The Story
The year is 1861. The American Civil War has just begun, and London arms dealer Daniel Albertson is becoming a very wealthy man as emissaries from both sides of the conflict rush to purchase his wares. The quiet dinner party held by Albertson and his beautiful wife seems remote indeed from the passions rending America. Yet investigator William Monk and his bride, Hester, sense growing tensions and barely concealed violence in this wellappointed mansion. For two of the guests are Americans, each vying to buy Albertsons armaments.Philo Trace, the Southerner, is both charming and intelligent, but a defender of slavery. Northerner Lyman Breelove is a disturbing blend of political zealot and personal reserveto whom Albertsons teenage daughter has pledged her heart. Soon Monk and Hesters forebodings are fulfilled. For within this group, one is brutally murdered in a cruel ritualistic fashion, and two others disappearalong with Albertsons entire inventory of weapons.Slaves of Obsession twists and turns like a powder keg fuse as Monk and Hester track the man they believe to be a coldblooded murderer all the way to Washington D.C. and the bloody battlefield at Manassas. Yet finally, in a hushed London courtroom scene, Anne Perry holds her readers breathless and spellbound while Sir Oliver Rathbone fights to defend the innocent . . . and perhaps the guilty . . . from the hangmans noose.
Description
The year is 1861. The American Civil War has just begun, and London arms dealer Daniel Albertson is becoming a very wealthy man as emissaries from both sides of the conflict rush to purchase his wares. The quiet dinner party held by Albertson and his beautiful wife seems remote indeed from the passions rending America. Yet investigator William Monk and his bride, Hester, sense growing tensions and barely concealed violence in this wellappointed mansion. For two of the guests are Americans, each vying to buy Albertsons armaments.Philo Trace, the Southerner, is both charming and intelligent, but a defender of slavery. Northerner Lyman Breelove is a disturbing blend of political zealot and personal reserveto whom Albertsons teenage daughter has pledged her heart. Soon Monk and Hesters forebodings are fulfilled. For within this group, one is brutally murdered in a cruel ritualistic fashion, and two others disappearalong with Albertsons entire inventory of weapons.Slaves of Obsession twists and turns like a powder keg fuse as Monk and Hester track the man they believe to be a coldblooded murderer all the way to Washington D.C. and the bloody battlefield at Manassas. Yet finally, in a hushed London courtroom scene, Anne Perry holds her readers breathless and spellbound while Sir Oliver Rathbone fights to defend the innocent . . . and perhaps the guilty . . . from the hangmans noose.
