Buckingham Palace Gardens by Anne Perry

Lust, murder, power, and betrayal at Buckingham Palace sets the stage for the latest in the Thomas Pitt series by Anne Perry. I'm a long-time fan of both the Thomas Pitt and William Monk series. It constantly amazes me that at the rate that Anne Perry has novels published, that each story is so intricately-plotted. It's never a rehash of an earlier novel. BUCKINGHAM PALACE GARDENS featuring Thomas Pitt and as his sidekick, Gracie Phipps (instead of his wife Charlotte in this outing) is no exception. From the first page to the last the story moved at warped speed with never a dull moment. One thing I have always loved about Anne Perry is that she doesn't make it easy to figure out the plot. They enfold at a measured pace, so the suspense stays high. Her characterizations, as always, were excellent, and highlighted the darker side of human nature as she often does. You do have to pay attention while reading. The set-up of the story is often a bit confusing between trying to keep many unfamiliar characters straight, and getting used to the language with the various styles and dialects going on. It's worth it when it all clicks.

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Stalked by Brian Freeman

Sex Clubs, rape fantasies, rape, and serial murder are just the tip of the iceberg in this fast-paced, page-turning third novel by author Brian Freeman. Series regulars Lieutenant Jonathan Stride, his partner Maggie Bei, and his lover, PI Serena Dial are drawn into a world of danger that tests their loyalty to each other.

I read a review on this book, and it sounded like something I would really like, so I went and read the first book in the series because I didn't want to miss the set-up of the characters. While not absolutely necessary for the enjoyment of STALKED, it helped with the history of the characters. Stide's relationship with both his first wife, and with Maggie are more fully explained in IMMORAL. This is one of the best new series I have read in a long time. The characters are fully-fleshed with common human frailties; their imperfections make them more real. They are the kind of characters you root for to overcome their demons. I got scared at the end that something tragic would happen. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see the outcome. I can't wait for the next novel.


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