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William Monk #7
Weighed in the Balance
When Countess Zorah Rostova asks London barrister Sir Oliver Rathbone to defend her against a charge of slander, he is astonished to find himself accepting. For, without a shred of evidence, the countess insists that the prince of her small German principality was murdered by his wife, the woman who was responsible for his exile twenty years before. Though private investigator William Monk and his friend Hester Latterly, manage to establish that the prince was indeed murdered, as events unfold the likeliest suspect seems to be Countess Zorah herself. . . .
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 4, 1996
312 people are currently reading
1317 people want to read
About the author
Anne Perry
362 books3,377 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 229 reviews
December 9, 2018
I haven’t had to think about the Unification of Germany since I was about 14! I didn’t really think about it then, it was just a fact and a date to learn. This book helped this in context within European politics of the time. This time the story has Sir Oliver in trouble and Hester and William trying to help him. He has accepted a difficult case which could very easily drag him down. As always with Perry’s stories, there is a slow build, then at about 60%, events heat up, then the big reveal and a very quick wrap up. Another very good turn out for the series. Recommended to historical fiction lovers.
September 12, 2019
Anne Perry will never cease to amaze me.
She is still to this day the only mystery writer who can consistently shock me, awe me, and thrill me, while also wowing me with exquisite prose, depth of character, and slow burn romance. It took me a long time to find a writer of mysteries who I clicked with like this.....but Perry was worth the wait!
I missed Monk so much. It’s been so long since I read a book in this series that I was immediately enraptured by his POV. He didn’t have as much page time in this book as the others, but he was still such a huge part and his character development was quite interesting. It’s like he’s taking a detour to where he needs to go.....one that’s slightly morally gray and, to my delight, incredibly angsty.
Hester and Rathbone were a delight as usual, and I loved all the new characters introduced. I was amazed by the plot - it had me going back and forth the whole time. Like.....who the heck was the killer and why did my strong feelings of who it could be change from minute to minute?! I was in suspense the whole time.
This book had quite a bit of political intrigue to it as well and that was an added bonus for me. Also, I absolutely LOVE the way Perry writes her trial scenes. The wit and revelations have me on my toes every time. I never thought I would love trials so much (they’ve often been boring for me) but Perry’s are intense and suspenseful and really wrap everything up nicely.
Last note- I LOVE that Perry makes you wait until the last 2-3 pages of the book to discover whodunnit. She always brings up some last minute evidence right before the end of the book that makes you question ALL your theories and then BAM! Surprise! It’s really quite something.
She is still to this day the only mystery writer who can consistently shock me, awe me, and thrill me, while also wowing me with exquisite prose, depth of character, and slow burn romance. It took me a long time to find a writer of mysteries who I clicked with like this.....but Perry was worth the wait!
I missed Monk so much. It’s been so long since I read a book in this series that I was immediately enraptured by his POV. He didn’t have as much page time in this book as the others, but he was still such a huge part and his character development was quite interesting. It’s like he’s taking a detour to where he needs to go.....one that’s slightly morally gray and, to my delight, incredibly angsty.
Hester and Rathbone were a delight as usual, and I loved all the new characters introduced. I was amazed by the plot - it had me going back and forth the whole time. Like.....who the heck was the killer and why did my strong feelings of who it could be change from minute to minute?! I was in suspense the whole time.
This book had quite a bit of political intrigue to it as well and that was an added bonus for me. Also, I absolutely LOVE the way Perry writes her trial scenes. The wit and revelations have me on my toes every time. I never thought I would love trials so much (they’ve often been boring for me) but Perry’s are intense and suspenseful and really wrap everything up nicely.
Last note- I LOVE that Perry makes you wait until the last 2-3 pages of the book to discover whodunnit. She always brings up some last minute evidence right before the end of the book that makes you question ALL your theories and then BAM! Surprise! It’s really quite something.
January 16, 2012
Not one of my favorites in this series. An eccentric countess from a fictional German principality is being tried for slander, having publicly accused a princess of murdering the husband who gave up his throne for her, à la the Duke of Windsor. Rathbone frets over the defense while Monk travels to Venice looking for clues.
Meanwhile Hester nurses a young man who has just become a paraplegic. She hooks him up with a disabled young woman (from an earlier book) with conveniently compatible physical and social disadvantages.
Not much progress on the Monk/Hester romance. Monk continues to be insulting about Hester's personality and finds himself charmed by elegant, fun-loving women - only to eventually realize that they compare unfavorably with Hester. He also finds himself jealous of Hester's regard for Rathbone.
Meanwhile Hester nurses a young man who has just become a paraplegic. She hooks him up with a disabled young woman (from an earlier book) with conveniently compatible physical and social disadvantages.
Not much progress on the Monk/Hester romance. Monk continues to be insulting about Hester's personality and finds himself charmed by elegant, fun-loving women - only to eventually realize that they compare unfavorably with Hester. He also finds himself jealous of Hester's regard for Rathbone.
August 20, 2012
Not my favorite among the Inspector Monk series, but it was okay. One problem I had with it was Monk becoming enamored with a woman married to a baron, spending a lot of time alone with her, and kissing her. It just didn't fit in with my perception of this man who has such a high respect for honor, truth and justice. I could understand him having feelings for her, but kissing another man's wife - just didn't seem realistic. And to not even feel tortured or anything about it. It rang false.
The story itself was alright, ending in typical fashion in the courtroom. Perry doesn't disappoint with the developments in those last few pages that make things fall into place. Not sorry I read it, but just not my favorite.
The story itself was alright, ending in typical fashion in the courtroom. Perry doesn't disappoint with the developments in those last few pages that make things fall into place. Not sorry I read it, but just not my favorite.
February 20, 2014
It's been some years since I read Anne Perry and I'm looking forward to be lifted into Victorian England again.
EARLY COMMENTS
The interactions between William Monk and Oliver Rathbone and Hester Latterly reflect Anne Perry's superb ability to communicate the way people can feel about each other and yet leave so much unsaid. Perry leaves the reader (this reader anyway) thinking that perhaps this is the nature of all human interaction, even between people who care very much for each other.
The scenes between the young boy and girl, both physically damaged, are unbelievably touching.
Update FEB 18, 2014 ...
Anne Perry is a very patient author. For chapter after chapter her characters seek an answer to the underlying mystery, with no success. She describes the search so well that I am not frustrated with the delay. Now we have moved to the trial, where the truth must become known, but still it hasn't.
update FEB 20, 2014
A superb conclusion. The answers were withheld until the very end, with the characters learning what happened only a few pages before the reader. Some big surprises and some quite compassionate scenes.
The way Perry set the murder mystery against the very interesting and probably not well known background of Germany before the consolidation added to the read.
My only problem with this book was in the beginning, when Perry introduced all of the characters at the crucial party in a single overwhelming sequence that was impossible (for me) to absorb. I think she could have skipped this, since all the characters were re-introduced later, in a far more effective and reader-friendly way.
EARLY COMMENTS
The interactions between William Monk and Oliver Rathbone and Hester Latterly reflect Anne Perry's superb ability to communicate the way people can feel about each other and yet leave so much unsaid. Perry leaves the reader (this reader anyway) thinking that perhaps this is the nature of all human interaction, even between people who care very much for each other.
The scenes between the young boy and girl, both physically damaged, are unbelievably touching.
Update FEB 18, 2014 ...
Anne Perry is a very patient author. For chapter after chapter her characters seek an answer to the underlying mystery, with no success. She describes the search so well that I am not frustrated with the delay. Now we have moved to the trial, where the truth must become known, but still it hasn't.
update FEB 20, 2014
A superb conclusion. The answers were withheld until the very end, with the characters learning what happened only a few pages before the reader. Some big surprises and some quite compassionate scenes.
The way Perry set the murder mystery against the very interesting and probably not well known background of Germany before the consolidation added to the read.
My only problem with this book was in the beginning, when Perry introduced all of the characters at the crucial party in a single overwhelming sequence that was impossible (for me) to absorb. I think she could have skipped this, since all the characters were re-introduced later, in a far more effective and reader-friendly way.
July 6, 2008
I've read most of the Monk novels and I enjoy them, partly because Ann Perry does a superb job of tealistic conveying the era in which the novels are set. Monk is a complex character with a mystery in his past. Since I've read the later novels, I know what the mystery is, but that didn't take away from the enjoyment of this book. What did take away from my reading pleasure was the sense that Perry stretches the plot to the inevitable denouement by using some contrived plot devices. Also, I question how the Countess could be sure about how committed the crime, yet give no reason that she knew.
December 30, 2022
Well, it seems like our male protagonist Monk is still suffering from too much sperm on the brain. His never-failing predilection for pretty, witty, elegantly feminine, seemingly vulnerable for male protection, ladies who stroke his ego. But this time, in my opinion he crosses the line with cavorting with a married woman a Baroness Evelyn von Seidlitz around the cities of Venice, Italy and Felzburg (a fictionalized independent Provence in Germany). He engages in escorting her all over and dancing with her till dawn even with her husband nearby. He engages in quite a bit of intimate contact including enfolding her in his arms, kissing her neck, cheek and lips, as well as stroking her cheek, neck and collar bone. Literally falling all over her. He still cannot resist calling Hester stupid and basically continuing to act as a consummate cad. However, Perry demonstrates her descriptive writing genius with such snippets like this from a witness in one of the court scenes. He looked over Rathbone’s head towards Gisela as if she were something that had crept out of a cesspool. Now that's what I call descriptive writing. Her court scenes are true drama that would give Perry Mason a run for his money and again Anne Perry sums up the ending like the guillotine slices off an aristocrat's head. I mean she takes such unending care leading up to the end that a little more explanation to tie it up wouldn't hurt.
October 19, 2021
3.5
Mid-19th century. When barrister, Sir Oliver Rathbone, takes on a slander case - involving foreign noblewomen and an exiled German prince, he enlists the help of detective, William Monk.
This seventh book in this series actually has very little involvement from Monk. And in fact his longest scenes, which take place in Venice and the German town of Felzburg, make up what is probably the dullest part of the proceedings. I’m assuming their inclusion was to add a little interlude and colour away from the usual settings of London. But they actually possess little in the way of character and entertaining digression, and seem rather pointless. Funnily enough, some of the editions have cover representations of Venice. Was it a marketing ploy perhaps? Surely not, Perry is far too good a writer for such nonsense.
Having said this, it’s still an enjoyable period thriller, with plenty of mystery, build-up and intrigue. And she writes a damn good court scene! But it is my least favourite of the first seven books in the series. It feels stretched, and I have to say I prefer my crime novels revolving around more primitive and earthy motives, rather than the wider political machinations on offer here. But that’s just me!
I’ve been a little down on this review (it’s a perfectly fine and entertaining book), so I’ll even up by stating that I think Anne Perry is a wonderful writer who gets inside her characters, motivations and relationships, and to her great credit seamlessly displays her research lightly, and without any pompous intrusion for modern day retro comment. Nothing grates on me more in historical novels when a writer insists on including cart loads of irrelevant research and proceeds to batter us over the head with the subtlety of a sledgehammer to make the point – this is how it really was. Really! As if we’re all a bunch of thick numpties…
But even though this is my least favourite Anne Perry, it is still good, and I would highly recommend this and all her books. Great atmospheric reads for those entering the coming winter months…
Mid-19th century. When barrister, Sir Oliver Rathbone, takes on a slander case - involving foreign noblewomen and an exiled German prince, he enlists the help of detective, William Monk.
This seventh book in this series actually has very little involvement from Monk. And in fact his longest scenes, which take place in Venice and the German town of Felzburg, make up what is probably the dullest part of the proceedings. I’m assuming their inclusion was to add a little interlude and colour away from the usual settings of London. But they actually possess little in the way of character and entertaining digression, and seem rather pointless. Funnily enough, some of the editions have cover representations of Venice. Was it a marketing ploy perhaps? Surely not, Perry is far too good a writer for such nonsense.
Having said this, it’s still an enjoyable period thriller, with plenty of mystery, build-up and intrigue. And she writes a damn good court scene! But it is my least favourite of the first seven books in the series. It feels stretched, and I have to say I prefer my crime novels revolving around more primitive and earthy motives, rather than the wider political machinations on offer here. But that’s just me!
I’ve been a little down on this review (it’s a perfectly fine and entertaining book), so I’ll even up by stating that I think Anne Perry is a wonderful writer who gets inside her characters, motivations and relationships, and to her great credit seamlessly displays her research lightly, and without any pompous intrusion for modern day retro comment. Nothing grates on me more in historical novels when a writer insists on including cart loads of irrelevant research and proceeds to batter us over the head with the subtlety of a sledgehammer to make the point – this is how it really was. Really! As if we’re all a bunch of thick numpties…
But even though this is my least favourite Anne Perry, it is still good, and I would highly recommend this and all her books. Great atmospheric reads for those entering the coming winter months…
March 24, 2022
Recently knighted by the Queen for his service in the law, Sir Oliver Rathbone takes on a case that may be his professional undoing. He hires former policeman turned private detective William Monk to investigate the details of an exiled prince to help Rathbone clear his new client of slander charges.
Monk's investigations take him to the scene of the prince's death, a country manor in England, to Venice, and finally, to Felzburg, an independent nation in the site of the future Germany. Despite his best efforts, the investigation leads him nowhere to facts that will help Rathbone or his client further their case.
Readers of the William Monk series are accustomed to seeing Rathbone as the backbone of the legal issues at hand in the story. This time, Rathbone is beset with self-doubt and rueing the day he agreed to take the slander case on.
Monk, the man who has been nagged with a loss of memory of himself prior to an accident three years ago, experiences some memory flashbacks that help fill in some of those details. He also experiences some insights into his friendship with Hester Latterly who is also trying to help Sir Oliver with his latest legal case.
Monk's investigations take him to the scene of the prince's death, a country manor in England, to Venice, and finally, to Felzburg, an independent nation in the site of the future Germany. Despite his best efforts, the investigation leads him nowhere to facts that will help Rathbone or his client further their case.
Readers of the William Monk series are accustomed to seeing Rathbone as the backbone of the legal issues at hand in the story. This time, Rathbone is beset with self-doubt and rueing the day he agreed to take the slander case on.
Monk, the man who has been nagged with a loss of memory of himself prior to an accident three years ago, experiences some memory flashbacks that help fill in some of those details. He also experiences some insights into his friendship with Hester Latterly who is also trying to help Sir Oliver with his latest legal case.
March 19, 2016
Out of all the William Monk mysteries that I've read so far, Weighed in the Balance was the one that has proved the hardest going. In other words, I found it dragging from almost start to finish. I'm not sure if it was my mood, or, if possibly it was the case, or perhaps even a bit of both.
Sir Oliver Rathbone has accepted a new case, for better or worse, and it's a matter of slander. He's defending a woman, a foreigner, Countess Zorah Rostova on a slander change. She has accused someone (Princess Gisela) of murder, and, won't back down even though there isn't a bit of evidence against the woman. Not that anyone looks until Rathbone hires William Monk to investigate. But still.
The case is frustrating and loathsome to him. Even after the trial starts, he is clueless as to what to say in her defense. He can't possibly win this case. It's a matter of how big a fool he wants to appear. Should he try to build a case that it is murder, or was murder, but that his client was mistaken in WHO did the crime? Or should he try to hush up the murder-aspect of it? Does he himself believe there was a crime committed? Can he work up a believable motive?
One character I appreciated more than the others in this one: Hester Latterly. I didn't have to yell at her even once while reading this one. I did, I must mention, have to yell at William Monk more than once. Rathbone, well, he always does the honorable thing, and rarely needs yelling at.
Hester has nursing duties in this book. She's tending a young man after an injury, and, he'll likely never walk again. She brings a young woman into his life, a woman first introduced in A Sudden Fearful Death. I do enjoy how the series works. It's a whole world the author has created, and, characters are always reappearing as they carry on their lives. It's nice to see. And it's not something you often see in a mystery series.
Sir Oliver Rathbone has accepted a new case, for better or worse, and it's a matter of slander. He's defending a woman, a foreigner, Countess Zorah Rostova on a slander change. She has accused someone (Princess Gisela) of murder, and, won't back down even though there isn't a bit of evidence against the woman. Not that anyone looks until Rathbone hires William Monk to investigate. But still.
The case is frustrating and loathsome to him. Even after the trial starts, he is clueless as to what to say in her defense. He can't possibly win this case. It's a matter of how big a fool he wants to appear. Should he try to build a case that it is murder, or was murder, but that his client was mistaken in WHO did the crime? Or should he try to hush up the murder-aspect of it? Does he himself believe there was a crime committed? Can he work up a believable motive?
One character I appreciated more than the others in this one: Hester Latterly. I didn't have to yell at her even once while reading this one. I did, I must mention, have to yell at William Monk more than once. Rathbone, well, he always does the honorable thing, and rarely needs yelling at.
Hester has nursing duties in this book. She's tending a young man after an injury, and, he'll likely never walk again. She brings a young woman into his life, a woman first introduced in A Sudden Fearful Death. I do enjoy how the series works. It's a whole world the author has created, and, characters are always reappearing as they carry on their lives. It's nice to see. And it's not something you often see in a mystery series.
April 3, 2025
This was another good addition to the William Monk series, though Monk and his sometimes assistant Hester Latterly were a little less central to this story than they usually are in these stories. Instead their friend and sometimes employer Oliver Rathbone is much more a part of this story, as he agrees to be the solicitor for a woman accused of slander. Due to the investigation of Monk and Hester, though, the slander investigation soon is more focused on murder. There is much more court room drama in this book than others in the series to this point, and Perry does a great job developing the trial process. There are also politics here, mid 19th century, when a German principality resists becoming a part of the move toward unification, a time when Germany will mean not just a cluster of separate self-ruled entities that "share a language and culture" but will mean a larger German nation. Though it is meant to reflect that time in history, some of the speeches made by various characters could be just as true today, as they site their fears of turning away from freedom and liberty, and toward a much more repressive and totalitarian form of government.
September 21, 2020
Rather extreme dislike of William Monk continues and I HAVE GOT TO KNOW whether the author will ever resolve this.
This may have been my least favorite so far in the series. Monk still regularly noticing how beautiful women can't seem to help but notice him, getting distracted completely by said beautiful women, and this time actually resents the people who have paid for him to go off and mingle with beautiful women. People continue to have 'aquiline' noses or noses that are too long, sensitive mouths, etc.
A very charming train of thought by Monk: "He was so much more attracted to women who were fun, uncritical, charming; who knew when to speak, how to flatter and laugh, how to enjoy themselves; who knew how to be vulnerable in the little things it was so easy to supply, and yet not discard the great things, the sacrifices which cost too much, asked of the fabric of his nature and his dreams."
OH IS THAT ALL.
I like the atmosphere of these books, I love Hester and Rathbone, and things generally get pretty page-turning in the last half. Thus on to #8.
This may have been my least favorite so far in the series. Monk still regularly noticing how beautiful women can't seem to help but notice him, getting distracted completely by said beautiful women, and this time actually resents the people who have paid for him to go off and mingle with beautiful women. People continue to have 'aquiline' noses or noses that are too long, sensitive mouths, etc.
A very charming train of thought by Monk: "He was so much more attracted to women who were fun, uncritical, charming; who knew when to speak, how to flatter and laugh, how to enjoy themselves; who knew how to be vulnerable in the little things it was so easy to supply, and yet not discard the great things, the sacrifices which cost too much, asked of the fabric of his nature and his dreams."
OH IS THAT ALL.
I like the atmosphere of these books, I love Hester and Rathbone, and things generally get pretty page-turning in the last half. Thus on to #8.
January 25, 2009
Anne Perry writes two series I'm mainly interested in. The WIlliam Monk mysteries and the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt mysteries. Since I'm a sucker for an English "buddy" mystery, these are right up my alley.
July 23, 2009
This actually is better than other books that received 2-stars from me, but I'm getting tired of the series. It's about time we find out more about Monk's past, what's going to happen with Hester, Monk, and Rathbone, and the author is using more contrived plot devices that are kind-of insulting.
August 15, 2019
This one was a snoozer for 80% of the time. The end was fire though.
April 17, 2017
I very much enjoyed this. I am fairly up to date with the Monk series, it is my favorite of Anne Perry's series, but I somehow had missed this one. I have been aware that I had missed one where Monk had remembered a chunk from his background so I was glad to come across this glimpse into his hidden past.
November 20, 2025
One of Anne Perry’s less intense novels it was nonetheless interesting and i am glad for having persevered. It kept you guessing and unsure of the heart of the plot until the very end. Love the writing, the depth, and the cast of characters.
March 28, 2025
In this series Perry often uses what I can describe as "guest stars" whose stories continue in more than one book, often patients that Hester is nursing, whose stories often have bearing on the main mystery. So it was with Major Tiplady and Edith Sobel in earlier books, here it is Victoria Stanhope, and Robert, a young man whom she briefly met in a previous book, though we really didn't know who he was then. Perry uses them both for a bittersweet bit of romance, and for a final plot twist.
In the main story, Oliver Rathbone is defending a German countess for slandering the widow of a German crown prince (who like Edward VIII, gave up the throne for love) by accusing her of murdering her husband. Monk is sent in to investigate and in the process we get a look at Venice under the Austrians and the struggle of the small nations of Germany as they were absorbed, willingly or not, into the larger nation. And in the process once again Monk falls for a superficial but charming woman who, like all the others, makes him realize what a wonderful woman Hester is, though he is still fighting against the relationship. There's a lot going on here, and it's as absorbing on a repeat reading as it was on the first.
In the main story, Oliver Rathbone is defending a German countess for slandering the widow of a German crown prince (who like Edward VIII, gave up the throne for love) by accusing her of murdering her husband. Monk is sent in to investigate and in the process we get a look at Venice under the Austrians and the struggle of the small nations of Germany as they were absorbed, willingly or not, into the larger nation. And in the process once again Monk falls for a superficial but charming woman who, like all the others, makes him realize what a wonderful woman Hester is, though he is still fighting against the relationship. There's a lot going on here, and it's as absorbing on a repeat reading as it was on the first.
April 30, 2017
This was a hard review to write; on the one hand, I really liked Anne Perry's writing style, and the subject was very interesting...a former king, Frederick, of a small principality that may be subsumed by a united Germany (and possibly king to be again) dies after a riding accident. His wife, Gisela, is accused of murdering him by another member of the aristocracy, Countess Zorah. Gisela sues Zorah for slander, and Zorah goes to eminent London barrister Sir Oliver Rathbone for her defence. Sir Oliver engages private investigator, William Monk, to help him investigate and determine whether in fact King Frederich's death was in fact murder, or the result of his accident.
Anne Perry's writing is just beautiful, however the book progresses so slowly that I got about half way through, and skipped to the last 2 chapters to see what happened, and decide if I needed to read what I had skipped. I decided I did not have to read what I skipped! For those who appreciate the pacing of the book, I would highly recommend it; you will enjoy reading it. But for those who prefer a faster pace, this is not your book.
Anne Perry's writing is just beautiful, however the book progresses so slowly that I got about half way through, and skipped to the last 2 chapters to see what happened, and decide if I needed to read what I had skipped. I decided I did not have to read what I skipped! For those who appreciate the pacing of the book, I would highly recommend it; you will enjoy reading it. But for those who prefer a faster pace, this is not your book.
August 19, 2012
This was the first novel I read from Anne Perry and it was "hook, line and sinker". I was amazed at how well the description of the characters and the political surroundings affected the story. What I liked the most was how she went around and described little snippets of Victorian thinking, like the thoughts of society on nurses, to my tastes that made her novel even more "human". The most striking thing about this story is that even when you are reading a crime/mystery novel you do not feel as if the crime is the most important thing in the book, the most important thing (in my opinion) was the character and relationship development between the protagonists.
All in all I liked it a lot, although I felt the ending was a little bit rushed, which is understandable since the crime was just the salt for everything else, I felt that it was a good novel worth reading it and even more, purchasing it.
All in all I liked it a lot, although I felt the ending was a little bit rushed, which is understandable since the crime was just the salt for everything else, I felt that it was a good novel worth reading it and even more, purchasing it.
February 7, 2013
In the seventh installment of the William Monk series, Oliver Rathbone is retained to defend Countess Zorah Rostova in a slander case.
The Countess accused Princess Gisela of killing Prince Friedrich, the exiled prince of a German principality. The problem is that the Countess cannot produce a shred of evidence against the princess. Rathbone then asks Monk to investigate this accusation. Monk travels to Vienna and Felzburg (the German principality), but he cannot find anything to support Zorah accusation. It seems that Rathbone has his work cut out for him...
Another wonderful book by Anne Perry. As usual it was a quick paced novel, with an amazing group of characters. There was also an appearance of a character from a previous book.
The one thing that is really ticking me off is the William Monk and Hester Latterly relationship, we know that they're attracted to each other but there's also a disdain for each other. This needs to be resolved already! Oh well, maybe next book...
The Countess accused Princess Gisela of killing Prince Friedrich, the exiled prince of a German principality. The problem is that the Countess cannot produce a shred of evidence against the princess. Rathbone then asks Monk to investigate this accusation. Monk travels to Vienna and Felzburg (the German principality), but he cannot find anything to support Zorah accusation. It seems that Rathbone has his work cut out for him...
Another wonderful book by Anne Perry. As usual it was a quick paced novel, with an amazing group of characters. There was also an appearance of a character from a previous book.
The one thing that is really ticking me off is the William Monk and Hester Latterly relationship, we know that they're attracted to each other but there's also a disdain for each other. This needs to be resolved already! Oh well, maybe next book...
July 13, 2013
Oliver Rathbone has really gone out of character in this book. He has taken a case because he is fascinated with his client ! All does seem lost until , after many, many twists and turns of evidence, Rathbone and his client are vindicated. Not without tension and stress for reader as well as the characters!! British justice is also vindicated; in the end!! Whew.
January 20, 2009
I became bore with the series and annoyed with the two main characters' (Monk & Hester) relationship -- didn't even finish reading the book. Kind of felt that after 7 books get to the point and reveal the "mystery" behind Monk's past.
June 18, 2020
Goodness. Very disappointing -- lots of detail of an investigation that seems to be going nowhere. I am still wondering why the countess even made the claim she did. Monk behaves like a lovestruck teenager, Rathbone....??? Only Hester shows any sense and finally uncovers some evidence.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2008
A very fine William Monk detective novel.
August 6, 2015
Anne Perry's Monk series never disappoints... a winning combination of authentic Victorian settings and richly developed characterization. Looking forward to the next one.
May 16, 2010
One of the best William Monk series yet. A great mystery
June 16, 2010
Reread...once started had to reread the whole. I like the Monk series...thought I missed this one.At the end this is about where Monk first implys his interest in Hester.
July 27, 2018
Not my favorite. Didn't care for any of the characters, really. Zorah, meh. Gisela, no thanks. Friedrich, who? Evelyn, c'mon Monk. Hester's side story wasn't all that compelling, either. Just ok.
May 3, 2019
No es el mejor de Anne Perry, pero me sigue encantando su descripción mordaz de la época victoriana
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