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A review by jlmb
A Dangerous Mourning by Anne Perry
3.0
Entertaining mystery but nothing amazing or mind-blowing. I read the first in the series about 10 years ago and recalled liking it so I figured, "what the hell" when I saw this at the library. I think the most minding-blowing thing about Anne Perry is finding out she was one of the real-life teen murderesses from New Zealand. The crime the Kate Winslet movie Heavenly Creatures is about. It certainly adds a twist to any crime novel one reads - knowing the author has murdered someone in real life - not just written about a crime but done it.
As for the story itself, I guessed who-did-it rather quickly. Didn't guess all the ins & outs so that part kept me reading. Perry is more into the atmosphere of the story. She excels at describing Victorian England. I especially enjoyed all the parts about below the stairs/ the servants. Very Downton Abbey. As for the hero himself, it's hard to feel a connection. Perry makes the main character an amnesiac which in turn makes it difficult to care for him when we know so little about him. I get that it is a mystery within a mystery; Monk is attempting to solve the question of who he is while at the same time solving a murder. It's just that a blank protagonist is hard to bond with.
Honestly, the love story bugged me the most. Oh, it's not one yet but it will be. The relationship between Monk and the nurse Hester is classic romantic tension. They hate each other! But they are attracted to each other! But they hate each other! So let's just trade witty barbs for several books before consummating the relationship! - You know, like on tv, - Cheers, Moonlighting, Lost, and a million others. It'd be nice to have a more unique relationship for Monk since his personality is a zero at this point.
I'll keep reading the series for a bit. Perry is good with the structure and pacing of the book. She keeps the tense moments and questions going - very "one more chapter and then I'll turn the light off". I'm not sure how well these stories will stick to my psyche but as a bit of entertaining reading this series is fine.
As for the story itself, I guessed who-did-it rather quickly. Didn't guess all the ins & outs so that part kept me reading. Perry is more into the atmosphere of the story. She excels at describing Victorian England. I especially enjoyed all the parts about below the stairs/ the servants. Very Downton Abbey. As for the hero himself, it's hard to feel a connection. Perry makes the main character an amnesiac which in turn makes it difficult to care for him when we know so little about him. I get that it is a mystery within a mystery; Monk is attempting to solve the question of who he is while at the same time solving a murder. It's just that a blank protagonist is hard to bond with.
Honestly, the love story bugged me the most. Oh, it's not one yet but it will be. The relationship between Monk and the nurse Hester is classic romantic tension. They hate each other! But they are attracted to each other! But they hate each other! So let's just trade witty barbs for several books before consummating the relationship! - You know, like on tv, - Cheers, Moonlighting, Lost, and a million others. It'd be nice to have a more unique relationship for Monk since his personality is a zero at this point.
I'll keep reading the series for a bit. Perry is good with the structure and pacing of the book. She keeps the tense moments and questions going - very "one more chapter and then I'll turn the light off". I'm not sure how well these stories will stick to my psyche but as a bit of entertaining reading this series is fine.