Bluegate Fields

A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel

By: Anne Perry

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

When the body of a boy is found in the filthy sewers of Bluegate Fields, Inspector Pitt is called to investigate. The boy was clearly upper class, so what was he doing in one of London's most dangerous slums? The boy's parents refuse to answer police queries. What are these proper, prosperous people hiding? With the help of his wife and helpmate, Charlotte, Inspector Pitt intends to find out.

©1985 Anne Perry (P)2006 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Davina Porter, a performer par excellence....She moves the story forward and turns in her usual stellar presentation." (AudioFile)

I love these books!

I simply love reading/listening to Anne Perry's books. She is so descriptive I feel like I'm in Victorian London right along with the characters. I have to go and start the next one now.

Excellent work!

I love the Pitt series which I got back into after reading Monk. Anne Perry's portrayal of Victorian England is utterly marvelous not to forget that each book has an intriguing story line and outstanding character development. "Bluegate Fields" like the other Perry novels causes the reader to get one's head glued to the the ear bugs. You just keep anticipating the next moment in the story.
Many well deserved accolades to Davina Porter. She is my favorite female narrator; I have never heard a woman do a man's voice as well as she does.
This book like all others in the series is a must read.

Not just the lower class has issues

What made the experience of listening to Bluegate Fields the most enjoyable?

I think the fact that Ms. Perry, for the first time, took the story straight to the upper class as the primary suspects right away because the boy was obviously upper class was really interesting. Yes in past books, they have been suspects and criminals, this was an obvious upper class issue from the start.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

More toward the end. The author is good at winding up these books with more and more detail until the climax at the end.

What does Davina Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Davina Porter is incredible. One of my favorite narrators

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No. This is just a solid mystery book.

Any additional comments?

These are very good books. Solid writing, good character development, immersive realistic world. You really feel like you are in Victorian London. You feel the difference between the London classes. I would recommend these to anyone who likes historical or regular mysteries.

Victorian aristocrats with secrets

Another twist of the plot lines in Thomas Pitt's Victorian underbelly. Makes you want to slap the aristocrats upside the head.

Good Plot, Interesting Corollary Issues

This novel was more interesting to me for the side issues that it brought up, than for the main plot itself. The mystery of a young boy's death and sexual abuse is at question, and Inspector Pitt meets resistance on all sides in finding the uncomfortable answers. As the author sometimes does, comments on social issues are made including homosexuality and equality in the justice system. It is an important message to remember today, that everyone deserves an unbiased investigation and a fair trial, whatever their social class, employment, or personal habits. The question of homosexuality was more indelicately treated, and it seemed to me that more often than not "homosexuality" was taken as a synonym for "homosexual abuse of children". I believe this was written in the 1970's, so maybe we should forgive the author this clumsy oversight as an artifact of the times; but it stood out to me as a mischaracterization, and ironic in a book whose secondary message was unbiased treatment and fairness. Overall, the plot was good and a little more who-dunnit than some of her other novels ... the evidence and all the characters and motivations are there from early in the story, and it is only for the reader to unravel them. Often Perry's novels rely on last minute plot twists that would be impossible for the reader to have known or understood, making it impossible to guess the outcome of the mystery before the crucial information comes to light. The narration was, as always, excellent. Davina Porter is a master, and brings a very human touch to all of the characters.

Bluewater Fields

Anne Perry and Davina Porter always deliver a quality work and never disappoint! Another winner.

Thoroughly entertaining

Percy's books include a sound depiction of Victorian life and excellent character development. I tend to find an author I like and read everything he.she has written. Great mystery plots always and when narrated by Davina Porter, I am a very happy listener. Note to listeners: I stumbled on Perry because of the narrator!

The book drags... get on with it

I'm working my way through this series. As always, Davina Porter's narration is a joy to listen to. The book itself seems to drag and to repeat. There seem to be several passages going over basic establishing information throughout the book. It's almost as though the editor and perhaps the author had set the work aside for a while and then returned to it. I guess if I was reading this as a book and did the same it would not be as noticeable. A tighter story would have been more enjoyable and suspenseful. It did help to speed up the narration to 1.3.

Another delicious story and remarkable narration!

These mysteries are addictive and this one did not disappoint. The brilliant narration only added to the story. Step back to the 1880s in all its beauty and ugliness, guided by the endearing characters Anne Perry created in Charlotte and Thomas Pitt, Emily and the intrepid Aunt Vespatia.

Truths

This was a challenging listen due to the storyline and the sad truth this still goes on today. Children are so vulnerable and the author handles with sensitively.

Could not have figured this out until Neil the end but it did end with justice