Scan barcode
okenwillow's review against another edition
5.0
Anne Perry nous a habitués à ses intrigues tordues mais la surprise est toujours là ! De deux choses l’une, on peut trouver le dénouement tiré par les cheveux, ou le trouver génialissime. De nature positive, j’opte pour la seconde option. Les esprits les plus renfrognés le trouveront trop improbable. Encore une fois, du grand art, du génie ! La scène ultime de demande en mariage (enfin !!!) est hors norme, mais digne de ses protagonistes.
felinity's review against another edition
5.0
At first, this seems like a strangely trivial case for a mystery series. A young man called Melville approaches Rathbone, asking for his help defending a breach of promise suit. Rathbone somewhat reluctantly agrees, but knows he can't possibly win - Melville won't give him any reason, and everything points to an understanding and a plan of marriage!
At the same time, however, Rathbone and Monk are individually coming to recognize the intangible benefits, as well as the costs, of marriage: in fact, Monk is contemplating it quite seriously.
Full of the little details that make Anne Perry's books so wonderful, including the Queen's fashion sense, as well as the vivid descriptions of life in India, architecture, and life plans. Each book tends to have at least one social theme, highlighting aspects of the time. Here we learn about the Indian mutiny and massacre at Cawnpore with such terrible consequences, affecting so many noncombatants; the innate sexism of the time, and even society's instance on beauty and horror of deformity. Each can be tragic, in a very different way, and each constricts people info conformation as best they can. I could write an entire essay on the social commentary, but I really mustn't...
Women are treated as hothouse flowers, determined to be fragile but beautiful, purely ornamentative and not to be troubled with nastiness but always protected so that the home may be a sanctuary. That sounds pleasant in theory, but in practice it - as Perry notes - leaves men who are troubled unable to share with their wives, creating isolation, unhappiness and greater stress.
Hester doesn't want this, nor will she stand for it in others. The question is: Will Monk or Rathbone accept it in her? Do they value Hester for who she is, not what they expect? And which will realize it first?
At the same time, however, Rathbone and Monk are individually coming to recognize the intangible benefits, as well as the costs, of marriage: in fact, Monk is contemplating it quite seriously.
Full of the little details that make Anne Perry's books so wonderful, including the Queen's fashion sense, as well as the vivid descriptions of life in India, architecture, and life plans. Each book tends to have at least one social theme, highlighting aspects of the time. Here we learn about the Indian mutiny and massacre at Cawnpore with such terrible consequences, affecting so many noncombatants; the innate sexism of the time, and even society's instance on beauty and horror of deformity. Each can be tragic, in a very different way, and each constricts people info conformation as best they can. I could write an entire essay on the social commentary, but I really mustn't...
Women are treated as hothouse flowers, determined to be fragile but beautiful, purely ornamentative and not to be troubled with nastiness but always protected so that the home may be a sanctuary. That sounds pleasant in theory, but in practice it - as Perry notes - leaves men who are troubled unable to share with their wives, creating isolation, unhappiness and greater stress.
Spoiler
This meant I cheered for Perdita! The relief of seeing her stand up for herself and Gabriel, and her impassioned defence of both Gabriel and Hester's view, was incredible. And Monk's defence of women's knowledge, pointing out quite rightly that they must understand mathematics to run a household, seems to be a turning point for him.Hester doesn't want this, nor will she stand for it in others. The question is: Will Monk or Rathbone accept it in her? Do they value Hester for who she is, not what they expect? And which will realize it first?
kelliepalmer's review against another edition
3.0
Things I loved about this book: the writing was intriguing. The dialogue was engaging. The descriptions were detailed. There were a lot of unexpected moments and big reveals that I did not see coming.
What I didn’t like: I skipped lots of parts that I didn’t feel were needed in the story. I skimmed a good portion of the book. The ending was lacking. I needed to find out what happened to the bad guy and their family.
What I didn’t like: I skipped lots of parts that I didn’t feel were needed in the story. I skimmed a good portion of the book. The ending was lacking. I needed to find out what happened to the bad guy and their family.
we_are_all_mad_here26's review against another edition
4.0
I am very happy to report that, were I somehow transported back in time to Victorian England, I would likely be a real superstar of a detective. In this case I actually did not have everything figured out ahead of time. But only because the hapless/genius Monk (and Rathbone too) did not ask the right questions of the right people.
It still would seem the author feels like she may not have convinced us to hate Monk yet, or at least not to hate him enough. Here is an example of one of the things he says to Hester for which I am not sure how she restrained herself from stabbing him:
"It has become a habit with you to tell people what to do for their welfare. It is extremely unattractive. You remind me of one of the more miserable types of governess. Nobody likes to be ordered around, even if the person doing it is correct."
All the same I think this was my favorite in the series so far. I may never be able to explain why I like it so much.
It still would seem the author feels like she may not have convinced us to hate Monk yet, or at least not to hate him enough. Here is an example of one of the things he says to Hester for which I am not sure how she restrained herself from stabbing him:
"It has become a habit with you to tell people what to do for their welfare. It is extremely unattractive. You remind me of one of the more miserable types of governess. Nobody likes to be ordered around, even if the person doing it is correct."
All the same I think this was my favorite in the series so far. I may never be able to explain why I like it so much.
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Love Anne Perry!
Spoiler
I hate that Monk proposes on the last page and we have to wait for the next book to see what happens! I also didn't like the ending to this one because nothing is really resolved. We have proof that Samuel and Keelin were murdered, but we don't get the satisfaction of Monk and Hester confronting the killer.katmarhan's review against another edition
4.0
A satisfying mystery with unexpected twists and turns. Best of all, it furthers the personal stories of William Monk, Hester Latterly, and Oliver Rathbone, continuing characters in Perry's William Monk mystery series.
caterina_1212's review against another edition
2.0
I picked this book as my introduction to Anne Perry because it was the highest rated Anne Perry book that my library stocked. This backfired on me as it deals primarily with the relationships between the main characters and how they've developed over the past 8 books, and the criminal plot is relegated to a 3rd or 4th level storyline depending on how you group the characters' relationships. Most people seemed to rate the novel based on the Hester love triangle and all its developments (no worries - no spoilers here!), but the handling of the actual court case was painful. It plodded along so slowly I had time to second guess my initial conclusion regarding the defendant several times, just to find out I was right all along. And the shocking conclusion, really it was just odd the way everything worked out with the criminal case, and again the Hester-lawyer-detective relationship took the forefront of the story. I'm sure people invested in the relationships of these characters enjoyed that part of the novel, but based on the throwaway storyline about a broken engagement ("breach of promise" - it's the title, how isn't it the main storyline?) I have serious doubts regarding how her other novels are handled.
taisie22's review against another edition
5.0
Oliver Rathbone takes on a breach of promise case. The young man, Killian Melville, involved insists he didn't ask the woman to marry him, but her family is suing anyway. Monk must investigate since no one understands why Melville won't marry the beautiful and eligible heiress. Meanwhile, Hester is nursing a soldier, a survivor of the Indian mutiny badly wounded in a street brawl afterward.
I've been reading the Monk books in order and I think this is the best one yet. The storylines are strong and meld together at the end in a very satisfactory manner. More than the mysteries I enjoy the way Ms. Perry writes about Victorian society and this book covers both attitudes toward women of that era and the way in which the deformed are treated.
Having finally resolved his relationship with Runcorn in the last book, Monk is now free to deal with his own feelings. He's mellowed some over time and is finally ready to confront his true feelings toward Hester.
Another great book in this series.
I've been reading the Monk books in order and I think this is the best one yet. The storylines are strong and meld together at the end in a very satisfactory manner. More than the mysteries I enjoy the way Ms. Perry writes about Victorian society and this book covers both attitudes toward women of that era and the way in which the deformed are treated.
Having finally resolved his relationship with Runcorn in the last book, Monk is now free to deal with his own feelings. He's mellowed some over time and is finally ready to confront his true feelings toward Hester.
Another great book in this series.
trufyre's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.0
ccaterer's review against another edition
4.0
This is a real page-turner by that master of the Victorian mystery, Anne Perry. I always enjoy the Monk-Latterly banter, and the plot twists were enjoyable, if not always surprising. I zipped through this book in two days, which isn't often the case. Highly compelling and great fun to read!