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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
400mom's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoy Anne Perry's series about Thomas and Charlotte Pitt so much that I thought surely I would like her William Monk series. This is the 3rd book I have read in this series, however, and I don't think they are for me. As always, she does an excellent job of covering a social topic from Victorian London. I just don't seem to like the main characters. Obviously many people feel otherwise.
brandylynn01's review against another edition
3.0
Long book. Slow in spots. Even though I figured out the killer early on, didn’t see the motive.
vireogirl's review against another edition
4.0
Had an interesting section discussing whether God should instantly punish people who do wrong.
okenwillow's review against another edition
5.0
Dans cet épisode on comprend vite que l’auteur ne nous épargnera pas grand-chose. L’atmosphère déjà suintante devient carrément glauque avec le dénouement. Et dans toute cette fange humaine le trio Monk, Hester, Rathbone continue d’évoluer gentiment. Les bisbilles entre Monk et Hester sont un délice.
felinity's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
Anne Perry has yet to disappoint. Multi-layered plots are woven deftly around and with a core cast of characters, and each novel is laden with fascinating and yet tiny details that make the setting incredibly vivid without the reader being overloaded. In this case, she highlights the the poverty of factory workers, especially those women working for a pittance who are sometimes forced to occasionally prostitute themselves to feed their children, and the living conditions they must suffer.
In this, the eighth Monk book, young John Evan is tasked with finding the assailant who murdered one man and left another beaten almost to death. Taking on a case of this magnitude is more of a stretch for him, but he recalls Monk's methods and adapts them to his own personality.
Hester, meanwhile, has a difficult nursing case, one which brings her back to both Rathbone and Monk. Drawn to Rathbone, she still feels an inexplicable pull towards Monk, despite the antagonism they often feel for each other. Monk, meanwhile, is still getting flashes of his former life. Discovering - and admitting - his former flaws and his current feelings are not always pleasing, especially where Runcorn is involved.
And then, the horrifying truth of the assault is finally revealed. Masterful.
Anne Perry has yet to disappoint. Multi-layered plots are woven deftly around and with a core cast of characters, and each novel is laden with fascinating and yet tiny details that make the setting incredibly vivid without the reader being overloaded. In this case, she highlights the the poverty of factory workers, especially those women working for a pittance who are sometimes forced to occasionally prostitute themselves to feed their children, and the living conditions they must suffer.
In this, the eighth Monk book, young John Evan is tasked with finding the assailant who murdered one man and left another beaten almost to death. Taking on a case of this magnitude is more of a stretch for him, but he recalls Monk's methods and adapts them to his own personality.
Hester, meanwhile, has a difficult nursing case, one which brings her back to both Rathbone and Monk. Drawn to Rathbone, she still feels an inexplicable pull towards Monk, despite the antagonism they often feel for each other. Monk, meanwhile, is still getting flashes of his former life. Discovering - and admitting - his former flaws and his current feelings are not always pleasing, especially where Runcorn is involved.
And then, the horrifying truth of the assault is finally revealed. Masterful.
we_are_all_mad_here26's review against another edition
3.0
Another William Monk/Hester Latterly installment in which Monk wonders, at length, about an awful lot of things. Generally to do with himself. I'm paraphrasing here but - Had he really been this type of person? Had he been that vindictive? Could he really have gone so far to ruin another person, for little or no reason? And so on.
Many more faces described via a statement regarding the eyes, nose and mouth, none of which gave so much as a basis for imagining the person's appearance. Plenty of too-long noses, unusual mouths, women who (again paraphrasing) "aren't beautiful but have a kind of vigor and intelligence that is far more interesting than mere beauty."
Also, I again identified one of the bad guys well before any paid investigator.
And yet I remain drawn to this series and will certainly continue. Surely one of these days Monk will quit being such a bastard and Hester will have a nice day.
Many more faces described via a statement regarding the eyes, nose and mouth, none of which gave so much as a basis for imagining the person's appearance. Plenty of too-long noses, unusual mouths, women who (again paraphrasing) "aren't beautiful but have a kind of vigor and intelligence that is far more interesting than mere beauty."
Also, I again identified one of the bad guys well before any paid investigator.
And yet I remain drawn to this series and will certainly continue. Surely one of these days Monk will quit being such a bastard and Hester will have a nice day.
thenovelbook's review against another edition
Cannot recommend this book. Too gross to merit the title of "cozy" mystery.
demottar's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoy this series and the complicated characters, but rereading them as an adult, it's somewhat difficult to excuse the many plot holes and heavy-handedness of Perry's writing. There is much repetition (from earlier books) and far too many "aquiline noses." I like to think that she's using physiognomy as a device, but somehow I doubt that's her intent.
While The Silent Cry wasn't as strong as some of her later novels in this series, I did really enjoy the developments in Monk's personal life, and his reconciliation with Runcorn in particular.
While The Silent Cry wasn't as strong as some of her later novels in this series, I did really enjoy the developments in Monk's personal life, and his reconciliation with Runcorn in particular.
squishies's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This love triangle is becoming so much more apparent and already I am sick of it. Hester, bloody well make up your mind woman! UGH
Beyond this irritating development, I felt that The Silent Cry is one of the more interesting Monk novels. I had so many theories while I was reading, some things fell into place quite quickly, but others (while being suspicious) did not reveal itself until the end.
Also... I really did not see that coming.
This love triangle is becoming so much more apparent and already I am sick of it. Hester, bloody well make up your mind woman! UGH
Beyond this irritating development, I felt that The Silent Cry is one of the more interesting Monk novels. I had so many theories while I was reading, some things fell into place quite quickly, but others (while being suspicious) did not reveal itself until the end.
Also... I really did not see that coming.