Pentecost Alley (A Victorian murder mystery) - Tapa dura

BUTCHERY IN THE BACKSTREETS

It is barely two years since the prostitutes of London's East End were terrorised by Jack the Ripper. Now in dismal 'Pentecost Alley' a killer is at work in Whitechapel once more. Not that the grisly murder of a mere whore is enough to merit the expertise of Superintendent Pitt of Bow Street. Society regards such women as less than human, deserving all they get. But beneath the mutilated body of the young girl there is a strange badge. The insignia proclaims it to be the emblem of the Hellfire Club, and on the back is engraved the name of Finlay FitzJames.

So begins Pitt's curious association with the wealthy and immensely influential FitzJames family: Augustus, the powerful bully of a father; bored, glamorous Tallulah, who swiftly befriends Pitt's energetic sister-in-law; and foppish Finlay, born into privilege and happy to make use of it. Pitt cannot afford to make one false move, for what Victorian jury would take the word of a common prostitute against that of a FitzJames?

"Excellent period thriller...admirably well written."
GUARDIAN.

"'Pentecost Alley' demonstrates Perry's trademark skill for enhancing well-designed mystery plots with convincing historical settings and cleverly drawn relationships."
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY.

"The 'Pitt Books' are characterised by well-observed period detail, a fascination with miscarriages of justice and the high drama of the law, and intense scrutiny of family secrets."
ROBERT MCCRUM.