Plot and counterplot

She smiled. It was a sudden, beautiful gesture that lit her face and restored everything of the beauty that had made her famous. 'I would think less of you were you to take it for granted,' she said. 'Now, before you leave, would you like tea? And are you hungry? If you are I shall have whatever you care for prepared. In the meantime we need to discuss what is to be done next. It is now up to you to address the real issue behind all this ploy and counterploy by whoever is the traitor at Lisson Grove.'

      Her words were sobering. How like Vespasia to discuss the fate of revolution, murder and treason in high places over tea and a plate of sandwiches in the withdrawing room. It restored a certain sanity to the world. At least something was as it should be. He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, steadying himself.

      'Thank you. I should very much like a good cup of tea. The prison in Shoreham had only the most moderate amenities. And a sandwich would be excellent.'

from Treason at Lisson Grove, by Anne Perry

My library reserve list runneth over, and I only hope I can keep up with the books that are all coming in all at once.  This Thomas and Charlotte Pitt mystery comes three years (apparently) after the last one, and though I was only hoping for something enjoyable, untaxing, and palate-cleansing to read, I had forgotten how good these books are, intelligent, well-plotted, suspenseful, compared to many. In this one, which was just reaching its peak before I went to sleep last night, Thomas and Victor Narraway, his superior at Special Branch, are both compromised and threatened by anarchists and traitors in their midst, and Charlotte travels to Dublin to try and save them both.

{Even better, there's a new William Monk coming in August.}

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