At the beginning of his sixth adventure, young lawyer Daniel Pitt’s life has changed in some dramatic ways. Firstly, he and strong-willed forensic scientist Miriam fford Croft, after finally acknowledging their compatibility and strong mutual attraction, have just begun what looks like it will be a very happy marriage, and secondly, Marcus fford Croft, Miriam’s father and Daniel’s boss, has retired from the law firm he founded, hiring the well-reputed but unconventional Gideon Hunter as his replacement.

Almost immediately upon taking over, however, Hunter takes on what could be a make-or-break case for the firm: the prosecution of controversial but also powerful and widely admired newspaper mogul Malcolm Vayne. If Vayne is acquitted, not only will it hurt the firm’s reputation, but he is a man who never forgets a slight and will exercise his considerable influence to do it even more harm. Also, the more they learn about his financial dealings, the clearer it becomes that he is acquiring political power and influence, both at home and abroad, that could endanger the security of the nation. The case eventually escalates to include murder and the placing of Miriam in imminent peril of death before concluding in a dramatic courtroom scene and verdict.

The first half of the book went a bit slowly for my taste, but things quickly picked up once the trial began, and as always, Perry’s characters and the relationships between them are vivid and unforgettable. I particularly liked Gideon Hunter’s wife Rose, who finds a common cause with Miriam in her advocacy of women’s suffrage, and Nadine Parnell, a doughty elderly woman who has done accounting for Vayne for years and is willing to testify against him despite an attempt on her life.

Sadly, Anne Perry passed away right after the publication of The Fourth Enemy, so unless she has left outlines behind and her heirs hire someone to continue the series, this will be the last we hear from Daniel Pitt. I have been reading her books since shortly after the beginning of her first series featuring Charlotte and Thomas Pitt, and will sorely miss her. RIP, Ms. Perry.

I received a copy of The Fourth Enemy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting read. I wasn't sure if I loved this one as much as the other ones! Plot was good and characters as well.

The Fourth Enemy
A Daniel Pitt Novel
by Anne Perry

Financial corruption is only the beginning when Daniel assists in the trial of a popular philanthropist. The web of lenders and borrowers ensnares high level ministers and foreign interests, serious enough to involve Thomas Pitt and Special Branch. The potential for harm is great, as is the danger in confronting the powerful. (Feels quite relevant to here and now). Promises made to obtain power and wealth aren’t necessarily promises kept.
One witness is attacked and another killed, silencing all but the bravest. The courage and ability shown by the women involved support the arguments for women’s suffrage, an important subplot in the story. I confess that this was a bit slow-going at first, and I may have been at a disadvantage in not having read earlier books. Finally, though, I was captured by events I won’t reveal here, no spoilers, and happily put aside all other pursuits to read uninterrupted, a grand, if sad, finale to an astounding writing career.

Daniel Pitt #6. Malcom Vayne, a newspaper magnate, is a noted philanthropist and a vocal supporter of women's sufferage . Yet are his good deeds a means to hide dark deeds of investment fraud and shady business overseas? Daniel is working his way up in the law firm of fford Croft and Gibson but fears this case may blacken not only his reputation but the firm's as well. Working with his wife, a forensic doctor and his old friend Ian, now a police detective to follow the trail of misdeeds is challenging. And then a witness is murdered. This historical novel was rich in historical detail with likeable characters. I have read and greatly enjoyed Anne Perry's Thomas Pitt and Monk series set in Victorian England. This new series focusing on Thomas and Charlotte Pitt's son paints a clear picture of pre-world War I London and environs. The plot is cerebral with a flashes of humor and the relationship between the main characters is relatable and enjoyable. To be truthful legal thrillers are not my jam but I would recommend this well written, well researched narrative to those who enjoy the sub genre.

Anne Perry’s historical mysteries do a good job of transporting readers back in time. Her characters of Daniel Pitt and his wife Miriam are are people you come to care about and root for as they try find justice in their time.

This was the first book by Anne Perry that I've read and I found it a very good read. The characters were well developed and each had a distinct voice and skill to lend to the story development.
The focus of the book was on an extremely wealthy philanthropist who funded a Ponzi scheme where the initial investors received funds from the second set of investors etc. The scheme however, had no real investments, and just used additional funds from newer "investors". On top of his wealth, Malcolm Vayne owned most of the newspapers in the UK and ha international ties and influence.
The main characters in addition to Malcolm Vayne, were Daniel Pitt - a lawyer with Marcus fford and Croft who was married to Miriam Fford Croft- a forensic pathologist, and Ian Forbisher - a policeman and life long friend of Daniel's who headed the investigation into the Ponzi scheme.
There was a lot of courtroom drama in the book and it developed each character's viewpoint well. The manipulations of the jury by the lawyers and their questioning, added a good dimension into the drama. There was little action however throughout the story except for a cross country race to a dilapidated castle on the ocean and the nail biting resolution of the episode.
I liked the book and the characters and I liked the ending - that justice was served.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed are completely my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this ARC of The Fourth Enemy.

Ms. Perry has four different series. Her most popular was with Thomas and Charlotte Pitt in the Victorian age. Well, they had children, a son and a daughter. The daughter is married to a policeman and Daniel is an attorney. The fourth of her series stars Daniel and in this book, his wife Miriam. Miriam has been in most of the series but they have only just married!
I have read the entire series of Daniel Pitt and I enjoy them immensely. The plots are well thought out and the stories are populated with interesting characters that Ms. Perry fleshes out.
In this book, The Fourth Enemy, no murder and perhaps no crime has taken place. Daniel's friend, Inspector Frobisher, arrests a wealthy philanthropist in London. People either love or hate him. We, the reader, are made to believe that he is a shifty character. Miriam's father who owns the firm that Daniel is a part has just retired and has given the lead prosecutor position to Gideon Hunter, a man no one else in the firm knows. On his first day, Hunter decides to take on the case of prosecuting Arthur Vayne. The case will either make him famous or destroy the whole firm. Daniel is his second. Most of the first half of the book is full of worry, of trying to figure out the money scams he has manipulated, and interviewing people who have worked with him and are willing to betray him.

Then a murder is committed. Or was it suicide? Miriam and her mentor Dr. Eve have to investitgate, Before they can state their conclusion in court, a man tries to kill Eve and kidnaps Miriam.
Ms. Perry couldn't have built up the suspense better. The second half of the book is unputdownable! I loved it. I kept wondering with all the money schemes and boring accounting, how was she going to take this to a peak. I shouldn't have doubt.

If you like a good solid mystery with a bit of thriller thrown in, historical characters, and wonderful plots, you will love this series.

I had only one teeny weeny objection. During a talk about sports, in London, where many of the characters went to posh schools, Ms Perry had Daniel say that he played a bit of soccer. It was jolting. I can only think that she thinks her larger audience is American and don't know that soccer is called Futball everywhere else in the world. Usually little mistakes don't bother me but Ms. Perry seems to bright for this. It's a huge red flag of something.

The Fourth Enemy
By Anne Perry

Ms. Perry has written a series of books set in Victorian England and revolving around Thomas Pitt and his wife, Charlotte and then their son Daniel. These all involve solving crimes. Thomas was a policeman; Daniel is a lawyer.

This book is the latest in the Pitt family saga involving Daniel and his new wife Miriam, a forensic pathologist. While not as suspenseful and shocking as some of the "thrillers" on the market today, this is another well-thought-out plot with characters who engage the reader with their intelligence, integrity, and honesty – making the reader cheer them on every step of the way. It is a great series where the good guys actually win!

This is the sixth book in the Daniel Pitt series. Sadly, Anne Perry passed away very recently, so unless there are some pre-written installments, this is the last book.

Daniel Pitt is named second prosecutor on a fraud case against Malcolm Vayne, a wealthy and popular philanthropist who is the mastermind of a ponzi scheme. At the same time, Daniel's wife Miriam becomes active in the women's suffrage movement, and when Vayne supports this cause, it only increases his favor in the public eye.

This story moved slowly for me for the first part of the book, but it does pick up later and provides excitement, danger, and intrigue. I love Miriam's independence and her relationship with Daniel, and I find it interesting that she is 15 years older than him at that time in history. I had not read the other books in the series, but it does stand up well alone. Anne Perry fans will not be disappointed. Rest in Peace, Anne.

The Fourth Enemy is the sixth and last book in the Daniel Pitt Novel series. It works well as a standalone.

I have enjoyed other books in this series, and Anne Perry quickly became one of my favorite authors. This series revolve around Daniel Pitt, a lawyer in the prestigious firm of fford Croft and Gibson. In every book he works hard to uncover the secrets that people try to hide from the court.

The characters are always very well done, and unlike so many of the books out these days they don't contain sex scenes or bad language. The story itself takes center stage and can be thoroughly appreciated without all those unnecessary looks into the characters' bedrooms.

As with all her books, the story held my attention and was neatly wrapped up by the end.

I'm a fan of all Anne Perry's work and have particularly been enjoying the Daniel Pitt series. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this new release.
This book started out very slowly for me and I had difficulty following exactly they were going to prosecute Malcolm Vayne for what was essentially a Ponzi scheme. Because I love the characters and this book was adding to my understanding of Miriam who I particularly admire and added two new intriguing characters Rose and Gideon Hunter I kept going. Of course the action and the evolution of the case picked up with a rousing latter half of the book. I really enjoyed the conclusion and so look forward to continuing the series.
As always Anne Perry is an excellent writer. Reading her books is like gliding on a smooth lake.
The themes in this historical fiction book seem to me particularly pertinent to our current times - how little disaster for an entire nation can turn on a dime due to greed and power mongering.
I highly recommend this book and in fact the Daniel Pitt series to all readers who enjoy historical fiction that also feels somewhat contemporary.

What a tangled web this one is. Daniel's boss, and father-in-law, has retired. He hired a new man to take the big cases. His first case is to prosecute a fraud case. The more they dig into it, the more tangled the web becomes. The man has a way of making people loyal to him. Sometimes in a good way and sometimes through force. Witnesses change their testimony when they get into court and then Miriam is kidnapped so she can't testify. Can Daniel get her back? Will they be able to unravel the tangled web?

Anne Perry's "Daniel Pitt Series" introduces Thomas and Charlotte Pitt's son, a London barrister. Daniel is now married, and building an illustrious career of his own. Daniel's wife is a European trained forensic pathologist. The two of them form a formidable pair in this adventure as Daniel's law office takes on the prosecution of a leading publisher accused of a building a pyramid scheme to defraud his investors.

Perry does a wonderful job of developing her characters. (She also brings in a few of the characters from her other series to amuse the attentive reader.) The setting of this novel in the years after Queen Victoria's death is also rich and interesting with details about the practice of law in the period, and the scope of the cases being prosecuted.

If you haven't already found this series, I highly recommend starting at the beginning and working your way through!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Fourth Enemy (Daniel Pitt #6) by Anne Perry is an excellent mystery. Perhaps not as fast paced as many mysteries but intriguing, holding my interest. The beginning is more character oriented as one retires and another comes to the law firm where Daniel is a barrister. So this book may seem like it is a light read but it changes momentum as the trial begins then moving to a life and death situation near the conclusion.

What is most intriguing is that the story has such parallels to today. First is the look at woman’s rights in this case women’s suffrage but also Daniel’s wife, forensic scientist Miriam fford Croft. She is a trail blazer for women in that field. Then the wealthy’s ability to control public’s perspective, using that wealth to gain political power and using that power to influence the masses to commit dangerous actions. It does sounds like today, doesn’t it? All of this plus a close look at life in Victorian England.

Other than the offenders the cast of characters are charmingly personable. While there seems to be several characters including the introduction of a new couple to the list I found them easy to keep up with while reading. They have strong individual personalities which make each one unique.

Fan of Anne Perry will love reading this novel, while new readers will become Anne Perry fans.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

Brilliantly written—both cerebral and action-packed!

Is Malcolm Vayne really the beloved philanthropist the public believes him to be? Or is there a monster lurking beneath his benevolent façade? And why is the government’s top intelligence official so interested? As Daniel Pitt digs to uncover the answers, he discovers a depth of corruption no one expected to find. The question is, can he prove any of it in court? And can he do it in time to stop Vayne’s sinister plans? It’s a life-and-death race to the end!

This is my first Anne Perry novel. While I’m sure my reading would have been enriched by the earlier novels in the series, it worked well as a standalone. I found The Fourth Enemy to be brilliantly written—both cerebral and exciting. I thoroughly enjoyed both the courtroom drama, the personal relationships, and the action-packed ending. Well done!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Two of my very favorite together... Historical Mystery and Anne Perry!! I have listened to all of the Thomas Pitt series and also Daniel Pitt so was excited for this 6th in the series!!

Of course, it was exciting and had amazing characters, needless to say. The pace is not edge of your seat but a sedate roller coaster, not expecting the next curve before you go flying!

Daniel has married Miriam which was a wonderful surprise and then he gets the case to help make his career- or could that be break it?

As always, I loved every nuance and character, twist and turn and hidden secrets that are always ferreted out. My only unhappiness comes from wanting more right now!!! Loved it!

“The Fourth Enemy,” by Anne Perry, Ballantine Books, 352 pages, April 11, 2023.

Attorney Daniel Pitt and forensic scientist Miriam fford Croft are newly married. Daniel works in Miriam’s father’s law firm of fford Croft and Gibson, London. Miriam works for Dr. Evelyn Hall. Sir Thomas Pitt, Daniel’s father, is head of Special Branch, the part of the government that deals with terrorism.

Marcus, Miriam’s father, arrives for dinner at their house. He tells them he has decided to retire and names Gideon Hunter to replace him as head of the firm. Toby Kitteridge, a member of the firm, is being named head of administration.

The next evening, Daniel’s friend, Ian Frobisher, a police inspector, goes to talk to Daniel about Malcolm Vayne. Vayne, a newspaper publisher, is a philanthropist. Now Ian believes Vayne is running a pyramid scheme. Three days later Vayne is arrested.

Hunter tells Daniel that the firm is going to prosecute Vayne and that Daniel will be junior counsel. Meanwhile, Daniel’s wife, forensic scientist Miriam fford Croft, befriends Rose Hunter, Gideon’s wife, and the two become engrossed in the women’s suffrage movement.

But when the case goes to trial, one witness’s testimony changes and another is found dead. Miriam and Dr. Hall are called in to examine the body. Then things take a shocking turn.

Anne Perry is the author of five series, plus additional novels. This is the sixth book in the Daniel Pitt series. The courtroom drama is very well done. Readers who like mysteries or historical novels will enjoy this.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

★★★★ ☐ The publisher has provided a copy for review.
Anne Perry is a best-selling author for a reason. Her plot is rarely predictable, her storyline is creative, and her characters are compelling.

This book is no exception. Daniel Pitt, start of this sixth novel in the series, is recently married. His father-in-law and wife are concerned with a case that could bring him down, harm their business, or cause death and destruction. Pitt depends on trusted advisers from his family and professional circles. But can he defeat a canny adversary?

With tension to the last page and a satisfying outcome, what's not to like? Pick up a copy and be prepared to stay up late to read what comes next.

Another standout mystery from Anne Perry, the sixth one featuring Daniel Pitt, son of Charlotte and Thomas Pitt. This series is set in the early 1900's. As I have been a fan since the first Thomas and Charlotte Pitt was published, I am enjoying this new series featuring Daniel. Now a barrister and newly married, he has now become involved with a case that may end with a loss for them in court and puts his wife, Miriam's, life in danger.
Daniel's father-in-law has retired and a new member has joined them. Gideon Hunter will be in court with Daniel when charges are brought against a formidable man - Malcom Vayne. He is very rich, very popular and very, very well connected. With the power to make things happen as he desires and control of the press, accusing him of what we now call a Ponzi scheme, seems to be foolish. Vayne is seen by the public as the philanthropist he wants them to believe. Daniel has sources that tell him otherwise. Miriam has suspicions, too.
When Miriam is kidnapped Daniel sets out to rescue her, leaving the trial to Gideon. From a slower pace at the start the story gains tension and I was not about to set it aside at my bedtime. With great characters, a tight plot and pitch perfect delivery, this was easily a five star entry to the series.
My thanks to the publisher Ballentine Books and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This sixth book in this series focuses on Daniel Pitt and his new wife, with some crossover to the Thomas Pitt and Elena Standish series, as Daniel takes on a case involving an alleged Ponzi scheme where a highly regarded man defrauds late arriving investors to reward his earliest investors and, along the path toward criminal conviction, bodies stack up. This is a warm welcome to the turn of the twentieth century in the years leading up to the First World War and Ms. Perry once again highlights the subtleties of interests in the world the characters inhabit. As always, her books build from quietude to challenges that the characters must meet and overcome in the interests of the civilized society.