Death of a Stranger

Rating:
Summary: good...
Review: Death of a Stranger, Anne Perry's latest installment in the William Monk series, is a good, entertaining read, but it could have used a little more meat on its bones. Perhaps Perry was rushed to meet a deadline. As Hester works in a charity medical clinic in the slums and investigates the beatings of prostitutes, and as Monk looks into the possibility of railroad fraud for a woman who is afraid for her finacee, Monk finds that, though he can't discover any current fraud, he fears that in his past life he had less than honorable dealings in another railroad fraud sixteen years ago.

Monk's fear of finding that he had been involved in something illegal or immoral estranges him from Hester, and Hester is uncertain what to do about it. As the action accelerates, though, that part of the story is neglected, leaving one wishing for more character-oriented material. The two storylines-- Hester's doings in Coldbath Fields and Monk's railway investigation--do not intersect enough, and at times one must assume a conversation relaying important information between them took place. Also, whether or not (or, if he does, how) Monk confides his fears and certain important events and information to Hester, we are not told, and since much of the first half of the book deals with that issue, it's strange that their interactions all but cease in the last 120 pages. Basically, I was left feeling that the book needed a few more scenes depicting Hester's and Monk's interactions were needed. Monk certainly spends a lot of time in the first half of the book agonizing about how Hester would feel about him if he had done something wrong in the past, but there is no resolution, or confrontation of this issue as one would expect. Perhaps in the next Monk/Hester novel this will come out, but it would have been appropriate in Death of a Stranger. Lack of it gives a somewhat sketchy, unfinished feel.

There were also some small inconsistencies (or seeming inconsistencies) that niggle slightly. The woman Monk undertakes an investigation for, Katarina Harcus, is a strong, interesting character, but I think some readers will start to figure her out before Monk does. However, the subplot with Rathbone (who is getting over Hester) helping Hester investigate beatings of prostitutes is excellent.

There are three reasons to read a Perry novel, the fine mysteries she cooks up, the descriptions of Victorian England, and the new information and insights into her characters. Unfortunately, the third element is not as srong as could be; I missed the richness of Hester and Monk's relationship that's more evident in earlier installments. An opportunity for Hester and Monk to face a real problem in their marriage is missed, and it shows. However, the unexpected (and unexpectedly action-packed) denoument is top-notch. Other positives include a practically laugh-out-loud funny sequence in which Rathbone helps Hester uncover the prostitutes' persecutor and the (re)introduction of spunky young Margaret, a well-to-do young woman who helps Hester in her clinic. Followers of the series will enjoy this latest book, and with its revelations about Monk's past, it's not to be missed.

Rating:
Summary: Hard to put down...
Review: Hester and William Monk become involved in the investigation of the murder of a railway executive in a brothel. At first, Hester and William are working on seperate cases (Hester finds that prostitutes are being abused by their clients from the women that come to her free clinic, and William is retained by the finacee of a young and successful railway executive to see if he is involved in fraud). Soon, Hester and William realize that their cases are connected, and William finds, as the investigation progresses, that his memory loss from a past accident is starting to come back, and that he may be involved with the railway fraud.

Riveting and suspenseful, it was a hard book to put down. Another winner for Perry, and one of the best in the Hester and William Monk series.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I admit when I read the publisher's blurb about this book claiming that William Monk would regain his memory I was very worried that after the suspense of his past being drawn out for twelve books that Anne Perry was suddenly going to play the entire card with a wishy-washy explanation for his sudden regaining of memory.

Thankfully, that's not the case. This is quite probably my favorite Monk novel since "The Sins of the Wolf". Great character development, and an intriguing mystery. The details of Monk's mentor and his ruin are worth the anticipation Ms. Perry's built up over the past few books, though in no way does he regain the entire memory of his life.

Katrina Harcus is a fascinating character, and while I figured out her actions, her motivation remained a mystery until the courtroom. Rathbone's moved beyond his lovelorn feelings for Hester, which is a great relief, and it was great to see *him* holding all the cards to figure out the mystery before Monk and Hester for once. Margaret Ballinger's a good match for him, and I greatly look forward to seeing more of her in future books.

Now, I admit I wavered between sympathy and irritation with Monk's reticence to talk to Hester about the entire affair. It seemed to be made clear in "Slaves of Obsession" that she cared only about the man he was, not who he had been. But then, none of us can truly appreciate losing our entire memory and finding it out piece by piece, and Ms. Perry does an excellent job of suggesting what it might be like for such a man. Another bit of confusion was some dates that don't seem to fit with earlier books, but I can easily overlook that in favor of a very good tale.

The mystery of railroad fraud is well-done, with the heat turned up when murder occurs. Characters both new and old are skillfully written, and it's worth reading for the details of Monk's past alone. Here's looking forward to the next entry, where perhaps Monk can finally find some peace about his past.

"Death of a Stranger" is a moving book, as much about Monk's fears and longing for redemption as the actual mystery of fraud, and that sort of empathy we develop with her characters is what places Anne Perry a cut above the rest. 5 stars, happily given.

Rating:
Summary: Anne Perry at her best.
Review: I always look forward to a new Anne Perry book. Every one is a winner. This one was no exception.The characters and places were so real I was transported back to Victorian times with them.
William was torn between finding out about about his past and
not really wanting to know. I thought he was a litte in love with Katrina dispite his love for Hester.

Hester was as strong a character as ever, working amongst and helping the prostitutes of London's East End She is determined
to solve the mystery and find the murderer in order to help William.Once again her friend and old suitor Oliver Rathbone came to her aid. This time with a hint of a romance to
come with a colleague of Hester's.

As usual the plot had a few different story lines all coming together as the story unfolded. This was a real nail biter .I cant say I couldn't put it down because actually it was the audio book I listened to. Thanks again to Anne and also to Terence Hardiman for the wonderful way he bought the characters to life. Cant wait for the next one in the series.

Rating:
Summary: This Book is a Very Definite Page Turner!
Review: I am a huge fun of Anne Perry and especially William and Hester Monk. What makes this book so special, is that Monk finally breaks the barrier to his amnesia, and remembers his past life. Another reason why this was a page turner for me is that I'm a huge railway fan, and this book is so full of rich detail about 19th century building of railroads in Britain. I have done numerous papers on railways, and Ms. Perry's facts are very well researched, but the reader also gets a glimpse of what the common people had to sacrifice for the good of the Iron Horse. Progress then was opposed as it is so often now because of the loss to the environment, people, floral or fauna. This is a great book, and I can only caution that new readers to William and Hester Monk should not start with this book. I think all of the preceeding novels must be read before this one can be fully appreciated. Thank you Ms. Perry for a wonderul series.

Rating:
Summary: A Series Milestone!
Review: I don't believe Anne Perry could write a bad book if you put a derringer to her head, but William and Hester Monk's latest case "Death of a Stranger" is definitely a series milestone and a solid gold reading experience. After their return from America, William has resumed his private investigative practice while Hester is donating her time and nursing expertise at a clinic in Coldbath Square which her friend Callandra Daviot has established to provide medical care for women of the streets. When a wealthy railroad magnate is found brutally murdered in a squalid brothel in that area, suspicion falls on the women whom Hester is trying to help. Attempting to prove their innocence, she stumbles upon a plot to force gently-bred women into usurious debt and prostitution and resolves with or without Monk's assistance to put a stop to
it. Naturally, she needs some help, so she turns to series regular, Sir Oliver Rathbone, with fascinating results. Meanwhile Monk has acquired a new client: Katrina Harcus, a beautiful and enigmatic woman who is concerned that her fiance, a trusted employee of the murdered man, may be involved in some kind of fraud in connection with a new and highly secret railroad project that the company is presently undertaking. When Monk agrees to handle her case and looks over the relevant papers that she has brought him, they evoke tragic echoes from his own past which start to shake him loose from his amnestic fog. Inevitably his and Hester/Rathbone's separate investigations intertwine, and another shocking death pulls the triumvirate deeper and deeper into the terrible implications of old horrors that suddenly threaten to become life-endangering present realities. The final pages of this brilliant piece of Victoriana held me completely spellbound.

Anne Perry is utterly addictive. I truly envy readers who encounter her chosen milieu for the first time because they have so many wonderful adventures yet to explore. Fortunately for those of us who absolutely require a regular Pitt/Monk 'fix', Ms. Perry's fertile imagination coupled with a prolific pen keeps devising newer and increasingly intricate, psychologically-fraught investigations for each of her two detective couples to pursue, and the wait between novels is never unbearably long. Her books just keep getting better and better, but "Death of a Stranger" is an especially satisfying and rich reward for our patience.

Rating:
Summary: Anne Perry Recovers Some of Her Verve in This Book
Review: I have to admit that I was once an avid fan of the Monk/Hester series but after reading 1999's The Twisted Root and guessing in the first chapter both the social ill du jour and the identity of the murderer I gave up reading her books for a while. However, I was very pleased to see Anne Perry back in something like her old form in this book.

The parts of the book dealing with Monk's partially recovered memory and Hester's battle to improve the condition of street prostitutes in London are very interesting. The morally ambiguous position Hester finds herself in provides food for thought. However, there was something a touch disturbing about the callousness of Monk's deceased mentor toward everyone but Monk and the denoument (while exciting enough) seems a bit cobbled onto the story.

The story also relies too much on coincidence. The person who has the information needed is killed before he can reveal it, the person who needs most to conceal evidence lays hands on it, even after a police search of the premises. Some coincidence is understandable, but when it starts to take over the plot it becomes annoying.

Also, I wish someone could explain the switching system that allowed the wreck the author describes. It seems that the switch (points in British rail terms) would be against one of the trains and it would have derailed at the switch instead of the wreck happening as she decribed.

Rating:
Summary: Has anyone seen Heavenly Creatures?
Review: I just saw this peter jackson movie about two girls who end up murdering one of their mothers. It's a true story and all, happened in new zealand in 1954. I wanted to see what the girls were up to, so I looked them up. Apparently Ms Perry is one of the girls. So i picked up a copy of the book, and I must say I was rather impressed! She writes from true life and frankly, this novel gave me chills! I suggest viewing the film and then rereading her novels, it makes them far more compelling.

Rating:
Summary: Has anyone seen Heavenly Creatures?
Review: I just saw this peter jackson movie about two girls who end up murdering one of their mothers. It's a true story and all, happened in new zealand in 1954. I wanted to see what the girls were up to, so I looked them up. Apparently Ms Perry is one of the girls. So i picked up a copy of the book, and I must say I was rather impressed! She writes from true life and frankly, this novel gave me chills! I suggest viewing the film and then rereading her novels, it makes them far more compelling.

Rating:
Summary: Lovely Characters, Intense Detail
Review: I really enjoy Anne Perry's books, especially her ongoing romance between William Monk and his wife Hester. Her description of these characters and the people in their world is really detailed and fascinating. 'Death of a Stranger' is beautifully written (as always) and enjoyable. My only caviat is that Perry's in-depth look at the railway industry is almost overwhelming. She adds so much detail about the day to day workings of steam engines that is tends to draw the reader away from the plot. Granted, there are many details about steam engines that are important to solving the book's mystery, but if more chapters are needed by the publisher, more Hester and William scenes would be welcome (less historical engineering). This is a lovely, beautifully written book, and anyone who enjoys historical mysteries will be captivated.