Charlotte and Thomas Pitt (7) - Death in Devil's Acre by Anne Perry
Part 7 of the series:Death in Devil's Acre! (In German: different titles). I read it in English where it contained 267 pages. Originally published 1985.
A new series of murder makes the population of London go into hysterics. Victims are stabbed in the back and then castrated. But not only high-borns are found this way: One of the victims is Max, the former butler of the Balantynes on Callandar Square. This way, Emily and Charlotte come back to the place of love and tragedy and discover scandal after scandal, while Thomas searches for a bond between the victims in Devil's Acre...
This book was great! The very idea behind it – and behind what the girls of the society would do for a little distraction. Call me naïve, but I never before thought there was a... well, normal reason for doing this sort of thing as a job. Apart from survival-sex and a preference. But being bored is a reason, too. I wouldn't go to such lengths, but hell, that's me. It fits to Christina to do that. Even if she had to have learned from her mistake with Max! I mean, seriously!
I like the reasons given for these murders. I actually understand them, even if it's a little drastic. But the castration was a nice touch.
Emily's role in this was very nice, as was how her relationship with George works. I like Emily – a lot. She's cool.
I'm kind of sorry for the general. Charlotte might not want to, but she did break his heart. He didn't deserve that.
The only things that bugged me are the following: Allan Ross as well as General Balantyne knew why Christina had to marry so suddenly. Allan knew who she was and Allan didn't expect anything from her in the first place. And Charlotte never told the General she married Pitt.
But apart from that it's really well done, especially the thing with the bored ladies and General Balantyne.
So... again only three stars for a Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novel: One for ideas and one for style. I cannot give a star for content because of the mistakes and, resulting from them, neither for characters.