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When a group of powerful Irish Protestants and Catholics gather at a country house to discuss Irish home rule, contention is to be expected. But when the meeting's moderator, government bigwig Ainsley Greville, is found murdered in his bath, negotiations seem doomed. Unless Superintendent Thomas Pitt and his wife, Charlotte, can root out the truth, simmering hatreds and passions may again explode in murder..
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I was lent six Anne Perry murder mysteries as part of a library of friendship arrangement. I picked this one from the pile as it features the Irish Problem during an ambiguous mid-Victorian period. As in the previous Charlotte & Thomas Pitt novel I read, [b:Half Moon Street|72743|Half Moon Street (Charlotte & Thomas Pitt, #20)|Anne Perry|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1421173132l/72743._SY75_.jpg|70415], I was not at all invested in the murder but enjoyed the Victorian social mores. 'Ashworth Hall' has a strong claim to depicting the most awkward house party I've ever read. The titular mansion hosts a tense negotiation between Protestant and Catholic leaders. Such a setup already promises very show more little social ease, then the awkwardness increases exponentially with revelations of adultery, murder, and sabotage. I appreciated the conversations about how and why Ireland's long-standing conflict continues, as well as wise Great Aunt Vespasia's reflections upon fake news:
This is alarmingly relevant to the current situation with anti-vaxxers. I gather that when Trump tried to tell supporters at a rally that the covid vaccine is safe and they should get it, he was booed. I found such moments that reflected thoughtfully on 19th century politics, and current events by analogy, the highlights of the book. Thomas Pitt is unfortunately very dull to me and I dislike Perry's habit of writing working class servants' speech phonetically.Also it was obvious from the start that Justine was suspicious. Thus the setting was great and some of the characters were appealing, but I struggled to care about the central murder mystery. show less
"Why do legends grow up around anything?" Vespasia picked up her fork and began to eat again slowly. "Because someone leaps to a conclusion... a conclusion that suits the emotions they feel and wish to arouse in the others. After a while everyone believes it, and then even if the truth is known, it is too late to tell it. Everyone has too much invested in the myth, and the truth would destroy what they have built and make liars of them."
"They aren't lying, they really believe it." Charlotte picked up her wineglass, full of clean, cold water. "I suppose it was thirty years ago, and there's no one about now who was involved, at least not in present-day politics. And they aren't going to tell people they lied to them."
"Nobody would believe them if they did," Vespasia argued. "The powers of legends which tell us who we are, and justify what we want to do, is far too great to take notice of a few inconvenient facts and dates."
This is alarmingly relevant to the current situation with anti-vaxxers. I gather that when Trump tried to tell supporters at a rally that the covid vaccine is safe and they should get it, he was booed. I found such moments that reflected thoughtfully on 19th century politics, and current events by analogy, the highlights of the book. Thomas Pitt is unfortunately very dull to me and I dislike Perry's habit of writing working class servants' speech phonetically.
7.5/10
Perry’s books often end abruptly and this one definitely did—too abruptly, in my opinion. And the “Irish Question” was vastly simplified, as I suppose it had to be. Still the author captured a taste of the terrible wrongs on both sides, the intransigence and deep passion. And the mystery was complex, as were some of the characters.
Perry’s books often end abruptly and this one definitely did—too abruptly, in my opinion. And the “Irish Question” was vastly simplified, as I suppose it had to be. Still the author captured a taste of the terrible wrongs on both sides, the intransigence and deep passion. And the mystery was complex, as were some of the characters.
Pitt and Charlotte are on the scene when a prominent politician trying to broker an Irish Home Rule agreement is murdered. There is a small number of suspects all present at Charlotte's sister Emily's country house. Overall this was good, but I felt that the final solution was a little rushed, sort of crammed into the final 2-3 pages of the novel. Surely a little more care could have been expended to tying up loose ends? Plus I found Charlotte's jealousy of Pitt's attention to Eudora Greville, the widow of the murdered man, a little silly. Charlotte is usually such a strong character that it seemed petty for her to react in that way. But a satisfying enough mystery.
I love Anne Perry. I will read everything she writes. I confess it may be my ignorance about the struggles between the Irish Protestants and Catholics during this time period. However, I found it such a struggle to keep the characters straight in this story. Although I understood the premise, it did not keep my interest and the mystery got lost. Since I found it hard to keep the characters straight, I did not become interested in their outcome nor was I sure who actually was the person who committed the crime. Perhaps someone else will have better luck with this one, it wasn't for me. It will not, however, stop me from reading Anne Perry.
Ashworth Hall" almost exactly fits the formula 'closed door' Victorian murder mystery mold (hey, there's even a butler)... In 1890, a group of Irish leaders, their wives and servants are meeting for a conference at a British manor house to address the "Irish Problem." First, the politician hosting the conference is found murdered... but is the motive political or personal? More literary in style than say, Amanda Quick, book, but still a basic whodunnit
Love this Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. This one was read by David McCallum. Very complicated plot with Pitt being assigned to protect dignitaries at a secret meeting at his society in-law's estate. The bad feelings between the Irish and the English surface and and murdered diplomat is the very man Pitt was sent to protect. Gracie, acting as Charlotte's maid, aids Pitt in his investigation.
en plus ca parle de negociations de paix pour l'irlande alors qu'on en revient
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Anne Perry was born Juliet Hume on October 28, 1938 in Blackheath, London. Sent to Christchurch, New Zealand to recover from a childhood case of severe pneumonia, she became very close friends with another girl, Pauline Parker. When Perry's family abandoned her, she had only Parker to turn to, and when the Parkers planned to move from New Zealand, show more Parker asked that Perry be allowed to join them. When Parker's mother disagreed, Perry and Parker bludgeoned her to death. Perry eventually served five and a half years in an adult prison for the crime. Once she was freed, she changed her name and moved to America, where she eventually became a writer. Her first Victorian novel, The Cater Street Hangman, was published in 1979. Although the truth of her past came out when the case of Mrs. Parker's murder was made into a movie (Heavenly Creatures), Perry is still a popular author and continues to write. She has written over 50 books and short story collections including the Thomas Pitt series, the William Monk series, and the Daniel Pitt series. Her story, Heroes, won the 2001 Edgar Award for Best Short Story. Her title's Blind Justice and The Angel Court Affair made The New York Times Best Seller List. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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- Canonical title
- Ashworth Hall
- Original title
- Ashworth Hall
- Original publication date
- 1997-03-11
- People/Characters
- Thomas Pitt; Charlotte Pitt; Vespasia Cumming-Gould (Lady); Ainsley Greville; Gracie Phipps Tellman; Finn Hennessey (show all 18); Jack Radley; Emily Ellison; Fergal Moynihan; Carson O'Day; Padraig Doyle; Eudora Greville; Kezia Moynihan; Iona McGinley; Lorcan McGinley; Piers Greville; Jusine Baring; Doll Evans
- Important places
- London, England, UK; English countryside (unnamed)
- Important events
- Victorian Era (1837 | 1901)
- Dedication*
- Für meine Mutter wegen ihres Mutes und Glaubens sowie für Meg Macdonald wegen ihrer Freundschaft, der guten Einfälle und ihrer stets fruchtbaren Kommentare.
- First words*
- In der grauen Dämmerung des Oktoberabends richtete Pitt seinen Blick auf den Toten, der auf dem Pflaster des Gässchens lag.
- Last words*
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Gott helfe Irland."
- Original language*
- Englisch
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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- Reviews
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- ISBNs
- 28
- ASINs
- 8
