Buckingham Palace Gardens

Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, Book 25

By: Anne Perry

Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin

The Prince of Wales has asked four wealthy entrepreneurs and their wives to Buckingham Palace to discuss a fantastic idea: the construction of a 6000-mile railroad that would stretch the full length of Africa. But the prince’s gathering proves disastrous when the mutilated body of a prostitute turns up in a linen closet among the queen’s monogrammed sheets. With great haste, Thomas Pitt, the brilliant mainstay of Special Services, is summoned to resolve the crisis. The Pitts’ cockney maid, Gracie, is also recruited to pose as a palace servant and listen in on the guests’ conversations. If Pitt and Gracie fail to find out who brutally murdered the young woman, Pitt’s career will be over, and the scandal may just cause the monarchy to fall.

©2008 Anne Perry (P)2014 Recorded Books

Perry's Historical novels w/ Thomas Pitt satisfy

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, anyone interested in historical fiction, England and mysteries would enjoy this book. Set in 19th century England we get a real feel for how different the time and place are while the author creates moral and ethical dilemmas for the characters to wrestle. Her novels are thought provoking and lead me to want to learn more. I looked up the trans Africa railway and read about it half way through listening to the novel. I also read up on the Prince of Wales and his wife HRH Princess Alexandra of Denmark. It is quite interesting the way the author takes historical settings and overlays her mystery in a plausible way.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoy her characters and their growth.

Which character – as performed by Jenny Sterlin – was your favorite?

Thomas Pitt is the protagonist and my favorite, however, I must say that the voices are so good, I forget that one person is doing all parts. The maid is fabulous for her unique point of view and the Duchess for the same reason. Naraway too is compelling based on his more cynical view of the human race but he is not immune to change.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No. But it did make me think.

Any additional comments?

Fans of Downton Abbey would like these books.

Another great one

Just when I think I have it figured out there are more twists. Murder, mystery and in depth characters. At the palace too.

Narration perfect!

Nicely done

Loved it! The story line was clean and the characters were nicely evolved. Of course I enjoyed the English imagery.

Another great listen.

So good. As always. Will read all. Well done. Downloading next book in the next hour.

started slow, but picked up and had good twists

It was a slow start but it eventually got very interesting and had good plot twists.

Amazing as Usual!

I liked how much of a part Gracie had in this one and the perspective of one of the side characters added some depth.

Extremely boring. Don't waste a credit.

Any additional comments?

I have enjoyed many books in this series but I had a very difficult time finishing this one. Pit plays a minor role and Charlette is not in the story. The narrater is good.

Needlessly drawn out and histrionic

I’m a big fan of Anne Perry, whose plots are masterfully constructed. But this one was needlessly drawn out and repetitive. I did read it all the way to the end, but it was the hardest so far to finish. I’ve read most of the William Monk series, all the Daniel Pitt series, and maybe 3/4 of the Thomas Pitt series. This is the only one for which I have given less than five stars for ‘overall, performance, and story’.

flat boring

Did not like narrator. flat and a bit boring. Not enough inflection. terrible man voice.

Wayyyyyyyy too much inner dialogue!

There was more inner dialogue than there was story. Someone would make a comment and by the time Pitt, or whoever, is finished dissecting how that one moment in time will affect his life, the life of his children, or Charlotte’s place in society, it feels like it should be the next day! There was enough actual story to fill about 1/3 of the book. At one point Gracie leapt to the (inner) absurd conclusion that she wouldn’t be able to marry Samuel and would have to stay in the Pitt household, perhaps only with food as her pay. Anne Perry tends to use a lot of this, but I don’t think it’s ever been this bad. I really don’t like giving negative reviews, but the seemingly endless inner contemplations were painful. It probably won’t keep me from buying more Anne Perry books, but I hope she does better with the next one. I’m getting more used to Jenny Sterlin and didn’t need to speed up the recoding this time, so that’s a plus.