Patron Review:This mystery is one of a series of Anne Perry's who-dunnits that features the Scotland Yard detective, Thomas Pitt, and his wife Charlotte.l Her mysteries are really interesting because they are, at the same time, historical novels that recreate life in late 19th and early 20th century Britain, complete with its social, economic, and class divisions. This particular mystery centers on a week-long party at the country house of Jack Radley, a rising star in the foreign office and the brother-in-law of Pitt and his wife. The social occasion masks the British government's attempt to make peace between the British Irish nationalists who want to establish an independent Irish state, and Irish Protestants that want to maintain their ties with London. Representatives of all three groups and their wives are present. The British representative, a thoroughly reprehensible lecher, is found murdered in his bath, and an Irish nationalist is blown up as he attempts to set a bomb to kill Radley in his library. The role of religion as a catalyst for violence is one of the main themes, but secondary to this is the role of sexual promiscuity. The most interesting character, who discovers some of the most important clues, is Pitt and Charlotte's housemaid, Gracy, and the killer of the British government's representative is finally revealed. Enough said, so the plot is not revealed. I would rate this mystery as a 4 because of its skillful presentation of the social issues surrounding the Irish question at the turn of the twentieth century but also because of its careful presentation of forensic evidence that was used in these years. It is a thoroughly good read.
Every one of her novels centers on some social problem. This one goes to the Irish-English problems which gives some insights as to the historical background of these conflicts. In this book, Emily and Charlotte seemed a little out of character with all their worrying. In previous novels, Emily was never rude and Charlotte was always secure in her husband's love. Gracie comes into her own at the age of 20, and becomes even more beloved. As with all Anne's novels, she is a master of dialogue. One of the best lines was from Tellman "You need a damn sight more than a valet... ...you need a bleedin' magician!" At that point I had to stop reading because I was laughing so hard. Some other authors go on and on tying up loose ends in what seems to be several chapters of epilogues, but Anne's always seem to end rather abruptly. Maybe it's just so enjoyable, that I don't want it to end. She puts a lot of thought into her novels which makes it a slower but most enjoyable read and I hate to think I savor it in 2 or 3 days that which took her a year to write. I'm more than halfway through the series and don't ever want them to ever end. Anne Perry is one of my very favorite authors!
What do You think about Ashworth Hall (1997)?
On a roll to reread, recall Anne Perry...want to record into goodreads without guess work..This one is focused on Irish Issue...I visualized Downton Abbey PBS special currently on TV.183 "when you take a stand like that in public, you can never go back on it, nno matter what oou learn afterwards. You have left yourself no room to change, retreat or grow. 261 "Why do stories grow around anything?...Because someone leap to a conclusion...a conclusion that suits the emotions they feel and widh to arouse in others. After a while everyone believes it, and then even if truth is known, it is too late to tell it. Everyone has too much invested in the myth, and the truthe would distroy what they have built and make liars of them."270"hatred can become a habit until you do it for its own sake, long after you've forgotten the reason. You begin to look for reasons to justify the way you feel, then you create them."340 " In a Catholic Ireland some books would be illegal. I wouldnt even know they existed. I just want the choice to be mine."
—Joy
Not my favorite of Anne's but maybe it's because the topic didn't interest me that much. Charlotte and Thomas are to be guests at the country mansion of Charlotte's sister Emily and her husband who is in the political realm of England. Thomas is actually there undercover with his sergeant Tellman as the remaining guests are representatives of the two sides of the "Irish Problem". He is to protect the English negotiator, Greville. Unfortunately Greville is killed in the bath one night. The rest of the book is uncovering his many secrets while we get to know the ins and outs of how a "home" of this size operates. Each male has a valet and each female a lady's maid and then there are cooks, laundry maids, footmen, etc. Seems about 5 servants per guest. A second man is killed when a bomb goes off to complicate things all the way around. I like the investigating but the political discussions lost me, as they do today.
—Tracy
I love Anne Perry for many reasons. She teaches us effortlessly and her mysteries are also historical novels in a sense. This one is steeped in "The Irish Problem."Her understanding of humans and our frailties and motivations is so deep and subtle. She also understands and portrays love in a way that few can match.Ashworth Hall was another great experience, but I wish that she had provided some map of all the characters and their affiliations and motivations. I know that that is almost an admission of failure for an author, but in a plot so complex you need it.
—Graeme Roberts
