Anne Perry, a prolific crime author, has passed away at the age of 84. The writer served five years in prison for bludgeoning her friend’s mother to death when she was 15. Perry had been declining for several months after suffering a heart attack in December 2022. Her murder inspired Peter Jackson’s 1994 film, Heavenly Creatures. Perry moved to the UK after her release from prison, where she worked briefly as a flight attendant. Perry went on to write a string of novels across multiple series, which collectively sold 25 million copies around the world.
Perry’s murder took place in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1954, and was plotted by Perry and her friend Pauline Parker, the victim’s daughter. Honorah Mary Parker died after being hit with a brick about 20 times. Perry and Parker plotted the murder in an attempt to avoid being separated when 16-year-old Parker’s parents were planning to send her abroad. As both were aged under 18, the girls were too young for the death penalty and were sent to prison instead.
Perry’s writing was driven by her fierce commitment to raising awareness around social injustice. Many readers have been moved by her empathy for people backed into impossible situations or overwhelmed by the difficulties of life. One series of her books focused on a Victorian police-inspector-turned-detective, Thomas Pitt, and another featured a private investigator called William Monk. The most recent novel in the Pitt series was published last month.
Perry’s life story and journey from murderer to best-selling author is a testament to the power of redemption and second chances. Despite her troubled past, she managed to become a successful writer, inspiring readers with her stories and raising awareness around social justice issues. Perry’s legacy will live on through her books, which continue to captivate readers around the world.
Source: BBC
