One Fatal Flaw: A Daniel Pitt Novel

Tightly wrapped within the cocoon of this superb, well-plotted mystery series, you will find the nuggets of early forensic science. This story deals with the effect of arson and intense heat upon bones – particularly the skull – and the way an arrogant, self-centered, selfish, vengeful ‘expert’ can warp the judicial system for his own reward.The story is tightly plotted, well written, and filled with historical accuracy. I loved Daniel Pitt immediately because I loved his parents first. Daniel is a wonderfully honest, dedicated, and very honorable twenty-five-year-old man who has been out of law school for just a couple of years. He’s on the bottom rung of the ladder at his law firm, fford Croft and Gibson, and rarely gets assigned a case himself. He sits as second chair to his friend and mentor, Toby Kitteridge.When a young woman, Jessie Beale, arrives at the prestigious law firm and asks to see Daniel, it is because of an earlier case in which he had represented a party who was found innocent. It had seemed a near-impossible case, yet Daniel won it – and she wanted that same thing for her friend, Rob Adwell. After hearing what she had to say, Daniel couldn’t help but believe the man was guilty of the crime, but once he discussed it with Kitteridge and the firm head Marcus fford Croft, it was decided they would take the case. He was amazed when they won the case, but it was because of the expert forensic testimony of Sir Barnabus Saltram.Weeks later, Daniel is called to defend Jessie herself. She is accused of murdering Rob in exactly the same manner as the first murder occurred. As Daniel investigates, he begins to wonder if his client might not be guilty of not one, but two murders. Yet, because of the expert testimony from Adwell’s trial, he can only assume she will be found innocent. That tears at him because he will be a party to letting a murderer go free. What a conundrum our erstwhile young lawyer has found for himself. How can he meet his obligations to his client and his conscience at the same time?As more things emerge and information shifts, attacks happen, the tale gets filled with more twists and turns. Will Daniel’s minor case end up turning Britain’s justice system and the fledgling forensic sciences field on its head?Miriam fford Croft is the forty-year-old daughter of Marcus fford Croft, Daniel’s boss. Miriam is a woman who has suffered for the times. She’s brilliant, dedicated, educated, and without a college degree or credentials even though she has completed all of the coursework and received exceptional marks. The field of forensic science is not one that is available for women. I have to say, I was a bit concerned about Miriam in about the first 35-40% of the book. She seemed to have given up on her pursuits and was feeling pretty ho-hum. Then, she perked up and things got moving for her. I was happy for her to finally come to some sort of resolution within herself.I loved Miriam and Daniel working together and solving issues. I loved Miriam’s courage in the face of social ruin and I loved that Daniel let her make the decision about how to continue.I keep wondering if there is going to be a May-December romance between Daniel and Miriam. They certainly care for each other, but is it romantic? I don’t know, but it will be interesting to see.

Anne Perry is an excellent writer, keeps you guessing till the end.

I read the book to it’s conclusion, was gradually drawn to the characters, and enjoyed the ending. I have enjoyed other books by Anne Perry. But there were features of this book that bothered me, people arrested with no clear understanding of why they were chosen as the culprit, events in court that seemed unrealistic. I won’t go into more detail because I do not want to give away too much of the plot for other readers.

I have just binge-read all of the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt and the three Daniel Pitt novels. I just love them ALL and am sad there are no more! I hope there will be more to come. I just love the writing and descriptions that make me feel that I’m right there with these people.I feel like I’m trudging through the sleet and driving rain, wet and cold to the bone.I love how the friends and family sit around the kitchen table discussing cases. I absolutely love all of the characters and how they reappear in subsequent volumes. I truly miss those who move out of the picture for one reason or another. Even the way minor details or mannerisms are mentioned that really aren’t relevant, however adds something.Looking forward to Daniel Pitts upcoming book!

I loved this novel because the author depicted, through Miriam's struggles, the plight of women during these times. Miriam is smart and eager to apply her knowledge but this scientific field and many other fields are closed to women. I cannot imagine the frustration in knowing that your mind was as good or better than many of your male counterparts but society cared not at all about the wasted talent. The story also was well thought out so that revenge was sweet despite the sorrows. Bravo, Ms Perry. This was a gem for me.

This book gets 5 stars and 3 wow’s. When you read you will understand why and read it you must!! I didn’t want this book to end but I read it so fast it ended way to soon. I wish I would have slowed down and stretched it out but there was no way. I had to keep at it. Please do yourself a favor and read this book. It’s the 3rd in the Daniel Pitt series and the best book I have read this year. I’m a big fan of all of Anne Perry’s books but I have to say this one was amazingly satisfying. I envy the new reader. So much to look forward to!

Every lie told comes from a place of insecurity, and insecurity is most often disguised by arrogance. Anne Perry allows her audience to observe the slow crumbling of the facade arrogance provides as each of the main players in One Fatal Flaw faces his own inner demon. Some learn the difficult lesson hiding behind arrogance causes and move forward. Some are destroyed by the monster inside without which they haven't the courage to face life in their respective social spheres.

Over the years, I have enjoyed Anne Perry’s various series involving compelling characters and her Daniel Pitt books continues that tradition. However, I found her latest book disappointing. Although it was brought to a satisfactory conclusion the plot was unfocused with the motivations of the characters unclear (but with some very dubious legal ethics involved). I generally enjoy characters who analyze their actions and beliefs but the amount of “navel gazing” in this book might have set a record. Almost every action by a character, no matter how trivial, seemed to require slowing the forward plot momentum to allow for self-examination. Even with that they often remained unclear. The most interesting character might have been the second defendant but that person remained a background figure whose reasons (and ability) to pull off two Intricate murders remained largely unexplored.

This was not one of my favourites from Miss Perry. I am used to the plot gripping my attention from page 10 at the very latest.I found in this novel my attention wavering and drifting by too much conversation, facts and reflection.However this has not persuaded me as a loyal fans of hers right from her early works to turn away from her novels. There are always going to be times in life where sometimes situations sky rocket and others when you hope to make an impact it just gets lost in the telling. I wait to see how the next book lets us see how Daniel interprets the rage his defence of Miriam feeds into his feelings.

Anne Perry is a master of her craft! In this, the third installment of the Daniel Pitt series, she gives us a thriller, mystery and courtroom drama in one excellent novel that left me eagerly awaiting the next book in series, because that's what the best do - leave you wanting more.

Great book to read

Wonderful story and all my thanks to Amazon for going out of their way to ensure I receive this plus two other books as quickly as was possible.

I enjoy all her books ,glad that she is now writing about Thomas and Charlottes son