abstract
| - Traitors Gate (ISBN 0449906345) is the fifteenth book in the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series of mysteries by Anne Perry. It was first published in 1995. It is set in Victorian London. Thomas Pitt has recently been promoted to the position of Police Superintendent. Due to this promotion, the Pitt family has been able to move into a home in a better neighborhood and hire additional household help. As the story opens, Thomas is approached by Matthew, a childhood friend, and son of Sir Arthur Desmond. Sir Arthur gave Thomas and his mother shelter after Thomas' father was imprisoned for poaching and later died. In addition, Thomas' mother was given work in Sir Arthur's household, and Thomas was included in Matthew's lessons with his tutor. As a result Thomas was much better educated than most children born to servants. Sir Arthur has died of an overdose of laudanum. Sir Matthew believes it was foul play, but others believe that Sir Arthur was senile, and it was an accident. Thomas feels guilty that he had not gone back to his childhood home more often and stayed in closer touch with his mentor and his friend. His guilt and respect for Sir Arthur impel him to investigate -- even though he may get in trouble with his superior and a secret society known as the Inner Circle. Sir Arthur also asks Thomas to officially investigate leaks from the British government to the German government. A recurring theme in this book is the trade-offs between loyalty and doing what is morally right. Should a wife do what she thinks is right, even when it will seriously harm her husband's career? Should someone who has taken oaths of allegiance break those oaths when conforming to the oath would require an immoral act? The title of the book reflect the placement of the body of a murder victim at the Traitors Gate to the Tower of London -- as a statement that the murderer felt that loyalty was the correct choice.
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