Rating: 
Summary: More of the Same
Review: Anne Perry is one of the finest mystery writers in our generation. She subtly weaves mystery and intrigue with an adept look at the values and culture of a society so different from our own. Half Moon Street in particular examines the issue of censorship. Anne Perry reveals that this issue isn't as easy to decide as we think. She contrasts artists who are truly working to improve and change society and then reveals the frightening and devastating effects of pornography. As usual, I came away thinking much more deeply about my views. Her mystery is finely crafted. Her characterization is superb. She handles sub-plots and minor characters with a delicacy and finesse that few authors possess. Above all, she shows us that very few characters are totally good or totally evil. It is the mixture of both that makes us so human and tragic. I particularly appreciated the greater insight and revelations into the characters of Caroline Fielding and Mariah Ellison (the antagonistic, very bitter, hateful mother-in-law). Nothing is ever as it seems--especially with a person's attitude or life. As always, Anne Perry challenges my thoughts and views about life and our culture. She is an excellent writer!
Rating: 
Summary: wow!
Review: Anne Perry is one of the finest mystery writers in our generation. She subtly weaves mystery and intrigue with an adept look at the values and culture of a society so different from our own. Half Moon Street in particular examines the issue of censorship. Anne Perry reveals that this issue isn't as easy to decide as we think. She contrasts artists who are truly working to improve and change society and then reveals the frightening and devastating effects of pornography. As usual, I came away thinking much more deeply about my views. Her mystery is finely crafted. Her characterization is superb. She handles sub-plots and minor characters with a delicacy and finesse that few authors possess. Above all, she shows us that very few characters are totally good or totally evil. It is the mixture of both that makes us so human and tragic. I particularly appreciated the greater insight and revelations into the characters of Caroline Fielding and Mariah Ellison (the antagonistic, very bitter, hateful mother-in-law). Nothing is ever as it seems--especially with a person's attitude or life. As always, Anne Perry challenges my thoughts and views about life and our culture. She is an excellent writer!
Rating: 
Summary: Another great Anne Perry Book
Review: Anne Perry mixes controversial issues of Victorian Times and today in her novels. The issue this time is censorship and pornography. Inspector Pitt is forced to solve a murder without Charlotte this time, and although she is missed, the novel is as entertaining as ever. We get a closer look at Charlotte's mother Caroline and her husband and their world of theater. All in all I would recommend this one as much as all the others.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite Victorian author
Review: Anne Perry really knows how to tell a Victorian story. I've read all of her books (Pitt and Monk) and never tire of turning back the clock. Half-Moon Street is a wonderful story and a well written mystery. Though some may bemoan the fact that Charlotte was out of the picture (vacationing in Paris), I found that this did not detract from the story in the least (since, I have found that Ms. Perry sometimes contrives plots for Charlotte to "help").I am always interested in the amount of research that Ms. Perry does and this book was quite well done. The information on photography at the time and how she connected it to the theatre and even a little Shakespeare thrown in was intriguing. The mystery was centered on censorship and pornagraphy and I thought it was interesting that these were problems faced over 100 years ago. I guess there are no 'new' problems, only new ways of looking at them (Pun?). I highly recommend Perry's work. But I think to truly enjoy you need to start at the beginning and read in order. This book in particular delved into old relationships (Mariah Ellison and Caroline Fielding) and someone who did not understand these characters from previous books might be lost.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite Victorian author
Review: Anne Perry takes to her soapbox in this primarily Thomas Pitt mystery. Usually aided in detection by his wife, Charlotte, Pitt must rely solely on the assistance of Sgt. Tellman when Charlotte travels to Paris with her sister. Pitt must identify the man found dead in a small boat, his wrists and ankles chained, the body dressed in a ladies' gown and left in a humiliating position. Set adrift in the water, the man is first believed to be a missing French diplomat; however, Delbert Cathcart, a highly successful photographer/artist, is reported missing by his housekeeper who identifies his body. The reason why anyone would want to murder a photographer and dispose of his body in such a way takes a backseat to the always sensitive issue of censorship. Perry places Charlotte's mother, Caroline, a widow who has remarried beneath her station to an actor, in the role of hostess to her late husband's mother, a condescending Victorian witch. While attending a controversial play, Caroline is introduced to Samuel Ellison, her late husband's long-lost and heretofore unknown half-brother. His existence is a surprise and a threat to the elderly Mrs. Ellison, who schemes to be rid of him. The basic issue that connects the controversial play, Mrs. Ellison's secrets and Cathcart's death is censorship. How far should society go to protect traditional mores and values? Perry does a wonderful job of presenting both sides of the censorship debate in a fair manner. Readers who are not fans of Perry or mysteries should give this book a chance if for no other reason than the volatile censorship issue which affects us today as much if not more so than it did Victorian England.
Rating:
Summary: More than just a whodunit
Review: Anne Perry takes to her soapbox in this primarily Thomas Pitt mystery. Usually aided in detection by his wife, Charlotte, Pitt must rely solely on the assistance of Sgt. Tellman when Charlotte travels to Paris with her sister. Pitt must identify the man found dead in a small boat, his wrists and ankles chained, the body dressed in a ladies' gown and left in a humiliating position. Set adrift in the water, the man is first believed to be a missing French diplomat; however, Delbert Cathcart, a highly successful photographer/artist, is reported missing by his housekeeper who identifies his body. The reason why anyone would want to murder a photographer and dispose of his body in such a way takes a backseat to the always sensitive issue of censorship. Perry places Charlotte's mother, Caroline, a widow who has remarried beneath her station to an actor, in the role of hostess to her late husband's mother, a condescending Victorian witch. While attending a controversial play, Caroline is introduced to Samuel Ellison, her late husband's long-lost and heretofore unknown half-brother. His existence is a surprise and a threat to the elderly Mrs. Ellison, who schemes to be rid of him. The basic issue that connects the controversial play, Mrs. Ellison's secrets and Cathcart's death is censorship. How far should society go to protect traditional mores and values? Perry does a wonderful job of presenting both sides of the censorship debate in a fair manner. Readers who are not fans of Perry or mysteries should give this book a chance if for no other reason than the volatile censorship issue which affects us today as much if not more so than it did Victorian England.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not her best
Review: As usual, Perry writes about Victorian England and its culture. A male photographer is found dead, wearing in a velvet dress and chained to a boat. Pitt investigates, but this time without Charlotte. Charlotte is such a part of Pitt that her presence is missed, but it is nice to read about Pitt in action by himself. Perry uses this book to discuss censorship and pornography. Perry knows she is dealing with explosive issues and handles them with care. She doesn't try to find easy solutions to every topic. She explores the ins and outs of censorship and free speech, and shows how damaging pornography can be. Thoughts to ponder. Perry has a gift for peering into the human soul and pulling out the the darkest and most secret emotions. She successfully uses them time and again to write compelling stories with sympathetic characters, both victim and murderer, with whom we can all relate. With just a little push, we know we could all become the one on the wrong side of the law. I also like the book because it developed the characters of Charlotte's grandmother, mother and stepfather more. These compelling characters further the plot instead of staying on the sidelines as usual. Also, this story has less of the usual too-good-to-be-true coincidences that Perry has used a lot lately. I do have some gripes with the book though. 1) Perry doesn't seem to have learned that sometimes less is more when it comes to driving a point home. It's not as bad in this book, but it's still irritating. 2) There was a distracting sideline about a 'missing' French diplomat. I guess it was supposed to be a red herring, but it was totally unnecessary and added nothing to the plot.
Rating:
Summary: Perry is always a good read.
Review: At first I was a little worried with the fact Charlotte was not going to be in the book. However, her mother Caroline and her relationship with her husband and mother-in-law provided some of the most interesting scenes in the story. Perry uses wonderful characterization and as always provides a very enjoyable experience. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A changing world...
Review: Excellent entry in the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series, with Pitt trying to solve the mystery of a man found dead and drifting in a punt on the Thames River. Pitt is more on his own in this book, and Charlotte does not figure as prominently as before, but I did not see that as a drawback. Pitt's investigations take him to the bohemian parts of London, to the world of the theater. Pitt's search for the truth, along with help from Charlotte, shows us how the world is changing, from the Victorian to the modern.
Rating:
Summary: Dickens' social conscience
Review: Half Moon Street begins with a bizarre murder that pitches Inspector Thomas Pitt into London's Bohemia, the playwrights battling against censorship and the new art of photography being wrought. With his wife Charlotte on holiday in Paris, Pitt is aided by her mother, now married to an actor. And in the booksellers and tobacconists of Half Moon Street, Pitt discovers a sinister side of the photographers art.
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