Now out: The Fourth Enemy by Anne Perry

I am always delighted to spend time with the characters in Anne Perry’s series of historical novels,. This time, the book features Daniel Pitt who is newly married to Miriam fford Croft. Regular readers of the series will enjoy watching the two in this new phase in their relationship, while those who are just meeting Daniel and Miriam for the first time will quickly catch on.

A bit of background…Thomas and Charlotte Pitt are Daniel’s parents; they have a series of their own. Sir Thomas is involved at the highest levels of government as head of Special Branch. In this entry, his work and Daniel’s will intersect.

Malcolm Vayne has an apt surname. As is often the case in my opinion, Perry creates characters in her historical fiction that resonate in our presents. Here, I would say that Vayne has some of the qualities of a Madoff or Trump. Vayne is unscrupulous yet somewhat charismatic and he supports causes such as women’s suffrage. At the same time, he is involved in complex financial schemes.

There is not a dead body until 3/5ths into the novel. This is undoubtedly deliberate on Perry’s part as she unwinds her plot slowly. Will justice be done? What does the title, The Fourth Enemy, mean? Find out in this book.

I like that Perry believes in strong women who perhaps were unusual for their time. For instance, Miriam is a forensic pathologist in the story which takes place in the early 1900s. Earlier, Charlotte was less “ladylike” than her peers. I also enjoy how characters from other series make appearances. Here there are Thomas and also a character from the Elena Standish series. Others from the Daniel Pitt stories are also here including Miriam’s father who recently gave up his law practice and Ian Frobisher, a school friend of Daniel’s who is in the police force. There is also a new law practitioner in the chambers. He has a most difficult case to prosecute.

I have read Anne Perry’s books from the very beginning and always look forward to her newest titles. No surprise that i am recommending this one.

Publishers Weekly states: Four decades after her debut, Perry shows no sign of losing steam.

I concur.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this book. All opinions are my own.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Paise for The Fourth Enemy

“[Anne] Perry’s courtroom drama . . . increases in intensity as the author craftily captures the reader’s attention. The richly atmospheric tale brings the summer of 1912 to detail-rich life, from Titanic headlines to Miriam’s bright-red Speedster.”—Booklist

“Set in 1912, bestseller Perry’s strong sixth Daniel Pitt novel (after 2021’s Three Debts Paid) finds London barrister Daniel facing major changes in his professional life. . . . The author cleverly makes the most of a plotline not centered on a crime of violence. Four decades after her debut, Perry shows no sign of losing steam.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Barrister Daniel Pitt is thrown into the prosecution of a powerful man accused of a swindle that will remind readers of much more recent times than 1912. . . . [The Fourth Enemy is] familiar fare well served in Perry’s plush, comfortable prose.”—Kirkus Reviews