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William Monk #14
The Shifting Tide
“Engrossing . . . The mysterious and dangerous waterfront world of London’s ‘longest street,’ the Thames, comes to life.”—South Florida Sun-Sentinel
William Monk knows London’s streets like the back of his hand. But the river Thames and its teeming docks—where wharf rats and night plunderers ply their trades—is unknown territory. Only Monk’s dire need for work persuades him to accept an assignment from shipping magnate Clement Louvain, to investigate the theft of a cargo of African ivory from Louvain’s recently docked schooner, the Maude Idris. But why didn’t Louvain report the ivory theft directly to the River Police? Another mystery is the appearance of a desperately ill woman who Louvain claims is the discarded mistress of an old friend. Is she connected to the theft, or to something much darker? As Monk endeavors to solve these riddles, he can’t imagine the trap that will soon so fatefully ensnare him.
Praise for The Shifting Tide
“With her visionary sensibility, Anne Perry is the master of the ‘you are there’ school of hist-myst storytelling. . . . [Here are] scenes that could have come out of Dickens's Our Mutual Friend. ” — The New York Times Book Review
“As always, Perry uses her characters and story to comment on ethical issues that remain as relevant today as they were in Victorian times.” — Publishers Weekly
“No one writes more elegantly than Perry, nor better conjures up the rich and colorful tapestry of London in the Victorian era.” — The Plain Dealer
“Among the best [of the Monk books] . . . This one has all Perry’s trademark atmosphere.” — The Globe and Mail
William Monk knows London’s streets like the back of his hand. But the river Thames and its teeming docks—where wharf rats and night plunderers ply their trades—is unknown territory. Only Monk’s dire need for work persuades him to accept an assignment from shipping magnate Clement Louvain, to investigate the theft of a cargo of African ivory from Louvain’s recently docked schooner, the Maude Idris. But why didn’t Louvain report the ivory theft directly to the River Police? Another mystery is the appearance of a desperately ill woman who Louvain claims is the discarded mistress of an old friend. Is she connected to the theft, or to something much darker? As Monk endeavors to solve these riddles, he can’t imagine the trap that will soon so fatefully ensnare him.
Praise for The Shifting Tide
“With her visionary sensibility, Anne Perry is the master of the ‘you are there’ school of hist-myst storytelling. . . . [Here are] scenes that could have come out of Dickens's Our Mutual Friend. ” — The New York Times Book Review
“As always, Perry uses her characters and story to comment on ethical issues that remain as relevant today as they were in Victorian times.” — Publishers Weekly
“No one writes more elegantly than Perry, nor better conjures up the rich and colorful tapestry of London in the Victorian era.” — The Plain Dealer
“Among the best [of the Monk books] . . . This one has all Perry’s trademark atmosphere.” — The Globe and Mail
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
272 people are currently reading
1282 people want to read
About the author
Anne Perry
360 books3,375 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
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews
March 11, 2024
Not the usual Monk book and, oddly, this entry featured a whole lot more Monk than Hester... in some ways the initial mystery is more like an appetizer than a main course.
Yet, this may be one of my favorites of the series so far. It's the humanity of secondary characters, such as Sutton, Margaret and Durban, which resonated with me and will haunt me for awhile.
Rarely is a mystery so emotionally satisfying, but this one was exactly that and more.
(Reviewed 6/22/17)
Yet, this may be one of my favorites of the series so far. It's the humanity of secondary characters, such as Sutton, Margaret and Durban, which resonated with me and will haunt me for awhile.
Rarely is a mystery so emotionally satisfying, but this one was exactly that and more.
(Reviewed 6/22/17)
February 28, 2012
I have been “hooked” on Anne Perry novels for a good while now. There are a number of reasons for this addiction. One reason I enjoy these novels as much as I do, is that AP is, to my way of thinking, a master at creating characters with depth to their personalities. This installment in the William Monk series is a prime example of that well-honed skill.
Monk, a former police inspector and currently a private investigator for hire who has fallen on hard times financially, accepts an assignment to recover some missing ivory that was part of a shipment a man had imported to London. Monk is a bit out of his depth here because it means he will have to pursue his search for the missing cargo along London’s river district. Monks’ ability to blend in on the streets of the city, do not translate to the area of the river’s edge. It, therefore, requires him to enlist the aid of several of the denizens of the district in order for him to accomplish his assignment and garner the promised reward.
Meanwhile, Hester, Monk’s wife, is involved with a clinic for women in something of a red light district of London. Hester is a nurse by training, primarily gaining her expertise during the Crimean war. She along with a well to do young woman named Margaret, have set out to administer medical aid to the street walkers of the area who really have no place to go to recover from the myriad ailments that afflict them.
During one fateful evening, the gentleman who has hired Hester’s husband to find his missing shipment of ivory, brings a very sick young woman to Hester’s clinic and pays for this young woman to be taken care of by Hester and Margaret. The young woman appears to be suffering from a serious case of pneumonia, but when she dies, Hester discovers that the woman has died of suffocation and also a disease way more deadly than pneumonia.
This is the set up for what follows. Before all is said and done in this well crafted mystery, Hester and Monk’s professional world will intertwine resulting in them being separated for an agonizing stretch of time for both of them.
I recognize I have left you hanging. There is much to enjoy within the pages of this story. Favorite characters from previous episodes appear in this novel and that made it all the more enjoyable for me. But, as I stated earlier in this review, AP’s skill at characterization brings a variety of personalities to life and as their creator, imbues them with human qualities that make them, humble and charitable on the one hand, and in one or two cases, the epitome of greed and avarice on the other.
Monk, a former police inspector and currently a private investigator for hire who has fallen on hard times financially, accepts an assignment to recover some missing ivory that was part of a shipment a man had imported to London. Monk is a bit out of his depth here because it means he will have to pursue his search for the missing cargo along London’s river district. Monks’ ability to blend in on the streets of the city, do not translate to the area of the river’s edge. It, therefore, requires him to enlist the aid of several of the denizens of the district in order for him to accomplish his assignment and garner the promised reward.
Meanwhile, Hester, Monk’s wife, is involved with a clinic for women in something of a red light district of London. Hester is a nurse by training, primarily gaining her expertise during the Crimean war. She along with a well to do young woman named Margaret, have set out to administer medical aid to the street walkers of the area who really have no place to go to recover from the myriad ailments that afflict them.
During one fateful evening, the gentleman who has hired Hester’s husband to find his missing shipment of ivory, brings a very sick young woman to Hester’s clinic and pays for this young woman to be taken care of by Hester and Margaret. The young woman appears to be suffering from a serious case of pneumonia, but when she dies, Hester discovers that the woman has died of suffocation and also a disease way more deadly than pneumonia.
This is the set up for what follows. Before all is said and done in this well crafted mystery, Hester and Monk’s professional world will intertwine resulting in them being separated for an agonizing stretch of time for both of them.
I recognize I have left you hanging. There is much to enjoy within the pages of this story. Favorite characters from previous episodes appear in this novel and that made it all the more enjoyable for me. But, as I stated earlier in this review, AP’s skill at characterization brings a variety of personalities to life and as their creator, imbues them with human qualities that make them, humble and charitable on the one hand, and in one or two cases, the epitome of greed and avarice on the other.
September 4, 2007
THE SHIFTING TIDE (Private Investigator-Victorian England) – Ex
Anne Perry – 14th in Monk series
Headline, 2004 – Hardcover (U.K. release)
Thomas Monk is hired by ship owner Clement Louvain to locate and recover stolen ivory tusks. Monk is also committed to find who killed one of the ship’s crewmembers. Unknown to Monk, Louvain brings a very ill woman to Hester’s clinic for abused and ill prostitutes. The consequences of these two events could be deadly for millions.
*** This is an exceptional book. The relationship between Monk and Hester has deepened and Ms. Perry enables the reader to feel that relationship. There is a sense of place that makes part of Victorian London, excellent plotting and wonderful characters including strong secondary characters. But most of all, you feel the threat and courage of the characters when placed in an overwhelming situation. I’ve been a fan of Ms. Perry since her first book but had to warm up to the Monk series. This book not only convinced me about the series but I believe this is the best book she’s written to date.
Anne Perry – 14th in Monk series
Headline, 2004 – Hardcover (U.K. release)
Thomas Monk is hired by ship owner Clement Louvain to locate and recover stolen ivory tusks. Monk is also committed to find who killed one of the ship’s crewmembers. Unknown to Monk, Louvain brings a very ill woman to Hester’s clinic for abused and ill prostitutes. The consequences of these two events could be deadly for millions.
*** This is an exceptional book. The relationship between Monk and Hester has deepened and Ms. Perry enables the reader to feel that relationship. There is a sense of place that makes part of Victorian London, excellent plotting and wonderful characters including strong secondary characters. But most of all, you feel the threat and courage of the characters when placed in an overwhelming situation. I’ve been a fan of Ms. Perry since her first book but had to warm up to the Monk series. This book not only convinced me about the series but I believe this is the best book she’s written to date.
September 13, 2021
3.5 stars
I'm a long time fan of Perry's Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series but I've never warmed to the others of hers I've tried - the Monk series included - and haven't read on past the first instalment of any of them.
"The Shifting Tide" I found at a free library and thought, why not?...maybe Monk's improved at book 14. After all, it's been ages since I read the first one.
And he has. Partially.
The setting descriptions of the Thames and how difficult life on the river is, is very well done, of course. Lots of colours, sounds and smells to enjoy which is standard for Perry and what makes her so readable. The plot strand of what happens with Hester at Portpool Clinic was rather gripping and really made me want to read on. Monk's strand was still interesting, but less so, and somewhat hard to follow in parts, esp towards the end.
Overall, though, a good high action mystery scenario.
However, there were certain writing niggles that continuously cropped up which brought my enjoyment of this read down.
One is that "the stakes" are hammered away on about every 10 pages. As if we've forgotten or don't know The novel could have been reduced by 20-30 pages simply if the repetition of that were left out.
Also, there were some logic problems. For example: if quarantine rules are "nobody in or out of the house," then why was the rat catcher able to come and go as he pleased (and eat and drink there?)? That made little to no sense.
Still, this one is a much better mystery than I remember the first Monk being. Hasn't turned me into a fan, but I might pick up another some time.
I'm a long time fan of Perry's Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series but I've never warmed to the others of hers I've tried - the Monk series included - and haven't read on past the first instalment of any of them.
"The Shifting Tide" I found at a free library and thought, why not?...maybe Monk's improved at book 14. After all, it's been ages since I read the first one.
And he has. Partially.
The setting descriptions of the Thames and how difficult life on the river is, is very well done, of course. Lots of colours, sounds and smells to enjoy which is standard for Perry and what makes her so readable. The plot strand of what happens with Hester at Portpool Clinic was rather gripping and really made me want to read on. Monk's strand was still interesting, but less so, and somewhat hard to follow in parts, esp towards the end.
Overall, though, a good high action mystery scenario.
However, there were certain writing niggles that continuously cropped up which brought my enjoyment of this read down.
One is that "the stakes" are hammered away on about every 10 pages. As if we've forgotten or don't know The novel could have been reduced by 20-30 pages simply if the repetition of that were left out.
Also, there were some logic problems. For example: if quarantine rules are "nobody in or out of the house," then why was the rat catcher able to come and go as he pleased (and eat and drink there?)? That made little to no sense.
Still, this one is a much better mystery than I remember the first Monk being. Hasn't turned me into a fan, but I might pick up another some time.
August 23, 2019
Wow. This one was actually really good. No courtroom shenanigans but it was a good read. Great characters. I love Betsy and Flo!
March 5, 2017
By far the best Anne Perry novel I've read to date and one of the most enjoyable books I've read in awhile. Expertly crafted this novel deftly intertwines the stories of Monk and Hester as they're both enmeshed in their own individual causes. Hester is running a clinic for ill and injured prostitutes in Portapool Lane and Monk, badly needing money in his current detective business, has taken on a job for which he feels ill equipped: recovering stolen ivory from a ship docked in the Thames, recently returned from Africa. What makes the story so exceptional is the intensity and urgency with which Perry allows events to unfold. The fear and desperation of the characters is palpable as is the anguish of the extended separation imposed on Monk and Hester by an impending disaster. Bravery, compassion and humanitarianism prevail in this story among many of the leading characters and the extremely satisfying climax and conclusion does not disappoint. Expertly weaving in sea life and culture and the horrific spectre of disease in Victorian England long before the emergence of life-saving antibiotics, Perry has created an epic of a story, phenomenal to the last page.
March 3, 2018
A good tale in the William and Hester Monk series. Times are hard for the Monk's as Hester continues her work at the clinic for street women and Monk takes on a case of murder and stolen cargo from a ship in the Thames, The stories interlink with the clinic and Williams case. A serious situation develops which puts all their lives at risk.
As this series has progressed the story telling has become more fluid and dwells less on details that in the earlier books detracted from the story lines. A good read.
3.5 stars.
As this series has progressed the story telling has become more fluid and dwells less on details that in the earlier books detracted from the story lines. A good read.
3.5 stars.
September 5, 2020
A five star rating from me for Book #14 of the William Monk series, “The Shifting Tide”. The whole series is good, always getting a three or four star rating from me. Book #14 is one of the best, so it gets a five. The William Monk series is one of my go-to “comfort reads” where you know Hester and William will survive their adventures and mis-adventures at the end, and along the way the reader will learn a lot about London in the late 1800s. The violence is not too graphic, and the interaction between characters is believable. In addition there are some well drawn descriptions of the scenes. I’ve grown fond of the the characters that reappear in each book, and there’s always a couple of new well drawn characters that I like. It’s a hooray for the hero’s, William and Hester and Sir Oliver, and a boo for the villain/s. It won’t be long before I start book #15. I’m so pleased there are several more books to go before I get to the end of the series.
One of the disappointments about the series is the lack of available matching audiobooks from Audible. I really enjoy reading a book, and listening too. I think the more recently published books in the series have audios from Audible, and if I remember correctly the first three books have an unabridged audio, but after that it’s a bit of a patchwork.
One of the disappointments about the series is the lack of available matching audiobooks from Audible. I really enjoy reading a book, and listening too. I think the more recently published books in the series have audios from Audible, and if I remember correctly the first three books have an unabridged audio, but after that it’s a bit of a patchwork.
July 17, 2014
It's been a while since I've read Anne Perry but this is another good entry in the Monk series. She does get a bit too much into the characters heads - everyone seems to be experiencing such extreme emotions - that it becomes less intense than I believe she wanted. But still a good read.
June 26, 2025
Et bah, ce fut une belle surprise!
Une enquête qui se termine et une autre qui commence, je peux dire que je fut gâtée!
Il est vrai qu'on peut lire les volumes de cette série comme standalone mais, et c'est un grand mais! De préférence, il faut commencer par le premier afin d'avoir en tête l'histoire de tous les personnages ainsi que le déroulement de certains événements!
Moi par exemple, j'ai commencé avec le 14ème livre, et j'ai très bien pu suivre et l'enquête et les personnages, mais à la fin du livre, un certain détail a retenu mon attention et je n'ai pas pu déterminer pourquoi ce qui est arrivé est arrivé, car je n'avais pas de background 🤷🏻♀️.
Celà dit, vous pouvez passer un super moment en lisant ce livre, on ne s'ennuie pas lors de la mise en place de la trame et de l'intrigue, les personnages sont très bien développés et le cast très varié.
Les thèmes abordés sont fort intéressants et la manière dont ils l'ont été encore plus.
L'intrigue est très captivante, j'ai adoré le fait que l'enquête se termine a environ 100 pages de la fin, me faisant redouter le pire 😂 et c'est là qu'une autre enquête beaucoup plus sinistre s'impose à Monk et à Durban.
"Meurtres sur les Docks" est mon premier Anne Perry/William Monk, et obviously, ce ne sera pas mon dernier, c'est juste que cette fois, je commencerais par le tome 1 😅.
Une enquête qui se termine et une autre qui commence, je peux dire que je fut gâtée!
Il est vrai qu'on peut lire les volumes de cette série comme standalone mais, et c'est un grand mais! De préférence, il faut commencer par le premier afin d'avoir en tête l'histoire de tous les personnages ainsi que le déroulement de certains événements!
Moi par exemple, j'ai commencé avec le 14ème livre, et j'ai très bien pu suivre et l'enquête et les personnages, mais à la fin du livre, un certain détail a retenu mon attention et je n'ai pas pu déterminer pourquoi ce qui est arrivé est arrivé, car je n'avais pas de background 🤷🏻♀️.
Celà dit, vous pouvez passer un super moment en lisant ce livre, on ne s'ennuie pas lors de la mise en place de la trame et de l'intrigue, les personnages sont très bien développés et le cast très varié.
Les thèmes abordés sont fort intéressants et la manière dont ils l'ont été encore plus.
L'intrigue est très captivante, j'ai adoré le fait que l'enquête se termine a environ 100 pages de la fin, me faisant redouter le pire 😂 et c'est là qu'une autre enquête beaucoup plus sinistre s'impose à Monk et à Durban.
"Meurtres sur les Docks" est mon premier Anne Perry/William Monk, et obviously, ce ne sera pas mon dernier, c'est juste que cette fois, je commencerais par le tome 1 😅.
July 12, 2012
Either this was better than the last few Monk novels, or I just enjoyed it more because I allowed some extra time to pass after reading the last one. These books have many repetitive elements, and I think it's best to allow some time between them for the heart to grow fonder.
Money is tight, so Monk accepts a job tracing merchandise stolen from a ship on the Thames. He’s out of his element, being unfamiliar with life on the river and at the docks. Meanwhile Hester is struggling to manage her hospital for prostitutes, and finding that London’s charitable rich are not eager to give money to help “fallen women”.
I like the main characters, particularly the fierce, almost desperate joy they have found in their relationship. Otherwise most of the appeal is in the gritty Victorian setting. This has the same faults as the other Monk books, including unlikely coincidences and over-the-top melodrama, but I look forward to the next one anyway.
Money is tight, so Monk accepts a job tracing merchandise stolen from a ship on the Thames. He’s out of his element, being unfamiliar with life on the river and at the docks. Meanwhile Hester is struggling to manage her hospital for prostitutes, and finding that London’s charitable rich are not eager to give money to help “fallen women”.
I like the main characters, particularly the fierce, almost desperate joy they have found in their relationship. Otherwise most of the appeal is in the gritty Victorian setting. This has the same faults as the other Monk books, including unlikely coincidences and over-the-top melodrama, but I look forward to the next one anyway.
September 15, 2020
I'm sure I've read something else in this series, but it's so long ago that it doesn't count--so believe me when I tell you that you don't have to read any other William Monk books to enjoy this one immensely. The characters and the relationships are sketched in without unnecessary explanation. The setting is a wash of different senses, to the point of stomach-turning on occasion, but real. The mysteries are ingenious, and the solutions are unexpected.
Most of all, in this plague year of 2020, reading this book reminded me of how human beings can rise to their highest virtues in a time of disaster.
Most of all, in this plague year of 2020, reading this book reminded me of how human beings can rise to their highest virtues in a time of disaster.
June 1, 2016
William Monk is out of his element when he agrees to take a case focused on the river and life along the docks. Oddly connected to his case are an ill woman brought to Hester's clinic and another woman who comes to help tend the sick. Both parts of the story move right along, with the usual twists and turns. We meet some fascinating new characters, including Scruff the urchin, Crow the doctor, and Mr. Sutton the rat catcher. In addition, the personal lives of William and Hester's friends undergo some momentous changes. All in all, a satisfying book.
January 1, 2023
Audio version- own, Audible
Narrator: David Colacci
I thought the narration was very good...better than I expected as it was my first Monk book with Colacci as narrator. It was nice to catch up with Monk and Hester but I thought the storyline was a bit far-fetched...more so than usual. Saving the world from a recurrence of the Black Death....that Hester is quite the woman. But in a couple of months I will be ready for book #15, as unlikely (it seems) as some of the storylines are.
Narrator: David Colacci
I thought the narration was very good...better than I expected as it was my first Monk book with Colacci as narrator. It was nice to catch up with Monk and Hester but I thought the storyline was a bit far-fetched...more so than usual. Saving the world from a recurrence of the Black Death....that Hester is quite the woman. But in a couple of months I will be ready for book #15, as unlikely (it seems) as some of the storylines are.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2017
I have just read all 22 of Anne Perry's William Monk series non-stop over the past 5 months and loved every minute of them. I have never in my life before read an entire series back to back and even when I've previously read a trilogy I've had to stop for a breather part-way through. They are so well written and introduce all sorts of historical events and social issues of the time (1850s & 60s).
March 29, 2018
Riveting. I enjoyed the diverse storylines. My first Anne Perry. Will read more of these. Love the complexity of the main male character and of Hester struggling to matter in the repressive Victorian era.
December 2, 2020
A really, really good entry in this series. Hester always knows exactly the right thing to say, without being the annoying character who always knows the right thing to say. Monk has become human. And I loved and adored the rat catcher.
January 17, 2022
Anne Perry is an amazing writer, and I confess to an addiction. I have been reading her Pitt series and her Monk series in tandem. For the uninitiated, the Thomas Pitt series is set in the 1880-90s, while the William Monk series is set just after the Crimean War, in the 1850-60s.
The settings are richly detailed, and the characters well-drawn. The stories can be a bit dark, the murders gruesome, the villains evil, but I never feel overwhelmed by the darkness. The desire of the protagonists is to see justice done and extend mercy to the unfortunate.
In this installment Hester is working at a clinic for prostitutes when a woman brings a dread disease into their midst--the plague. Monk tracks down the source, and it's a dramatic page-turner to the very end.
I wondered about the plague in the 19th century and found an account of an outbreak in Bombay in 1896. So it is conceivable that with ships coming into London from all over the world, that this scenario could have happened.
For those who like well-written murder mysteries but don't appreciate bedroom scenes, this is the writer for you!
The settings are richly detailed, and the characters well-drawn. The stories can be a bit dark, the murders gruesome, the villains evil, but I never feel overwhelmed by the darkness. The desire of the protagonists is to see justice done and extend mercy to the unfortunate.
In this installment Hester is working at a clinic for prostitutes when a woman brings a dread disease into their midst--the plague. Monk tracks down the source, and it's a dramatic page-turner to the very end.
I wondered about the plague in the 19th century and found an account of an outbreak in Bombay in 1896. So it is conceivable that with ships coming into London from all over the world, that this scenario could have happened.
For those who like well-written murder mysteries but don't appreciate bedroom scenes, this is the writer for you!
June 10, 2022
Victorian story of London docks and nursing care of plague outbreak. Very good information for fiction.
July 15, 2025
A well-written story/mystery. It was also very well read on Audible.
May 1, 2021
Muy buena historia, con una cucharada de misterio, una pizca de romance y unas cuantas onzas de aventuras...
El dilema con el que comienza la historia se resuelve casi a mitad del libro, un caso policial, pero al resolver el caso, el detective Monk se encuentra con otro misterio, mucho más grande y peligroso que le incita a actuar contra el tiempo... si bien está ambientada en el 1800, por el conflicto que sucede, se puede adaptar a nuestros días de encierro actuales... (no soy más clara para no spoilear)
Una vez llegada al segundo nudo de la historia, ésta se torna atrapante y el lector no puede no seguir leyendo para saber como va a terminar todo...
Un final.... adecuado, dadas las circunstancias... y un poco melancólico también.
El Maude Idris fondea en el Támesis cargado con todo tipo de materias preciadas, como ébano y marfil, procedentes de África. Esa misma tarde, el capitán Clement Louvain deja a cargo de unos marineros armados la vigilancia del barco y su carga pero, al día siguiente, se encuentra con que el marfil ha sido robado y uno de los marineros asesinado. En su deseo de esclarecer el asunto y recuperar lo sustraído, Louvain encargará a William Monk la investigación del caso. Monk, que desconoce el mundo portuario, solicita la ayuda de un joven huérfano, conocedor de los resortes que mueven los bajos fondos de la ciudad. Juntos recorrerán las orillas del Támesis, conocido también como "la calle más larga de Londres", en busca de pistas.
El dilema con el que comienza la historia se resuelve casi a mitad del libro, un caso policial, pero al resolver el caso, el detective Monk se encuentra con otro misterio, mucho más grande y peligroso que le incita a actuar contra el tiempo... si bien está ambientada en el 1800, por el conflicto que sucede, se puede adaptar a nuestros días de encierro actuales... (no soy más clara para no spoilear)
Una vez llegada al segundo nudo de la historia, ésta se torna atrapante y el lector no puede no seguir leyendo para saber como va a terminar todo...
Un final.... adecuado, dadas las circunstancias... y un poco melancólico también.
El Maude Idris fondea en el Támesis cargado con todo tipo de materias preciadas, como ébano y marfil, procedentes de África. Esa misma tarde, el capitán Clement Louvain deja a cargo de unos marineros armados la vigilancia del barco y su carga pero, al día siguiente, se encuentra con que el marfil ha sido robado y uno de los marineros asesinado. En su deseo de esclarecer el asunto y recuperar lo sustraído, Louvain encargará a William Monk la investigación del caso. Monk, que desconoce el mundo portuario, solicita la ayuda de un joven huérfano, conocedor de los resortes que mueven los bajos fondos de la ciudad. Juntos recorrerán las orillas del Támesis, conocido también como "la calle más larga de Londres", en busca de pistas.
January 23, 2025
La trama con la que empieza el libro no resulta atrapante, y te preguntas el cómo le hará la autora para que el misterio se siga alargando hasta la página 350. El misterio sobre la búsqueda del marfil es aburrido y poco atractivo, sumándole que la historia se ralentiza, pudiéndote desesperar. A parte de la trama del marfil, aparentemente la principal, te mostraba otra, la cual era sobre el trabajo voluntario de Hester, esposa de Monk, que resultaba, al igual, lenta. Hay algo que la mayoría concuerda al leer este libro, es la lo encantador que resulta la descripción del puerto, la vida en él, los negocios en él, los crímenes en él, etc. Eso te hace explotar la imaginación, pues eres capaz de recrear en tu mente la sociedad de la época que se contextualiza el libro.
Sorprendentemente, el misterio del marfil se resuelve con muchas páginas sobrantes, pero aún queda por resolver la pregunta sobre la muerte de uno de los tripulantes. Las dos tramas que se maneja en el libro se entrelazan y la convivencia de Hester con las demás chicas es entretenido; en las descripciones que hace la autora, puedes sentir la fatiga de ellas, el sueño, y por supuesto, las ojeras. El misterio que surge a mitad del libro no es tan predecible, cosa que se agradece. Repito, es increíble que la autora nos dé un vistazo de lo que era la sociedad de Londres en los puertos y demás.
Un libro nada perfecto, pero sí interesante.
Sorprendentemente, el misterio del marfil se resuelve con muchas páginas sobrantes, pero aún queda por resolver la pregunta sobre la muerte de uno de los tripulantes. Las dos tramas que se maneja en el libro se entrelazan y la convivencia de Hester con las demás chicas es entretenido; en las descripciones que hace la autora, puedes sentir la fatiga de ellas, el sueño, y por supuesto, las ojeras. El misterio que surge a mitad del libro no es tan predecible, cosa que se agradece. Repito, es increíble que la autora nos dé un vistazo de lo que era la sociedad de Londres en los puertos y demás.
Un libro nada perfecto, pero sí interesante.
September 16, 2015
Wow, Anne Perry hit a homerun with this book. While I'm glad Callandra has found happiness with Kristian Beck, I'll miss her character immensely. And I'm so happy for Rathbone and Margaret. This book was powerful, packed an emotional wallop and raced along.
A couple of small complaints. Why aren't Hester or Monk more suspicious when Louvain turns up at the clinic with Ruth? I know I would be. Also, a noticeable gaffe early on in Monk's dealings at the riverfront. He's dressed like a gentleman fallen on hard times and is supposedly questioning others like himself. Two paragraphs later, however, when the conversation starts, these same men are not talking like gentlemen, but with the dialect of the working class. Just a quick glance upward on the page should have alerted Perry to her error. A careless oversight by both her and her editor. Neither is serious enough to bring the rating down or ruin an excellent story.
A couple of small complaints. Why aren't Hester or Monk more suspicious when Louvain turns up at the clinic with Ruth? I know I would be. Also, a noticeable gaffe early on in Monk's dealings at the riverfront. He's dressed like a gentleman fallen on hard times and is supposedly questioning others like himself. Two paragraphs later, however, when the conversation starts, these same men are not talking like gentlemen, but with the dialect of the working class. Just a quick glance upward on the page should have alerted Perry to her error. A careless oversight by both her and her editor. Neither is serious enough to bring the rating down or ruin an excellent story.
March 6, 2014
3* Death in the Devil's Acre (Charlotte & Thomas Pitt #7)
3* The Shifting Tide (William Monk #14)
4* Dark Assassin (William Monk #15)
4* Execution Dock: A Novel (William Monk #16)
3* A Christmas Guest: A Novel (Christmas Stories #3)
3* A Christmas Beginning: A Novel (Christmas Stories #5)
2* The Sheen on the Silk: A Novel
December 22, 2017
I really enjoy the William Monk books, and this is one of the best. Set this time in the world of the River Thames, Monk is a little out of his depth, but manfully carries on to find the villain.
The story is well written, the plot twists and turns, and I certainly didn't guess how it would all end. It was really good, and Ms Perry's skills have only improved as the series develops.
The story is well written, the plot twists and turns, and I certainly didn't guess how it would all end. It was really good, and Ms Perry's skills have only improved as the series develops.
February 26, 2018
Not one of my favorites, although there were sections of the book that I enjoyed greatly. I found the second half a little hard to believe and the ending even more so. It was definitely an up and down ride.
October 15, 2018
Definitely one of the best of the series.
Serious decisions have to be made that could change the entire world - and it introduces Scuff, Sutton and Snoot who are new interesting characters and carry on through future books.
Serious decisions have to be made that could change the entire world - and it introduces Scuff, Sutton and Snoot who are new interesting characters and carry on through future books.
April 13, 2025
“Intelligently written and historically fascinating.”
—The Wall Street Journal
“You can count on a Perry tale to be superior.”
—The San Diego Union-Tribune
“[A] master of crime fiction who rarely fails to deliver a strong story and a colorful cast of characters.”
—The Baltimore Sun
—The Wall Street Journal
“You can count on a Perry tale to be superior.”
—The San Diego Union-Tribune
“[A] master of crime fiction who rarely fails to deliver a strong story and a colorful cast of characters.”
—The Baltimore Sun
August 20, 2011
Classic Anne Perry - very atmospheric. Loved the depiction of life on the Thames River during the time of Queen Victoria.
May 28, 2017
Awesome book. Also, Hester and Monk are adorable.
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