Rating: 
Summary: A Dark Peek Into Victorian England
Review: The book begins with a grotesque and incomprehensible operation, and then takes the reader into an intrigue of enemies, allies, causes and injustice, weakness and strength, oppression and religious prejudice. This book is a very dark peek into lives in England during the U.S. Civil War, and post revolution Austria. The reader is introduced to three unlikely, complex and generally unsympathetic (all childless) couples. First we meet Monk and Hester - the gentleman/former policeman without a past and Hester, the altruistic and driven nurse, a former aide to Nightingale, and assistant to the benevolent Dr. Beck. Then the story shows another marriage - former revolutionaries - the good Dr. Beck and the beautiful, purposeless, addicted drama queen of a wife, also quite an unlikely duo. Wiggling about in the background are the staid Charles and the secretively buoyant Imogene. The characters are a study in psychological contrasts, with an envious and judgmental police detective, the shallow but highly talented artist, the dedicated father, the wealthy yet haunted by love older widow, the ego driven head of the hospital and the mysterious Austrian - but while well sketched they never seem to breathe. Deep passions, emotions and dark secrets haunt this darkly hazy tale of murder, betrayal and unworthy obsession. It plods along slowly to a rather implausible and hasty climax. When Elissa Beck and an artist's model are found murdered, Monk - the man without a past - must travel into the past to find answers. Generally well written, with interesting research, philanthropic motives and an ominous glimpse into compulsion and despair. However, this dark dirge does not inspire me to read more by this author.
Rating:
Summary: A Dark Peek Into Victorian England
Review: The book begins with a grotesque and incomprehensible operation, and then takes the reader into an intrigue of enemies, allies, causes and injustice, weakness and strength, oppression and religious prejudice. This book is a very dark peek into lives in England during the U.S. Civil War, and post revolution Austria. The reader is introduced to three unlikely, complex and generally unsympathetic (all childless) couples. First we meet Monk and Hester - the gentleman/former policeman without a past and Hester, the altruistic and driven nurse, a former aide to Nightingale, and assistant to the benevolent Dr. Beck. Then the story shows another marriage - former revolutionaries - the good Dr. Beck and the beautiful, purposeless, addicted drama queen of a wife, also quite an unlikely duo. Wiggling about in the background are the staid Charles and the secretively buoyant Imogene. The characters are a study in psychological contrasts, with an envious and judgmental police detective, the shallow but highly talented artist, the dedicated father, the wealthy yet haunted by love older widow, the ego driven head of the hospital and the mysterious Austrian - but while well sketched they never seem to breathe. Deep passions, emotions and dark secrets haunt this darkly hazy tale of murder, betrayal and unworthy obsession. It plods along slowly to a rather implausible and hasty climax. When Elissa Beck and an artist's model are found murdered, Monk - the man without a past - must travel into the past to find answers. Generally well written, with interesting research, philanthropic motives and an ominous glimpse into compulsion and despair. However, this dark dirge does not inspire me to read more by this author.
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.'
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