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120th out of 419 books
—
403 voters
Bedford Square (Charlotte & Thomas Pitt #19)
by
Anne Perry
The freshly dead body sprawled on the Bedford Square doorstep of General Brandon Balantyne is an affront to every respectable sensibility. The general denies all knowledge of the shabbily dressed victim who has so rudely come to death outside his home. But Superintendent Thomas Pitt cannot believe him. For in the dead man's pocket he finds a rare snuffbox that recently gra...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
April 4th 2000
by Ballantine Books
(first published March 30th 1999)
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The author should have spent far less time repeating ad nauseam the turmoil, misery, and puzzlement of the blackmail victims, their families and friends, and the detectives on the case and far more time moving the action along and providing some basis for the eventual climax and resolution. As it is, the exposition and rising action go on with very little revelation for more than 3/4 of the book. At about the half-way point, the reader can figure out the identity of the blackmailer, though it re...more
I thought this was a great book. I loved the characters, the mystery, the setting... all of it. I am coming into the lives of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt rather late, as I see that this is the 19th book featuring the duo. I have wanted to read Anne Perry for some time, as I have enjoyed reading her Letter From the Highlands articles. I bought four of her books from Half-Price Books when I spotted them on the shelf. Bedford Square was a fine start and I look forward to working my way through the re...more
Although I greatly enjoyed meeting the Pitts, Aunt Vespasia, Gracie, Tellman, and reading about life in late Victorian England, the mystery was in my view a big red herring. Solved in the last 20 pages by an unsexpected source, it left me unsatisfied. A lot of book was boring and I put it down. I never put a mystery down before. I'll see if Ilike Half Moon Street more; it's next on my list.
Typical Perry. Victorian mystery. I enjoyed it.
And a quote, I liked: "What is love without trust, forgiveness, patience, and gentleness? Mere hunger and need, joy in another's company, shared pleasures, even laughter and perceptions, are merely things of good acquaintances. To be more than that, must be giving as well as taking, cost as well as gain."
And a quote, I liked: "What is love without trust, forgiveness, patience, and gentleness? Mere hunger and need, joy in another's company, shared pleasures, even laughter and perceptions, are merely things of good acquaintances. To be more than that, must be giving as well as taking, cost as well as gain."
Whoa...intense. I was all over the place trying to figure out whodunnit...and I was wrong. Oh well, no big surprise there! I love how well Perry conveys the time period through the clothes, the manners, the mores, the expectations, the concerns, the setting. From the delicious tea to the aromatic alley.
Pitt seems to have come up quite a bit in the world. His higher-ups at the station aren't giving him so hard a time anymore. Charlotte's effect on the General is poignant while there wasn't much a...more
Pitt seems to have come up quite a bit in the world. His higher-ups at the station aren't giving him so hard a time anymore. Charlotte's effect on the General is poignant while there wasn't much a...more
I did not remember at all the culprit. I also think most people don't think about things like potential romantic partner's thougths on justice and fairness when they are choosing. Most people just fall in lust. I always feel inadequate given the thoughts Ms. Perry puts in her characters' heads.
I liked it but felt it dragged. it did keep me guessing as to who did it pretty much until the end I had my suspicions focus on one of the characters about 3/4 f the way through but can't say I was certain until about the last 10 pages.
The dragging portions for was what I thought was over done descriptions of everything from the ladies dresses to the decors of the homes, perhaps the intent of the author was to satisfy a readership of more women then men and some women would enjoy the detailed de...more
The dragging portions for was what I thought was over done descriptions of everything from the ladies dresses to the decors of the homes, perhaps the intent of the author was to satisfy a readership of more women then men and some women would enjoy the detailed de...more
May 29, 2009
Adrienne
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Mystery lovers, historical fiction enthusiasts
Recommended to Adrienne by:
Donald Maas, her agent
I have found my new favorite author. Although she's not new to anyone else. She's been writing this series of mystery novels since 1978! I love love loved all the characters and the way she presents the Victorian world. The plot was sufficiently twisted and yet still a satisfying ending. Loved every word of it. I am glad she has written about a billion books, I know what I'll be doing all summer :)
I love that Anne Perry's stories are always about something more complicated that just the murder in the beginning. I thought the plot in this book was especially interesting - blackmail and misuse of power instead of just murder. What a nice diversion her books are!
I enjoyed this book for it's different plot twist. It started as all the books with a dead body and a mystery to be solved. Though the book it's self did not center on the dead body and it's killer so much as on the lives of other characters and their story's.
The Victorian setting was sufficiently established but the mystery was successfully kept until the second to the last chapter of the book, which I think was not a good thing. The scene in the last chapter was quite dramatic. I was expecting to have a decent explanation and confirmation about the deductions inferred by Pitt and the others. The story kept mentioning the same things over and over again, summarizing over and over again, which contributed to its length. So I supposed that there'd be...more
I really enjoy this author, her characters are delightful and easy to picture. I love feeling like I am right there in a land and time that I have never visited. Her descriptions focus the imaginary into reality without wasting words.
I think this is one of Ms. Perry's earlier novels which I found to be interesting, a little slow. Ms. Perry continues to get better and better with each book. So I look forward to reading more of her mysteries in the future.
I've read several Anne Perry books over the past 10 years and this one was weak. Her standard theme of class bias that not all people of society are over-priviledged worthless cretins is boring. A man dies and the big concern is the disgrace it will bring to the home owner who's doorstep he has been laid at contradicts her equality of class, as does the only time that they even think about digging into this poor sod's death is when someone of class dies. The plot itself is thin and never really...more
This was a light read, so I might try another in the series. Very Victorian, which has its charms. Could have moved along a bit faster. However, it was clean. Something you don't find in the mystery genre all that often.
I enjoy reading these Thomas Pitt books every so often. They are an easy read, they evoke a realistic-seeming feel of Victorian London, and there's a murder to be solved. I couldn't read several of them in a row, but they are good occasional reads.
What a great book! Anne Perry brings me to the late 19th century. I could smell the mells and hear the clatter. The mystery was great too, with wonderful characters. I simply must get the first book in the series!
Engaging story. I prefer the plot lines where Charlotte is not doing the majority of the investigating. This story of blackmail allows Pitt and Tellman do their jobs.
Sep 22, 2012
Della Scott
marked it as to-read
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11418780
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11418780
I really like the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series, I have to figure out where I left off and catch up!
My favorite in the series so far.....clues were well planted, characters compelling, and the end a shock!
First time reading this author and this genre. Genre - thumbs up, Author - thumbs down. Basically dumb. I actually skipped paragraphs because it kept on rambling and having repeat conversations.
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Everyone has something to hide in this murder mystery starring Detective and Mrs. Pitt.
This story really kept my interest throughout. Easy to read and entertaining.
I have a soft spot for General Ballantyne so I really liked this one.
I thought this book was a little slow, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Enjoyed seeing Gracie and Tillman's relationship develop here.
Doing a lot of light reading lately... amongst all the chaos and changes going on around me. :0 AND it's helping so my brain shuts down and I can get to sleep!! Another good mystery...
Very complex and intriguing. I recommend it and I really enjoyed it, but I wasn't blown away.
Mar 08, 2011
Linda
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
mystery readers; Anglophiles; people who like all things Victorian
I've just discovered this author, and am basically inhaling her books. There are two series I've sampled so far; one features detective William Monk, that the other, of which this is one, features Charlotte and Thomas Pitt. Both series are set in Victorian England, and are mysteries. I find the characters in the William Monk series stronger than these, but this is still very enjoyable. And the good news is, there are many more.
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Anne Perry (born Juliet Hulme) is a British historical novelist.
Juliet took the name "Anne Perry", the latter being her stepfather's surname. Her first novel, The Cater Street Hangman, was published under this name in 1979. Her works generally fall into one of several cate...more
More about Anne Perry...
Anne Perry (born Juliet Hulme) is a British historical novelist.
Juliet took the name "Anne Perry", the latter being her stepfather's surname. Her first novel, The Cater Street Hangman, was published under this name in 1979. Her works generally fall into one of several cate...more
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