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castiel67's review against another edition
4.0
Swore I would never read this series or anything by the author ever again. Boredom caused me to pick this up and I'm extremely glad I did. Wonderfully written, constantly captivating with the reality of Victorian England perfectly represented.
elodiethefangirl's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
okenwillow's review against another edition
5.0
Autant le dire tout de suite, la solution de l’énigme se trouve dans les premières pages. Il ne m’a pas fallu plus de 10 min pour deviner la clé de l’intrigue. Malgré tout, et c’est bien là que se situe la prouesse, le pourquoi du comment demeure un mystère et tout le cheminement qui mène au dénouement reste un grand moment de lecture. En ce qui me concerne, deviner la fin d’un roman policier ne veut pas dire que j’ai raison, et il serait bien présomptueux de crier à la déception dès les premières pages sous prétexte que le suspens en serait altéré, car d’une manière générale j’ai tendance à douter et à donner sa chance à l’auteur, car c’est sa façon de dénouer les fils fera la différence. En l’occurrence, avec Anne Perry, je n’ai pas encore été déçue, c’est la première fois que l’explication m’a sauté aux yeux dès le début, mais elle continue à développer son intrigue d’une manière confondante au point que l’on scrute encore plus les détails qui pourraient confirmer ou infirmer nos soupçons. Les descriptions d’Anne Perry sont minutieuses, mais jamais excessives, ses portraits sont fouillés, étudiés, mais jamais caricaturaux, la psychologie des uns et des autres reste toujours cohérente et l’Angleterre victorienne toujours aussi bien évoquée. De longs passages sont consacrés aux quartiers pauvres de Londres, les descriptions sont saisissantes, on sent presque la puanteur et la misère nous saute aux yeux. Pour le moment, je trouve qu’Anne Perry parvient toujours à se renouveler, j’entame donc le volume 7, Scandale et calomnie, fidèle à ma fixation du moment. (Cet endroit va finir par passer pour un blog consacré à l’œuvre d’Anne Perry, oops !…)
felinity's review against another edition
4.0
Anne Perry's books tend to be multi-faceted. On one side is the main plot, the mystery, while on another is a look at a certain aspect of life at the time, another shows the lot of women, another contains introspection on the part of the main characters and still another reveals the depth of the supporting cast.
Here, the main plot is a devoted and kind husband who never returned from meeting his brother. His wife fears he is dead, and worse - that she'll never be able to prove it, and, being a woman, has no control or legal claim over any of her husband's property or money. She engages Monk to ascertain what has happened to Angus.
At the same time, typhoid has broken out in Limestone, one of the poverty-striken areas of London; naturally Hester is amongst the few from the higher classes who reach out to do what they can. As she explains the true nature of poverty, the reader also joins Enid's startling realization of what this level of poverty really means: "The same [pan] for scrubbing the floor, for bathing the baby, for waste at night, and for cooking in." It's no wonder typhoid spreads, especially in these days before clean water was readily available and before sewer pipes were installed.
Hester and Monk are, by now, both acutely aware of each other's fault. You might say overly aware, because they certainly seem to be trying to convince themselves of something, though his steadfast loyalty and Hester's quick thinking keep bringing them together to shore up the other. And then there is Drusilla...
Here, the main plot is a devoted and kind husband who never returned from meeting his brother. His wife fears he is dead, and worse - that she'll never be able to prove it, and, being a woman, has no control or legal claim over any of her husband's property or money. She engages Monk to ascertain what has happened to Angus.
At the same time, typhoid has broken out in Limestone, one of the poverty-striken areas of London; naturally Hester is amongst the few from the higher classes who reach out to do what they can. As she explains the true nature of poverty, the reader also joins Enid's startling realization of what this level of poverty really means: "The same [pan] for scrubbing the floor, for bathing the baby, for waste at night, and for cooking in." It's no wonder typhoid spreads, especially in these days before clean water was readily available and before sewer pipes were installed.
Hester and Monk are, by now, both acutely aware of each other's fault. You might say overly aware, because they certainly seem to be trying to convince themselves of something, though his steadfast loyalty and Hester's quick thinking keep bringing them together to shore up the other. And then there is Drusilla...
lisaharrison's review against another edition
3.0
Not my taste at all. I think I'll pass on future books by this author.
we_are_all_mad_here26's review against another edition
3.0
An installment in this series in which I wondered: am I actually supposed to hate the main character?
Still there are books that I am anxious to get over with, and there are books that I look forward to reading, and as this was one of the latter I will continue.
Still there are books that I am anxious to get over with, and there are books that I look forward to reading, and as this was one of the latter I will continue.
thenovelbook's review against another edition
4.0
From the first chapter I concluded what had happened, and was right. No surprises. But still plenty to enjoy in the characters. Sideline story: Monk, the detective still trying to piece together his life after a bout of amnesia, comes up against a new threat of a woman trying to ruin him, and he cannot at all remember why. Meanwhile, his relationship with Hester, the Crimean nurse, is becoming increasingly frustrating, and he dare not admit even to himself why he is always so harsh with her. All this while they are investigating the disappearance of a wealthy businessman who went to visit his evil twin brother in the bad side of town.
squishies's review against another edition
3.0
I had an inkling that maybe, just maybe, Angus and Caleb were one person with either schizophrenia or was bipolar. But I kept getting totally thrown by the constant mention of two kids. Felt vindicated that I was right! Sneaky book trying to be sneaky.
Also, what's up with that side story line of that lady wanting revenge on Monk? And it was all neatly dealt with by Hester? Did Monk even know what she did for him? But seriously, Monk's kryptonite is definitely pretty ladies - his senses gets so hazy with them.
Also, what's up with that side story line of that lady wanting revenge on Monk? And it was all neatly dealt with by Hester? Did Monk even know what she did for him? But seriously, Monk's kryptonite is definitely pretty ladies - his senses gets so hazy with them.
katmarhan's review against another edition
3.0
7/10
I thought I had the twist figured out and then I discounted it. And I felt so badly for Monk after his experience with Drusilla. But who came to his rescue?
I thought I had the twist figured out and then I discounted it. And I felt so badly for Monk after his experience with Drusilla. But who came to his rescue?
taisie22's review against another edition
4.0
William Monk must find a missing man whose wife fears he was killed by his twin brother. Hester has been nursing at a fever hospital in the same poor area of London where the brother lives.
I enjoy this series, and in some ways, this was one of the best. The action seemed to happen sooner than in some of the books where the mystery is dragged out until the very end. Here I was able to figure out the solution to the mystery early though not the details of how it came together, but I still enjoyed the story very much. All the characters are always interesting though I'm becoming a bit tired of Monk's constant rudeness to Hester.
There was also a subplot where a woman accuses Monk of attacking her. Hester comes up with the solution for that but Monk doesn't even seem to be aware of it and any subsequent worrying or consequences are just left flat with no real resolution in his mind. I would have liked Monk to be aware of Hester's intervention on his behalf. Maybe it'll be resolved better in the next book.
It's still a great series.
I enjoy this series, and in some ways, this was one of the best. The action seemed to happen sooner than in some of the books where the mystery is dragged out until the very end. Here I was able to figure out the solution to the mystery early though not the details of how it came together, but I still enjoyed the story very much. All the characters are always interesting though I'm becoming a bit tired of Monk's constant rudeness to Hester.
There was also a subplot where a woman accuses Monk of attacking her. Hester comes up with the solution for that but Monk doesn't even seem to be aware of it and any subsequent worrying or consequences are just left flat with no real resolution in his mind. I would have liked Monk to be aware of Hester's intervention on his behalf. Maybe it'll be resolved better in the next book.
It's still a great series.