Funeral in Blue

Rating:
Summary: A Disappointing Plot and Murder Investigation
Review: The strength of the Anne Perry books about William Monk and his nurse wife, Hester, is in describing the nitty-gritty of ordinary life in Victorian London. In Funeral in Blue, Ms. Perry extends her talents to do the same for Vienna. As a result, the book's best moments are those exploring the passions and conflicts of the unsuccessful revolution there in 1848.

Unfortunately, Ms. Perry overreaches herself in dragging those momentous events into the story. The rest of the plot also seems contrived and moves oh so slowly. Despite enough red herrings to fill a pickle barrel, it's very obvious to any reader who the murderer was except to the fictional characters who are investigating the murder. As a result, the angst that William and Hester go through is simply painful to read.

I read this book after enjoying The Shifting Tide. If you decide to read one of the novels in the series, I strongly suggest that you read The Shifting Tide instead. It's vastly more interesting, fast moving and well constructed than this one.

Rating:
Summary: A good try
Review: The writing and atmosphere are good in this one, but the plot stinks. We are constantly told what characters are like and how they feel, but we see little direct evidence to prove it. Too many plot threads, one involving Hester's brother and sister in law is created seemingly just for convenience in trying up part of the evidence in the main case. One good point- Runcorn is presented as a slightly more complex character. Monk sees him in a different light as they work together, and it seems as if some of their differences may be mending. It would be good for him to have an ally on the police force again. It seems that Monk is going to try and re establish some contact with his remaining relatives, and that would be good as well. It's about time that Anne Perry started to tie up the threads of Monk's life and bring the series to a close before it becomes unreadable. How many more dreadful dark family secrets can she work into her plots before she runs out of ideas?

Rating:
Summary: Thumbs down
Review: This is my first Anne Perry book, and it very well may be my last. I give this book two stars (instead of one) because of some mildly interesting characters and some nice period images of London. Otherwise, as a mystery, this book is the opposite of a "page-turner," plodding along with relatively few plot developments and virtually no suspense. I had hoped that the ending would make the voyage worthwhile, but alas, the conclusion is an embarrassment. Thumbs down.

Rating:
Summary: Thumbs down
Review: This is my first Anne Perry book, and it very well may be my last. I give this book two stars (instead of one) because of some mildly interesting characters and some nice period images of London. Otherwise, as a mystery, this book is the opposite of a "page-turner," plodding along with relatively few plot developments and virtually no suspense. I had hoped that the ending would make the voyage worthwhile, but alas, the conclusion is an embarrassment. Thumbs down.

Rating:
Summary: A Formula Mystery
Review: This is my first Perry book and I am disappointed. First, the plot is your typical mystery formula with false runs and blind ends, and a bit of a 'surprise' ending (but not really.)

Second, the characters are all 'canned,' from the heroic freedom-fighter Elissa to the compassionate nurse, Hester, to the dedicated and logical surgeon, Beck, and on and on.

Third, Perry uses the annoying technique of telling you what to think of her characters, instead of building their reputations on their actions and letting you decide for yourself what to think.

I gave it Two Stars instead of One Star because there were some interesting period scenes of old England and some historical insights.

Overall, it was boring.

Rating:
Summary: Murder with Victorian Restraint
Review: This low-key murder mystery is set in the London of 1861. The major characters all are well-born, though not necessarily solvent. A high-spirited woman who fought in the failed 1848 revolution in Vienna is found dead in an artist's flat in London, along with the body of a woman of much less repute. Investigator William Monk and his wife Hester pursue the case, believing that the police have arrested the wrong man. Much of the motivation is driven by reactions to improper behavior, such as (horrors!) compulsive gambling. Characters struggle against Victorian restraints on personal behavior. London is dense with choking fog. All this would be interesting if the author had dropped a clue or two that would allow the reader to deduce the identity of the murderer. Unfortunately, we get an Agatha Christie ending.

Rating:
Summary: Murder with Victorian Restraint
Review: This low-key murder mystery is set in the London of 1861. The major characters all are well-born, though not necessarily solvent. A high-spirited woman who fought in the failed 1848 revolution in Vienna is found dead in an artist's flat in London, along with the body of a woman of much less repute. Investigator William Monk and his wife Hester pursue the case, believing that the police have arrested the wrong man. Much of the motivation is driven by reactions to improper behavior, such as (horrors!) compulsive gambling. Characters struggle against Victorian restraints on personal behavior. London is dense with choking fog. All this would be interesting if the author had dropped a clue or two that would allow the reader to deduce the identity of the murderer. Unfortunately, we get an Agatha Christie ending.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderfully written Victorian Novel...
Review: Two beautiful women are found strangled in the studio of a well-known London artist--Investigator William Monk and his wife are on the case in Anna Perry's wonderfully written Victorian Novel, 'Funeral in Blue.'

Rating:
Summary: Excellent mystery
Review: Victorian era private investigator William Monk lost his memory in a London accident six years ago. He remade himself and his wife Hester is very proud of how her beloved has dealt with adversity. Hester studied nursing under Nightingale and assists surgeon Kristian Beck in the operating room.

When Kristian's wife and a model are killed in an artist's studio, Hester prevails upon Monk to investigate so that any stigma to her employer's name is removed. Unfortunately, Monk finds no evidence to clear him. Instead he finds many reasons why Kristian would want to kill his wife. The police arrest the doctor but his true friends rally around him and force Monk to dig deeper.

Anne Perry has written another fine mystery that captures the essence of Victorian England. Monk is at his best when he searches for the truth even if he is the only outside the police who feels Kristian murdered his spouse. Hester humanizes Monk by showing his compassionate side. Place FUNERAL IN BLUE on your book-shopping list if you want to read an excellent historical mystery by a talented author.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Not up to Perry's usual standards
Review: Well, this book was not what I hoped for when I picked it up. I love the Monk series, but this is not one of Perry's best. It begins with the murder of Kristian Beck's wife. Beck is a friend of Hester, and the secret object of Lady Callandra's love.

As another reviewer pointed out, Hester and William are separated throughout most of the book. What a contrast to "Slaves of Obsession", where the love and respect between the two was beautifully illustrated in almost every page.

And when they are together, Hester spends most of her time screeching at William every time he finds evidence that suggests that Kristian had motive and/or opportunity to kill his wife. What does she expect him to do? Lie? She is supposed to be a realist, but she runs around getting mad at her husband because he will not sugarcoat the facts to make things all better for Callandra.

And Lady Callandra. She is supposed to be a noble and decent woman, but her behavior! I was surprised that she didn't order her wedding clothes the instant she discovered that Beck was a widower. The victim is barely mourned, save for the inconvenience of Beck's arrest, which stands in the way of Lady Callandra finally getting the man she has been infatuated with for years.

And then there is the usual "discovery" of the victim's Dark Secret, which had nothing to do with the plot, or the murder. Why did Perry put it in? To make Lady Callandra's continued lusting after after another woman's husband more palatable to the reader? "It's all right to chase another woman's husband, if the other woman is not a nice person."