Reviews

Defend and Betray by Anne Perry

karynhansen's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

we_are_all_mad_here26's review against another edition

3.0

Entirely too many aquiline noses and too-wide mouths. For example: "Her cheekbones were broad, her nose short and aquiline, her mouth beautiful but far too wide..." Or this one: "She had a short, aquiline nose, very blue eyes and a mouth far too wide..."

Weirdly, all this very specific description of each character's face did nothing to give me a mental image of any of them.

Also, I'm starting to see a pattern in this series, in which the first half is somewhat tiresome, only to have the story take off like blazes in the second half.

I will likely read the next in the series, but I'll be okay waiting for it to come available at my library.

thenovelbook's review against another edition

2.0

Good writing, carefully plotted, and the main characters are becoming more vivid as the series goes on. However, in this book the revelations that solve the mystery are quite, quite sordid and make it unrecommendable (in my opinion).

maggymags's review against another edition

4.0

I am enjoying this series. My only complaint is that everyone has an aquiline nose - really annoying. A nice little stubby nose would do some characters just fine.

magistratrium's review against another edition

3.0

3 1/2 stars

squishies's review against another edition

4.0

Man... this book felt liked it dragged on even more than the last, but did it really deliver. Gah, so intense!

I had a suspicion of what it was and was willing Monk et al to consider it. Took them forever it seemed, but understandable given the time period.

Spoiler

I found it weird that Mrs. Furnival was arrested for telling Valentine not to tell anyone so her husband wouldn't lose his army contract, but Mrs. Carlyon supplied kids to the general for years and she gets off scot free. Isn't that worse?! The only reason why I think that the court left it as is, is because the kids were from the streets / of "low quality" so they didn't "matter". Infuriating.

Or did I miss something?

schlotte's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

melissasbookshelf's review against another edition

3.0

I liked this next book in the Monk series. This case is particularly sordid, but seemed a little obvious. The ending has a few surprises that I didn't see coming and enough misdirection that one of the villains I didn't suspect at all. It's a harsh commentary on Victorian England, especially concerning the rights of women and children. I recommend this though the case does involved some especially heinous crimes. As always, the narrator was fabulous.

mamanrees's review against another edition

3.0

I'm really conflicted on how to rate this book. The story was compelling, and I thought Perry did a good job of using the story to illustrate how very limited the rights of women and children were in Victorian England. That said, I can't say I loved it, nor would I be able to recommend it without heavy caveats. It probably has a lot to do with my own stage of life, but I found it incredibly painful and disturbing to read the final few chapters.

Spoiler

I have three sons, the oldest of whom is six. I had no idea how difficult that would make finishing this book.

scully_67's review against another edition

mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0