Murder on the Serpentine: A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel - 32 (First U.S. Edition.)

In the history of Anne Perry's bestselling Victorian mystery series, the stakes have never been greater than nowas a mission for queen and country places the future of the British Empire squarely in Thomas Pitt's hands.

It is not the custom for the commander of Special Branch to receive a royal summonsso Thomas Pitt knows it must be for a matter of the gravest importance.

The body of Sir John Halberd, the Queen's confidant, has been found in the shallow water of the Serpentine in Hyde Park, bearing the evidence of a fatal blow to the head.

At Her Majesty's request, Sir John had been surreptitiously investigating Alan Kendrick, a horse-racing enthusiast who seems to have had an undue amount of influence on her son, the Prince of Wales.

Now Commander Pitt must navigate the corridors of power with the utmost discretion and stealth, for it seems certain that Sir John's killer is a member of the upper classes.

Aided by his wife, Charlotte, and her social contacts, Pitt seeks out the hidden motives behind the polite faade of those to the manner bornand uncovers a threat to the throne that could topple the monarchy.

With Murder on the Serpentine, Thomas Pitt nears a crossroads in his brilliant careerone that promises new challenges, both professional and personal, still to be met.

But first, he and Charlotte must conquer the twists and turns of suspense master Anne Perry's most cunningly crafted plot yetto achieve their finest hour, or suffer their darkest.Advance praise for Murder on the Serpentine';The mystery may follow familiar lines, but even newcomers are likely to be charmed by scenes that deepen Pitt's family relationships.

This entry's main strength lies in the quiet, emotionally intelligent interactions among its characters.'Publishers Weekly PRAISE FOR ANNE PERRY'S CHARLOTTE AND THOMAS PITT NOVELS Treachery at Lancaster Gate ';A story that is as exciting and tense as it is revealing and thought-provoking.'Yorkshire Evening Post The Angel Court Affair ';Perry melds the intellectual debates of the day with a suspenseful plot line.'Publishers Weekly Death on Blackheath ';Thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining . . . The period detail is beautifully done, and realistic characters and tense action are woven seamlessly together.'Historical Novels Review Midnight at Marble Arch ';Sweeping and scandalous . . . Perry has perfected a delicate touch.'The New York Times Book Review Dorchester Terrace ';The always clever Anne Perry infuses Dorchester Terrace with the right amount of intrigue and complex relationships that have made this prolific series one of the finest in modern mystery fiction.'Bookreporter