Death Times Seven by Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim

Death Times Seven

by Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim

Rating: 5 star rating

I really liked this book, "Death Times Seven." This final Daniel Pitt mystery has courtroom drama, family secrets, and a murder investigation that kept me wondering what was going to happen next.

Toby Kitteridge is a friend and colleague of Daniel, and he is dealing with a heartbreaking family tragedy after his mother is murdered and his father becomes the main suspect. 

Toby is also dealing with his sister, Alberta, and her bitterness towards him because he rarely visited. She was also jealous because their parents helped Toby get an education and become a lawyer. While everyone back home had to pinch pennies to get by, and she was expected to get married and have kids.

Alberta doesn't like any suggestions Toby makes towards solving the crime. In the meantime, Toby and Daniel are trying to figure out if Tobys father actually killed his mother. 

As a consequence of the above, Daniel has to take over a current murder case of Toby's. Daniel has to defend Peter Ward, a young man accused of killing Alexandra Stanton, while his friend deals with his personal issues. Meanwhile, Daniel's wife, Miriam, uses her skills as a forensic pathologist to uncover clues that others have missed.

Daniel refuses to stop searching for the truth, even when the evidence seems stacked against his client. The mystery unfolds at a steady pace, with several twists and hidden connections between the two cases. The ending brings justice, answers long-standing questions, and gives the main characters a sense of hope and peace without wrapping everything up too neatly.

As the final Daniel Pitt novel, Death Times Seven feels like a respectful tribute to Anne Perry's legacy and a satisfying conclusion for fans who have followed Daniel and Miriam's journey.

This book is also special because it serves as a farewell to Anne Perry, who passed away in 2023 after completing the first nine chapters. Victoria Zackheim finished the novel using Perry's notes and plans for the story. You can still feel Anne Perry's familiar style throughout; the pacing, character development, and attention to moral choices that made her mysteries so enjoyable.

I believe Victoria Zackheim did a great job putting this story together and finishing Anne Perry's last book. I hope to read other books by both of these authors.

Thank you, NetGalley, Ballantine, and the authors Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim for the book review consideration. All opinions are my own.

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