Enjoy!'
An Echo of Murder by Anne Perry
#23 William Monk
Historical Mystery
Publisher: Ballantine
Books
Published: 9.19.17
Pages: 320
ISBN:
0425285014
Format: eARC
Source: Net Galley
ADD TO: GOODREADS
GoodReads Blurb:
Monk tackles a series of ritualised killings, which seem to
be targeting the Hungarian community in London. Bad enough that the first
has a bayonet through his heart, his fingers broken and surrounded by candles,
but these escalate in ferocity. A worried immigrant community co-operates
with Monk's team initially, until tensions mount. Soon Monk has civil
unrest to contend with too.
Meanwhile, an old flame of Hester's makes his reappearance. Fitz was a doctor, left for dead on a Crimean battlefield, but survived and made his way home via Hungary. He now works in the Hungarian community, but is a traumatised wreck of a man. Hester must face her guilt over leaving him, and do what she can to help heal him.
Meanwhile, an old flame of Hester's makes his reappearance. Fitz was a doctor, left for dead on a Crimean battlefield, but survived and made his way home via Hungary. He now works in the Hungarian community, but is a traumatised wreck of a man. Hester must face her guilt over leaving him, and do what she can to help heal him.
SOHPIA ROSE'S REVIEW
Review:
An Anne Perry mystery always feels like a deep submersion
into history and a delving into the darkest corners of humanity while using her
circle of heroes to show there can be hope and justice as well. An Echo of Murder the #23 entry in the
William Monk series is no exception.
From the beginning, there was no doubt this was going to be
brutal and emotionally tense. Was the
vicious killing of a Hungarian business owner in his office a hate crime? Was it personal? Was it a lunatic? Monk and his River Police have the job of
discovering the answers- and quickly, as it happens again.
As usual, I was quite engaged with all the elements
surrounding the murder case. The author
tackles two main social issues of the day (which are still relevant now,
actually)- the hatred of people ethnically and religiously different from one's
own and also the lack of treatment or understanding for those come back broken
by war. Alongside these issues, the
story gives Scuff (now 18 yrs and desirous of being called Will) a much larger
role as he is nearly a man and is studying medicine, but also still feeling
vulnerable that he will lose all the good things he has since Monk and Hester
adopted him.
And yes!!! Finally
get to see what comes of a Latterly family reunion. Those who read The Christmas Escape and have
followed along with the series knowing Hester's background will really
appreciate this inclusion.
But, I also want to address the mystery and the riveting
courtroom drama finale. I figured out
the killer early, but I didn't know the motive and it remained pretty obscure
for some time. I have to say that it
moved at a gentle pace until the court case began and then I was riveted and
couldn't pry myself away from the book.
The mystery is broken up by switching back and forth with
Hester and Scuff's storylines crossing Monk's investigation. I don't bring that up as a criticism, but
just to give readers a heads-up that in this book, the mystery is only one of
the plot threads instead of the main one.
All in all, this was a strong and engaging entry in the
series. It has standalone ability, but
the reader would draw so much more from it by getting the series in order. Historical Mystery fans are the target
audience for this series and I shamelessly push it at you.
I rec'd this book from Net Galley in exchange of an honest
review.
Biography
Anne Perry is the bestselling author of two acclaimed series
set in Victorian England: the William Monk novels, including Dark Assassin and
The Shifting Tide, and the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novels, including The
Cater Street Hangman, Calandar Square, Buckingham Palace Gardens and Long Spoon
Lane. She is also the author of the World War I novels No Graves As Yet,
Shoulder the Sky, Angels in the Gloom, At Some Disputed Barricade, and We Shall
Not Sleep, as well as six holiday novels, most recently A Christmas Grace. Anne
Perry lives in Scotland.
Sophia’s Bio:
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking,
book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man
and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region
of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
Sophia’s Social Media Links:
That sounds good. I haven't read this author but the book sounds good.
ReplyDeleteI'm a diehard fan, Mary. :) Her earliest ones in the series are my favorites, but I'm still loving them this far along.
DeleteYou know Sophia, I always did wonder how many blogs you review for? ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Blodeuedd at least 3 or 4 that I know of. She's out of town for a while but I'm sure she'll be back here to answer your question.
DeleteLOL! Seven right now. But, one or two is just a couple times a year.
DeleteWow seven! Good job!
Delete