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melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting mystery set in Victorian England. While I guessed the murderer a little early on, there were so many red herrings thrown in that it made me second guess. The motivation was interesting and I thought all the exposes of Victorian society were interesting. I thought the ending was a little rushed and left the reader on somewhat of a cliffhanger because it just ends right after the murderer is caught. All in all though, very good. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
pkadams's review against another edition
3.0
Diverting though too anachronistic to be a Victorian novel. Enjoyed [b:What Angels Fear|39149|What Angels Fear (Sebastian St. Cyr, #1)|C.S. Harris|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312066215s/39149.jpg|827263] much more.
rosannelortz's review against another edition
3.0
The Cater Street Hangman is the first novel in Anne Perry’s Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. This series was (I believe) Anne Perry’s first foray into the world of detective fiction, and the initial novel, The Cater Street Hangman, was first published in 1979.
The story is set during the late Victorian period. Its outspoken heroine, Charlotte Ellison, has had her life turned upside down as several young women of her acquaintance are strangled to death along Cater Street. Suspicions run high in the neighborhood, and Charlotte begins to fear that even her closest relatives are guilty of the grisly murders.
The presence of Inspector Pitt and the household scandals that are uncovered in the course of his investigation introduce Charlotte to the seamier side of life that Victorian women were typically shielded from. It soon becomes apparent to all that the plain, lower-class Inspector Pitt is calling on Charlotte Ellison far more frequently than the case demands. Could he be romantically interested in her?
This mystery, while not as complex as Perry’s William Monk novels, was an interesting read to fill an empty afternoon. The characters were not as fully developed as those in Perry’s later novels, and I am interested to see them become rounder as I read the next installments of the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series.
The story is set during the late Victorian period. Its outspoken heroine, Charlotte Ellison, has had her life turned upside down as several young women of her acquaintance are strangled to death along Cater Street. Suspicions run high in the neighborhood, and Charlotte begins to fear that even her closest relatives are guilty of the grisly murders.
The presence of Inspector Pitt and the household scandals that are uncovered in the course of his investigation introduce Charlotte to the seamier side of life that Victorian women were typically shielded from. It soon becomes apparent to all that the plain, lower-class Inspector Pitt is calling on Charlotte Ellison far more frequently than the case demands. Could he be romantically interested in her?
This mystery, while not as complex as Perry’s William Monk novels, was an interesting read to fill an empty afternoon. The characters were not as fully developed as those in Perry’s later novels, and I am interested to see them become rounder as I read the next installments of the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series.
hedgielib's review against another edition
3.0
Interestingly atmospheric but ended a little too abruptly. I was expecting some kind of more formal wrap up--perhaps because it was intended as a series it wasn't tied up but as a stand alone book it made it frustrating.
I also found somewhat confusing the use of all first names and the jumping points of view, had to keep going back a few pages to sort out who was actually doing x because y didn't make sense if it was z, etc.
I also found somewhat confusing the use of all first names and the jumping points of view, had to keep going back a few pages to sort out who was actually doing x because y didn't make sense if it was z, etc.
garnetofeden's review against another edition
3.0
Anne Perry is one of the best-selling authors in the historical mystery genre, which tends to be one of my favorites. However, I'm wondering if her style is just not for me. On my second time out with Anne Perry, I made sure to start at the beginning of a series considering my own personal inclinations, but even still the story fell more among the "enjoyed but nothing spectacular" part of my rating criteria spectrum.
She tends to explore some interesting themes about how things like women's rights and homosexuality were viewed in the past, and in this book I really appreciated the more realistic take on at least the former. Unfortunately the latter literally only got a single mention in the last couple of pages, and overall I was a little surprised with the abruptness of the ending and lack of wrap-up. Some of the best plot lines and characterizations got lost among the overabundant point-of-views and convoluted story arc.
I think I'll give Anne Perry one more go starting at the beginning of her other longstanding series, but if that doesn't hook me I'll just acknowledge she's not for me.
Rating reviewed 12/26/2022.
She tends to explore some interesting themes about how things like women's rights and homosexuality were viewed in the past, and in this book I really appreciated the more realistic take on at least the former. Unfortunately the latter literally only got a single mention in the last couple of pages, and overall I was a little surprised with the abruptness of the ending and lack of wrap-up. Some of the best plot lines and characterizations got lost among the overabundant point-of-views and convoluted story arc.
I think I'll give Anne Perry one more go starting at the beginning of her other longstanding series, but if that doesn't hook me I'll just acknowledge she's not for me.
Rating reviewed 12/26/2022.
michelinaz's review against another edition
5.0
Love this series, the last few have kind of lost me with all the political intrigue but these early ones are just about perfect. The insight into the lives of both upper and working class in Victorian England is so interesting (well, if you're interested in that sort of thing, it is!).
rockwell_books's review against another edition
3.0
2,5 / 5
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Le bajo medio punto porque el final no me convence en absoluto. Aún así es entretenido y de fácil lectura, aunque me esperaba algo más de investigación policial.
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Le bajo medio punto porque el final no me convence en absoluto. Aún así es entretenido y de fácil lectura, aunque me esperaba algo más de investigación policial.