Another good offering to this historical mystery series. This story was a little bit different from the others, in that there was no courtroom drama or much for the science of forensics. The cast of characters was used in a different way too, with Daniel Pitt's parents taking a bigger role, & other past characters taking a smaller role......I'm thinking this 'presentation' of the cast sets up for further story lines/character development/books to come in the series. I still feel that this writing feels a bit like a 'lighter' version of Perry's two earlier 'Victorian mystery' series, the 'Thomas Pitt' & 'William Monk' series......which I thought were great! I'll keep reading in this 'Daniel Pitt' .....& see where it goes. Perry continues to give good descriptions of the historical period that she writes about.
I received a complimentary e-ARC from the Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Books via NetGalley, after offering to read it & then post my own fair & honest review.

I’ve read all of the books in this series. I really enjoyed the book even though my favorite character, Miriam fford Croft was more of a peripheral one than usual.

Daniel is asked to identify a murder victim’s body and receives a jolt when he believes it is his friend and colleague, Toby Kitteridge. It turns out to be a senior partner in their law chamber. However, the death sends reverberations through the chamber and may mean the end of the practice. That is, unless they are able to find the murderer and clear the reputation of the chamber.

There are twists and turns that took me by surprise. I especially enjoyed the more substantial part of Sir Thomas and Charlotte Pitt in the story. I had begun the William Monk series by this author and am enjoying it immensely. Now that I have got to know more about the elder Pitt’s, I am going to start their series from the beginning as well.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

Murder strikes the law firm of fford Croft and Gibson!

1911 and King George V is England’s monarch. The violent death of a senior lawyer in the law firm where Daniel Pitt works, fford Croft and Gibson, rocks the firm and opens up chaos and danger for Daniel, Thomas and Charlotte.
A man Daniel believes to be Kitteridge is discovered brutally murdered in a seedy part of London, an alley in Mile End, a “pretty bad part of the East end.” Heart in mouth Daniel goes to identify the body. It turns out the dead man is Jonah Drake. “Drake had been a very clever man, had won most of his cases, even when they seemed impossible.” A man who “knew the law as Daniel knew the alphabet.” The question is, what was it that took Drake to this area?
Daniel and Kitteridge need to investigate whether Drake’s murder has anything to do with his previous cases. Drake’s main area of expertise has been with cases around embezzlement. Concerns for the firm’s reputation drive Daniel and Kitteridge along as one murder soon turns to three.
Meanwhile one of Drake’s cases is to do with the murder of a woman. The man, Evan Faber was accused of beating a woman to death. Drake had successfully defended Fabre and he had been acquitted.
However the more Daniel digs the uglier things could become.
It seems Faber’s father is a noted ship builder, owner of the biggest shipyards in the UK. An essential business in these days of rising European tensions. Apparently Thomas has been told by the Home Secretary to leave the father alone. Daniel’s investigations look like leading him not only into danger but into conflict with the Home Office.
Meanwhile the shadow of corruption, a slight stain over the firm of fford Croft and Gibson, is waiting to burst forth into a full blown scandal. As events turn even more suspect, both Thomas and Daniel find themselves facing and making hard choices. Marcus’s daughter, Miriam, is away in Holland studying forensic science. Daniel is reluctant to call her back, even as he worries about Marcus’ memory and his ability to handle the current situation.
Another clever and suspenseful read from Perry featuring some of my favorite personalities.

A Random House - Ballantine ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

I have decided that the Daniel Pitt series is my new favorite written by Anne Perry. That's saying a lot because I had given that honor to the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. Daniel is the next generation and he has inherited his brains in equal measure form both his mother and father. Daniel will go far in life.
When Daniel is called out to identify a dead body, one who had his business card in his coat pocket, there is confusion as to that identity. When that is sorted out lots of serious questions arise, first one is what was one of their lawyers doing in a dangerous area of London in the middle of the night? Before much time passes, more deaths occur and the reputation of the legal chambers of fford Croft and Gibson is in jeopardy. When Daniel turns to his parents for advice it puts them in danger as well. If Daniel can't uncover the secrets that have lead to this situation and the killer his future will be in danger.
The beginning is a bit slow but it soon moves into high gear and keeps the reader engaged to the last page. The mystery is full of twists, turns and red herrings and will have you changing your choice of the guilty party more than once. If you are new to this wonderful series, no worries, it works as a stand alone.
My thanks to the publisher Ballantine Books and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Death with a Double Edge by Anne Perry (Daniel Pitt #4) 3.5 stars

Daniel Pitt is summoned to a crime scene in the dicey neighborhood of Mile End. His card was found in the dead mans pocket. At first he thinks it is his friend, Toby Kitteridge because he recognizes the coat. But it turns out to be another barrister at the law firm. The dead man is Jonah Drake, a senior member of the firm. Why was he in the slum and who killed him form the basis for this mystery. Daniel and Toby are tasked by the firm to look over Jonah's cases to see if there was a reason he would be at Mile End in the middle of the night. The review of files pluck two prominent murder cases from the recent past. In both, Jonah was able to keep both men from prison; but were the results satisfactory to the defendants? Could somebody be holding a grudge or did Jonah come across some new information that would convict the real culprits?

This book started out slow and gain momentum during the last part of the book. I found the investigative process to be tedious but through. The saving grace of this book was the participation of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt. I have missed them and their contribution provided valuable insight to solving this mystery. A satisfying read, but not a excellent one.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC

One of the best things I love about this series is that it is about the "next generation" of the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. I enjoyed this latest installment in the Daniel Pitt series, so far the best in the series in my opinion. One thing I liked is that Miriam was not as prominent as in the last book. Not sure why but I"m not a fan of that character. Thank you so much for an ARC copy, can't wait for the next book!

Book 4 in the historical mystery series featuring Daniel Pitt, son of Charlotte and Thomas, has some good twists. I like this series, with Daniel as a young attorney getting involved in mysteries. I like that he has a close relationship with his parents and that they are involved in this story a bit more.Anne Perry continues to entertain her readers!

I absolutely loved Death With a Double Edge! This was my first Daniel Pitt book by Anne Perry; however, I loved her series involving William & Charlotte Pitt. Such a delight to move the Pitt’s into the age of the telephone and motor cars. Ms.Perry continues to turn out wonderful mysteries involving well rounded characters replete with appropriate material culture. I love her also giving agency to brilliant, independent women. This book provided lovely information about the workings of early 20th Century legal offices as well.

This is another excellent mystery by Anne Perry. Daniel Pitt, Charlotte and Thomas's son, is a junior barrister and has to go to the morgue to identify the body of a man who had one of Daniel's cards in his pocket. It turns out to be a senior member of his firm...Jonah Drake. As Daniel investigates he is forced into a situation where he gets involved with politics, police corruption and the brothels of Mile End. Thomas and Charlotte also play a large part in this book. Although this is the 4th book in the series it almost reads as a standalone and can be enjoyed without reading the first three.
I enjoyed everything about this book and heartily recommend it for readers who love historical mysteries.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

From time to time, I have read some of Anne Perry’s Victorian mysteries. They are literate, atmospheric, and well written. This is the third book in her new series featuring Daniel Pitt, the barrister son of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, the main characters in her earlier books.

The story is interesting, but somewhat plodding, with a lot of review of the evidence and facts of the case over and over again. Perry’s detailed, descriptive language paints a strong picture of the characters and their environments and there is fascinating insight into the life and times of early twentieth century London. It is worth a read for those factors more so than as an enthralling mystery.

Death With a Double Edge is the fourth book in the Daniel Pitt historical murder mystery series by Anne Perry. It works well as a standalone.

I just love reading books by this author! Her characterization is always good; and the people in her books are an interesting bunch. The gentleness of the main characters, and how kindly they treat each other is so pleasant in a world where the characters made up by other authors do way too much cursing and often fall into bed with people they barely know. I also love how real her characters become--I feel as I'd really like to meet most of them.


Anne also gives the reader a really good sense of mood through her writing and the settings are perfect. I can picture them in my mind. By the end of the book everything is neatly wrapped up even though you may not have thought when picking up the book that would ever be possible.

I am a HUGE fan of this author.

Elizabeth George hits another grand slam. Death with a Double Sword is the latest in Daniel Pitt series and one of the best. Daniel, son of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, is a young lawyer in a law firm fford Croft and Gibson, is called to verify the body of a man because his card was in the pocket of the coat he was wearing. This leads to intrigue, mystery and the inclusion of all of Daniels family and also the law firm. Mr fford Croft, the head of the firm seems to be having difficulties with his memory so doesn’t remember why his lawyer was heading to dubious parts of town and so Daniel Pitt starts investigating. The investigations lead to older cases and the wealthy and important families of England being involved.
Elizabeth George pulls in all her Pitt series in this book, with Thomas and Charlotte Pitt and Daniel Pitt. I loved the character interplay between Thomas, the head of Special Branch, Charlotte his wife and her involvement, and finally Daniel the son. There is great drama, great mystery and character development.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this preview copy.
#Netgalley #BallentineBooks

Anne Perry once again delivers a brilliant mystery. Ostensibly starring Daniel Pitt, his parents, too, have their moments in the spotlight in this book. Daniel is shocked when his business card is found in the pocket of a murder victim who turns out to be a senior barrister in his chambers. Startled to discover that the police seem disinterested in the investigation he works diligently to discover who did the deed, eventually asking his father for help which imperils his mother. But along the way to enlightenment, 4 more people die. A properly twisty British tale of secrets, lies, and hidden relationships.

Death with a Double Edge by Anne Perry. #DeathwithaDoubleEdge #NetGalley

This is the fourth novel in the Daniel Pitt series. A senior partner at Daniels law firm has been killed & Daniel decides to try & solve the case. I've enjoyed the books so far; and while things did pick up; it seemed to me slower or harder to get into. One thing that struck me is the character growth of Daniel. I felt a nice expansion that gave him more "meat" than we've seen prior.

The books is still good; but first impressions.....not as enjoyable as the others. Still, Anne Perry always gives great characters & when dealing with a series, there will be entries that will stand out, while others don't. Still will continue to read this series.

I have loved the old Thomas and Charlotte Pitt books so was excited to read my first about their lawyer son, Daniel. Another attorney in Daniel's firm was brutally murdered, and for some reason, Daniel feels compelled to solve the murder. I'm afraid this book didn't grab me like previous Anne Perry books have, and it was a slow go to get it read.

Daniel Pitt is a bit out of his depth investigating the ugly murder of his colleague Jonah, who was found in a, well, unexpected area in London. Set in 1911, this sees Daniel, now 25, working without Miriam (and the story is the poorer for her absence, although new readers won't know the difference, I expect) and with his father Sir Thomas, head of the Special Branch. Things wander close to the influential when they look into a ship building firm- so much so that someone is willing to threaten the Pitt family in order to shut down the investigation. Daniel's mother Charlotte (one of my favorites) is put in peril but the Pitt father and son, along with Daniel's friend Toby Kitteridge, ride to the rescue. There's a well conceived plot, which does, admittedly, go a but astray near the end. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Fans of the series will welcome this and new readers will find it fine as a standalone.

This book is the fourth in the Daniel Pitt series, which is actually a spin-off of Perry’s Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series. Daniel is their son and is a lawyer. The setting of the book is England in 1911. In this installment, a senior partner in the law firm is found dead in a rough area of London and it’s up to Daniel and his colleague Toby Kitteridge to find out what the man was doing in this part of town. They don’t know if it’s related to any of his current or past cases or if something more personal brought him to this dangerous area. They don’t want to invade his privacy, even after his death, but they need to know if anything he’s been could cause problems for the law firm.

You don’t need to read earlier books from either series to enjoy this book. Daniel is a likable character in his own right. He wants to think the best of people, but is smart enough to know that people are imperfect and have secrets. He respects Marcus, the head of his law firm, but objectively investigates to see if he had any involvement in immoral and/or illegal activities that could have led to the death of one of their firm’s top lawyers.

New readers will enjoy the book, fans of the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series are in for a treat because Daniel’s parents play a large role in this story. The book begins slowly, but definitely picks up when Thomas and Charlotte become involved. Fans of the Daniel Pitt series will be happy that there are a few returning characters from prior books, such as Roman Blackwell and his mother, Mercy. Miriam, Marcus’s daughter and potential love interest for Daniel, is away in Holland for most of the book so she doesn’t appear until near the end of the book. Although the investigation goes in circles in the beginning, after a few twists, the pieces come together by the time the story concludes. However, the ending is a bit abrupt and could have used an additional chapter to wrap things up. Fans of the series and of the author will enjoy this well-researched, well-written book.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Ballantine Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

I used to have somewhat of an obsession with Anne Perry mysteries, so when I was offered an ARC of Death With A Double Edge, I jumped on it! What do I mean by obsessed? I lived for three years in Scotland in the late 1990s. At the time I read every new release of the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt book series, and most of the ones featuring Mr. Monk. We often took weekend excursions around Scotland and one memorable time I convinced my husband to take me to the remote town of Portmahomack where Anne Perry lived at the time (and continued to live there until about three years ago when she moved to Hollywood). I wandered in the tiny town hoping to run into her, but alas, it didn't happen! Then as my three children grew and life got busier I fell so far behind in the series (she is a very prolific writer) that I gave it up.

The last time I saw Daniel he was a wee lad and it was his Dad solving the crimes. Now here he is all grown up, working as a barrister in a posh law firm and solving the odd crime. This is book four in the series.

Daniel is called out of a sound sleep to go and identify a body, that of a man in his law firm who has been murdered. It was a brutal crime and the man's body was found in Mile End, a terrible part of London where he presumably would have had no business being. The members of the law firm want to make sure there is nothing in his cause of death that would drag down their firm and they appoint Daniel to solve this puzzle. Of course where is Daniel going to turn when he hits a road block but to his father, Thomas Pitt, who is now high up in the police force. When last I had seen Thomas he was rising slowly in the ranks but had not attained the high status he now seems to hold. I am not sure if he makes as much of an appearance in the other three books based on Daniel, but here he is very instrumental in solving the crime.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting these characters again and seeing how they have thrived. What drew me to these books originally was the rich sense of history and place. In this book we are in London in the early 1900s. There are now some cars, instead of just horse and carriage. But the author has not lost her touch for painting an immersive picture of the time and place, almost as if she had lived there! The main characters are very well drawn and likeable, and adequate time is given to fully flesh out the side characters.

These books are for lovers of mysteries, historical novels, crime in old London. I really enjoyed the book and appreciate NetGalley, Anne Perry, and Random House for allowing me to read this ARC.

A man who works in a law office is killed and his coworker investigates. The father of the investigator works for special branch. He helps his son in the search for the killer.
after that it is a book that is written in a balderdash fashion that makes you turn back a few pages to see what you missed...It eventually comes around to a solution but takes awhile. Feels as if the author was just filling space get enough words for a book.

Daniel Pitt has been assigned to find out why a senior member of his law firm was found knifed to death in an alley in one of the worst neighborhoods of London in this fourth book in the series. Daniel doesn’t really know where to start because he is fearful of what he might find out about the murdered man and/or the named partner. Despite that foreboding he begins pulling back layer after layer of the dead man’s life.

This is a well-written historical novel that can be read as a stand-alone despite having ties to another of Perry’s series featuring Daniel’s parents, Thomas and Charlotte Pitt. That being said, though, this series thus far lacks the fire power of the more gritty William Monk series or the heartfelt Thomas Pitt series. It is hard to put a finger what this series lacks because it is well written and the author transports the reader to the streets of 1911 London. It may be that Daniel Pitt under-developed and, therefore, the reader has a hard time feeling connected to him.

If you are looking for a historical mystery series, you can’t go wrong with the books of Anne Perry.

My thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for an eARC.