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A review by takethyme
Callander Square by Anne Perry
4.0
I ‘met’ the tall Charlotte Ellison who lacked a filter on her mouth, her beautiful but conniving sister Emily, the secretive Lord William Ashworth and Inspector Thomas Pitt when I read [b:The Cater Street Hangman|853180|The Cater Street Hangman (Charlotte & Thomas Pitt, #1)|Anne Perry|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1388194745s/853180.jpg|1809461]. The mystery was good and I enjoyed Thomas’s character. He was a working man’s son who was educated side by side with a nobleman’s heir. His wisdom and speech did not match his disheveled clothes or wild hair. He wasn’t handsome but he fell in love with Charlotte. And he solved the case.
The young couple were now into their second year of marriage, Charlotte was in the early stages of her first pregnancy and Thomas still couldn’t believe she gave up everything to marry a poorly-paid police officer. Mrs. Pitt has mellowed slightly and matured. She does her best to think before she speaks. And she is still learning to cook. And clean. And surrender to her husband’s better judgment but only when necessary.
This historical mystery took a dark subject- the death of two babies- and twisted it behind the doors of the upper elite of Callander Square. Guilt chooses no friends. We are reminded more than once of Upstairs meets Downstairs. And loyalty, the games of marriage and unhappiness with your lifelong partner.
Emily is now Lady Ashworth and conveniently involves herself in solving the mystery. Charlotte develops an odd friendship of sorts. Lord Ashworth was mentioned but I still knew little of his character. And Thomas was still Thomas, doing his very best to solve the mystery.
*I just wish there was a better groove between them. More conversations. Interactions. Looks. I think this is a minor weak spot that needs work on.*
The suspense was very good. I thought more than once of Victoria Thompson’s earlier Gaslight mysteries while reading the book. I was happy it didn’t dwell on the little ones; Ms. Perry put more weight on the rich, their expectations and their dirty little secrets. Well done!
The young couple were now into their second year of marriage, Charlotte was in the early stages of her first pregnancy and Thomas still couldn’t believe she gave up everything to marry a poorly-paid police officer. Mrs. Pitt has mellowed slightly and matured. She does her best to think before she speaks. And she is still learning to cook. And clean. And surrender to her husband’s better judgment but only when necessary.
This historical mystery took a dark subject- the death of two babies- and twisted it behind the doors of the upper elite of Callander Square. Guilt chooses no friends. We are reminded more than once of Upstairs meets Downstairs. And loyalty, the games of marriage and unhappiness with your lifelong partner.
Emily is now Lady Ashworth and conveniently involves herself in solving the mystery. Charlotte develops an odd friendship of sorts. Lord Ashworth was mentioned but I still knew little of his character. And Thomas was still Thomas, doing his very best to solve the mystery.
*I just wish there was a better groove between them. More conversations. Interactions. Looks. I think this is a minor weak spot that needs work on.*
The suspense was very good. I thought more than once of Victoria Thompson’s earlier Gaslight mysteries while reading the book. I was happy it didn’t dwell on the little ones; Ms. Perry put more weight on the rich, their expectations and their dirty little secrets. Well done!