Cardington Crescent is the 8th book in Anne Perry’s Charlotte and Thomas Pitt mystery series. Thomas Pitt is a police inspector in Victorian London and his wife Charlotte often involves herself in the murder mysteries Pitt is investigating. I don’t want to say to much about Cardington Crescent because there is something that happened that took me completely by surprise and I loved that experience. If you also love something happening that you did not see coming at all I would suggest not reading any descriptions of the book anywhere. 

Charlotte’s sister Emily, and her husband, George, are spending the month with relatives of George. The book includes 3 murders, a look into the lives of upper class, family secrets, scandal, expectations and at times reminded me of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. 

There were a few plot details that I did not understand, that seemed a bit unrealistic and had me questioning why these characters were making these decisions. Also, I was left wondering why some things weren’t in the story that I felt should have been. Though these things left me a bit confused they didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. I felt the time period was very well described, its very easy to picture everything and to feel apart of that time. The characters were engaging and I found myself really feeling for them, and their grief, and their frustrations and fears. The ending was gripping though left in such a way that you know who committed the murders but not entirely sure why. There are a couple of reasons why, but Perry does not tidy it all up for you. I was left thinking about the novel and trying to figure out why I thought the murders happened. This is a book I will probably reread to see if I can find any clues and I also think it would be a very fun book to buddy read or read in a book club just to debate the ending.