that makes you genuinely care about characters that is missing. If you have a desire to understand and connect with characters in a story, then I would not recommend this one (although sometimes you come close with Emily & Jack). If you really don't care about that aspect of this type of story, then I think it makes good reading. -Reed

I tried to listen to the taped version. It's 12 two-sided tapes, with an advertised running time of 15 hours and 5 minutes. After about 10 hours into a car trip, we voted unanimously to put in the last tape, just so we could satisfy our "Who dunnit?" curiosity. Alas, even that strategy was frustrated, as only one of the murders is solved on the last tape. The writer's style is both pretentious and repetitious, a deadly combination. After we had heard "lugubrious" for the third time, the groans became audible, even above the traffic noise. The writer's obvious fascination with the styles, manners and customs of London in 1890 have led her to assume that all her readers are similarly inclined. For me, they got in the way of the story... constantly! I got the book/tapes from the local library, so it was free. It still wasn't worth the price. Unless you're fascinated by the trivial aspects of living in London circa 1890, save yourself from a gruesome ordeal.