THE TWISTED ROOT

For Miriam Gardner, attending a party at the London home of her fiance, Lucius Stourbridge, to celebrate their forthcoming marriage, it should have been one of the happiest days of her life. But, after making a sudden exit from the party, Miriam disappears without a trace. Reluctant to cause a scandal, Lucius seeks out William Monk, a detective with a reputation for excellence.

Anne Perry, born Juliet Hulme in England, lived in Scotland most of her life after serving five years in prison for murder (in New Zealand). A beloved mystery authoress, she is best known for her Thomas Pitt and William Monk series.

Her first novel, <em>"The Cater Street Hangman"</em>, was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, <em>"The Face Of A Stranger"</em>.

Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology <em>Murder And Obsession</em>, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's <em>Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth</em>, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.