Customer Reviews

Southampton Row (Windsor Selection)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This latest Thomas Pitt mystery is definitely a page turner. From the glittering drawing rooms where politics is discussed and policies decided, to the country side of Dartmoor, Anne Perry weaves a tale that is compelling and absorbing. And while I was disappointed that Charlotte Pitt and Gracie (the Pitts enterprising maid) did not figure prominently in this installment, I liked that Emily Radley (Charlotte's younger sister) had a bigger role in this novel -- she has been somewhat sidelined in the last few books, and I missed her character dreadfully.

In the previous Pitt mystery novel, "The Whitechapel Conspiracy" Pitt defeated the Inner Circle's plan to replace the English monarchy with a republic. This feat earned him the enmity of Charles Voisey, who was to be England's first president. Now, Voisey is running for the south Lambeth seat in Parliament on the Tory ticket. Meanwhile Pitt, who instead of being able to return to his previous position at Bow Street, has been seconded to Special Branch -- a department within the police force that deals primarily with the terrorist threats of the Irish Separatists. Now, Pitt's brief is to keep an eye on Voisey, and to see if Voisey is doing anything underhanded to ensure that he wins the election. But from what little Pitt can see, Voisey seems to be doing nothing nefarious in order to sway the voters -- save being a rather charismatic speaker. And then Pitt's superior commands him to investigate the murder of the clairvoyant, Maude Lamont. Pitt discovers that Voisey's Liberal opponent for the Lambeth seat is Aubrey Serracold and that Serracold's flamboyant and outspoken wife, Rose, was one of Lamont's clients. There is the fear that either Rose had something to do with Lamont's murder, or that Voisey will use this bit of information to discredit Serracold. Pitt is determined to bring the murderer of Maude Lamont to justice, no matter who he or she is. But the question he fears is if his superiors at Special Branch will allow justice to be done, or if they too, like the Inner Circle, have their own agenda, and if they will do whatever necessary to break the Inner Circle, no matter the cost.

Against the backdrop of the political questions of the day -- Home Rule for the Irish, the fear that a disintegrating Empire could mean the fall of the British economy and the massive loss of jobs, and the demand for eight hour days -- the clash between the Tories and the Liberals; as well as the swirling human emotions of fear, ambition, grief and pain, Anne Perry has worked her magic again to produce a novel that is compelling as it is intriguing. (I really love the manner in which she makes all her characters real -- flawed yet tragically human. It's a no mean feat, and I've practically never really come acorss anyone else who can do this.) I didn't expect that the next Pitt mystery novel could top or equal "The Whitchapel Conspiracy." I was wrong: "Southampton Row" is a moer than brilliant follow up to "The Whitechapel Conspiracy."

"Southampton Row", English author Anne Perry's latest novel in the Inspector Pitt series places the intrepid Inspector in a setting that leaves the reader intrigued and troubled. It is Pitt's success in "The Whitechapel Conspiracy" that now threatens him and his family. Charles Voisey, the Inspector's Whitechapel nemesis reappears to haunt Pitt again. Thanks to the machinations of the Inner Circle, Pitt loses his position at the Bow Street Station and is sent to work at the Special Branch Office, a division within the Police Force set up to investigate terrorist activities. The terrorist in Pitt's life turns out to be Voisey, who as part of his continuing effort to republicanize English politics campaigns for Parliament. Pitt is assigned to shadow Voisey and determine his weaknesses. The campaign and Voisey's connection to the murder of a spiritual medium in Southampton Row threaten Pitt profesionally and personally. The new setting involves more than just the detection of a murderer in Southampton Row, it involves the mind games played in the web of deception woven by the Inner Circle and all those forced to deal with it.
In "Southampton Row", Inspector Pitt is compelled to think and act like those he despises most, the members of the super-secret Inner Circle. In the process, Pitt develops more than his usual sincere search for truth and justice, he demonstrates a newfound ability to think like Voisey. This leaves the reader wondering if the good Inspector is now walking the same path as Voisey. Has he, through his work, become contaminated with the characteristics of those he despises most. What price truth? Honor? The safety of loved ones? Will Thomas compromise his principals to protect Charlotte and their children? The novel forces the reader to grapple with these same questions of conscience.
"Southampton Row" is Perry's most compelling novel to date. It is a must-read for fans of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt. Best of all, this reader sees several potential story lines for future books in this series.

Southampton Row continues the story of Pitt's fight against the Inner Circle. Now we see that the shadows of this group are becoming flesh and blood and the power that the body weilds is much clearer and directed towards Pitt in particular.

The story involves Pitt becoming involved in an election process that will return Gladstone to power although it is early made clear that this will be a short lived government and that what is really going on is positioning for the next election. Perry's grasp of the British election process of the 1890s is excellent and the attention to detail extremely important.

By products of the election are the death of a spirit medium, a bishop doubting God and changing personal relationships. We also see the developement of Pitt's former superior, Cornwallis into something more than a former Naval officer. Tellman has moved up in the police world and is now an inspector. Pitt is bounced again from Bow Street and resumes working for the Special Branch and it's shadowland of combating treachery against the state. It is a little strange that in order to combat the Inner Circle and its shadowy operation, Pitt has found himself working for the very organization that would like to put the Inner Circle down. Pitt is shown to be out of his element in this area but when survival counts, he learns quickly.

Charlotte and the family are smaller elements in this story. It is to be hoped that the author remembers her audience base and gives Charlotte a greater role in up-coming books. However, being a mother in the 1890s, raising two children and running a home somewhat cut into crime solving time. It remains to be seen how Ms. Perry makes this situation work.

This is a fine read for those interested in pure mystery and late Victorian social issues. However, if a reader is looking for how Charlotte gets invovled, it will not be up to their expectations. In all, I found this to be a fascinating story and one that I will revisit.

In late nineteenth England, it is not the monarchy or parliament who rules the country but a clandestine organization known to only a few as the Inner Circle. Thomas Pitt, a Metropolitan Street policeman, once tangled with a member of that group and for his effort was fired from his position as the superintendent of the Bow Street Station. When he was able to neutralize his enemy Queen Victoria reinstated him.

Unfortunately, his enemy was able to hold on to his power and thus pulled strings to force the transfer of Pitt from Bow Street to Special Branch, an organization involved in guarding England's from her enemies. Pitt is assigned the task of neutralizing his old enemy who is running for a seat in the House of Commons. The former superintendent knows that if he wants to keep his wife and children safe, he must succeed in his assignment and do it before his enemy has a more powerful base than he already has.

Anne Perry, the leading writer of Victorian mysteries, has published her best work to date in SOUTHAMPTON ROW. It is as much a political thriller as it is a Victorian historical mystery. The details of the era are so detailed and colorful, that it feels as if the author actually lived in that period. The mystery is complex and creative but the most fascinating part of the book is the political picture Perry paints for her audience that turn a potent tale into a masterpiece.

Harriet Klausner

This is a sequel to the previous novel, "The Whitechapel Conspiracy," which should be read first to fully understand the characters and background. The book possibly gets a little heavy into the position of women in society, etc., but otherwise is a good mystery. Charles Voisey was thwarted in his attempt to seize the government, but now is knighted and seeking a seat in the House of Commons. Thomas Pitt has been sent back to Special Branch, and the Inner Circle still exerts an evil influence on events. Some people have a lust for power and are willing to commit crimes to gain their objectives.

A spiritualist is murdered. Her death may be connected to the politics of the coming election. Pitt must send his wife and children off to the country on their own when his vacation is cancelled. Investigations lead to some surprising connections between individuals, and Pitt finds his reputation threatened before the case is finally resolved. Politics breed strange bedfellows, and Pitt's brother-in-law finds himself in an awkward position where he must decide between a friend and his own career in politics.

It is better to deal with an enemy you know rather than one you don't know. Crimes sometimes go unpunished, even murder.

Victorian England wasn't such an interesting place until the vivid imagination of Anne Perry began her brilliant work in creating villains and conspiracies that would delight a student of the grassy knoll in Dallas.

Perry knows when she's onto a good thing, and the action and characters of The Whitechapel Conspiracy continue in Southampton Row. I strongly urge you to read that book first. Otherwise, you will find yourself mildly perplexed from time to time with the book's musings about the Inner Circle. You will probably rate this book with two or three stars in that case.

If you haven't read The Whitechapel Conspiracy, stop your reading right here.

In Southampton Row, Thomas Pitt finds himself retreating under a series of unexpected reverses following his reinstatement by Queen Victoria to head Bow Street. The Inner Circle has reared its ugly head again, and Pitt is assigned to a job he doesn't like in Special Branch where political skill is more important than detective ability.

Thomas and Charlotte have been promised a vacation . . . but that's all changed as Pitt is ordered to monitor a close election campaign between Tory Sir Charles Voisey of the Inner Circle and Aubrey Serracold, a Liberal neophyte. If Voisey is elected, the very integrity of the judiciary is at risk . . . along with the future of England.

In the midst of this battle, a famous seer is murdered after a séance attended by three prominent people . . . including Serracold's wife, Rose. Pitt finds himself heading up that investigation as well, and is himself sorely tested as the safety of his family is put at risk.

For Anne Perry, Southampton Row is unusually full of plot developments while the characters are not as interesting as usual. It is good fun to find the normally imperturbable Pitt at his wit's end.

The book's main drawback is the strain on the reader's credulity brought on by the thought of so many conspiracies with such potential power at stake.

This was the first of Anne Perry's Victorian mysteries that I have read, and I enjoyed it greatly. She combines historical details with fictional ones to create an excellent combination of history and mystery.

In England, an election is about to take place, which creates tensions between everyone in London. From the streets up to the manor houses in which the wealthy live, no one can talk about anything else. There are two major candidates in the election who stand out: Charles Voisey and Aubrey Serracold, both running on different platforms in different political parties. The bizarre murder of a seance woman in Southampton Row is linked to the election, and it is up to Thomas Pitt to find the killer while at the same time observe the election.

This is a fast-paced book with a lot of political intrigue- its definitely not your typical murder mystery. While Charlotte Pitt, Thomas's wife, is not as present in Southampton Row as she is in other mysteries, the presence of women can be felt, and Perry gives a valuable insight into the lives of women and their position in society in Victorian England. This was a well-written and perceptive novel, and I look forward to reading others in the series. A side note, however: if you are a first-time reader of any of the three series Perry has written, I suggest that you begin with the first book of each- because some of the books discuss things that took place in previous novels.

Southampton Row is an enjoyable read. Ms. Perry's knowledge of the Victorian era is undeniable extensive and the rich tapestry she is able to weave intrigued me. Reading this novel, I experienced the sounds, smells, and sights of Victorian London, not to mention the political climate of the time.

In Southampton Row, Pitt is troubled by his duty to discredit the sly Sir Charles Voisey. He's much better at solving murders. Fortunately for him, and the readers of this novel, Pit gets to do what he's best at. Pitt is a likeable hero and a pleasure to read.

Although the male characters are well written, what fascinated me most about Southampton Row are the female characters. Pitt's wife, Charlotte, is portrayed as a reluctantly obedient wife, but the other female characters are strong and individual, not stereotypical. Pitt's sister-in-law, Emily, is an intelligent political figure. Vespasia, Charlotte's great-aunt, is a pillar of strength and influence. Mrs. Underhill shines as the discontented, but dutiful, wife of the Bishop. In fact, all the female characters in Southampton Row are portrayed in fantastic detail. Ms. Perry gets inside the mind of every woman in her story. After reading the novel, I felt as though I knew all these women personally, like old friends.

Southampton Row is only the second Anne Perry novel I've read so far. It will definitely not be the last.

This is definitely a strong novel. Again we're faced with the political consipiracy theory and the Inner Circle. In this book Pitt is on his own. His estimable wife and the irrepressible Gracie have been removed out of London for their own safety. I for one miss them, but we still have Emily and Aunt Vespasia, and that's enough. The characterization and the mystery are both wonderful in this book. Ms. Perry seems to have found her stride again in the last two books in this series. It is really awesome how she recreates the time and all the hidden counterplots in late Victorian England. Even the characters appear to have been plucked right out of their setting and placed in this book for us to get to know them. We do get to know them. We get to feel their joy and their pain. We learn what conventions must be followed at all costs, and what not to say when in society. Ms. Perry can recreate this era like no other.

This is the twenty-second entry in this series about the crime-detecting adventures of Inspector (eventually Superintendent) Thomas Pitt of the Metropolitan London Police in the last quarter of the 19th century, and it's becoming apparent that the author is running out of steam. Either she's out of good plot ideas or she simply doesn't care anymore. Whatever the case, Pitt is no longer a cop, having been squeezed out of his job by the evil machinations of (. . . drum roll . . .) THE INNER CIRCLE. He's been moved over to Special Branch, originally formed to combat anarchists and Irish terrorists and which is now sort of a combination of Nixonian "plumbers" unit and secret police. And he seems well on his way to becoming a proto-Bond with said secret society standing in for SMERSH. Specifically, Charles Voisey (think Blofeld), who was humiliated in _The Whitechapel Conspiracy_ by being knighted by Queen Victoria (yeah), is using his shiny new rep to run for Parliament as a Tory against an inexperienced and not very savvy Liberal candidate. I would expect Special Branch to be backing the Tories, but they've got to stop Voisey from getting elected as that's The Thin End of the Wedge. And that's the reluctant Pitt's job. More than that, Charlotte and the kids have gone off to the Devon moors on holiday and find themselves in danger as well -- though they don't seem to be able to do very much about it. There actually are a couple of murders in the mix, but at least one of the solutions is covered up in the end to protect the government (by essentially blackmailing Voisey). Perry always includes a socioeconomic theme of one kind or another and this time it appears to be spiritualism -- but it's hard to get worked up about something even most Victorians didn't take seriously. I don't know: If the series continues to decay at the present rate, I give it maybe two or three more volumes before Perry's fans throw up their hands in despair.