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threegoodrats's review
2.0
This one was only ok. It began in the midst of a chase, followed by a trial, making me feel like I arrived in the middle of the story. That pacing really threw me off. The story was otherwise fine.
shirleytupperfreeman's review
This was okay - a mildly entertaining detective story. A bit sordid.
retiredlibrarylady's review
4.0
I love Anne Perry's Victorian novels, and I liked this one, but it is unsatisfactory because you have to read the next one to get the real ending. Monk is pursuing Phillips, a nasty piece of work who has murdered a boy named Fig. As Monk pursues the investigation that began with his former superior officer, the detail of Phillips' business of abusing young boys for clients. An anonymous person persuades Oliver Rathbone to defend Phillips, through Oliver's father-in-law. Rathbone skewers Monk and his wife Hester on the witness stand, straining their friendship and getting a not guilty verdict. The story ends with Phillips's death, but an accusation of who was financing his business leads to the conclusion in the next volume in the series.
judyward's review
3.0
Does Anne Perry have a life outside of writing? I find it remarkable how many books she publishes on a regular basis. At present she has at least four series going and this book is the 16th in the William Monk series. I like this series because of the portrait that the author paints of life in Victorian England with its strict class structure. This book features William Monk who is now the Superintendent of the Thames River Police and his wife Hester. Usually the books in this series end with a trial guaranteed to hold an unusual twist or surprise. This book has the trial at the beginning of the story and aptly demonstrates how a skillful barrister can create sympathy for the most unsavory client. Then after the client, in this case Jericho Philipps is acquitted, the rest of the story concerns a quest for justice. The subject matter is particular unsavory--child prostitution (male) and pornography. The setting is the dock section of London with ships unloading cargoes from around the world. I liked the book, but found that it was often rather preachy. No need to convince the reader that the sexual exploitation of children is wrong. Other than readers who could be featured on "To Catch a Predator", the rest of us are against it. Also, the ending of the book was rather abrupt. I wanted to few more details on what happened after the last page. Come on Ms Perry--some of these characters are in real trouble--let us know what happens to them.
felinity's review
4.0
It all starts with the death of a boy known as Fig.
William Monk is now the head of the River Police, trying to fill Durban's shoes - not an easy task. Luckily for him there are a few people, like street urchin Scuff, who are willing to take him on for an unorthodox apprenticeship along the river.
Rathbone, now married to Margaret, is prevailed upon by his father-in-law to take the case as the defense. Little does he know how friendships will be irrevocably altered, nor how revealing his comparisons between Hester and Margaret will be. Cleverness, after all, is not the same as wisdom, and decisions often have far-reaching consequences. Questions of loyalty will be raised, and all must decide where their first loyalty must lie: truth, justice, friendship, or letting fallen comrade's memories remain?
My biggest criticism is that the ending was extremely abrupt (no doubt more so because I thought there were more pages but it was a preview of another). The historical details, the intricacy of the characters' relationships with each other and their moral quandaries, and the completeness of the picture painted for us are all worth far more than my one minor issue.
[a:Anne Perry|6331|Anne Perry|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1216671529p2/6331.jpg]'s descriptions are so vivid you can not only picture the scene but also hear the sounds and smell the odors. There's more of a conscious division of Hester and Monk this time as both follow their own investigations, trying to stop the repulsive trade and becoming increasingly aware that the line between moral and immoral is somewhat shaded. In their own way, each person involved is forced to face his or her true motives, and the heart-wrenching consequences they may involve.
William Monk is now the head of the River Police, trying to fill Durban's shoes - not an easy task. Luckily for him there are a few people, like street urchin Scuff, who are willing to take him on for an unorthodox apprenticeship along the river.
Rathbone, now married to Margaret, is prevailed upon by his father-in-law to take the case as the defense. Little does he know how friendships will be irrevocably altered, nor how revealing his comparisons between Hester and Margaret will be. Cleverness, after all, is not the same as wisdom, and decisions often have far-reaching consequences. Questions of loyalty will be raised, and all must decide where their first loyalty must lie: truth, justice, friendship, or letting fallen comrade's memories remain?
Spoiler
Rathbone's dismay at realizing the law, when wielded as a weapon, allowed a very guilty man go free and continue his crimes, is a credit to his honor, as is Monk's frustration when he realizes that Rathbone's criticism of his case was very justified. Each one must ask himself: How far would I go if I were blackmailed? and the answer may not be as palatable as they hope.My biggest criticism is that the ending was extremely abrupt (no doubt more so because I thought there were more pages but it was a preview of another). The historical details, the intricacy of the characters' relationships with each other and their moral quandaries, and the completeness of the picture painted for us are all worth far more than my one minor issue.
[a:Anne Perry|6331|Anne Perry|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1216671529p2/6331.jpg]'s descriptions are so vivid you can not only picture the scene but also hear the sounds and smell the odors. There's more of a conscious division of Hester and Monk this time as both follow their own investigations, trying to stop the repulsive trade and becoming increasingly aware that the line between moral and immoral is somewhat shaded. In their own way, each person involved is forced to face his or her true motives, and the heart-wrenching consequences they may involve.
we_are_all_mad_here26's review
4.0
I think almost anyone could have seen the solution to this one coming from, I don't know, twelve days before even picking the book up. And yet - still - so much tension! And despair! As with most books in this series, I got to a certain point and then could not put it down.
Anne Perry, if you are reading this: thank you for the gift of Hester's friends. Now including Claudine and Squeaky, who I love along with the rest of them. Also, it's kind of interesting that sixteen books in, Hester has a whole list of people who might be willing to die for her, and Monk has - one friend? And an iffy one, at that?
A final note: you may not want to finish this one without having #17 ready at hand.
Anne Perry, if you are reading this: thank you for the gift of Hester's friends. Now including Claudine and Squeaky, who I love along with the rest of them. Also, it's kind of interesting that sixteen books in, Hester has a whole list of people who might be willing to die for her, and Monk has - one friend? And an iffy one, at that?
A final note: you may not want to finish this one without having #17 ready at hand.
demottar's review
4.0
One of Perry’s better William Monk novels, actually! While William has mostly come to terms with his amnesia so we’re not treated to that specific and still satisfying angst, this book was still a little more interesting than Perry’s average plot because Oliver Rathbone and Hester are on the outs from the first chapter! I rather appreciated the change of tone and seeing Hester really doubt her relationship with the always virtuous Oliver. I was also obsessed with the fact that Margaret was also angry with Hester (even though this was extremely unfair of her) because it added new and much needed dimensions to some of these tired characters.
Scuff continues to be the most adorable Victorian orphan/urchin ever and I’m so pleased to read any scene with him interacting with Monk, who makes a hilariously awkward father figure. I hope to read many more domestic scenes with Scuff and the Monks in later books. I’m envisioning Monk investigating potential schoolmasters and Hester taking Scuff shopping.
While the opening courtroom scene wasn’t as gripping as ones in some of Perry’s earlier books, it was a whole lot better than the one in Dark Assassin. Also, would it kill Perry to have William and Hester kiss even sometimes? We did get a brief hand touch in this book at least, but I want more scenes like the one at the end of A Breach of Promise.
Whenever I finish this series, I will rank all of the William Monk novels from best to worst and it will be so satisfying after having been reading the series for nearly 20 years.
Scuff continues to be the most adorable Victorian orphan/urchin ever and I’m so pleased to read any scene with him interacting with Monk, who makes a hilariously awkward father figure. I hope to read many more domestic scenes with Scuff and the Monks in later books. I’m envisioning Monk investigating potential schoolmasters and Hester taking Scuff shopping.
While the opening courtroom scene wasn’t as gripping as ones in some of Perry’s earlier books, it was a whole lot better than the one in Dark Assassin. Also, would it kill Perry to have William and Hester kiss even sometimes? We did get a brief hand touch in this book at least, but I want more scenes like the one at the end of A Breach of Promise.
Whenever I finish this series, I will rank all of the William Monk novels from best to worst and it will be so satisfying after having been reading the series for nearly 20 years.
amalyndb's review against another edition
Content note: child sexual abuse and pornography occurs off-page but is mentioned throughout the novel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Child abuse
k_lee_reads_it's review
3.0
A mystery about child pornography in Victorian England. I enjoyed the book, but not the subject.