Anne Perry has done an excellent job with letting us view more of the human side of Thomas Pitt. While investigating the 3 year old murder of a member of the London consulate, Pitt continues to examine his own emotions regarding society, prostitution and his own family life. Additionally, Pitt begins to express anger at the well defined hierarchy of the London police. Charlotte takes a bit of a back seat in this novel as her sister Emily is moved to the forefront of the mystery. Although a bit contrived, based on her character in other Pitt novels, Emily enters the house in question as a lady's maid. Emily too begins look internally and examine her own mindset and treatment of domestic help. The ending of this thriller is a sad as it is shocking when the veil of deceit is finally lifted. I highly recommend this Perry novel as one of her best in terms of character development and page turning excitement.

I have read most of the books in this series, so it's plain that I generally enjoy them. Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, along with the others who regularly appear in these stories, are well-developed and plausible characters. By this time, they have become much like old friends and this familiarity adds to their appeal. Perry also does a good job of engaging the interest of the reader by providing mysteries that are intriguing from the start. Also, though I'm not an expert on Victorian London, she seems to do a good job of re-creating that milieu.

On the other hand, Perry sometimes makes it plain who the murderer is in her stories by giving you one clearly dysfunctional character. Sometimes, too, her stories virtually turn into morality plays. She will take up some social evil of the period, make it part of her plot, and dwell on it. Finally, Perry has a tendency to end her stories very abruptly, leaving loose ends dangling and making you feeling like you've just stepped off a cliff.

This particular installment has all the usual strengths. Charlotte and Emily work to solve the case and save Thomas from a dire fate. The unsolved death of Robert York three years earlier gets Pitt started. The case is re-opened because York's widow is soon to marry a Foreign Office official. York was also with the Foreign Office at the time of his death and some secret papers disappeared at that time, so any possibility of scandal or espionage must be put to rest. During the course of the story, the reader gets a close look at the evils of nineteenth century English prisons, but not more so than fits the story. The mystery deepens as more deaths compicate matters. Perry keeps the reader guessing right up to the end in this one. While the end comes rather abruptly, there aren't too many loose ends in this one, so the reader isn't left hanging so much as in some of Perry's other stories.

As a mystery writer, Perry is a step below Conan Doyle or Agatha Christie. Her stories are enjoyable, especially if you've read enough of them to be familiar with the main characters, but the plots aren't usually as difficult to solve. This particular episode, however, is one of her best. A first-rate whodunit that will keep you guessing to the very end. Give it a try.

I have only read 2 books by Anne - "Farrier's Lane" and Bluegate Fields". Anne Perry has shown us a great mystery within a victorian era. My goal is to read all Anne Perry's books. This book is probably the best I have read out of the three. You won't be disappointed whe reading an Anne Perry novel.

As a nursing student I am finding this book very comprehensive and easy to understand. Examples are helpful and the language is very clear and unintimidating. Very friendly. I will probably hang on to this one as a reference for a few years.

Potter and Perry have done an excellent job of describing and detailing the general information that a first year nursing student needs. Clear definitions,easy to read and understand tables and graphs,accurate and understandable diagrams and photos. This is a book that anyone can use no matter what your knowledge base is in the beginning.The study questions,key terms, and objectives are very helpful in studying and test preparation. This book also details steps for procedures in a clear and concise manner.With subjects from development to death covered, there really isn't a need for any other reference material.

Malice Domestic 6 is a top-notch audio production. Its four cassettes contain a variety of mostly "cozy" mystery stories, though none are exceedingly neat or polite (you'll get lots of suspense and "edge"). The narrators are top-quality, as well, and perfectly matched with the stories they read aloud. Pleasant musical interludes between the stories allow the impact of a particular story to sink in before the next one begins. There are no "filler" stories and no lazy performances in this audio, which is clearly a labor of love on the part of its producers. Highly entertaining and highly recommended.

The book is very clear and concise. It walks you through all the steps needed and explains well the rationale for each step. This is a book that I will use throughout my nursing career.

I have just started RN school and this is the main book we use. It is very informative,easy to understand,comprehend and has excellent examples. I think every nursing school should have this book as a requirement

Mystery writers from Britain, Australia and America come together in this collection of traditional mysteries. Anne Perry, in her introduction, is witty, informative and sets the scene perfectly for the stories that follow. I especially liked the first story written by Agent No. 5 and Agent No. 6 (Edward Marston and Peter Lovesey). Unusual and very funny. As with the previous books in the Malice Domestic series, it is good way to check out mystery writers you may not be familiar with. I've discovered quite a few of my favorite authors this way. There's only one problem. I've read all of the books in the Malice Domestic series now, one through six, and I'll have to wait until next year for number seven

I've always enjoyed Anne Perry's Charlotte and Pitt mysteries more than her Monk and Latterly mysteries. They are not perhaps as deep but they are usually much more fun. I find it easier to identify with the main characters and the ambience of their lives is more satisfying.

Seven Dials, the most recent Charlotte and Pitt mystery, is for me one of her better recent books. The writer's facility for setting a scene, whether it is a society event, the slums of the east end of London or the streets of Alexandria is unparalleled. She makes her way unerringly through the mind-boggling convolutions of Victorian morality without miring the reader in its tedious virtue.

This is another of Anne Perry's good yarns, complete with Gracie, Aunt Vespasia and sister Emily. It is full of strong emotions, well-honed dialogue and spiced this time with Pitt's visit to Egypt.

Seven Dials is one of the best books Perry has written lately. A minor diplomat is killed, apparently by an Egyptian woman, and an important political figure looks to be impicated--but his downfall would be detrimental to delicate negotiations, so Special Branch, in the form of Pitt, is called in. There's a good mystery with far-reaching political ramifications, some domestic drama, and Pitt gets to take a trip to Egypt. Followers of the series who want to check in on the characters will get to do so. Nearly everyone gets some juicy material. Especially good is the further exploration of Narraway's character; he was a bit two-dimensional previously, but he gets flsehed out a bit here. Charlotte gets to do some "detecting," as do Gracie and (at Gracie's insitence) Tellman. The only quarrel I have is that, once again, two different cases eventually intersect. The coincidence is hard to swallow, but the rest, the plot, the pacing, and the characters are good enough that it's easily overlooked.

A new Pitt & Charlotte book is always a cause for celebration, and this one is no exception. Pitt finds himself faced with a murder case that could have major national and international repercussions, while Charlotte and her maid, the intrepid Gracie, look into the disappearance of Gracie's friend's brother, a valet. Gracie is a wonderful character, and her relationship with Inspector Tellman takes a step forward. Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould plays a major role in both investigations and, as always, is a truly memorable character. While Pitt's investigation takes him to the exotic Alexandria, Egypt, Charlotte's carries her to one of London's worst slums. Of course both cases will dovetail into a most satisfying solution. I must confess that I had suspected something slightly different from the actual solution, but Anne Perry's was far superior to mine! I wish Emily Radley, Charlotte's sister, could have played a bigger role, but maybe next time!

I read this book in one sitting, something I've haven't done since. It always amazed me that a movie hasn't been made out out this great story line: Hit-man on the run, young female FBI agent and Mafia hit-men on his trail. What fascinated me was the detailed picture that Perry paints on the need of a person in a business such as the 'Butcher's Boy' to blend into the background and, by all means, not get noticed. He's carried this on somewhat in his later books, which are all very good, but this is, I believe, his masterpiece.

Thomas Perry introduces the unpredictable Butcher's Boy in this book and continues the story years later in the novel Sleeping Dogs. Both books are great. This one won an Edgar award. Read everything you can by Perry. He's the best thriller writer going. Unlike some more popular writers in this genre, he can actually write.

Thomas Perry's first novel is a Killer-Thriller! I had read "Sleeping Dogs"(the sequal) before I read "The Butchers Boy". Both books are great. I am glad they re-printed "The Butchers Boy" because it explains a lot I missed when reading
"Sleeping Dogs". However, each book can stand alone without the other. The "Butchers Boy" is about a hitman that is double crossed by the mob after he completed some contract(killing) work for them. It also tells the story of the Department of Justice Field Agent that is trying to tie all the killings together. It is a race to the end to find the missing link that will tie the knot to this killer-thriller. Also don't miss the few chapters that introduces us to the much loved "jane whitefield series" the lady that can make you disappear. I hope Perry brings that series back-it was one of his best. "Butchers Boy is a good read!