Anne Perry
Encyclopedia
Anne Perry is an English
author of historical
detective fiction
. Perry was convicted of the murder of her friend's mother in 1954.
, the daughter of Dr. Henry Hulme, an English physicist
, Perry was diagnosed with tuberculosis
as a child and sent to the Caribbean
and South Africa
in hopes that a warmer climate would improve her health. She rejoined her family when her father took a position as Rector
of the University of Canterbury
, New Zealand
when she was 13. She attended Christchurch Girls' High School
, then located in what became the Cranmer Centre
.
Together with her school friend Pauline Parker
, Hulme murdered Parker's mother, Honora Rieper, in June 1954. Hulme's parents were in the process of separating, and she was supposed to go to South Africa to stay with a relative. The two teenage girls, who had created a rich fantasy
life together populated with famous actors such as James Mason
and Orson Welles
, did not want to be separated. They had hoped to go to England with Hulme's father after the divorce.
Parker and Hulme stood trial in Christchurch in 1954, and were found guilty on August 29 of that year. As they were too young to be considered for the death penalty under New Zealand law at the time, they were convicted and sentenced to be "detained at Her Majesty's pleasure
". In practice, this sentence meant they were to be detained at the discretion of the Minister of Justice. They were released separately some five years later. A condition of their release was that they were never to meet or contact each other again.
Parker and Hulme are not believed to have had any contact since their trial, as required by the conditions of their release.
These events formed the basis for the 1994 film Heavenly Creatures
, in which Melanie Lynskey
portrayed a teenage Pauline Parker and Kate Winslet
portrayed teenaged Juliet Hulme.
. For a period she lived in the United States
, where she joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1968. She later settled in the Scottish village of Portmahomack
where she lived with her mother. Her father went on to a distinguished scientific career, heading the British hydrogen bomb programme.
Hulme took the name Anne Perry, the latter being her stepfather's surname. Her first novel, The Cater Street Hangman
, was published under this name in 1979. Her works generally fall into one of several categories of genre fiction
, including historical murder mysteries and detective fiction
. Many of them feature a number of recurring character
s, most importantly Thomas Pitt
, who appeared in her first novel, and amnesiac private investigator William Monk
, who first appeared in her 1990 novel The Face of a Stranger. As of 2003 she had published 47 novels, and several collections of short stories. Her story "Heroes", which first appeared in the 1999 anthology Murder and Obsession, edited by Otto Penzler
, won the 2001 Edgar Award
for Best Short Story.
She was included as an entry in Ben Peek
's Twenty-Six Lies/One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
In 2005, Perry appeared on the Trisha show to discuss the crime on a special themed show.
Although many presumed Hulme's and Parker's relationship to be sexual, Perry stated in 2006 that although the relationship was obsessive, the two were not lesbians.
Featuring Thomas Pitt
Featuring William Monk
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
author of historical
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
detective fiction
Detective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
. Perry was convicted of the murder of her friend's mother in 1954.
Early life
Born Juliet Marion Hulme in Blackheath, LondonBlackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
, the daughter of Dr. Henry Hulme, an English physicist
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, Perry was diagnosed with tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
as a child and sent to the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in hopes that a warmer climate would improve her health. She rejoined her family when her father took a position as Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
when she was 13. She attended Christchurch Girls' High School
Christchurch Girls' High School
Christchurch Girls' High School in Christchurch, New Zealand, was established in 1877 and is the second oldest girls' secondary school in the country . Christchurch Girls' High School was established before Christchurch Boys' High School . The first headmistress was Mrs...
, then located in what became the Cranmer Centre
Cranmer Centre
The Cranmer Centre was a historic building in Christchurch, New Zealand. Its original use, until 1986, was as the Christchurch Girls' High School, the second high school for girls in the country...
.
Together with her school friend Pauline Parker
Pauline Parker
Pauline Yvonne Parker is a woman from Christchurch, New Zealand who, together with her friend Juliet Hulme , murdered her mother, Honora Rieper, on 22 June 1954...
, Hulme murdered Parker's mother, Honora Rieper, in June 1954. Hulme's parents were in the process of separating, and she was supposed to go to South Africa to stay with a relative. The two teenage girls, who had created a rich fantasy
Fantasy (psychology)
Fantasy in a psychological sense is broadly used to cover two different senses, conscious and unconscious. In the unconscious sense, it is sometimes spelled "phantasy".-Conscious fantasy:...
life together populated with famous actors such as James Mason
James Mason
James Neville Mason was an English actor who attained stardom in both British and American films. Mason remained a powerful figure in the industry throughout his career and was nominated for three Academy Awards as well as three Golden Globes .- Early life :Mason was born in Huddersfield, in the...
and Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
, did not want to be separated. They had hoped to go to England with Hulme's father after the divorce.
Murder and trial
On 22 June 1954, the girls took Honora Rieper for a walk in Victoria Park in their hometown of Christchurch. On an isolated path Hulme dropped an ornamental stone so that Ms. Rieper would lean over to retrieve it. At that point, Parker had planned to hit her mother with half a brick wrapped in a stocking. The girls presumed that would kill the woman. Instead, it took 45 frenzied blows from both girls to finally kill Honora Rieper. The brutality of the crime has contributed to its notoriety.Parker and Hulme stood trial in Christchurch in 1954, and were found guilty on August 29 of that year. As they were too young to be considered for the death penalty under New Zealand law at the time, they were convicted and sentenced to be "detained at Her Majesty's pleasure
At Her Majesty's pleasure
At Her Majesty's pleasure is a legal term of art derived from all legitimate authority for government stemming from the Crown. Originating from the United Kingdom, it is now used throughout the Commonwealth realms...
". In practice, this sentence meant they were to be detained at the discretion of the Minister of Justice. They were released separately some five years later. A condition of their release was that they were never to meet or contact each other again.
Parker and Hulme are not believed to have had any contact since their trial, as required by the conditions of their release.
These events formed the basis for the 1994 film Heavenly Creatures
Heavenly Creatures
Heavenly Creatures is a 1994 film directed by Peter Jackson, from a screenplay he co-wrote with his wife Fran Walsh, about the notorious 1954 Parker-Hulme murder case in Christchurch, New Zealand. Filmed on location in Christchurch, it features Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet in their screen debuts...
, in which Melanie Lynskey
Melanie Lynskey
Melanie Jayne Lynskey is a New Zealand actress best known for playing Charlie Harper's neighbor/stalker Rose on Two and a Half Men, and a range of characters in films such as Win Win, Up in the Air, The Informant!, Away We Go, Flags of Our Fathers, Shattered Glass, Sweet Home Alabama, Ever After...
portrayed a teenage Pauline Parker and Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet
Kate Elizabeth Winslet is an English actress and occasional singer. She has received multiple awards and nominations. She was the youngest person to accrue six Academy Award nominations, and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Reader...
portrayed teenaged Juliet Hulme.
Later life
After being released from prison, Hulme returned to England and became a flight attendantFlight attendant
Flight attendants or cabin crew are members of an aircrew employed by airlines primarily to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers aboard commercial flights, on select business jet aircraft, and on some military aircraft.-History:The role of a flight attendant derives from that of similar...
. For a period she lived in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where she joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1968. She later settled in the Scottish village of Portmahomack
Portmahomack
Portmahomack is a small fishing village in Easter Ross, Scotland. It is situated in the Tarbat Peninsula in the parish of Tarbat. Tarbat Ness Lighthouse is about three miles from the village at the end of the Tarbat Peninsula. Ballone Castle lies about a mile from the village...
where she lived with her mother. Her father went on to a distinguished scientific career, heading the British hydrogen bomb programme.
Hulme took the name Anne Perry, the latter being her stepfather's surname. Her first novel, The Cater Street Hangman
The Cater Street Hangman
The Cater Street Hangman is a crime novel by Anne Perry. It is the first in a series which features the husband-and-wife team of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt.-Plot introduction:...
, was published under this name in 1979. Her works generally fall into one of several categories of genre fiction
Genre fiction
Genre fiction, also known as popular fiction, is a term for fictional works written with the intent of fitting into a specific literary genre in order to appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that genre....
, including historical murder mysteries and detective fiction
Detective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
. Many of them feature a number of recurring character
Recurring character
A recurring character is a fictional character, usually in a prime time TV series, who appears from time to time during the series' run. Recurring characters often play major roles in an episode, sometimes being the main focus...
s, most importantly Thomas Pitt
Thomas Pitt (fictional character)
Thomas Pitt is the protagonist in a series of detective novels by Anne Perry.Pitt is from a working class background in Victorian London. His father was a gamekeeper on a landed estate and Pitt was permitted to share the lessons with the son of the house...
, who appeared in her first novel, and amnesiac private investigator William Monk
William Monk
Inspector William Monk is a fictional character created by the writer Anne Perry and hero of a series of books.He was born in Northumberland in the Victorian Era, the son of a fisherman....
, who first appeared in her 1990 novel The Face of a Stranger. As of 2003 she had published 47 novels, and several collections of short stories. Her story "Heroes", which first appeared in the 1999 anthology Murder and Obsession, edited by Otto Penzler
Otto Penzler
Otto Penzler is an editor of mystery fiction in the United States, and proprietor of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City, where he lives.-Biography:...
, won the 2001 Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
for Best Short Story.
She was included as an entry in Ben Peek
Ben Peek
Ben Peek is an Australian author. His middle name is Michael.Peek's short stories have been published in a variety of genre magazines, including Fantasy Magazine and Aurealis. His fiction has been reprinted in various Year's Best volumes...
's Twenty-Six Lies/One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
In 2005, Perry appeared on the Trisha show to discuss the crime on a special themed show.
Although many presumed Hulme's and Parker's relationship to be sexual, Perry stated in 2006 that although the relationship was obsessive, the two were not lesbians.
Featuring Thomas PittThomas Pitt (fictional character)Thomas Pitt is the protagonist in a series of detective novels by Anne Perry.Pitt is from a working class background in Victorian London. His father was a gamekeeper on a landed estate and Pitt was permitted to share the lessons with the son of the house...
- The Cater Street HangmanThe Cater Street HangmanThe Cater Street Hangman is a crime novel by Anne Perry. It is the first in a series which features the husband-and-wife team of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt.-Plot introduction:...
(1979) - Callander Square (1980)
- Paragon Walk (1981)
- Resurrection Row (1981)
- Rutland Place (1983)
- Bluegate Fields (1984)
- Death in the Devil's Acre (1985)
- Cardington Crescent (1987)
- Silence in Hanover Close (1988)
- Bethlehem Road (1990)
- Highgate Rise (1991)
- Belgrave Square (1992)
- Farrier's Lane (1993)
- The Hyde Park Headsman (1994)
- Traitors Gate (1995)
- Pentecost Alley (1996)
- Ashworth Hall (1997)
- Brunswick Gardens (1998)
- Bedford Square (1999)
- Half Moon Street (1998)
- The Whitechapel Conspiracy (2001)
- Southampton Row (2002)
- Seven Dials (2003)
- Long Spoon Lane (2005)
- Buckingham Palace Gardens (2008)
- Treason at Lisson Grove (2011)
- Dorchester Terrace (2012)
Featuring William MonkWilliam MonkInspector William Monk is a fictional character created by the writer Anne Perry and hero of a series of books.He was born in Northumberland in the Victorian Era, the son of a fisherman....
- The Face of a Stranger (1990)
- A Dangerous Mourning (1991)
- Defend and Betray (1992)
- A Sudden, Fearful Death (1993)
- The Sins of the Wolf (1994)
- Cain His Brother (1995)
- Weighed in the Balance (1996)
- The Silent Cry (1997)
- A Breach of Promise (alt. title: Whited Sepulchres) (1997)
- The Twisted Root (1999)
- Slaves of Obsession (alt. title: Slaves and Obsession) (2000)
- A Funeral in Blue (2001)
- Death of a Stranger (2002)
- The Shifting Tide (2004)
- Dark Assassin (2006)
- Execution Dock (2009)
- Acceptable Loss (2011)
- A Sunless Sea (TBA)
The World War I series
- No Graves As Yet (2003)
- Shoulder the Sky (2004)
- Angels in the Gloom (2005)
- At Some Disputed Barricade (2006)
- We Shall Not Sleep (2007)
The Christmas stories
- A Christmas Journey (2003)
- A Christmas Visitor (2004)
- A Christmas Guest (2005)
- A Christmas Secret (2006)
- A Christmas Beginning (2007)
- A Christmas Grace (2008)
- A Christmas Promise (2009)
- A Christmas Odyssey (2010)
- A Christmas Homecoming (October 25, 2011)
Timepiece series (Young Adult Novels)
- Tudor Rose (2011)
- Rose of No Man's Land (2011)
- Blood Red Rose (2012)
Other books
- The One Thing More (2000)
- A Dish Taken Cold (2001)
- Death by Horoscope (2001, short stories by various authors)
- Much Ado About Murder (2002, short stories by various authors)
- Death By Dickens (2004, short stories by various authors)
- I'd Kill For That (2004, one novel written by multiple authors)
- Letters From The Highlands (2004)
- Thou Shalt Not Kill: Biblical Mystery Stories (2005, short stories by various authors)
- Heroes (Most Wanted) (2007)
- The Sheen on the Silk: A Novel (2010)