January 22, 2018
Set in 1910, bestseller Perry’s series kickoff introducing attorney Daniel Pitt fails to impress, in part because Daniel, the son of the stars of the author’s Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series (Murder on the Serpentine, etc.), is a much less developed character than his parents. After managing to gain an acquittal for a client charged with murder, the inexperienced Daniel aids in the defense of historian Russell Graves, who’s on trial at London’s Old Bailey for murdering his wife, Ebony. Even though Ebony’s face and upper body were “burned to the point of total disfigurement,” their 19-year-old daughter, Sarah, was able to identify the body. When Graves is convicted, Daniel has 21 days to find exculpatory evidence before the man’s execution. In his search, he encounters a serious moral dilemma. The puzzle’s uninspired solution won’t shake the faith of Perry fans. They know that she’s quite capable of doing better. Agent: Donald Maass, Donald Maass Literary.