Death Times Seven: A Daniel Pitt Novel
Anne Perry is best known for her successful series, the William Monk novels and the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novels, along with a series of five World War I novels, twenty-one holiday novels, the Elena Standish series, and a series featuring Charlotte and Thomas Pitt’s son, Daniel. This book is the seventh installment in the Daniel Pitt series and Perry’s last book, as she died in 2023.
Perry had written nine chapters of the book at the time of her death, and Zackheim, author and close friend, was tasked with completing it. The plot is gripping: in 1913, Daniel steps in to take over fellow lawyer Toby’s murder case when Toby has to recuse himself after his father shoots his mother dead, then turns the gun on himself, though not fatally. Daniel agrees with Toby that the accused man is probably innocent, even when it turns out that the victim is one of seven, so now his client is an accused serial killer. Daniel and Miriam fight to prove the man’s innocence, while also helping Toby solve his parent’s case.
Perry’s previous mystery books are characterized by believable, but unintrusive, historical settings, fast-paced plotting, and, her trademark, a deep dive into the character development of her leads, both male and female. Her sleuths, Daniel and his wife Miriam, a forensic pathologist, are close observers of others, giving us sharp insights into the supporting characters. Sadly, the story is not as well told as Perry’s earlier books. The characters are more static, the same insights repeated over and over. Given Perry’s past, it’s ironic that the book focuses on a young man’s love for his parents and his grief over the violence they experience.
