As head of Special Branch, Pitt is asked by Queen Victoria to investigate a friend of her son's, Prince Edward, whom she thinks may not have his best interests at heart. Utmost discretion is required, of course, and so Pitt is on his own since Narraway and Vespasia are abroad and he should not confide in Charlotte about a royal issue. Murder is involved, as well as possible blackmail and treason against the British interests in Africa. At the heart of this mystery is the importance of information--to crime solving, diplomacy, and personal lives. As usual, Anne Perry's research makes for an interesting backdrop for this mystery, presenting the politics leading up to the Boer War, the relationship between Victoria and her son (heir to the throne), and Victorian era society. At times, some of the narrative seems repetitive, but this is nonetheless a page-turner that will appeal to fans of historical fiction or mysteries.

Thomas Pitt is now the head of the Special Services, Britain's version of the Secret Branches. So when he gets a call to meet with ailing Queen Victoria, he knows that it is of the highest importance. Victoria is concerned about the relationship between her son and heir, Prince Edward, and Allen Kendrick . Victoria had asked Sir John Halberd to investigate the relationship but Halberd ended up killed in an apparent accident.

Normally Pitt would ask for help from Victor Narraway, his well connected mentor and the former head of Special Branches. However Narraway and his wife Lady Vespasia are on the continent for a long holiday. So Pitt must use his own resources to investigate this sensitive but private matter.

When Pitt worked in the police force, he was able to share his cases with his wife, Charlotte, an amateur sleuth. However the new position with Special Branches requires secrecy and discretion. So Pitt must solve this mystery without help from any of his usual advisors and few of his underlings.

This book takes the Pitts into the new century and shows us the role of Britain as the most dominant country in the world as they approach the new century. The reader once again is shown how the class system in Britain worked and how many important political decisions were hammered out in the exclusive gentlemen's clubs of London.

If wanting to read more books by this author after reading this one means the current book is a success, then it is. If being able to step into a long published series and not feel lost means this book was user-friendly, then it is.

Did I feel immersed in the historical period? Yes. Did I want to put the book down in favor of another one? No.

But...and this is why I gave the book four stars rather than five, I soon grew impatient with the constant reiteration of Thomas's self doubts. I got it the first time. Sure, it doesn't hurt to briefly remind the reader occasionally, but the in-depth repetitious plumbing of his psyche was boring.

Yes, the main mystery to be solved was who had committed the murders. And it was solved in the end. The mystery that remains is why so many words, so many pages were devoted to the endless repetition of Thomas's personal problems.

Thomas and Charlotte make a great team as he (they) try to find out just who is influencing the Prince of Wales.
No one does period descriptions better than Ms. Perry. This mystery series is fun to read and also exciting.

3.5 stars

I have read the Pitt series for years now. I haven't read them all but most of them and enjoyed them. Aunt Vesepia is my favorite character and she was missing from the book. She was on her honeymoon trip with her new husband, Lord Narraway, and the book was missing her unique flavor. Still it's fun to catch up with old friends.

Pitt is summoned by Queen Victoria to investigate the death of Lord Halberd who was doing an investigation for her. He was checking out one of the Prince of Wales friends, Kendrick. The Queen wanted to find out more about Halberd's death and, of course, about Kendrick. As the head of the Special Branch, Pitt sets out to investigate.

Here's what I didn't like about this book:
1. Charlotte is so whiny. She wants to be involved in the investigation and Pitt tries to keep her out as it is State Business and not entertainment for Charlotte. She was down right annoying.
2. Pitt just goes on and on about the morality of his position. What things will he do to accomplish his mission? Please. He's been at the Special Branch now for years. These problems should have been ironed out by now. Stop it. It goes on and on.
3. Pitt is a blabbermouth. On his supposedly secret mission, he involves his brother-in-law, Lord Causeway, his sergeant, and eventually Charlotte who involves her sister, Emily. I'm not sure I want him protecting state secrets.

What I did like:
1. I love the Pitts and the depiction of the times in that era.
2. The introduction of a new agent who looks to be fun.
3. The mystery itself was quite fascinating. It's nice to see how betting on horses can lead to trouble in the Boer War.

I'll keep reading this series but, please, give Charlotte a life of her own.

Thanks to Net Galley for the book in exchange for a fair review.

Anne Perry continues to craft deliciously intriguing books in her Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. Murder on the Serpentine does not disappoint. Perry is wonderful at evoking the socially repressive atmosphere of late Victorian England, and the emerging strands of revolt. Thomas Pitt, a former gamekeeper’s son, now the head of England’s Special Branch, and his wife, Charlotte have evolved over the course of this series, and I almost hate to finish one book and know I will have to wait for the next.

This Anne Perry was especially good involving Queen Victoria, the coming Boer War and Thomas Pitt finally coming into his own as the he head of Special Branch. Well done.

I have read all the books Anne Perry has written, and enjoyed most especially her two major series Thomas Pitt and William Monk. This book is in the Pitt series and was wonderful. It answered two major questions, happily, that I've had for the past few novels in the series.
While I missed the contributions of Aunt Vespasia, she was still very much here in spirit. The basic premise: Queen Victoria asks Thomas Pitt as Commander of Special Branch to investigate both the death of her trusted friend and the closest associate of the Prince of Wales and to do both quietly and discreetly.
I couldn't put the book down and at the end, I wished it could have gone on for at least another chapter. Now, of course, I REALLY can't wait for the next book in this series.

Anne Perry has two main series, William Monk, and Thomas Pitt. The newest book from Perry is part of the Thomas Pitt series and follows his first big case for the crown since taking over the Special Division, a predecessor of MI 5.
Pitt is worried about his new position. He is dealing with people from the upper classes who look down on him because he is the son of a game keeper and laundress. How can he earn their respect and not scorn and still do an effective job. His insecurities make his new case even more difficult because he needs to investigate friends of the crown prince.
Can Pitt walk the fine line of showing respect to his social betters while still pressing them hard enough for the truth? Will he find the traitor in time? Can he keep the Prince of Wales from being implicated in the plot?
A great mystery and wonderful addition to Perry's oeuvre.

I have only read the first several books in the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series, so it was quite a change to fast-forward ahead to book #32! Instead of being a lowly policeman, Pitt is now the head of Special Branch, a mysterious wing of the government that investigates treason, espionage, and any murders related to the aforesaid.

The story opens with Queen Victoria commissioning Pitt to investigate Alan Kendrick, a questionable associate of the Prince of Wales. The last person that Victoria asked to investigate Kendrick has died under mysterious circumstances. The Queen needs to know just what Kendrick is involved in before his connection with the Prince of Wales can damage the reputation of the British Crown.

Pitt, understandably, takes the assignment very seriously and does NOT want Charlotte butting her nose into such a perilous and classified case. Being the good helpmeet that she is, Charlotte can't resist providing her assistance. While Pitt calls on old allies to get close to Kendrick, Charlotte enters the high society world of Kendrick's wife. Between the two of them, the Pitts soon uncover some perplexing secrets with profound political implications for the sunset of the Victorian world.

Throughout it all, Pitt struggles to shoulder his new and weighty responsibility as head of Special Branch. With the secrets of British intelligence at his disposal, he must decide on the morality of blackmail in the midst of a high stakes game. If the good of the British Empire demands that he "get his hands dirty," should he abandon his own code of ethics?

This book was a satisfactory, although somewhat slow-paced, mystery and Pitt's solution in the final pages showed finesse by both the character and the author. I enjoyed how this mystery tied so directly into British history, and it makes me interested in learning more about the Prince of Wales who succeeded Victoria as Edward VII.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of the book from the publishers via Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

MURDER ON THE SERPENTINE BY ANNE PERRY: I have been an avid fan of the Thomas & Charlotte Pitt novels since the very beginning & while some of the series books have lagged in plot this one I feel is up to Perry's usual standards of a great mystery/historical fiction.

Thomas Pitt now head of the Special Branch is commanded to attend Queen Victoria, once a young vibrant Queen, now much older and still in mourning over the death of Albert. Victoria, worried about her son, the Prince of Wales & the heir apparent to the throne, "asks" Pitt to investigate the death of one of her friends who died mysteriously while gathering information on the people that Prince Edward calls his friends. Pitt must accept this as a command feels this is not part of his job at Special Branch but hey its the queen so he must obey. To Thomas's surprise, while he is investigating, finds that yes it is his job.

Ms Perry in MURDER ON THE SERPENTINE, has brought Thomas & Charlotte and all the rest of the familiar characters back up to standard to make this who done it & why a really good read for the fans of the Thomas & Charlotte readers.

I received this book free from NETGALLEY in exchange for an open and honest review.