Historical fiction at its best by a well known author. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and author also. A page turner…dynamic characters….dynamic setting…fantastic time period…I liked this book. I enjoy this talented and gifted author. Curl up in a cozy chair with a warm blanket…a cup of steaming herbal tea…be transported back in time…lose yourself in this story…relive the days when women fought for what they wanted…intrigue and mystery abound also…

I read Anne Perry's latest in a 24-hour period. This is her sixth novel featuring Daniel Pitt, the son of the famous Thomas and Charlotte Pitt. Daniel is newly married to Doctor Miriam fford Croft, 15 years his senior. His father-in-law has decided to step down as senior partner as his law firm after a series of ailments. Soon after the changing of the guard, Daniel's firm takes on the prosecution of a wealthy businessman who has committed fraud in a financial scheme that resulted in the theft of a large number of investments. We are introduced to a number of characters, some of them familiar (like Daniel's father, Thomas, head the Special Branch, and his childhood friend Ian Frobisher (now an inspector with the London police), and some of them new (like Rose, the wife of the prosecutor). Even though the reader knows who the bad guy is all along, it's fun to watch this morality tale play out.

I've been reading about the Pitts for over 20 years now, and picking up one of these novels is like visiting with old friends. My only quibble is that I wish we could see more of the players from the previous Pitt series, such as Charlotte's vivacious sister Emily and her family, and Daniel's sister Jemimah, now married to a New York City police officer. Instead, we are introduced to an ensemble of new characters. With Emily's husband being a member of Parliament, and her son the heir of the great Ashworth estate, it seems like these family relationships would be ripe with opportunities for future plots. Along the same lines, I enjoyed the cameo of Lucas Standish from Perry's other series starring MI6 agent Elena Standish. I love seeing the connections between the two series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my views.