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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
I am extremely fond of historical murder mysteries. This is why it was a great relief to me some years ago when the genre had established itself so thoroughly and prolifically that I felt enabled to dislike a significant proportion of the available offerings. I think the authors that first spurred me to this position were Paul Harding and Michael Jecks: it wasn't that the books were badly written -- it was just that I got the feeling that they authors didn't have much liking or respect for the historic eras they were writing in. I don't at all mind all the grit and tragedy and true-to-the-era mindsets, but I mind getting the impression that the author doesn't find any redeeming features in his setting or characters.
But as historical mysteries became all the rage (and thank goodness for that) we also started getting ones that are simply mediocre in their writing. And good writers found themselves squeezing out endless series long past (apparently) their own interest in and love for the characters. After holding on in forlorn hope for the last 10 books or so, I've come to the conclusion that, for me, Anne Perry has fallen into the second category. I've been following both the Charlotte Pitt and William Monk series since their beginnings and have greatly enjoyed both Perry's feel for the eras and culture and her ability to put together a complex yet potentially solvable puzzle. But it's worn thin. The characters are no longer significantly developing or being further unveiled. And while I understand the need to bring new readers up to speed on certain basics, I've gotten very bored with the endless repetition of certain formulas, as well as with the cookie-cutter sameness of most of the secondary characters. If I read one more page-long discursion on how unbearably painful it is for strangers to intrude on one's tightly-controlled private grief that must be masked to the world at large ... I may scream. And so, I find myself with a copy of Long Spoon Lane (24th ! in the Charlotte & Thomas Pitt series) and a copy of The Shifting Tide (14th ! in the William Monk series) sitting at my bedside table for the last six months each with a bookmark settled in for a long-term nap somewhere in the first half dozen chapters of the book. The reason this is an "un-review" is that I'm not going to talk about the specific content of the books at all -- I'm just going to remove the bookmarks and move them from the bedside table to the permanent bookshelves. The real test will be whether I reflexively buy the next books in the two series, but that's a test for another day.
But as historical mysteries became all the rage (and thank goodness for that) we also started getting ones that are simply mediocre in their writing. And good writers found themselves squeezing out endless series long past (apparently) their own interest in and love for the characters. After holding on in forlorn hope for the last 10 books or so, I've come to the conclusion that, for me, Anne Perry has fallen into the second category. I've been following both the Charlotte Pitt and William Monk series since their beginnings and have greatly enjoyed both Perry's feel for the eras and culture and her ability to put together a complex yet potentially solvable puzzle. But it's worn thin. The characters are no longer significantly developing or being further unveiled. And while I understand the need to bring new readers up to speed on certain basics, I've gotten very bored with the endless repetition of certain formulas, as well as with the cookie-cutter sameness of most of the secondary characters. If I read one more page-long discursion on how unbearably painful it is for strangers to intrude on one's tightly-controlled private grief that must be masked to the world at large ... I may scream. And so, I find myself with a copy of Long Spoon Lane (24th ! in the Charlotte & Thomas Pitt series) and a copy of The Shifting Tide (14th ! in the William Monk series) sitting at my bedside table for the last six months each with a bookmark settled in for a long-term nap somewhere in the first half dozen chapters of the book. The reason this is an "un-review" is that I'm not going to talk about the specific content of the books at all -- I'm just going to remove the bookmarks and move them from the bedside table to the permanent bookshelves. The real test will be whether I reflexively buy the next books in the two series, but that's a test for another day.
Hester's clinic is thriving in business but sparse in supplies. She and Margaret spend much time trying to solicit donations, only to be met with rejection as people prefer to be a generous benefactor making a romantic gesture by sending money to the poor in Africa rather than caring for the poor just a couple of miles away.
Monk's newest investigation has taken him out of his comfort zone, and everyone from a street urchin to the River Police knows it and, much to his chagrin, is busily engaged in warning him of the dangers.
Readers of the series will know to expect a convergence of their interests, but there's far much more at stake than just theft or supplies, and more than just one life is at stake.
Monk's newest investigation has taken him out of his comfort zone, and everyone from a street urchin to the River Police knows it and, much to his chagrin, is busily engaged in warning him of the dangers.
Readers of the series will know to expect a convergence of their interests, but there's far much more at stake than just theft or supplies, and more than just one life is at stake.
Spoiler
I was struck by the star contrast between Clem's selfishness and Mercy's selflessness - two siblings further apart in outlook would be hard to find.
A really, really good entry in this series. Hester always knows exactly the right thing to say, without being the annoying character who always knows the right thing to say. Monk has become human. And I loved and adored the rat catcher.
Another overcooked William and Hester Monk mystery, but I love this series all the same. At first, the mystery doesn't seem like much to write home about, but it picks up pace about halfway through. Unfortunately, the resolution is a little blah and a little rushed. There is also a fairly big plot hole in Hester's story line.
All that being said, we are introduced to two fun side characters (I'm really hoping Scruff and Sutten both make appearances in the next novel); Oliver Rathbone finally makes a move on Margaret; and William Monk shows vulnerability!
Still not as great as A Breach of Promise or The Twisted Root, but possibly none will be.
Spoiler
Hester and her small team of nurses quarantine the makeshift hospital when the black plague hits, yet the rat catcher comes and goes, delivering messages to William and Margaret, somehow not worried about spreading the disease to the rest of London.All that being said, we are introduced to two fun side characters (I'm really hoping Scruff and Sutten both make appearances in the next novel); Oliver Rathbone finally makes a move on Margaret; and William Monk shows vulnerability!
Still not as great as A Breach of Promise or The Twisted Root, but possibly none will be.
Another great mystery from Anne Perry! This was especially scary because of the recent coronavirus outbreak. This definitely put an interesting perspective on what the public should be aware of and when. I enjoyed the way Hester's and Monk's stories intertwined. Some of her stories have been just okay for me, but this story really grabbed me.
William Monk is out of his element when he agrees to take a case focused on the river and life along the docks. Oddly connected to his case are an ill woman brought to Hester's clinic and another woman who comes to help tend the sick. Both parts of the story move right along, with the usual twists and turns. We meet some fascinating new characters, including Scruff the urchin, Crow the doctor, and Mr. Sutton the rat catcher. In addition, the personal lives of William and Hester's friends undergo some momentous changes. All in all, a satisfying book.
This series just gets better and better. Monk has to find a stolen cargo of ivory tusks and the murderer of the man who was guarding it. Esther is still working in her clinic for women of the streets when a man brings a seriously ill woman to her, the same man who hired Monk.
Monk and Hester are such a perfect couple, each so strong in their own way, and this book tests the boundaries of their relationship in a new and scary way. Hester especially must deal with soul-wrenching issues while Monk tests himself in a new area, the Thames river, all the time worrying about his wife.
Oliver and Margaret make appearances, adding to their story. It was nice to see the stoic Oliver in a new and better light. Callandra makes a brief appearance; I'm glad for her and hope it's not the last we'll see of her.
There are some new characters that I really enjoyed: a rat catcher and a mudlark. I had no idea about the River Police, but I found that whole idea interesting and looked up more about their history. I always learn something from this series.
Another great read. On to book 15.
Monk and Hester are such a perfect couple, each so strong in their own way, and this book tests the boundaries of their relationship in a new and scary way. Hester especially must deal with soul-wrenching issues while Monk tests himself in a new area, the Thames river, all the time worrying about his wife.
Oliver and Margaret make appearances, adding to their story. It was nice to see the stoic Oliver in a new and better light. Callandra makes a brief appearance; I'm glad for her and hope it's not the last we'll see of her.
There are some new characters that I really enjoyed: a rat catcher and a mudlark. I had no idea about the River Police, but I found that whole idea interesting and looked up more about their history. I always learn something from this series.
Another great read. On to book 15.
Another William Monk & Hester the Crimean nurse mystery set in Victorian London. Perry writes at least one of these a year, and they are melodramatic and sometimes the characters are just too noble for words...but I have to say she still manages to get me totally into the story, no matter how improbable. And her descriptions and historical research are dead on target.
This one's set in the docks on the Thames....it's populated with little barefoot "mudlarks" - children who work the riverbanks searching for coal that's fallen (or been pushed) off barges, lots of prostitutes, greedy ship owners, drunken sailors, and plenty of disease
This one's set in the docks on the Thames....it's populated with little barefoot "mudlarks" - children who work the riverbanks searching for coal that's fallen (or been pushed) off barges, lots of prostitutes, greedy ship owners, drunken sailors, and plenty of disease