New case in the series of the fictional policeman Thomas Pitt. The action takes place at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century (the Russian Revolution has not yet taken place). The murder of a confidant causes Pitt to leave England and the accusation of embezzlement and the dismissal of Narraway, head of the Lisson Grove Brigade. This leads to the belief that there is someone on the inside who is helping to destabilize and impose chaos in England.
Although there are some implausible actions, especially with regard to Charlotte (it seems that the author would like to emphasize her intelligence and ability), since the actions of women were very limited at that time, the nationalistic atmosphere reflected in Ireland before the civil war and the English customs of the Victorian era stand out.
It is a novel of intrigue that grows in interest until the end, has a lot of action and entertains.
Anne Perry (1938-2023) born Juliet Marion Hulme was a prolific British writer of mystery novels. She died in Los Angeles (USA).