A Dangerous Mourning

New York: Fawcett Columbine, 1991. First Edition [Stated], First Printing [Stated]. Hardcover. Very good/Very good. Mitzura Salgian (Jacket painting) and Judi Schille. [6], 330 pages. Inscribed by the author on the fep. Inscription reads 24 4 92 To Paulette, best wishes. Anne Perry. DJ is in a plastic sleeve. This is a Victorian Mystery Featuring Inspector Monk. Anne Perry (born Juliet Marion Hulme; 28 October 1938) moved from New Zealand to England and became an author. Perry is perhaps now best known as the author of the Thomas Pitt and William Monk series of historical detective fiction. Hulme took the name Anne Perry, using her stepfather's surname. Her first novel, The Cater Street Hangman, was published under this name in 1979. Her works generally fall into one of several categories of genre fiction, including historical murder mysteries and detective fiction. Many feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt, who appeared in her first novel, and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in her 1990 novel The Face of a Stranger. By 2003 she had published 47 novels, and several collections of short stories. Her story "Heroes", which first appeared in the 1999 anthology Murder and Obsession, edited by Otto Penzler, won the 2001 Edgar Award for Best Short Story. In 2005, Perry appeared on the Trisha show to discuss the crime on a special themed show. A 2009 documentary film, Anne Perry Interiors, gave a snapshot of her life and the people close to her. In 2017, Perry left Scotland and moved to Hollywood in order to more effectively promote films based on her novels. The two main series each feature a male and a female protagonist. Derived from a Kirkus review: Perry's Victorian era Police Inspector William Monk plays second fiddle here to Hester Latterly, the plain, outspoken nurse whose experiences in the Crimea bloodbath have hardened her against the hypocrisies of London society. Monk is investigating the bedroom stabbing-death of Octavia Haslett, who's the daughter of rich, powerful Sir Basil Moidore and whose dearly loved husband was killed in battle in the Crimea two years ago. Monk is able to prove that there was no outside intruder. Suspicion now falls on the numerous servants and the resident family—Araminta, a second daughter and her husband Myles; Sir Basil's wife Lady Beatrice; his widowed sister Fanella; son Cyprian, daughter-in-law Romola, and Lady Beatrice's brother Septimus. During a house search, Monk finds evidence that he's sure has been planted to incriminate one of the servants. His surly superior Runcorn violently disagrees, and Monk is summarily fired. Determined to find the truth, he enlists Hester's help—and it's she who finally uncovers the shocking realities of the puzzle. A richly textured, masterfully plotted, thoroughly enjoyable story.