Junior barrister Daniel Pitt is the central character in this new series by Anne Perry. The year is 1910, and twenty-five year old Daniel is eager to prove his worth. The story opens with Pitt speaking to a client, Roman Blackwell, a private enquiry agent known for his shady practices, who is accused of murdering a man after a quarrel over a debt. Daniel is understandably nervous. After all, he "was a novice, feeling his inexperience with some pain." Roman's mother, Mercy, is a formidable woman who demands that Daniel exonerate her son. Before this case is finished, Daniel is summoned to the Old Bailey, where he is told to assist in the defense of Robert Graves. Mr. Graves is on trial for killing his wife, Ebony, and mutilating her body.

Daniel is a quick study. He is not afraid to speak his mind, take risks, and fight to see that justice is done. It will be a challenge to find proof that Graves is innocent, and Pitt has just "Twenty-One Days," the title of this book, to demonstrate that his client could not have slain Ebony. Daniel uses all of the resources at his disposal to uncover the secrets of the Graves' household, and they are legion. What he learns about this family is shocking, and it changes the whole complexion of his investigation.

Perry has written a brisk, involving, and entertaining mystery. The characters are well-drawn, particularly Miriam fford (yes, her name is spelled that way) Croft, a brilliant woman who studied chemistry and medicine at Cambridge and passed all her exams with honors. She was denied a degree because of her gender. The courtroom scenes are dramatic, and there are intriguing surprises along the way. It will be interesting to see what additional adventures await Daniel, who has already learned that the legal system "is subject to all the misconceptions and weaknesses than men have." ( )

This mystery novel begins a new spin-off from a series Anne Perry has been writing for decades. Daniel Pitt is the son of an investigative husband-and-wife team that featured in the Thomas Pitt series. As this book opens, he is in his mid-twenties and just beginning a legal career. He's in the midst of one case in which the defendant seems headed for a guilty verdict, but Daniel gets him off thanks to some nimble deduction regarding fingerprints.
He is rushed to assist another lawyer on a case in which the head of his firm takes a special interest: a man on trial for the murder of his wife. When a guilty verdict is returned, the legal duo has 21 days to find cause for appeal, before the sentence of execution gets carried out.
This novel has well paced twists and turns and kept me quite interested. I have been a little annoyed by what I see as flaws in Anne Perry's writing in the past, but those tendencies are restrained in this book. Her characters tend to do so much introspection at every moment, and lace their dialogue with so much philosophizing and generalizing that the pace can get a bit sluggish. But in "Twenty-One Days," things kept moving pretty quickly to a satisfying conclusion.
The characters, some of which are likely being set up to become regulars in future installments, are likable and don't have unnecessary angst or manufactured conflict. Daniel Pitt's partnership with Kitteridge, a senior lawyer, has a few moments of tension between the older and younger man, but they manage to communicate fairly well, and overall it bodes well for a good partnership.
I will really look forward to the next book.

I was able to read this early thanks to NetGalley. ( )

I enjoyed this beginning of a series. Usual Anne Perry style book with new characters. ( )

TWENTY-ONE DAYS by Anne Perry
Daniel is a newly minted barrister out to prove himself to his famous parents, Thomas and Charlotte Pitt. His client is the arrogant and unlikeable biographer Russell Graves already found guilty of murdering his wife. Daniel’s task is to prove he is innocent before he is hung -- in twenty-one days. Every day finds Daniel getting closer to the real murderer and closer to bringing the crime to his own family and his father’s most loyal and trusted colleagues.
Will he find the truth in time? Is his family guilty? This thrilling novel will keep you guessing and fearing for Daniel’s family as the pages dwindle down. Well-paced and exciting, this one will keep you up at night.
5 of 5 stars ( )

Over the years I have enjoyed several of the Charlotte & Thomas Pitt books by Anne Perry. The author has now started a new series, featuring Charlotte & Thomas' son, Daniel Pitt. Daniel has just finished his education to be an attorney and he's glad his father is proud of him. One of his first cases involves assisting a senior attorney with a murder case. Russell Graves is accused of murdering his wife. Graves is to be executed in 21 days for the killing. Daniel has to pull out all the stops and use the investigation techniques he picked up from his father to try and find the real killer before time is up. Can he discover the truth before Graves is executed?

I enjoyed this book. At times things moved a little too slowly, but once action kicked in again it saved the plot from becoming boring. Daniel is a bit naive, but I imagine his character will develop nicely as the series moves along. I like the fact that she is aging her characters and starting Daniel out in a series of his own. Gives the books a dose of realism.

The ending had some sweet surprises that I did not expect. I like Daniel as a main character. He's just coming into his own and using the skills his parents taught him as well as his education. He is a bit too naive at times though. I'm sure he will mature as more books are written in this new series. I did find some places where the plot got a bit confusing because it referred back to events in Charlotte & Thomas Pitt novels that I haven't read. But it wasn't important enough facts to lessen my enjoyment of the story.

Can't wait for the next book in this series! I loved the first few Charlotte & Thomas books when I was a teenager. Reading this book makes me want to go back and re-read them and enjoy the books that I missed in the series over the years.

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Random House/Ballentine via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** ( )