Twenty-one Days

Daniel Pitt’s father, Sir Thomas Pitt, had asked for his son to be the defence attorney for a former policeman, Roman Blackwell, who has been accused of murder.  The gun used in the murder had been clean of fingerprints, but Daniel realised that the shell casings hadn’t been wiped.  They did not have the prints of Blackwell on them, rather someone else.

Assisting in another case, Daniel and his lead defence, Kitteridge, lose.  Their client is found guilty.  They have twenty-one days to find evidence for an appeal.  Daniel is tasked with finding out who the real killer is.  Although both Daniel and Kitteridge both feel that their client is guilty, they need to go through with the appeal.

At the home of the client, Daniel learns from the butler that the client was about to inherit a vast estate.  The butler wonders if the estate would pass on to the client’s son.  He also learns of a man that the client was researching for an upcoming biography.  The more Daniel learns, the more he develops a distaste for the subject.  Unfortunately, the person is not named.  However, he later does come across the name, and it has a family connection to his father!  If the information were to be published, it would destroy his father!

Daniel is told to use the help of Miriam fford   Croft, daughter of his boss.  She is a scientist.  She is sure that there is more to the killing than the police know.  Upon exhuming and examining the corpse, Miriam is sure that the body, is not who it is supposed to be.

As Daniel continues the investigation, author Anne Perry has him discover more relevant information.  He can now save their client, but much more is to happen.  Perry, as usual has written an intriguing mystery, introducing fans of hers to a new character.  Thoroughly enjoyable.