Scan barcode
castiel67's review against another edition
Excellent book, well written, thoroughly engaging story. So far, my favourite of the William Monk series.
susan_ok's review against another edition
4.0
These books always drag a little at the end but I could not tell who did it which I always count as a great mystery. I also really love this series. Long live William and Hester Monk.
lizisreadingagain's review against another edition
3.0
I love Anne Perry's books, but this one seemed to drag a little.
snickies's review against another edition
2.0
It was ok. It really dragged in the middle though. We don't need two hundred pages of red herring.
felinity's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
It's a good thing Monk's tentative truce with Runcorn remains in effect, because their best chance of finding the truth lies in working together.
This time, Kristian is the one with everything at stake - and even if he wins, he may still lose. As an immigrant, and a murdered woman's husband, he's first on the list of suspects. Can anything be found to save him? And what is Imogen's secret, that Charles can't bear to leave yet requires Hester's help?
Note for Kindle readers: the last 12% contained all previews of other books, so set your expectations accordingly.
It's a good thing Monk's tentative truce with Runcorn remains in effect, because their best chance of finding the truth lies in working together.
This time, Kristian is the one with everything at stake - and even if he wins, he may still lose. As an immigrant, and a murdered woman's husband, he's first on the list of suspects. Can anything be found to save him? And what is Imogen's secret, that Charles can't bear to leave yet requires Hester's help?
Note for Kindle readers: the last 12% contained all previews of other books, so set your expectations accordingly.
we_are_all_mad_here26's review against another edition
2.0
I've gotten somewhat used to the abundance of introspection in this series, and the repetitiveness of some of those introspective thoughts. This installment went a bit overboard in both.
Also, the ending was stupidly improbable and
Here's to #13 being less annoying.
Also, the ending was stupidly improbable and
Spoiler
had almost nothing to do with the rest of the plot.Here's to #13 being less annoying.
cheryl6of8's review against another edition
4.0
I really need to read more of the books in this series -- and I need to find out more about the Austrian uprising of 1848. This book deals with the question of friendship and what we would do if pushed to the edge of ruin and, to some extent, the question of political expediency. When Dr. Kristian Beck stands accused of the murder of his wife and another woman, Monk and Hester and Lady Callandra push themselves to the edge to prove him innocent. While they all concede that he might have been driven to kill his wife, the other woman was killed to cover up the crime and that no one can accept. Monk is forced to work with Runcorn and the two of them become closer and Monk has to put aside many of his prejudices about the man as the case goes on and his humanity shows through his ambition and vanity. Monk also travels to Austria in search of additional information, while Hester is left to consider that someone within her own family knows more about the murder than they are revealing.
This was a good mystery -- I somewhat guessed whodunit, though not why, and the clues weren't strong. The best part though was the psychological exploration of motives and bias and what we allow ourselves to see or be blind to in other people. I had a hard time putting it down.
This was a good mystery -- I somewhat guessed whodunit, though not why, and the clues weren't strong. The best part though was the psychological exploration of motives and bias and what we allow ourselves to see or be blind to in other people. I had a hard time putting it down.
katmarhan's review against another edition
3.0
This 12th book in the William Monk series was satisfying in the way it explored not only the special relationship between William and Hester, his wife, but also relationships among family, friends and colleagues--William & Hester with Lady Callandra, Callandra with Dr. Kristian Beck, Kristian with his wife and their friends from the revolution in Austria, Hester with her brother Charles and his wife Imogen, and Monk with his former police superior, Runyon.
The mystery itself--the murders of Dr. Beck's wife and another woman--provides the lens through which the reader views these relationships. There were the usual tantalizing side stories with various possible motives and suspects. The final reveal was a little too far-fetched for me, but the social justice issues and the questions each character ponders about who he/she really is are the heart of the story anyway, and not the mystery.
The mystery itself--the murders of Dr. Beck's wife and another woman--provides the lens through which the reader views these relationships. There were the usual tantalizing side stories with various possible motives and suspects. The final reveal was a little too far-fetched for me, but the social justice issues and the questions each character ponders about who he/she really is are the heart of the story anyway, and not the mystery.