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William Monk #17
Acceptable Loss
When the body of a small-time crook named Mickey Parfitt washes up on the tide, no one grieves; far from it. But William Monk, commander of the River Police, is puzzled by the expensive silk cravat used to strangle Parfitt. How did this elegant scarf—whose original owner was obviously a man of substance—end up imbedded in the neck of a wharf rat who richly deserved his sordid end?
Dockside informers lead Monk to what may be a partial answer—a floating palace of corruption on the Thames managed by Parfitt, where a captive band of half-starved boys are forced to perform vile acts for men willing to pay a high price for midnight pleasures. Although Monk and his fearless wife, Hester, would prefer to pin a medal on Parfitt’s killer, duty leads them in another direction—to an unresolved crime from the past, to blackmail and more murder, and to a deadly confrontation with some of the empire’s most respected men.
To a superlative degree, Acceptable Loss provides colorful characters, a memorable portrait of waterfront life, and a story that achieves its most thrilling moments in a transfixed London courtroom, where Monk faces his old friend Oliver Rathbone in a trial of nearly unbearable tension—in sum, every delectable drop of the rich pleasure that readers expect from an Anne Perry novel.
12 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 2011
459 people are currently reading
1538 people want to read
About the author
Anne Perry
364 books3,397 followersAnne Perry, born Juliet Hulme in England, lived in Scotland most of her life after serving five years in prison for murder (in New Zealand). A beloved mystery authoress, she is best known for her Thomas Pitt and William Monk series.
Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".
Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories
Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman", was published in 1979. Her works extend to several categories of genre fiction, including historical mysteries. Many of them feature recurring characters, most importantly Thomas Pitt and amnesiac private investigator William Monk, who first appeared in 1990, "The Face Of A Stranger".
Her story "Heroes," from the 1999 anthology Murder And Obsession, won the 2001 Edgar Award For Best Short Story. She was included as an entry in Ben Peek's Twenty-Six Lies / One Truth, a novel exploring the nature of truth in literature.
Series contributed to:
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
. Malice Domestic
. The World's Finest Mystery And Crime Stories
. Transgressions
. The Year's Finest Crime And Mystery Stories
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 431 reviews
February 5, 2012
I will skip the rehash of the plot. There are other reviews, if that is what you are looking for. I find that the more Monk books I read, the more I love them and look forward to the next one. I found following this one so closely after "Execution Dock" was an interesting literary hook. Enjoyed the twists that had me second-guessing myself all the way through.
Two points kind of spoiled it a little. One is Margaret and her behavior. She was brought into the series as the society woman who was different, with opinions, intelligence and wit, who knew how to play the game, something like Emily, Charlotte's sister from Perry's other series. She has become shallower and shallower and since her marriage to Sir Oliver, an absolute mystery. Why does she cling so closely to her family? If that is how she feels, why did she get married in the first place? I was hoping she would become a more refined, socially acceptable Hester, able to help Oliver in his work with William and Hester. Her actions at the end of the book, I feel, are out of character and disappointing. The other point is the final scene between Sir Oliver and his father-in-law. It seems out of line with his position through the entire book. The bequest for Oliver is a can of worms or is it?
I just saw today there is new book on the horizon- HUZZAH!!!! "A Sunless Sea", but not until 8/28/12.
Two points kind of spoiled it a little. One is Margaret and her behavior. She was brought into the series as the society woman who was different, with opinions, intelligence and wit, who knew how to play the game, something like Emily, Charlotte's sister from Perry's other series. She has become shallower and shallower and since her marriage to Sir Oliver, an absolute mystery. Why does she cling so closely to her family? If that is how she feels, why did she get married in the first place? I was hoping she would become a more refined, socially acceptable Hester, able to help Oliver in his work with William and Hester. Her actions at the end of the book, I feel, are out of character and disappointing. The other point is the final scene between Sir Oliver and his father-in-law. It seems out of line with his position through the entire book. The bequest for Oliver is a can of worms or is it?
I just saw today there is new book on the horizon- HUZZAH!!!! "A Sunless Sea", but not until 8/28/12.
February 22, 2020
Il primo che leggo su Monk quindi mi sono trovata in mezzo a qualcosa già iniziato nei volumi precedenti ma è qualcosa che mi capita spesso con i Gialli Mondadori. Però una volta fatto il punto devo dire che si legge tranquillamente senza perdersi.
September 5, 2011
If one created a word cloud for Anne Perry's latest, the biggest cloud that would float to the front and center would be "humiliation." Close beside that cloud would be "fear" and "pain." All three of these emotions are perceived through the various characters' eyes, so "eyes" would have a major place in the cloud-orama as well.
I've always liked Anne Perry's writing for its social consciousness and its evocation of the period in which it is set, in the case of the William Monk series, the Victorian period in England. Perry is really excellent at describing the horrors of that period, in particular the atrocities committed against women and children while a privileged upper class simply chose to remain oblivious. Indeed, in some instances, the atrocities committed were for the pleasure and amusement of that privileged upper class, as is the case in this book and the previous entry, Execution Dock. But, my God, she has become repetitious in her writing.
Over and over again in this book, she reminds us that the first murder victim in the story was a truly awful person, a pimp of young boys - very young boys - and she pounds home the idea that the police really don't care who murdered him and might be inclined to pin a medal on him, except when the idea dawns that it could have been a "business" associate. For my taste, she could have made that case once and then left it alone until the end. I don't need to have it shoved down my throat (so to speak) on every page.
This is the seventeenth entry in this long series and it still features characters that I've come to care about - William Monk, now leading the Thames River Police; his indomitable wife Hester with her shelter for abused women; their friend and occasional ally Oliver Rathbone, the brilliant lawyer. In this story, as in the last, the plot pits Rathbone against William and Hester as they fight against the trafficking of young boys in the sex trade on the Thames. Here, Rathbone must defend his father-in-law who, it turns out, may be a backer of that trade. As usual, we follow William on his official investigation of the case and Hester on her thoroughly unofficial investigation as she treads the dangerous streets of the slums along the river. It makes for an interesting juxtaposition.
It seems churlish for a reader of Perry to snarl, "Just the facts, ma'am!" After all, Perry is not just about the facts. She is about the emotions and atmosphere of people and places, and that is a large part of what we love about her writing. But it would be interesting and rather refreshing to read a Perry book that spent a little more time on the facts of the crime and procedures of the investigation and a little less time on reminding us on every page about how honorable our heroes are and almost reveling in their revulsion over the crimes they investigate. The latter evokes in the reader emotions that are just a little too reminiscent of those men who got their pleasure from watching the abuse of small boys.
I've always liked Anne Perry's writing for its social consciousness and its evocation of the period in which it is set, in the case of the William Monk series, the Victorian period in England. Perry is really excellent at describing the horrors of that period, in particular the atrocities committed against women and children while a privileged upper class simply chose to remain oblivious. Indeed, in some instances, the atrocities committed were for the pleasure and amusement of that privileged upper class, as is the case in this book and the previous entry, Execution Dock. But, my God, she has become repetitious in her writing.
Over and over again in this book, she reminds us that the first murder victim in the story was a truly awful person, a pimp of young boys - very young boys - and she pounds home the idea that the police really don't care who murdered him and might be inclined to pin a medal on him, except when the idea dawns that it could have been a "business" associate. For my taste, she could have made that case once and then left it alone until the end. I don't need to have it shoved down my throat (so to speak) on every page.
This is the seventeenth entry in this long series and it still features characters that I've come to care about - William Monk, now leading the Thames River Police; his indomitable wife Hester with her shelter for abused women; their friend and occasional ally Oliver Rathbone, the brilliant lawyer. In this story, as in the last, the plot pits Rathbone against William and Hester as they fight against the trafficking of young boys in the sex trade on the Thames. Here, Rathbone must defend his father-in-law who, it turns out, may be a backer of that trade. As usual, we follow William on his official investigation of the case and Hester on her thoroughly unofficial investigation as she treads the dangerous streets of the slums along the river. It makes for an interesting juxtaposition.
It seems churlish for a reader of Perry to snarl, "Just the facts, ma'am!" After all, Perry is not just about the facts. She is about the emotions and atmosphere of people and places, and that is a large part of what we love about her writing. But it would be interesting and rather refreshing to read a Perry book that spent a little more time on the facts of the crime and procedures of the investigation and a little less time on reminding us on every page about how honorable our heroes are and almost reveling in their revulsion over the crimes they investigate. The latter evokes in the reader emotions that are just a little too reminiscent of those men who got their pleasure from watching the abuse of small boys.
December 27, 2018
Perry is a wonderful writer and rarely does a Monk installment earn less than four stars but this one was agonizingly drawn out. The last book left much unfinished so Acceptable Loss wrapped up the details from the last book.
Unfortunately that left a lot of pages to fill — and sadness and disappointment for one of my favorite characters. The inner dialogue was over the top at times.
So, good crime and trial but too much agonizing by Monk, Hester and company. My hope is the next book will begin with a clean slate and a straightforward crime.
Unfortunately that left a lot of pages to fill — and sadness and disappointment for one of my favorite characters. The inner dialogue was over the top at times.
So, good crime and trial but too much agonizing by Monk, Hester and company. My hope is the next book will begin with a clean slate and a straightforward crime.
January 7, 2012
First Sentence: Hester was half-asleep when she heard the slight sound, as if someone were taking in a sharp breath and ten letting out a soft, desperate gasp.
Inspector William Monk and his wife, Hester, are still trying to help young orphan Scuff overcome his horrific experience of being kidnapped for use on a ship owned by Jericho Phillips used to “entertain” wealthy, corrupt men. No one much cares that Mickey Parfitt has been murdered, until the means of his death is discovered to be an expensive custom silk cravat belonging to a wealthy young man. In the investigation, they track Parfitt back to another such ship where 14 young boys are found held captive. Before his suicide, Lord Justice Sullivan, also involved in the previous case, had claimed wealthy barrister Arthur Ballinger, was the power and money behind the boat. A further complication is that the Monks’ friend, barrister Oliver Rathbone, is married to Ballinger’s daughter.
To say Anne Perry is a superb writer is anything but hyperbole. There is no one who better captures the Victorian period. From the homes of the wealthy, to the lowest, meanest parts of London, she creates a fully-realized world and time. Her detail is exacting; answering any question a reader might have as to its veracity. She doesn’t paint the pretty picture, but the rough-edged, realistic view of the time.
Perry clearly illustrates the misconceptions and bias formed by people based only on social and economic differences. The subject of pedophilia and pornography is timeless and terrible. She raises strong moral and ethical issues, but never in a manner that is preachy or strident. Perry clearly conveys the internal struggles which can arise and asks very important questions about loyalty and power; the greed for power even when used for good—but at which price.
The mystery itself is very strong; partly focused on the investigation and partly on the courtroom scenes. Learning about legal and court procedures of the time were fascinating. Nothing about her writing is dry; but rather strongly emotional yet never maudlin. We are left, at the end, with an open question but not one that is detrimental to the story.
Although it can stand alone, “Acceptable Loss” reads best as a continuation of the previous book “Execution Dock.” Either way, I strongly recommend “Acceptable Loss.”
ACCEPTABLE LOSS (Hist Mys-Insp. William Monk/Hester-London-Victorian) – VG+
Perry, Anne – 17th in series
Ballantine Books, 2011
Inspector William Monk and his wife, Hester, are still trying to help young orphan Scuff overcome his horrific experience of being kidnapped for use on a ship owned by Jericho Phillips used to “entertain” wealthy, corrupt men. No one much cares that Mickey Parfitt has been murdered, until the means of his death is discovered to be an expensive custom silk cravat belonging to a wealthy young man. In the investigation, they track Parfitt back to another such ship where 14 young boys are found held captive. Before his suicide, Lord Justice Sullivan, also involved in the previous case, had claimed wealthy barrister Arthur Ballinger, was the power and money behind the boat. A further complication is that the Monks’ friend, barrister Oliver Rathbone, is married to Ballinger’s daughter.
To say Anne Perry is a superb writer is anything but hyperbole. There is no one who better captures the Victorian period. From the homes of the wealthy, to the lowest, meanest parts of London, she creates a fully-realized world and time. Her detail is exacting; answering any question a reader might have as to its veracity. She doesn’t paint the pretty picture, but the rough-edged, realistic view of the time.
Perry clearly illustrates the misconceptions and bias formed by people based only on social and economic differences. The subject of pedophilia and pornography is timeless and terrible. She raises strong moral and ethical issues, but never in a manner that is preachy or strident. Perry clearly conveys the internal struggles which can arise and asks very important questions about loyalty and power; the greed for power even when used for good—but at which price.
The mystery itself is very strong; partly focused on the investigation and partly on the courtroom scenes. Learning about legal and court procedures of the time were fascinating. Nothing about her writing is dry; but rather strongly emotional yet never maudlin. We are left, at the end, with an open question but not one that is detrimental to the story.
Although it can stand alone, “Acceptable Loss” reads best as a continuation of the previous book “Execution Dock.” Either way, I strongly recommend “Acceptable Loss.”
ACCEPTABLE LOSS (Hist Mys-Insp. William Monk/Hester-London-Victorian) – VG+
Perry, Anne – 17th in series
Ballantine Books, 2011
July 28, 2014
I complain about Anne Perry's books every time I read one, but there must be something I like about them because I keep reading them. She has two series (that I know of). Both are historical detective fiction set in 19th Century England and featuring a husband and wife detective team. This one is one of the Monk series. William Monk is variously a policeman and private detective - in this one he is the chief of the River Police. Hester, his wife, served as a nurse during the Crimean War and now runs a clinic for prostitutes and other lower class women, as well as helping her husband solve murders.
The main characters are interesting and complex people and I enjoy reading about them. But she's really bad at the history. She clearly does a lot of research on the historical detail but makes two big mistakes:
- She feels the need to explain everything that's different from modern life, and does so in this ridiculous and impossible way. Her characters say things at length that they wouldn't say, just to explain the time and place. A skillful author shows you the differences without explaining. Historical fiction should feel like reading Dickens, not like reading an explanation of 19th Century England.
- Even with the research, her works are full of anachronisms. Her characters too often have a 21st Century view of many issues and they use a 21st Century vocabulary to talk about some of them. This one has references to "homosexuality" and "anal intercourse" from characters who would have said "sodomy" or "buggery."
I'm always bothered by the historical fiction ham-handedness of her work. I started reading her when her original name and story came out and I was intrigued to find out what kind of murder mysteries a convicted murderer would write. But obviously there's enough there I find appealing that when I'm in the library looking at mysteries, I often pick up one of hers.
This was absorbing and a quick read. I'd probably say 2.5 stars if they let us do halves...
The main characters are interesting and complex people and I enjoy reading about them. But she's really bad at the history. She clearly does a lot of research on the historical detail but makes two big mistakes:
- She feels the need to explain everything that's different from modern life, and does so in this ridiculous and impossible way. Her characters say things at length that they wouldn't say, just to explain the time and place. A skillful author shows you the differences without explaining. Historical fiction should feel like reading Dickens, not like reading an explanation of 19th Century England.
- Even with the research, her works are full of anachronisms. Her characters too often have a 21st Century view of many issues and they use a 21st Century vocabulary to talk about some of them. This one has references to "homosexuality" and "anal intercourse" from characters who would have said "sodomy" or "buggery."
I'm always bothered by the historical fiction ham-handedness of her work. I started reading her when her original name and story came out and I was intrigued to find out what kind of murder mysteries a convicted murderer would write. But obviously there's enough there I find appealing that when I'm in the library looking at mysteries, I often pick up one of hers.
This was absorbing and a quick read. I'd probably say 2.5 stars if they let us do halves...
April 15, 2022
Why does Anne Perry include so many questions in her writing? Do all her readers love the extent of questions in the prose? Do the questions sometimes break the momentum of the story? Should I write a review consisting only of questions as a tribute to her questions-heavy writing? Can a question-only review truly capture what I think of this book?
Did other readers of this book feel it had very similar themes and similar characters as her earlier book? Did it become monotonous as a result? Does this this series need new characters? Are there plot points that have become too predictable like Rathbone visiting his father for advice after facing challenges in the case? Has the old set of characters - Monk, Hester, Rathbone, Margaret - and a limited set of supporting characters become too monotonous and restricting? Still, how does Anne Perry manage to create interest in the plot even if it feels repetitive? How does she develop these characters to such a depth that readers may still like them? How is she able to create such a fantastic atmosphere of old Victorian London and its society, its roads, its people, its docks, its culture?
Will I continue reading the next novel in this series or will I give up? Am I still interested in what happens to Monk and Hester and Rathbone? Do I still care enough about these characters? Did you like this review?
Did other readers of this book feel it had very similar themes and similar characters as her earlier book? Did it become monotonous as a result? Does this this series need new characters? Are there plot points that have become too predictable like Rathbone visiting his father for advice after facing challenges in the case? Has the old set of characters - Monk, Hester, Rathbone, Margaret - and a limited set of supporting characters become too monotonous and restricting? Still, how does Anne Perry manage to create interest in the plot even if it feels repetitive? How does she develop these characters to such a depth that readers may still like them? How is she able to create such a fantastic atmosphere of old Victorian London and its society, its roads, its people, its docks, its culture?
Will I continue reading the next novel in this series or will I give up? Am I still interested in what happens to Monk and Hester and Rathbone? Do I still care enough about these characters? Did you like this review?
October 19, 2018
Carrying on from the previous book, Execution Dock, this one sees Monk continuing to investigate who was the money behind the boat where wealthy men paid to abuse young boys. Monk and Hester again come into conflict with Oliver Rathbone in court as he defends a member of his in-law family, but will it have a different outcome this time?
Obviously pornography, and especially child pornography, are difficult subjects to read about. Perry shows that corruption and depravity are no strangers to wealth and power and unfortunately that is still true today. I did wonder though why no-one mentioned in court or to Rathbone that his father-in-law had been observed buying indecent images? This happened in the previous book but it wasn't so much as alluded to in this one. Seems strange it never occurred to anyone to bring this matter to the court's attention.
Sadly, Margaret has turned out to be a totally different character to what she was previously portrayed as. I seriously wanted to shake her for being so selfish and by the end I wanted Rathbone to stand up to her a bit more. What she said to Hester was unforgivable and one of her actions in this book was even worse. No way back for Margaret in my opinion.
Obviously pornography, and especially child pornography, are difficult subjects to read about. Perry shows that corruption and depravity are no strangers to wealth and power and unfortunately that is still true today. I did wonder though why no-one mentioned in court or to Rathbone that his father-in-law had been observed buying indecent images? This happened in the previous book but it wasn't so much as alluded to in this one. Seems strange it never occurred to anyone to bring this matter to the court's attention.
Sadly, Margaret has turned out to be a totally different character to what she was previously portrayed as. I seriously wanted to shake her for being so selfish and by the end I wanted Rathbone to stand up to her a bit more. What she said to Hester was unforgivable and one of her actions in this book was even worse. No way back for Margaret in my opinion.
March 21, 2019
I'm reading the series out of order since I'm collecting them, and the latest story arc starts with with book so it really answers some questions that I had. Especially about Margaret (aka the whiney jerk).
It still deals with hard topics. It deals with what to do when one thinks that their good friend may be doing something illegal and immoral, against all reason. It also deals with the rEvOlUtIoNaRy idea that being a rich/titled person doesn't mean you're a good person(I'm being overly sarcastic because this belief PISSES ME OFF LIKE NO OTHER).
I liked seeing Hester/Scruff interacting because in some of the books she seemed a little harsh, but this gives an explanation as to why it might be.
Hester and Monk = 10/10 adorable.
Recommended 15+ for child abuse, mentions of child pornography, language, violence, mentions of prostitution, and murder.
It still deals with hard topics. It deals with what to do when one thinks that their good friend may be doing something illegal and immoral, against all reason. It also deals with the rEvOlUtIoNaRy idea that being a rich/titled person doesn't mean you're a good person(I'm being overly sarcastic because this belief PISSES ME OFF LIKE NO OTHER).
I liked seeing Hester/Scruff interacting because in some of the books she seemed a little harsh, but this gives an explanation as to why it might be.
Hester and Monk = 10/10 adorable.
Recommended 15+ for child abuse, mentions of child pornography, language, violence, mentions of prostitution, and murder.
September 15, 2011
Not my favorite Anne Perry book. I think she needs to find a new word other than "horror" to use, can we PLEASE have Monk land a case that doesn't involve some sort of sexual depravity?!?
September 18, 2018
Writing something about this book is proving difficult as I don't know how my thoughts are about it. The story is a follow on from the previous book, Execution Dock. With the death of Jericho Phillips and his associates the trade in pornography concerning young boys continues on the river. The discovery of Mickey Parfitt's beaten and strangled body leads to another boat and fourteen imprisoned boys. Initially a dissolute young-man is arrested but another statement and a scrap of paper used for a note leads Monk on another track and an arrest. The inevitable trial brings Oliver Rathbone into conflict with the Monk's and his own wife. In my view there is a lot of circumstantial evidence and emotions involved in the attaining of a conviction.
The story is full of emotions and passions with lots of conflict between the groups and social classes, some of whom appear to be able to do as they please and was probably the case during this Victorian period. The writing style and flow have improved as the series has moved on. I would like there to be more detection and less prattle about Hester's prowess as a nurse. Towards the end I wanted to dunk her in the Thames however there is some compensation in her compassion towards Oliver Rathbone at the end.
Mixed overall feelings about the book and 2 stars only. Might make other readers feel differently.
The story is full of emotions and passions with lots of conflict between the groups and social classes, some of whom appear to be able to do as they please and was probably the case during this Victorian period. The writing style and flow have improved as the series has moved on. I would like there to be more detection and less prattle about Hester's prowess as a nurse. Towards the end I wanted to dunk her in the Thames however there is some compensation in her compassion towards Oliver Rathbone at the end.
Mixed overall feelings about the book and 2 stars only. Might make other readers feel differently.
March 2, 2021
supongo que a la gente que le guste el género le gustará esta novela. para mí ha sido aburrida, repetitiva y estereotípica. además, ¿puede esta autora dejar de poner mil preguntas cada dos párrafos? ¿no existe otra manera de sembrar dudas o crear misterio? ¿de verdad es necesario? ¿no le resulta anticlimático a nadie más? me voy a limitar a no leer novelas de detectives.
April 10, 2012
I am a little late to Anne Perry's ouevre and I wish her well. Someone I know reads her religiously, and I when I came across an audiobook of her latest William Monk (#17! good grief) I thought I'd give it a whirl.
I loved an opening section when Hester, Monk's wife, is described caring for and reading to a young street urchin whom the Monk's had invited into their home. He is tortured by bad dreams, and Hester sits beside him at night, talking and telling stories until he falls asleep. This vignette had such humanity and was written with such maturity, skill, and economy that I relished it. I also admire Perry's seeming immersion into the period. Many things unthinkable today were common then and Perry rarely seems to make the mistake of confusing her time periods.
However, the main story of this book relies so heavily on a story in a previous book in the series that I had trouble following. Several times I replayed sections of the early discs, thinking I'd missed some critical bit of information. I began also to hear a ponderous and heavy-handed moralizing behind the main characters' actions and intentions, digression into philosophy, and wide sallies off into side stories not related to the main mystery. The main mystery, I might add, is particularly unsavory. One must have a darn good reason for contemplating such gruesomeness for several hours at a stretch. In my case, I felt Hester pathologically afraid of how she was perceived by others, and Monk not as gripping a character as I need. Finally the relentlessly conservative point of view wore me down and I found myself gritting my teeth and sighing heavily when I realized that I couldn't care less about any of them.
I loved an opening section when Hester, Monk's wife, is described caring for and reading to a young street urchin whom the Monk's had invited into their home. He is tortured by bad dreams, and Hester sits beside him at night, talking and telling stories until he falls asleep. This vignette had such humanity and was written with such maturity, skill, and economy that I relished it. I also admire Perry's seeming immersion into the period. Many things unthinkable today were common then and Perry rarely seems to make the mistake of confusing her time periods.
However, the main story of this book relies so heavily on a story in a previous book in the series that I had trouble following. Several times I replayed sections of the early discs, thinking I'd missed some critical bit of information. I began also to hear a ponderous and heavy-handed moralizing behind the main characters' actions and intentions, digression into philosophy, and wide sallies off into side stories not related to the main mystery. The main mystery, I might add, is particularly unsavory. One must have a darn good reason for contemplating such gruesomeness for several hours at a stretch. In my case, I felt Hester pathologically afraid of how she was perceived by others, and Monk not as gripping a character as I need. Finally the relentlessly conservative point of view wore me down and I found myself gritting my teeth and sighing heavily when I realized that I couldn't care less about any of them.
March 4, 2012
Enjoyed the focus on Margaret and Rathbone's character and relationship. This is more interesting that the "mystery'" itself. Truly, Hester and Monk take second place in this one. The similarity of character between Margaret and her father - the Machiavellian streak they share is fascinating, as is Rathbone's discovery of it and his naivete. I am eager to see whether Perry brings Margaret back from the brink or not -- I think not. I wonder if this plot development was necessary in order to preserve Hester as the superior protagonist, the ideal "new woman".
January 8, 2021
I have now faced the truth: I love this series. And it seems I will forgive almost anything in it, including (in this case) whole paragraphs of nothing but internal question after internal question, and a rather unlikely ending. It doesn't matter. I loved it.
(No aquiline noses anymore though, or at least, very few. That is a definite plus.)
(No aquiline noses anymore though, or at least, very few. That is a definite plus.)
July 15, 2015
Loved it! Another one I couldn't put down. I loved that this one was tied to Execution Dock in plot. I really grew to detest Margaret. I just wanted to slap her for saying the things she said to Hester! And I felt so sorry for poor Rathbone. He definitely deserves better.
May 30, 2020
NEWSFLASH If you are picking up this book Acceptable Loss William Monk#17 as a first time read of Anne Perry and are not inclined to read a series from the beginning be aware that to appreciate this story fully I strongly suggest you read the previous book Execution Dock William Monk #16 first. They are litterally an intricately linked pair adding a lot more depth, understanding and meaning to the story.
Now as for this book, I had to litterally refrain from jaw clenching whenever the character of Margaret Rathbone is mentioned. I have purposely dropped the title Lady before her name since I feel she is a pretender, one who not only is shallow but portrays a somewhat faulty facade of her own self importance after marrying Sir Oliver Rathbone. As for Sir Oliver, even though the author has Monk and Hester forgiving him for humiliating them publicly in the previous book's trial to acquit his despicable client and to quote Perry "He had done it with the knowledge of how to hurt that only a friend possesses.". In a turn of some poetic justice Rathbone does eventually pay a hefty personal price in backing the wrong horse so to speak.
Now as for this book, I had to litterally refrain from jaw clenching whenever the character of Margaret Rathbone is mentioned. I have purposely dropped the title Lady before her name since I feel she is a pretender, one who not only is shallow but portrays a somewhat faulty facade of her own self importance after marrying Sir Oliver Rathbone. As for Sir Oliver, even though the author has Monk and Hester forgiving him for humiliating them publicly in the previous book's trial to acquit his despicable client and to quote Perry "He had done it with the knowledge of how to hurt that only a friend possesses.". In a turn of some poetic justice Rathbone does eventually pay a hefty personal price in backing the wrong horse so to speak.
June 1, 2012
Now, don't get me wrong....I'm a HUGE Anne Perry fan and have read all her books. I also love the William and Hester Monk characters, but in this her latest of that series I was a bit disappointed. Picking up where "Execution Dock" ended (and perhaps she should have combined the two books to make one big novel), we are still in the midst of the child porno ring story. The difference here is that Monk is investigating the murder of one of the pornographers with the ultimate goal of capturing the society big-wig that's behind it all. The fact that this man is the father of one of Hester's good friends (no spoiler here folks, its all over the first 10 pages of the book), doesn't make things easier for him. What disappointed me most was the endless mental pondering and questioning by the the characters. Pages and pages of supposition and stream of consciousness. It was only when we reached the trial scenes that I felt I was reading the old Anne Perry of former books. She is a master and courtroom dialogue and at this point the plot really took off. Perhaps if she had omitted the pondering and combined the story with the previous book, it would have tied the story up a bit better. But from the looks of the ending of this one, we're in for more of this plot. Happy reading!
January 13, 2016
Anyone who reads my reviews knows I am partial to historically-based mystery fiction, especially fond of Anne Perry and "Charles Todd" (the fabulous mother-son duo).
Acceptable Loss is set in a very particular moment of Victorian London. I was not aware of learning much history as I read it, more sociology, I suppose. I don't want to say anything about the theme and characters per se as they are limned only too well in the preliminary GoodReads coverage.
What you should know is that this was a re-read that had me as rapt and sucked into the energy of the book as the first time I read it. I knew what the outcome was going to be (except for one little thing that I had forgotten which was more enrichment of the story than story progression enhancement). And I still wanted to keep on.
I wonder if this is perhaps the best so far of Anne Perry's diligently, artistically, mind-nourishingly created little worlds..... I wish I had time to go back and re-read all the others.
I'll tell you two things: the story is not quite over with the epilogue. It has pertinent and peripheral echos in subsequent Wm Monk books. Delicious!!!
Acceptable Loss is set in a very particular moment of Victorian London. I was not aware of learning much history as I read it, more sociology, I suppose. I don't want to say anything about the theme and characters per se as they are limned only too well in the preliminary GoodReads coverage.
What you should know is that this was a re-read that had me as rapt and sucked into the energy of the book as the first time I read it. I knew what the outcome was going to be (except for one little thing that I had forgotten which was more enrichment of the story than story progression enhancement). And I still wanted to keep on.
I wonder if this is perhaps the best so far of Anne Perry's diligently, artistically, mind-nourishingly created little worlds..... I wish I had time to go back and re-read all the others.
I'll tell you two things: the story is not quite over with the epilogue. It has pertinent and peripheral echos in subsequent Wm Monk books. Delicious!!!
April 9, 2018
When Parfitt is murdered the trail leads straight to Robert Cardew. But Hester, with the help of Crow soon uncovers proof that he was framed. When Monk digs deeper the trail leads to the man behind not only Parfitt (another man profiting off the misery of young boys and blackmail) but the man behind Jericho Phillips (Execution Dock).
Realizing that Monk would never stop seeking justice for the victimized boys Arthur Ballinger killed Parfitt in hopes of destroying Monk, when he brought the innocent Cardew to trail for his murder. Now his plans to destroy Monk and frame Cardew have gone awry and only Oliver Rathbone, his son-in-law, can save him.
Forced into defending a man he doesn't believe in and with his marriage in shambles, Oliver is horrified to discover that Margaret was the one who lead the prosecutions' witness (a prostitute that was paid to steal Robert Cardew's cravat) out of the safe house, which resulted in her murder. When Ballinger is found guilty Margaret refuses to forgive Rathbone for losing the case and leaves him. Ironically Ballinger leaves the "photographs" used to blackmail men in power to further Ballinger's agenda, to Rathbone in his will.
Realizing that Monk would never stop seeking justice for the victimized boys Arthur Ballinger killed Parfitt in hopes of destroying Monk, when he brought the innocent Cardew to trail for his murder. Now his plans to destroy Monk and frame Cardew have gone awry and only Oliver Rathbone, his son-in-law, can save him.
Forced into defending a man he doesn't believe in and with his marriage in shambles, Oliver is horrified to discover that Margaret was the one who lead the prosecutions' witness (a prostitute that was paid to steal Robert Cardew's cravat) out of the safe house, which resulted in her murder. When Ballinger is found guilty Margaret refuses to forgive Rathbone for losing the case and leaves him. Ironically Ballinger leaves the "photographs" used to blackmail men in power to further Ballinger's agenda, to Rathbone in his will.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2018
As Monk dives further into his investigation of the child prostitution ring from the last book “Execution Dock”, a murder of another lowlife allows him to focus on the money and brains behind this most horrific trade. This book unearths many unwelcome discoveries and creates, what appears to be, irreparable fractures in relationships of some key characters. What Oliver Rathbone faces here is heartbreaking and terrible and one wonders how he will ever recover. This book definitely captivates, not just because of the storyline but because of the uncomfortable and often atrocious paths of many of our familiar characters. Ms. Perry effectively brings into question those things any reader holds dear: love, loyalty and truth. An excellent read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2018
This is one of the best mysteries I have read. This Victorian mystery involves a floating business dealing in pornography and the sexual abuse of young boys for profit. However, the real profit is in the photographs that the owners use to blackmail the upper crust clients that they have lured into satisfying their dark desires. When William Monk, his wife Hester and the many associates that she has acquired through her work in running a clinic that caters to abused and ill prostitutes, join forces to root out this evil, the results are effective and astonishing.
November 25, 2015
Pretty good but the moralizing tone and constant repetition of the same things over and over again got to me. I'm giving Anne Perry a break for a while.
November 10, 2020
Sometimes a book falls into your life that is late into a series with a character that has been built up over many novels and so fans of said series have a lot of background to enjoy the nuance even more. Such was this for me. My first Anne Perry novel and introduction to Monk. And I do not feel cheated. I feel I might have liked it even more had I know him for years, but certainly felt there was enough of him there and given to me to enjoy this book as it was.
It did feel a bit slow and dragged out a bit much. But maybe that's because to me it was painfully obvious as to the guilt and innocence of the various characters. Not that I am some great connoisseur of mystery/detective fiction. No, more that Perry's attempts to cast doubt were just too blatant. The twist would have been for it to be other than it was because to me it seemed obvious from the beginning. Hence why I didn't love it, but just enjoyed it because getting to the conclusion when you already know the answer felt a bit slow.
Verdict: Not bad. I would certainly read more should the chance arise.
It did feel a bit slow and dragged out a bit much. But maybe that's because to me it was painfully obvious as to the guilt and innocence of the various characters. Not that I am some great connoisseur of mystery/detective fiction. No, more that Perry's attempts to cast doubt were just too blatant. The twist would have been for it to be other than it was because to me it seemed obvious from the beginning. Hence why I didn't love it, but just enjoyed it because getting to the conclusion when you already know the answer felt a bit slow.
Verdict: Not bad. I would certainly read more should the chance arise.
Read
August 27, 2019This was another solid read. Perry tied up the loose ends from Execution Dock. I can't get over the utter transformation of Margaret. My peeps in the gallery, jury and judge out on a good performance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2025
Another well-written and well-read Audible book! The crimes committed were terrible, making the book somewhat difficult to listen to. Hopefully, the next book in this series will be about somewhat less terrible crimes.
February 26, 2022
Great read will look for another Anne Perry book with William Monk.
February 2, 2026
Painful difficult- not easy decisions or clear cut consequences….
October 5, 2012
Once again I am pleased with author's Anne Perry's detective story staring William & Hester Monk in "Acceptable Loss." I was happy to read it is a continuation plot and theme of her novel "Execution Dock", which is about child sexual abuse and "polite society" (the rich and influential).
It begins with the discover of a beaten and strangled body of Mickey Parfitt who is a small-time hoodlum in the river. William Monk declares it isn't an accident as first though before the method of strangulation is found and the evidence points to Rupert Cardew, a rich aimless rich young man who helps finance Hester's clinic for abused (usually) street women.
Hester is unhappily surprised since she likes Rupert, but it is her husband's police duty to to investigate into a sordid relationship between Parfitt's and Cardew's activities. The connection between the ship of sin where sexually abused slave boys (as young as five and six) are discovered, just like in "Execution Dock" and the suspect in that book is back in the investigation.
The investigation ends up encompassing Monk and Hester friends Sir Oliver and Lady Margaret Ballinger Rathbone - a friendship already under strain from what occurred in the first book. They must decide whether to uncover the truth and occur further damage to their friendship with the Rathbones and face William's potential destruction of this police career or let the truth remain hidden.
Once again Ms. Perry touched on the subjects of hypocrisy of "polite society and the social inequality in Victorian England. Her novels are like "Law and Author", the crime and investigation and the court scenes. In some of Perry's novels I do get bored with the court scenes but not in "Acceptable Loss" for they are riveting and well-written. Hester continues to investigate parts of the crime while the court scenes go on and it's appalling what she discovers.
"Acceptable Loss" develops and shows a deepening of the loving relationship between Hester, Monk and Scuff, a child of about twelve years of age who has survived the streets and the river and now lives with the Monks. It is a disturbing story with strong focus on child pornography and sexual abuse, parts I wanted to skip over and although justice is served and the culprit gets his comeuppance, I still felt it wasn't enough. But then, is it enough to stop this horrible abuse? I think that's the reality of what Ms. Perry writes of. Still the story is an excellent read and of course, I will read more of this author's work.
City of Redemption
It begins with the discover of a beaten and strangled body of Mickey Parfitt who is a small-time hoodlum in the river. William Monk declares it isn't an accident as first though before the method of strangulation is found and the evidence points to Rupert Cardew, a rich aimless rich young man who helps finance Hester's clinic for abused (usually) street women.
Hester is unhappily surprised since she likes Rupert, but it is her husband's police duty to to investigate into a sordid relationship between Parfitt's and Cardew's activities. The connection between the ship of sin where sexually abused slave boys (as young as five and six) are discovered, just like in "Execution Dock" and the suspect in that book is back in the investigation.
The investigation ends up encompassing Monk and Hester friends Sir Oliver and Lady Margaret Ballinger Rathbone - a friendship already under strain from what occurred in the first book. They must decide whether to uncover the truth and occur further damage to their friendship with the Rathbones and face William's potential destruction of this police career or let the truth remain hidden.
Once again Ms. Perry touched on the subjects of hypocrisy of "polite society and the social inequality in Victorian England. Her novels are like "Law and Author", the crime and investigation and the court scenes. In some of Perry's novels I do get bored with the court scenes but not in "Acceptable Loss" for they are riveting and well-written. Hester continues to investigate parts of the crime while the court scenes go on and it's appalling what she discovers.
"Acceptable Loss" develops and shows a deepening of the loving relationship between Hester, Monk and Scuff, a child of about twelve years of age who has survived the streets and the river and now lives with the Monks. It is a disturbing story with strong focus on child pornography and sexual abuse, parts I wanted to skip over and although justice is served and the culprit gets his comeuppance, I still felt it wasn't enough. But then, is it enough to stop this horrible abuse? I think that's the reality of what Ms. Perry writes of. Still the story is an excellent read and of course, I will read more of this author's work.
City of Redemption
July 19, 2023
Oh.My. What a story. Hope the next one fills in the missing details!
So very sad, Grieved to learn that in April 2023 we lost this writer of renoun. Anne Perry wrote so many series I hoped would continue. She really was an amazing writer whose books gave me so much opportunity to feel the "you are there" feeling throughout. I will miss what she might have done in future or continued had she lived to do so.
I am more sure now than ever before that I will read as many of her other series as I can simply to enjoy her vast imagination and to keep her alive in my exploration and in my appreciation as long as I possibly can. It is so very hard to lose our favorite writers when we wish to endless books...more more more...we all just want more. I sure do.
Appreciated this nook and plan now to fill in with the rest in this series and the others I have read and forgotten in time or have not yet read to savor and appreciate as time goes by and my time comes to an end.
I recommend her series to anyone who appreciates a good , well plotted mystery, with compelling and loveable as well as despicable characters who are well drawn and worth knowing...
Goodbye with sadness and regret MS Perry...she had a rough and tragic youth and get turned it around to give us many book series... Many Christmas themed stories , I have yet to read, and many fond memories of characters and periods in history that will prompt us to "read more about it" or them.
I thank her for the hundreds of hours of pleasure, pain, involvement, advancement of knowledge and pleasure reading her books have given me over the years.
I will miss her writing so...
So very sad, Grieved to learn that in April 2023 we lost this writer of renoun. Anne Perry wrote so many series I hoped would continue. She really was an amazing writer whose books gave me so much opportunity to feel the "you are there" feeling throughout. I will miss what she might have done in future or continued had she lived to do so.
I am more sure now than ever before that I will read as many of her other series as I can simply to enjoy her vast imagination and to keep her alive in my exploration and in my appreciation as long as I possibly can. It is so very hard to lose our favorite writers when we wish to endless books...more more more...we all just want more. I sure do.
Appreciated this nook and plan now to fill in with the rest in this series and the others I have read and forgotten in time or have not yet read to savor and appreciate as time goes by and my time comes to an end.
I recommend her series to anyone who appreciates a good , well plotted mystery, with compelling and loveable as well as despicable characters who are well drawn and worth knowing...
Goodbye with sadness and regret MS Perry...she had a rough and tragic youth and get turned it around to give us many book series... Many Christmas themed stories , I have yet to read, and many fond memories of characters and periods in history that will prompt us to "read more about it" or them.
I thank her for the hundreds of hours of pleasure, pain, involvement, advancement of knowledge and pleasure reading her books have given me over the years.
I will miss her writing so...
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