A Christmas Odyssey by Anne Perry

 

Publication Date: October 26, 2010

Length: 208 pages

I have almost finished reading all of Anne Perry's Christmas books. They are short and easy to read in one sitting, especially on a cold winter day by the fire, or in this case, a hot summer day in June.  Each book is its own separate story so you do not need to read them in any particular order. It is helpful to have read some of her Monk or Pitt books though because some of the minor characters in those books take center stage in the Christmas ones. 

A Christmas Odyssey concerns the character of Henry Rathbone. He is the father of Oliver Rathbone, a prominent lawyer who features often in her other books. Henry has been asked to look into the disappearance of his friend's son, Lucien. It seems Lucien has rejected a life of wealth and privilege for the dark underworld of drugs and sexual deviance. This being the Victorian era it is impressed upon the reader just how private the search for Lucien must be kept since no self respecting member of society would even acknowledge the "underworld" much less know anything about where to look for a fallen relative. Henry enlists the help of his friend Hester Monk who is a major character from Perry's Monk novels and is quite familiar with shady and marginalized people she comes into contact with as a nurse and owner of a clinic operating to serve the downtrodden, forgotten citizens of the poorer part of town. 

Through Hester, Henry is able to gain the trust and assistance of former brothel owner Squeaky Robinson and they set out to retrace Lucien's steps and see if they can gain any insight into where he may have gone. Their search takes them to the darkest places imaginable. They are accompanied by a doctor, Crow, who is not a credentialed doctor per se due to his own personal struggles, but nonetheless is a compassionate man who wants to help those in need who cannot afford medical services or, due to the nature of their occupations, would rather not be helped by a licensed professional. Henry, Squeaky, and Crow together meet up with Bessie, a young girl who has maintained some semblance of innocence despite being forced to live underground to survive with nefarious people in appalling conditions. She leads them through a maze of contacts as well as a literal maze of tunnels and rooms, helping them to untangle the trail of events that led Lucien to cease contact with his family. During the search it is discovered that a mysterious figure aptly named "Shadwell" is pulling the strings behind the lives and fates of those underground.

When evidence of two murders is discovered, everyone is frightened for Lucien as well as their own survival. It is obvious that Shadwell is watching their every move and if they are to make it out alive with Lucien intact it will take all of them working together to move quickly and cleverly to outwit the evil that poisons the lives of the inhabitants of this very sad, forgotten part of their city.

I will admit this is probably the darkest Anne Perry novel I've read thus far. She always tends to weave that element throughout her stories which adds suspense and excitement because you realize quickly her books are not meant to be what one would call "cozy" mysteries. This one seemed to be even more shocking than usual in that the vivid descriptions of drugs, sexual deviance, and intimidation were especially pronounced. She never writes graphically enough to be called sensational but it was just a tad more realistic and frightening than her usual work. Perhaps this is why she is so good at what she does. I wanted to look away, but I had to know how it ended!

The best part of Perry's books is that in the end evil is punished and good rewarded. In the Christmas books she develops the plot to a point where you think you'll never be able to see the holiday spirit in it but by the last page you are feeling happy, contented, and festive. Because this book was so much of a downer throughout it was remarkable that by the last page I had happy tears in my eyes at the resolution, making me glad I'd stuck with it to the end. I have never been sorry for picking up an Anne Perry book and this one is no exception, just be aware it can be a depressing slog at times. She definitely has written more uplifting Christmas books but they are always a fun read and the clues and mystery are revealed in a way that keeps your mind guessing. 

Silence in Hanover Close by Anne Perry

 

Publication Date: October 4, 2011

Length: 368 pages

Reading an Anne Perry mystery is like visiting an old friend. I have read many of her Pitt, Monk, and Christmas novels and one from the WW1 series. The comforting thing is that there are so many left to read and she is still writing new books yearly. When I need a break from epic super long books I like to grab one of hers and read it in a few days. She never fails to follow a tried and true formula and that is what appeals to her readers.

In this story we find Victorian Era couple Thomas and Charlotte Pitt hot on the trail of a murderer and mysterious woman. Of course Thomas is the policeman and his wife Charlotte is never supposed to be involved in the case but she somehow manages to insert herself every time, much to his dismay. Three years ago Robert York, a British Foreign Officer, was murdered in his home in Hanover Close. The killer has never been caught but the suspicion is that he was killed for secrets he possessed about overseas dealings. Inspector Pitt is asked to reopen the case by his superiors because his widow is remarrying a high level diplomat and the government does not want any surprises or embarrassment resulting from an unfinished investigation. 

As Pitt questions suspects and members of the family's household he becomes involved personally when he is accused of murder. His superiors seem unwilling to come to his defense and this seems incredibly suspicious to both Charlotte and her sister Emily. In order to find out more about what happened, Emily decides to apply as a lady's maid in the York household. Through various twists and turns she convinces the staff she is just a simple servant while listening to private conversations and intense family drama. Charlotte poses as a visiting society girl and along with a friend, Jack Radley, worms her way in to the drawing rooms of the York house to listen to gossip as well.

The drama slowly unfolds to its climactic ending with the Pitts, Emily, Jack, and the spirited Great Aunt Vespasia hot on the trail of the real murderer. As usual, I was unable to figure out whoodunit until the very end. One of the most satisfying things about reading Anne Perry is that she definitely anticipates one being able to pick the most likely scenarios and then she shakes them up to the point that you just don't see the real truth coming. Out of all her books that I've read only one time did I know for sure how it was going to end. This is a real testament to her creativity. 

I am not pretending to equate her writing with Jane Austen but I find her books remind me of the feel of an Austen novel in mystery form. I have often found myself forgetting that her characters were written by a woman living in current times. This is rare in novelists today. There is often a give away in the way characters talk and behave. Try as they might most modern writers always have a bit of a "tell" that they are trying to replicate dialogue and customs from long ago. Not so with Perry. She is superb. I even notice she does not hesitate to include authenticity in the interactions between Thomas and Charlotte. There were ways men and women behaved in the nineteenth century that were just a fact of life. Charlotte is strong willed and independent but she is no modern feminist. Perry sticks to the mores of the day which makes reading her books more pleasurable. I do not like to feel the author is trying to change the era in which they are writing into a politically correct view of how they think things should have been.

If you are looking for a solid historical mystery pick up one of her Pitt or Monk novels. You will not be disappointed.