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dmturner's review against another edition
4.0
A nice sequel, second in the series, clearly written (the occasional typo, for which I fault her copy editor, if there was one), and with appealing development of the characters we met in the first book. The story is set in a quiet, affluent London square with houses set around a square where bodies were found by gardeners. The author makes good use of her main characters.
I had to write out an index card early on in the book, to keep track of all the various families that inhabit the 7 occupied houses. It's pretty bewildering. Even with the index card for reference, I got people confused, partly because the author laid out a web of relationships and history I had to keep track of, including the disappeared inhabitant of the 8th house. I was able to figure it out by the end of the story, pretty much.
The author does a good job of making the women in the book rounded characters, constrained by the injustices and roles of the period but nonetheless able to take action within those constraints; she didn't make the mistake so many do of giving female characters more physical freedom than actually pertained to them. Her male characters are also not bad, and she manages to convey their unquestioning acceptance of privilege and their condescension to the women in their lives without making them cartoonish.
I had to write out an index card early on in the book, to keep track of all the various families that inhabit the 7 occupied houses. It's pretty bewildering. Even with the index card for reference, I got people confused, partly because the author laid out a web of relationships and history I had to keep track of, including the disappeared inhabitant of the 8th house. I was able to figure it out by the end of the story, pretty much.
The author does a good job of making the women in the book rounded characters, constrained by the injustices and roles of the period but nonetheless able to take action within those constraints; she didn't make the mistake so many do of giving female characters more physical freedom than actually pertained to them. Her male characters are also not bad, and she manages to convey their unquestioning acceptance of privilege and their condescension to the women in their lives without making them cartoonish.
vireogirl's review against another edition
4.0
A bit convoluted but fast-paced and engaging. Another abrupt ending.
margaretefg's review against another edition
2.0
Charlotte and Thomas Pitt are very sweet and in love and the Victorian atmospherics are fun but this mystery was heavy on describing fairly simple characters and very slow moving.
lisaeirene's review against another edition
3.0
It was good. For some reason I kept getting the sisters confused. Perhaps it had been too long since I read the first book. Looking forward to reading more.
llkendrick's review against another edition
3.0
While I enjoy the characters in this series, I'm not enjoying how Inspector Pitt solves the mysteries. They are epiphanies that come to him at the last minute and seem like the author just hurries to wrap everything up. But because I like the characters and the setting (Victorian London), I'll probably keep reading the series.
aniniaknit's review
4.0
Adictivo hasta el final. Mucho mejor que el primero de la saga. Todo un acierto incorporar personajes conocidos del primer libro, pero mucho más desarrollados en éste. El final muy precipitado, pero yo lo agradezco una vez aclarado el misterio.
we_are_all_mad_here26's review against another edition
3.0
I think I might have preferred it for Charlotte and Pitt to have had maybe a transitional book or two, before they suddenly show up as a married couple and a baby on the way to boot. Oh, well. I have fallen back into Anne Perry's Victorian London and I don't foresee me climbing out again anytime soon.
olonion's review against another edition
2.0
I'm so sad this wasn't what I expected. It had a wonderful start, but then it started to Jane-Austen the dialogues and, frankly, I couldn't care less about any of the characters.
parttimebloggerbookgeek's review against another edition
3.0
This is a review for the audible recording of this book. I found Davina Potter to be an excellent reader. I found the overall book to be a tad better than the first book, although parts did seem to drag. I haven't decided if I'd rather listen to the 3rd book or read it, but I will be continuing the series.
shoelessmama's review against another edition
3.0
First of all I am a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes. Perry's devices in forwarding the plot could not be more different while being in the same genre. Doyle's detective is all about the detail and, through Watson, takes you step by step through his process once a conclusion has been reached. I was so used to this method that I wasn't sure what to think of "The Cater Street Hangman". This second book follows the same formula and so, while I liked the plot of the first one better, I am beginning to get her style and really enjoyed this read.
Perry is much more concerned with the relationships of the characters. The detective, Thomas Pitt, on the other hand, is very difficult to get to know. The reader isn't made aware of what Pitt is thinking unless the subject being questioned realizes that Pitt is a step ahead of them. He is like an almost imperceptible cloud hanging over and among the characters creating suspicion and discontent. It's an interesting new way to look at a mystery. On a side note, I love Charlotte. I wish she was real so that we could be friends! One of the best characters to have as company for an enjoyable read (in a very Victorian-era kind of way).
Perry is much more concerned with the relationships of the characters. The detective, Thomas Pitt, on the other hand, is very difficult to get to know. The reader isn't made aware of what Pitt is thinking unless the subject being questioned realizes that Pitt is a step ahead of them. He is like an almost imperceptible cloud hanging over and among the characters creating suspicion and discontent. It's an interesting new way to look at a mystery. On a side note, I love Charlotte. I wish she was real so that we could be friends! One of the best characters to have as company for an enjoyable read (in a very Victorian-era kind of way).