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Summary: An edge-of-your-seat historical, political thriller.
Review: Anne Perry fans, rejoice! Reading this book was like running into an old friend and discovering the friendship still vibrant and alive. After some of Perry's recent, less-than-stellar efforts, this book showcases her mastery of the intricate plot, compelling characters, and flawless historical description (London 1892).This book finds Superintendent Thomas Pitt paying the price for his discovery of a murder (and subsequent identification of the murderer, despite the lack of a motive) that was meant to look like an accident. Having foiled the malevolent Inner Circle (a secret society of powerful men who protect one another and scheme to control the country) once too often, Pitt finds himself demoted to working undercover in the slums of East End, separated from his family and embroiled in danger and revolution. His wife, Charlotte, and their maid, Gracie, in an effort to restore Pitt's reputation, set out to discover the motive for murder, the one aspect of the case Pitt was unable to unearth. They enlist the help of Sergeant Tellman, loyal to Pitt and even more so to Gracie, to help them discover the truth. In the meantime, Pitt finds himself deeper and deeper in political intrigue, with no one to trust with what he discovers. As the title suggests, the murders of Jack the Ripper come to play a role in the plot, as do the excesses of the monarchy, the recklessness of tabloid journalism, the virtues and evils of the status quo, and the price one is willing to pay for political gains. At its heart, this book asks, do the ends ever justify the means? It is to Perry's credit that she does not attempt a pat answer to this provocative question. The increasing involvement of Gracie and Tellman in the Pitt series adds a welcome vibrancy to the otherwise stark tale. Watching these two stumble over their own feelings is a wonderful reminder that even in times of chaos and terror, the human heart dares to hope and dream. Perry has introduced and developed many side characters in this series over the years, but Gracie and Tellman are not only the most enjoyable, their involvement in solving the mystery adds a fresh and interesting element to the mix. I look forward to their continued involvement. This is not so much a mystery as it is a political thriller, but mystery fans should enjoy it just the same. Perry provides a neat and credible solution to the Ripper murders, but cleverly leaves open the possibility that her solution is untrue. The story is told through varying perspectives--Pitt, Charlotte, Tellman, Gracie, Aunt Vespasia--as each person gathers information, but the solution to the mystery is never obvious. My faith in Anne Perry is restored.
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Summary: Another view of the JACK the RIPPER legend...
Review: Anne Perry paces her telling of the Jack the Ripper legend well. The possible involvement of aristocratic Orders of English Free Masonry(opposing a shadowy cabal of anarchists called The INNER CIRCLE)in conspiracy to save the Monarchy--at cost of gruesome murders and religious/ethnic persecution--works, because the story is CHARACTER rather than plot driven. Many are familiar with the unsolved Jack the Ripper story(My favortie movie version is MURDER BY DECREE).But readers will enjoy this "parallax view" because characters...Detective Thomas Pitt, his wife; her maid and friend Gracie;their aristocratic aunt Vespasia and numerous enemies...are well-drawn and engage as authentic individuals, not mere "voices". The mystery is not as labyrinthine as it might be. But clever devices of "police procedural" employed create an ambience of menace and suspence making THE WHITECHAPEL CONSPIRACY a "bloody good" read......
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Summary: A Ripper Rehash
Review: Anne Perry's Victorian novels are always well written and intense. She has a strong sense of morality and justice and a great love for her characters. The Whitechapel Conspiracy is somewhat of a departure for her in that she has chosen to rehash the Jack the Ripper legend. Her apparent source is The Ripper and the Royals, which when published in the early 1990s claimed to have proof that the Ripper crimes were connected to the secret marriage and fatherdom of Albert Victor (Eddy), Duke of Clarence and Avondale, second in line to his grandmother Queen Victoria's throne. This is an old rumor which never seems to die out, but instead, like the Kennedy assassination theories, just keeps rolling along, adding ever more outlandish embroiderings with each new version. Regardless of the reliability (or lack thereof) of her source, Perry has turned out yet another good chapter in the lives of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, whom I have followed with great delight for more than ten years now. Although I am disappointed that her subject matter is not new, I still enjoyed The Whitechapel Conspiracy, and await her next effort with pleasure.
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Summary: A great addition to Perry's works
Review: As a great fan of Anne Perry, especially Thomas and Charlotte's adventures, I was pleasantly suprised with this novel. It is harrowingly realsitic, frightening, and yet ever socially and polotically oriented; adding a rich twist from the streets of bitter poverty, to the elegance and grace of the more fortunate elite. Of all the mysteries in the series, "The Whitechapel Conspiracy" was, to me, the most suspensful, realistic, and enjoyable all around. I found the link to Jack the Ripper to be an interesting historical aspect, which added great flavor and suspense.
Likewise, I enjoyed the ever blooming relationship between Gracie and Tellman, and the wide expansion of growth Pitt experienced as the protagonist. It seemed that the plot was somehow altered with every turn of the page, and the exciting, realistic social and polotical scenes throughout kept the story alive with action. I recommend this book to any fan of mystery, but especially those who have been with Thomas and Charlotte from the beginning, for their growth as characters is astounding and suprisingly captivating.
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Summary: A gripping novel, smoothly narrated and splendidly produced.
Review: David McCallum's excellent and smooth acting style lends a warm voice and experienced tone to this audiobook version of a novel set in 1892, telling of a Queen's life of seclusion and grisly killings which present a mystery to all. History blends with suspense in a gripping account which will prove hard to stop listening to.
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Summary: The Whitechapel Conspiracy
Review: I have always enjoyed reading Anne Perry's Victorian mysteries. Of course, I have enjoyed some more than others because like every writer Perry has moments when the story seems to elude her and the characters true nature and motive fail to interest the audience. Not so in The Whitechapel Conspiracy. Here Perry is in her element weaving a brilliant tale of death and betrayal. Thomas and Charlotte Pitt are back in full force as an unstoppable team. Inspector Pitt runs afoul of a powerful secrete society when his testimony sends heroic solider John Adinett to the gallows for the murder of Martin Fetters, traveler and antiquarian. Adinett has powerful friends, who in order to punish Pitt, strip him of his command of Bow Street Station and compel him to leave his family and go undercover,seeking anarchists, in the slum neighborhood of Spitalfields. Although separated from his family, Pitt is not abandoned by them. His wife Charlotte, their maid Gracie, and Pitt's subordinate, Sergeant Tellman set out to prove Adinett's guilt and restore Pitt's honor. Anne Perry weaves a tale of conspiricy that brings us face to face with powerful men who work within the government toward one end, the overthrow of the monarchy. Interwoven with this is a subplot that will delight Jack The Ripper fans and have them begging for more. I enjoyed this book not just because it was well written and spellbinding, but also because it reminded me of a favorite movie of mine "Murder By Decree" set in the same time period. I would have liked Charlotte's Aunt Vespasia to have been less "love struck" and more of her forcefull self, but then that would be perfection and that's asking the impossible.
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Summary: Anne Perry is better than ever
Review: In this new novel, Anne Perry returns to her popular sleuths, Charlotte and Thomas Pitt. Pitt once again angers the Inner Circle by gathering evidence against one of their members in a murder case. The member is found guilty and hanged. Soon after, he is stripped of his command and sent to the East End to work undercover with a unit charged with exposing anarchists. It would be giving the story away to tell any more, but let it suffice to say that Pitt uncovers much more than he ever expected. The characters are as well drawn as ever, giving more emphasis to Gracie and Tellman. Charlotte's family and Vespasia are not as important. I didn't enjoy Vespasia as much, Perry seems to be letting her spirit grow old, I liked her much better in the past. Read and enjoy!
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Summary: An Interesting Historical Read
Review: Overall, I found The Whitechapel Conspiracy to be an enjoyable read. Anne Perry does a good job with the characters and the plot. However, I have found some of her earlier novels to be even better in covering the bases of a good historical novel. Still, I would recommend this one to Jack the Ripper buffs who enjoy any conspiracy type mysteries to chew on. As a Ripperologist and novelist myself, I enjoy reading for fun other authors points of view on the subject matter. From the author of the historical Jack the Ripper novel, IN THE DARK OF NIGHT. -- R. Barri Flowers
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Summary: Fast-moving and topical
Review: Since the beginning of Anne Perry's two Victorian mystery series, I've wondered what she would do about the most famous crime of the era. She couldn't simply ignore it, as she's always most meticulous in describing the events and attitudes that shaped the times. On the other hand, she couldn't very well have one of her detectives collaring the perpetrator when we all know his identity is still up for grabs.
In "The Whitechapel Conspiracy" she solves the problem neatly by involving Pitt in a related case. This allows her to use the climate of fear, as well as some of the more fanciful theories, surrounding the Ripper and still give Pitt and company an interesting case to solve. One of her best in recent years.
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Summary: A Political Potboiler!
Review: This is an excellent book. It's more a political story than a mystery in some ways, but the mystery is still there, and Ms. Perry keeps you guessing until the very end. This book is quite a bit different than the later Thomas Pitt series, but still exciting. Thomas has offended some very highly placed political enemies, and they have seen that he has been separated from his wife and family and placed in the degraded East End of London, to ostensibly look for anarchits. More than anarchists are found though, and this plot threatens the whole Engligh way of life as it was known at this time in history. We see Charlotte and Vespasia play less dominant roles in this book than they usually do, but Gracie has stepped up to the plate and what a delight she is! This is an excellent mystery, and again the era is so well depicted it feels like you're actually there.
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