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lizisreadingagain's review against another edition
3.0
This was a slow read for sure, but the last 100 pages redeemed the story for me. I wanted to find out what the secrets were of Monk's past, and Anne Perry finally brought them out in this book.
olktree125's review against another edition
3.0
Mostly boring. Read about 100 pages then skipped to the last three chapters. Didn't miss a thing.
felinity's review against another edition
5.0
Hester's landlord is most unhappy about her clinic, squeezing her for more money and making life generally awkward, while she tries to educate the rare helpers in the realities of life: it's shocking to realize that a 12-14 hour day of "honest" work would pay less than 2 shillings, scarcely enough to get by.
Meanwhile, Monk is engaged on a different matter: investigating a future husband's business interests. As he digs into the railroad industry he discovers ties to his own past, encountering more flashes of memory, and as old secrets rise to the surface, intertwining past and present, he begins to fear the man he used to be. Fearful actions may jeopardize everything he holds dear - what is it that he can't remember? A horrifying possibility is emerging, and it's one he can't bear to consider, but he must face it or face an even greater tragedy.
Anne Perry makes plain the pride of workmanship and skill of the navvies who construct railroads and viaducts across the world, and this contrasts strangely with the ongoing hypocrisy of society, which condemns the women forced into prostitution while ignoring the men who both enable and take advantage of it. As contemporary, social issues go, one is sadly now historic while the other continues, but the issues of prostitution and industry conflicts both remain.
Spoiler
I almost laughed aloud when I saw her masterful acquisition of the new location, and realized that finally Hester has some well-bred nurses!Meanwhile, Monk is engaged on a different matter: investigating a future husband's business interests. As he digs into the railroad industry he discovers ties to his own past, encountering more flashes of memory, and as old secrets rise to the surface, intertwining past and present, he begins to fear the man he used to be. Fearful actions may jeopardize everything he holds dear - what is it that he can't remember? A horrifying possibility is emerging, and it's one he can't bear to consider, but he must face it or face an even greater tragedy.
Anne Perry makes plain the pride of workmanship and skill of the navvies who construct railroads and viaducts across the world, and this contrasts strangely with the ongoing hypocrisy of society, which condemns the women forced into prostitution while ignoring the men who both enable and take advantage of it. As contemporary, social issues go, one is sadly now historic while the other continues, but the issues of prostitution and industry conflicts both remain.
we_are_all_mad_here26's review against another edition
4.0
This one had more pluses and minuses than usual, and that is saying something.
On the plus side, I loved Hester's story and loved the characters around her. I loved that we finally get a big piece of Monk's history. And I loved the not-so-standard courtroom scene/train chase ending.
Did not love Monk's endless quest to beat the wrong clues to death, nor did I love his endless self-absorbed soul-searching. We can only hope that finally having some answers will shut him up.
On the plus side, I loved Hester's story and loved the characters around her. I loved that we finally get a big piece of Monk's history. And I loved the not-so-standard courtroom scene/train chase ending.
Did not love Monk's endless quest to beat the wrong clues to death, nor did I love his endless self-absorbed soul-searching. We can only hope that finally having some answers will shut him up.
demottar's review against another edition
3.0
None of Anne Perry's books are really that great, but there is something still very readable about them. Her Victorian London details are spot on and create a very strong sense of place and time and I always enjoy her neighborhood name dropping and descriptions of period clothing. I enjoyed Death of a Stranger only slightly less than my two favorites in this series The Twisted Root and A Breach of Promise, and the common thread between the three is an abundance of personal moments between Hester and William Monk, which I have been living for since I read my first Anne Perry book in 7th grade.
As far as this mystery goes, it's not as thrilling as some of her earlier novels, but it does shed light on Monk's past and we actually learn about his deep, dark secrets, pre-amnesia. (They're not really that deep or dark, but I'm still glad to finally be in the know and I still love William Monk.) Hester's part of the mystery is, oddly, more lighthearted, even though it deals with prostitution, murder, and extortion.
My main complaint with this novel, aside from Anne Perry's signature bloated writing, is that the "brilliant" William Monk is a terrible detective in it! He wastes so much time and money running around all of London and Liverpool not solving his case while the lovely Oliver Rathbone solves it for him in what is probably Anne Perry's least believable courtroom scene yet.
If you're new to the series and interested, start with A Breach of Promise which is definitely the best in this series and possibly a good mystery novel on its own. At that point, you can work forward or backward, depending on which mysteries grab your attention. For me, I'm committed to finishing the whole series in order, an endeavor I started almost 20 years ago, so I'll be moving on to The Shifting Tide next.
As far as this mystery goes, it's not as thrilling as some of her earlier novels, but it does shed light on Monk's past and we actually learn about his deep, dark secrets, pre-amnesia. (They're not really that deep or dark, but I'm still glad to finally be in the know and I still love William Monk.) Hester's part of the mystery is, oddly, more lighthearted, even though it deals with prostitution, murder, and extortion.
My main complaint with this novel, aside from Anne Perry's signature bloated writing, is that the "brilliant" William Monk is a terrible detective in it! He wastes so much time and money running around all of London and Liverpool not solving his case while the lovely Oliver Rathbone solves it for him in what is probably Anne Perry's least believable courtroom scene yet.
If you're new to the series and interested, start with A Breach of Promise which is definitely the best in this series and possibly a good mystery novel on its own. At that point, you can work forward or backward, depending on which mysteries grab your attention. For me, I'm committed to finishing the whole series in order, an endeavor I started almost 20 years ago, so I'll be moving on to The Shifting Tide next.
katmarhan's review against another edition
4.0
9/10
Convoluted but satisfying, this installment in the William Monk mysteries gives us an interconnected story of William's case investigating possible fraud and Hester's involvement in a clinic for prostitutes. Best of all, we see an emerging romance for Sir Oliver Rathbone and an opportunity for William Monk to finally learn some of the truth of his forgotten past.
Convoluted but satisfying, this installment in the William Monk mysteries gives us an interconnected story of William's case investigating possible fraud and Hester's involvement in a clinic for prostitutes. Best of all, we see an emerging romance for Sir Oliver Rathbone and an opportunity for William Monk to finally learn some of the truth of his forgotten past.
taisie22's review against another edition
4.0
In this, the thirteenth book of the series, Monk is hired by a young woman to investigate a new railroad for fraud. It takes him back to the mysteries of his past life. Meanwhile, Hester is working in a refuge for injured and sick prostitutes who are being badly beaten. A prosperous railroad owner is found dead, and Hester tries to find out who murdered him.
Much of Monk's past is finally revealed finally. Oliver, Runcorn, and other of the recurring characters in the series show up which is always fun. Monk and Hester seem somewhat separated after the closeness in the recent books, but hopefully, they'll be able to confide in each other better going forward.
This series is always an enjoyable read.
Much of Monk's past is finally revealed finally. Oliver, Runcorn, and other of the recurring characters in the series show up which is always fun. Monk and Hester seem somewhat separated after the closeness in the recent books, but hopefully, they'll be able to confide in each other better going forward.
This series is always an enjoyable read.
amylee218's review against another edition
3.0
The scenes with Hester at the clinic caught my attention, the middle flagged a bit (maybe because I haven't read the series and was less invested in Monk's memories), and the last third was good-- things were really tied up nicely. Some of the people or things at fault were obvious to me before the book characters figured them out, but I didn't mind that. I enjoyed Hester's cunning and how she solved her problem, and I liked the big courtroom scenes at the end. I would read more of this series.