Dorchester Terrace

 I finally have time to go way back on my list of "Want to Read" books from the library, and Anne Perry's Dorchester Terrace (#925) was the oldest book on the list and an excellent place to start.  It's from her Charlotte and Thomas Pitt mystery series, so I knew I was in for a good read.

It's now 1896 and Thomas has been promoted from his work on the London Police Force to Head of Special Branch, replacing Victor Narraway, forced to resign after ruffling the feathers of the Prince of Wales in a previous operation.  Thomas is still new to the job, and uncomfortable still with some of the social obligations which are part of the post.  There is where Charlotte can help ease his way, even though he cannot discuss his work on behalf of the British Government with her.  When his aide Stoker comes to him with rumors of something unusual happening in Dover, he and Thomas follow up and discover that something troubling is, indeed, afoot.  When Thomas brings his concerns to the Foreign Office, Lord Tregarron refuses at first to see him.  But when it seems that a visit to Britain by a minor Austrian Duke will result in an assassination attempt, Pitt is forced to take his own measures to ensure the Duke's safety at all costs.  

In the meantime, Charlotte's aunt, Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould, has visited an old friend and revolutionary, Serafina Montserrat, who is dying.  She tells Lady Vespasia that she knows, and has safeguarded many important political and personal secrets over the years.  She is now afraid that her deepening dementia will cause her to inadvertently reveal secrets which can still cause great harm.  Could it be possible that Serafina's fears are real, and that someone is planning to use those secrets?

An interesting read with a background of late Austro-Hungarian Empire politics and betrayals.