The Hyde Park Headsman: Amazon.ca: Anne Perry: Books

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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

In addition to being a splendidly plotted yarn, Perry's 14th Thomas and Charlotte Pitt mystery, following last year's Farrier's Lane , explores the nature of power while adding detail and color to Perry's ever more elaborate tapestry of late-19th century London life. The discovery in Hyde Park of the decapitated corpse of Oakley Winthrop, a naval captain from a titled family, sends a ripple of fear through the city that still has vivid memories of Jack the Ripper. Those at the top clearly expect Thomas, recently named superintendent in charge of the Bow Street station, to catch the murderer summarily. Thomas views the attack as personally motivated and isolated until a second headless corpse turns up in the park. Adding to the pressure on the new superintendent is Nigel Uttley, candidate in a Parliamentary by-election and member of the Inner Circle, a powerful secret society, who uses the murders as fodder for some rousing electioneering at police expense. While Thomas, spurred on by the discovery of yet another body, determinedly searches for a link among the dead men, Charlotte and her sister, Emily Radley, turn their drawing-room skills to information gathering and uncover a secret to which Thomas was blind. By painting her characters' personal dilemmas as vividly as she does their historical context, Perry keeps her series fresh and continually compelling.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Well-known series protagonist Thomas Pitt, newly promoted to police supervisor, faces fierce pressure to apprehend a notorious murderer who beheads his victims. More fine work from a popular historicist.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews

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2.0 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)

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3.0 out of 5 stars Anne Perry's contribution to the serial-killer genre, Jan 19 2004

By	Eva25at (Vienna, Austria) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hyde Park Headsman (Mass Market Paperback)

What do a wife-beating Captain of the Royal Navy, a sensitive musician, a callous bus-driver and a haughty butler have in common? Their bodies are discovered in Hyde Park - decapitated. Police superviser Thomas Pitt meets two widows: one feels relieved, the other one is cheerful. We learn more details about the "inner circle" of a secret organization that controls key officials under the coat of charity. And Charlotte decorates her new house. At times Perry is in danger of trespassing Patricia Cornwell territory - no ghastly details from the morgue please! -but the scene where the ladies cross their swords with a smug wannabe Member of the Parliament is priceless. (Uttley reminds me of Paul Krendler in Thomas Harris' HANNIBAL). Not my favorite Anne Perry novel, but it will do.

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1.0 out of 5 stars Tiresome, Pretentious & Redundant, Nov 28 2000

By	Michel1119 (Princeton, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hyde Park Headsman (Mass Market Paperback)

I tried to listen to the taped version. It's 12 two-sided tapes, with an advertised running time of 15 hours and 5 minutes. After about 10 hours into a car trip, we voted unanimously to put in the last tape, just so we could satisfy our "Who dunnit?" curiosity. Alas, even that strategy was frustrated, as only one of the murders is solved on the last tape. The writer's style is both pretentious and repetitious, a deadly combination. After we had heard "lugubrious" for the third time, the groans became audible, even above the traffic noise. The writer's obvious fascination with the styles, manners and customs of London in 1890 have led her to assume that all her readers are similarly inclined. For me, they got in the way of the story... constantly! I got the book/tapes from the local library, so it was free. It still wasn't worth the price. Unless you're fascinated by the trivial aspects of living in London circa 1890, save yourself from a gruesome ordeal.

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1.0 out of 5 stars Tiresome, Pretentious & Redundant, Nov 28 2000

By	Michel1119 (Princeton, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hyde Park Headsman (Mass Market Paperback)

I tried to listen to the taped version. It's 12 two-sided tapes, with an advertised running time of 15 hours and 5 minutes. After about 10 hours into a car trip, we voted unanimously to put in the last tape, just so we could satisfy our "Who dunnit?" curiosity. Alas, even that strategy was frustrated, as only one of the murders is solved on the last tape. The writer's style is both pretentious and repetitious, a deadly combination. After we had heard "lugubrious" for the third time, the groans became audible, even above the traffic noise. The writer's obvious fascination with the styles, manners and customs of London in 1890 have led her to assume that all her readers are similarly inclined. For me, they got in the way of the story... constantly! I got the book/tapes from the local library, so it was free. It still wasn't worth the price. Unless you're fascinated by the trivial aspects of living in London circa 1890, save yourself from a gruesome ordeal.

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Most recent customer reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Just Awful
Just a very tedious book, with far too many extraneous details and repetition. Not a bargain at any price.

Published on Nov 27 2000

3.0 out of 5 stars Better than Highgate Rise...but still needs...... what????
This story was better than highgate rise. I thought it was well told. The very last few pages dragged on a little too much. Read more

Published on Jul 25 1999

3.0 out of 5 stars Some Chills
While the killer is easily figured out (for us reading the book) the main thrust of this book is the continuing story of Pitt and his work. Read more

Published on April 25 1999

2.0 out of 5 stars nothing to lose your head over
This Victorian mystery is plagued with writing problems. Needless dialog along the lines of "`Thank you,'" she answered" amounts to tediously obvious storytelling... Read more

Published on Feb 18 1999