Weighed in the Balance

Rating:
Summary: Contrariwise Review-- my favorite Perry to date
Review: I haven't read any Anne Perry in a long time-- largely because I wasn't enthralled by what I'd read of the Pitt novels. But I have to say that I really liked this book.

I found all the character interesting because they had not only the trappings of the period, but also the appropriate flaws. I liked that Monk did not really appreciate Hester, and I liked his indecision about who to support in the slander trial.

I even liked the slander trial and the forgotten European history as the centerpiece.

Well done. I'll look for more in the same series.

Rating:
Summary: The romance of the century?
Review: In the mid 19th century, there is a small european country about to be swallowed by the vast Prussian Empire. Friedrich, the crown-prince of this country, renounced to the throne to marry Gisela, the woman he loves (sounds familiar?). Some years later, his country invites him to come back - without Gisela, of course. During a rollicking week-end with other royals (the prince of Wales is present) and ex-royals, Friedrich falls from his horse. He is nursed by his devoted wife, seems to recover - and dies suddenly. The russian countess Zorah Rostova causes a scandal by declaring that it was Gisela who poisoned her husband. Gisela sues Zorah for libel, but this obstinate and self-assured countess brings star-attorney Oliver Rathbone to defend her...No surprise ending this time: I was able to guess the outcome after five minutes - everybody who knows which flowers are toxic will - but read it nonetheless because the motive is very revealing and there are some hilarious moments. Perry is always at her best when she has the opportunity to unmask the evil, evil establishment and the scene where Zorah describes in detail the daily routine of the idle aristocracy is a classic. How shocked the public is to learn that the prince of Wales played blind-man's buff - how easily shocked the public was then...

Rating:
Summary: Hurry through this one!
Review: What a disapointment. I love the William Monk series. I read Sins of the Wolf in three days and and quickly decided it was my favorite. Cain His Brother was just as compelling of a read and the details of Limehouse, the typhoid hospital and especially the chase seen were amazing. Couldn't wait to read this book, but quickly found that I couldn't wait for it to end. Ms. Perry's research on Victorian England is second to none, but I found this story in particular very forgetable. I agree with one reviewer that Hester's contribution to solving the cases is sometimes better than Monk's or Rathbone. Thank goodness Monk is finally starting to figure out that Hester's courage, friendship and brains is more attractive than beauty. Don't waste much time on this book, except to find out who did it and the next step in Monk's and Hester's relationship.