Murder on the Serpentine by Anne Perry

Charlotte and Thomas Pitt are back and this is their toughest case yet.  Thomas is in a new position and reports directly to the queen.  He can't tell Charlotte about his cases anymore.  She's discrete but it's forbidden.  That causes a bit of conflict at home because Charlotte wants to help.  She sees him struggle and she worries about the danger he's in.  This case may make or break him...

Ballantine Books and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published March 21st.

The queen has lost a dear friend to her.  She had him investigating and he suddenly shows up dead.  It's said to be a dreadful accident but she's not sure that's true.  She asks Thomas to investigate.

I've always admired Queen Victoria.  She fought for her freedom and made her own decisions.  In this story, she's very old and on the verge of death but she wants no sugar coating; she wants the truth!

Finding the truth is not easy.  In the world of high positions there are many secrets.  A lot of the business is done by blackmail.  No one wants to tell Thomas much so he goes to his safe and reads the papers from the man who had his position in the past.  He'd like to just ask him but he's traveling and not in one place long enough to catch up with him.  The papers tell him enough to get a foothold in the world of the rich but he still has to be cautious.

With murder, racehorses, a pending war, and smuggling guns all tied together, Thomas has to walk a crooked path trying to find the string to the truth.  Charlotte is picking up gossip and trying to help, too.  He fears for her life.

I really liked the ironic ending in this story.  He knows who the murderer is but the murderer has been playing the system for years and he will bring the prince into the scandal.  But, after Thomas thinks on it, he comes up with a solution.  Justice is served...