Treason at Lisson Grove: A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel [Paperback]

In Anne Perry's "Treason at Lisson Grove," Thomas Pitt of Special Branch is dismayed when an informer named West is murdered. Pitt and his subordinate, Gower, follow the alleged killer to France, hoping that he will lead them to his co-conspirators. Back in London, Victor Narraway, the head of Special Branch and Pitt's supporter, is relieved of his duties after being accused of embezzling government funds. Victor knows he has been framed, but by whom and why? Since he made bitter enemies in Ireland two decades earlier, he returns there, hoping to find the person responsible for discrediting him. Thomas's wife, Charlotte, accompanies Victor, hoping that her keen powers of observation and her ability to detect untruths will help Narraway clear his name.

This is one of the less impressive entries in the Pitt series. Although Charlotte is outspoken and has been known to flout convention, it defies belief that she would traipse off to Ireland while her husband is away, leaving their two young children in the care of a newly hired maid. In addition, Charlotte poses as Victor's half-sister, a silly and easily detectable pretense. "Treason at Lisson Grove" is talky, repetitious, and histrionic. There is a subplot involving revolutionaries who, led by a unidentified traitor, intend to carry out a daring plan to throw Great Britain into chaos. Perry would have us believe that Charlotte, Thomas, and Victor are the sole individuals who can save the Crown from catastrophe.

Perry is a literate writer with a feel for the Victorian era and European history. She has created a truly marvelous character, Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould. Vespasia is a rich and influential woman who says what she thinks and is as comfortable with servants as she is with royalty. When she appears, the novel comes to glorious life. In addition, the author includes effective passages that explain the enmity between Irish citizens who passionately long for Home Rule and British leaders who are determined to maintain the status quo. However, by the time the book reaches its long-awaited conclusion, the story has become too far-fetched and muddled to be enjoyable. Bodies pile up, trusted people are shown to be liars, and Thomas and Charlotte, along with Victor and Vespasia, must come up with a plan to avert disaster. Sad to say, "Treason at Lisson Grove" is a tepid and pedestrian historical mystery.

The Irish have the longest memories in Europe, and it's this sentiment that drives the latest Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novel from Anne Perry. TREASON AT LISSON GROVE is the 26th book featuring the Pitts, and this time out they are involved in dual mysteries that each reveals a plot to bring down the British Empire itself.

Thomas Pitt's Supervisor at the Special Branch office, Victor Narraway, sends him and fellow officer Gower in pursuit of a criminal who left a drifter bleeding to death in a London brickyard. They quickly investigate and find out that this was not a drifter but a secret informant who was about to divulge vital information about the British government.

Thomas and Gower begin a chase of the murder suspect that takes them to France. The only issue is that this may be a diversion to get them out of the way as the real plot is focused on London. Meanwhile, Narraway is exposed as being an alleged embezzler of government funds and promptly removed from office. He suspects that the reason he's being set up lies in a 20-year-old mystery involving an Irish patriot named Cormac O'Neill.

Narraway takes Charlotte with him to Ireland, posing as brother and sister. He suspects that the bitter grudge O'Neill holds over him may be the reason for his public besmirching. The problem will be getting close enough to find out. O'Neill blames Narraway for the murder of his beloved Kate 20 years earlier and the framing of another man. Narraway has always professed his innocence, but O'Neill will be hard to convince after so many years of hatred and resentment.

Things get progressively worse for both of the Pitts on their individual adventures. Thomas is turned on by Gower, who tries to kill him on a train back to London. He defends himself, killing Gower in the process, and is detained in a local jail until he's able to prove his association with the Special Branch. Upon release, he heads back to London where he finds an interim Supervisor running his department as news of Narraway's embezzlement catches him by surprise.

Back in Ireland, Charlotte is able to confront O'Neill and get his take on the grudge he holds against Narraway. His explanation seems genuine, making Charlotte begin to have doubts about him. It's only when Narraway goes to confront O'Neill, followed closely behind by Charlotte, that they come across his dead body. In an obvious attempt to set up Narraway for his murder, Charlotte must now pull out all the stops to find out who is truly behind the plot against him and find a way to free him as things in London are heating up. Will the combined efforts of the Pitts, along with Narraway, be enough not only to redeem an innocent man, but to save the Queen and the entire British Empire?

Anne Perry provides keen insight into Victorian Era London, as TREASON AT LISSON GROVE portrays the challenges of the British Empire during that time. While not one of her typical murder mysteries, it is still a well-written and entertaining novel that will appeal to readers of historical and political fiction with enough underhanded activity to keep her mystery fans happy.

--- Reviewed by Ray Palen

That is all that I can say about this book. It is absolutely stunning and one of the best Anne Perry books I've ever read. And that's saying a lot since I've read everything she's written as soon as it comes out. Not for nothing is she one of my favourite authors. It's been three years since we've had a Thomas and Charlotte Pitt novel, and it's been a long wait, but well worth it with the release of this book. The book is terrific-suspenseful, a great mystery, a wonderful plot and, of course, the characters that I love. The tension that she creates in this book is incredible. Something is badly wrong in Special Branch, and Pitt and his boss Narraway are almost swallowed up by it. But with the help of Charlotte and her Great Aunt Vespasia, they manage to put the pieces together and stop a terrorist plot against their beloved England, and they manage to stay alive in order to do that. This latter is difficult with all the enemies surrounding them. Pitt and Narraway trust no one, while continuing to investigate. Please Ms. Perry, don't make us wait so long for the next book in this wonderful series.

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