February 6, 2023
Set in 1912, bestseller Perry’s strong sixth Daniel Pitt novel (after 2021’s Three Debts Paid) finds London barrister Daniel facing major changes in his professional life. The head of chambers, Daniel’s father-in-law, has decided to retire, and a newcomer, Gideon Hunter, is brought onboard to add a veteran attorney to the firm. Hunter accepts a high-profile case: the prosecution of wealthy newspaper owner Malcolm Vayne, a philanthropist and vocal supporter of women’s suffrage. Insp. Ian Frobisher, a friend of Daniel’s, recently shared his suspicions that Vayne was bilking hundreds of people through a pyramid scheme, but added that he lacked conclusive proof. Despite those misgivings, Vayne was arrested and charged, leaving Daniel, who’s assisting Hunter, to scramble to find enough evidence for a conviction. The stakes rise when Vayne’s financial dealings attract the attention of Daniel’s father, Thomas, now the head of Special Branch. The author cleverly makes the most of a plotline not centered on a crime of violence. Four decades after her debut, Perry shows no sign of losing steam. Agent: Donald Maass, Donald Maass Literary.
