February 24, 2020
An underdeveloped lead and a familiar setup mar bestseller Perry’s uneven third early 20th-century legal thriller starring Daniel Pitt (after 2019’s Triple Jeopardy). Daniel, a young lawyer who’s the son of the author’s longtime series leads, Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, is approached by Jessie Beale, who hopes he’ll represent her gangster boyfriend, Rob Adwell, who’s facing murder charges. Rob and Paddy Jackson, a member of a rival criminal gang, were in a warehouse on the London docks when it somehow caught fire. Rob managed to escape, but Paddy’s corpse was found in the ruins. Though Jessie claims Paddy burned to death, the police surgeon later discloses to Daniel that Paddy suffered a fatal blow that cracked his skull open. Daniel manages to persuade his superiors to take up the defense, despite Jessie’s penury. Some clever surprises emerge as Daniel battles to achieve justice and maintain his own ethical standards. This series lacks the emphasis on political and social issues that lends weight to Perry’s William Monk mysteries. Hopefully, Perry will provide more substance in the next installment. Agent: Donald Maass, Donald Maass Literary.