The Search for Anne Perry by Drayton, Joanne is what i'm reading now; fascinating...

LIBRARY JOURNAL

LJ Reviews 2014 August #1

Drayton (design, Unitec Inst. of Technology, New Zealand; Ngaio Marsh) has written a sympathetic and compelling literary biography of crime writer Anne Perry. The book begins in 1994 with the frantic moments that sparked the revelation that Perry was Juliet Hulme, convicted in 1954, along with her friend Pauline Parker, for the murder of Parker's mother. The crime was the subject of Peter Jackson's 1994 film Heavenly Creatures. Drayton expertly weaves the events of Perry's childhood throughout the book while narrating the adult life of Perry as she struggles to find success as a writer. The author shows Perry to be a deeply religious, thoughtful, and caring individual who can never forget what she did when she was 15. Drayton briefly discusses each of Perry's novels, touching on how the themes and ethical dilemmas in the books reflect issues and concerns in Perry's personal life. A tendency to skim over details, as well as a lack of critical assessment leave the work feeling one sided at times. Nonetheless, an enjoyable read. VERDICT Perry fans are sure to love this authorized biography of the author. Well written and quickly paced, it reads like an absorbing story.—Stefanie Hollmichel, Univ. of St. Thomas Law Lib., Minneapolis

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