Ashworth Hall, Anne Perry

 The Book 

    Superintendent Thomas Pitt is called to investigate the politically sensitive murder of an undercover agent infiltrating the Fenians. But before he can really get up and going, Ainsley an experienced diplomat in the Home Office survives an assassination attempt. Because Pitt is doing diplomatically sensitive work and is the brother-in-law of an MP, the decision to have the peace conference at Ashworth Hall is a natural. Thomas and Charlotte must rush to get to Emily's house and help her out with hosting duties, all while pretending to be more upper class than they are. 

The suspects are myriad, the behavior is outrageous at times, and the tensions are running so high, that maybe even unflappable Emily is about to loose her cool. 

Meanwhile, Pitt's best subordinate, Inspector Telllman, has been sent with Pitt undercover in the role of Pitt's valet. Tellman, a man who passionately resents the rich. has a hard time adapting to the role of a servant. Although the Pitt's maid-of-all-work, Gracie is kind to him and helps him blend in, he resents her. And Gracie, now a young woman of about 20, is torn between her loyalty to Pitt, whom she adores, what she believes she owes Tellman has his deputy, and her dislike of him. But when push comes to shove, and Gracie has to acknowledge a hard truth, Tellman tries to help her. And with his understanding of her dignity a peace develops between them. 

My Thoughts

    Oh, I do love this book. This one is my favorite Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novel. Though the book twists and turns through the "Irish Problem", it is the place where the characters of Emily, Jack, and Charlotte really begin to change. Charlotte is no longer the gangly outsider, trying to hang on. She is an assured woman, in a perfectly respectable house. Her sister's second marriage is not to a peer, but to an ordinary gentleman. The money is Emily's, well, what she holds in turst for her son from her first marriage, but Jack is going about his career in politics, and he's good at it. Emily is now afraid of failure, because she is playing for stakes, not just for shallow fun. And for the first time, she is beginning to realize she might be out of her depth. 

And we see a new romance. Gracie and Tellman are having a moment, but like Monk and Hester is her other series, the friction between them, the misunderstandings, provide for compelling reading. Although, in real life, this is a yellow flag. 

How Much My Library Card Saved Me

This book was added to my personal collection by my friend Julie's mom. Susan used to be a bookseller on Etsy before she retired, and when she got out of the business, she kept this book because she liked to read Anne Perry. When she found out I was a fan, and found she did not like the book as well as she had remembered, she gifted to me. And I have read it three times in the 18 months since she gave it to me. It is a first edition with a touch of unfortunate discoloring on the top right cover where a price sticker, that's my guess since it's the right shape and size, probably rested for several years. The book, is well read and in excellent condition. It is also useful to me, as this book shows me what the publisher did for a first edition of an upper mid-tier author of the day. If I choose to go indie published, then this is one of the books I will reach for while choosing what grade of paper, etc, to consider when putting my novels into print. Stay tuned. No fear, A library book returns next blog. 

Still Here? 

    Do me a huge favor and subscribe to the blog. To get it in your inbox, subscribe here. Thanks, it means the world to me!