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From Publishers Weekly
From the enormously popular and hard-working Perry comes her 11th Victorian mystery featuring Hester and William Monk, to the certain delight of her faithful admirers. In the studio of a London artist, two women have been murdered, one of them the wife of Dr. Kristian Beck, a physician from Vienna with whom Hester's dear friend, Lady Callandra, is secretly in love. When Beck is charged with the murder, Callandra enlists the aid of Hester and William. Neither of the Monks fits tidily into polite society. William, a former policeman now working as a private enquiry agent, has no memory of his life before a serious injury five years ago; it may partly explain his cantankerous personality. Hester, a nurse who served under Florence Nightingale in the Crimean War, is outspoken, courageous, passionate, independent and stubborn not exactly your typical subservient Victorian gentlewoman. Indeed, a common theme for Perry is spotlighting the social ills of 19th-century England, particularly the treatment accorded to women. Here she layers a new evil into the plot: anti-Semitism, widely accepted then and a haunting precursor of ugliness to come. The author excels at re-creating the ambience of 1860s London streets, but stumbles in plot cohesion, succumbing at the last moment to out-of-left-field syndrome. Throughout, the key characters engage in a great deal of inner reflection made ponderous by wordiness and repetition. No doubt Perry's myriad fans won't care a whit. (Oct. 2)Forecast: The sample chapter included in the mass market edition of Slaves of Obsession, featuring Thomas and Charlotte Pitt from Perry's other Victorian series, will help fuel this novel's surefire sales.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-William Monk and his wife Hester become involved in a murder investigation when their friend Lady Callandra Daviot asks them to help prove the innocence of her distinguished colleague, whose wife was one of the victims. The action moves from London to Vienna and deals with such issues as anti-Semitism and religious and intellectual freedom. The details of Victorian London are essential to the atmosphere of the book and help advance the story as the two search for the killer. Perry is so masterful at setting the scene that readers can picture the fog rolling in along the river, smell the stench that rises from the gutters, and hear the hooves of the horses as they plod along the cobblestone streets. A secondary plot concerns the inner turmoil that Monk experiences as he joins forces with Runcorn, commander of the Totem Court Road police station and an old adversary. When Monk travels to Vienna to interview people who knew Kristian Beck and his wife, he finds treachery, deceit, and long-buried family secrets. Will the devastating information that Monk uncovers be enough to save Beck's life? This is the issue that heightens the suspense throughout his murder trial. Teens who enjoy Victorian murder mysteries with lots of atmosphere will have no problem delving into this one.
Patricia White-Williams, Kings Park Library, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Patricia White-Williams, Kings Park Library, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Kristian had insisted on surgery, against the wishes of Fermin Thorpe, the chairman of the Hospital Governors. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
Kristian had insisted on surgery, against the wishes of Fermin Thorpe, the chairman of the Hospital Governors. Read the first page
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very readable,
By
This review is from: Funeral in Blue (Mass Market Paperback)
Simply put. Likeable and interesting characters. Great period of time. Wouldn't call this a high-octane read, but enjoyable. Liked it enough to look into other Anne Perry novels.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Victorian Mystery!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Funeral in Blue (Mass Market Paperback)
Anne Perry is a top-notch writer of mystery and has her victorian facts down pat! I generally do not like mysteries, but since the first book that I read by Ms.Perry, I have read ALL of her books!If you want a good read and mystery right to the last page, then this is the book for you!
3.0 out of 5 stars
A good try,
By
This review is from: Funeral in Blue (Mass Market Paperback)
The writing and atmosphere are good in this one, but the plot stinks. We are constantly told what characters are like and how they feel, but we see little direct evidence to prove it. Too many plot threads, one involving Hester's brother and sister in law is created seemingly just for convenience in trying up part of the evidence in the main case. One good point- Runcorn is presented as a slightly more complex character. Monk sees him in a different light as they work together, and it seems as if some of their differences may be mending. It would be good for him to have an ally on the police force again. It seems that Monk is going to try and re establish some contact with his remaining relatives, and that would be good as well. It's about time that Anne Perry started to tie up the threads of Monk's life and bring the series to a close before it becomes unreadable. How many more dreadful dark family secrets can she work into her plots before she runs out of ideas?
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