A Sudden, Fearful Death: A William Monk Novel

Is the nominal hero of this series ever going to actually solve a murder?? As usual, Hester, Callandra and even Oliver Rathbone do more detecting than the detective!Another recurring plot element? Everybody spends over half the book scratching their heads over something that is glaringly obvious. For the record, a woman graduated medical school in the U.S. in 1847, so don't tell me it was so unthinkable as to utterly stump such a supposedly brilliant detective.

Anne Perry’s writing skill is superb. You not only get a great read and a great mystery but you also get a clear and colorful picture of what life was about in a certain historical time. I’ve read all her mysteries over and over again.However in this book, as well as in the Daniel Pitt series, I am disturbed at the ease which barristers connive to get their clients convicted. This is always because they have found out that the client was guilty, but it is still an unethical action and the client could certainly appeal based on ineffectiveness of counsel.

I always believe in Monk's sense of justice and honor, Hester's outrage and Oliver's pleasure at his own victory or lack of such. In "...Fearful Death," I for once sympathize with Oliver --- and, I believe her name was Dora. While his future suffering is desirable, his death would have been preferable. Society will eventually release him.... If he can be imprisoned at all on the testimony of a woman. He'll be free to return to his family who would be financially destitute without him, yet living under his dictatorial force were he to return. His vile son possibly remaining at home, his own daughters in danger and his wife ----- to be socially outcast with either outcome ---- will be at his mercy while he remains at home. He'll find no respectable occupation ..... Possibly Dora will relieve them all of his existence. I do hope this will be the outcome of events. Is it only myself, or do other of Ms. Perry's readers find themselves speaking, or writing ... as I am now ... more in the style of her Victorian characters than my own contemporaries? This is my third escape into the "binge reading" (ah, a surely modern phrase!) of the Monk series.... I will, living through this literary exercise, attempt a fifth such journey through the complete adventures of the most pleasurable Thomas Pitt. Hmmmm. Mr. Monk or Mr. Pitt..... I will leave the Victorian age to its own faults and frailties .... The man of whom I last read is the man I find in my dreams. (Admitting proudly: Sean Bean has been known to appear and ... When he does..... As Always(!) he runs ALL OTHER buggers off!)

This installment of the William Monk series is more courtroom drama than murder mystery. The book exposes the Victorian attitudes toward women's reproductive rights, a topic which is also timely todzy.

I like the William Monk Novels and this one was excellent. The interaction between Monk and Hester can be outrageously funny to me. Anne Perry has the ability to bring characters alive like only the best authors can. So far her books make me really wonder who "done it". Or if I have an idea who did, she is still able to keep me wondering. And I can find my self so wrong by the end of the book.She also has been able to show different sides of Victorian London, the various types of people who live there.To me this book is a very good example of a murder mystery, filled with intrigue, a cantankerous detective and nurse, a brilliant barrister, and more than one evil character.

Monk begins with a simple case with a sad outcome. Then we turn to Lady Callandra and her charitable pursuits at the hospital when a Crimean nurse is murdered and thrown down a laundry chute. Fearing her friend, a foreign doctor, will be easy to pin it on, she calls in Monk to investigate alongside the police. Unfortunate realities and disturbing circumstances are discovered. The major portion of the case was obvious the actual motive and killer shocked me. Very good entry if a little light on Monk discoveries

For whatever reason, this story seemed disjointed. The first big scene took forever to tie in with the rest of the plot and I'm still not sure it was necessary. The big reveal did not necessarily need Julia and her sister Marianne.The courtroom scenes are tedious and overly drawn out. I suspect Perry wrote it this way simply to give Rathbone something to do. Unfortunately, it only served to make him less likeable since he is constantly disparaging Prudence's memory and character. Why isn't Hester testifying? She witnessed Prudence performing successful amputations and could refute some of the claims. A huge oversight by the prosecution and Monk. It was very difficult and upsetting to read pages and pages of people tearing Prudence's memory and accomplishments to shreds, simply because no one has sufficient imagination to guess at the real meaning of her letters (which I did almost immediately) until Hester manages near the end of the trial. This alone brings the rating down 1 star. How annoying that everyone assumed a sordid reason behind the letters, especially since it was so out of character for Prudence. Since I guessed the reason right away, I find it hard to believe none of the other characters did. How absurd. Not to mention, it's getting really annoying the way Monk continually ruminates on how brilliant he is. Give it a rest already!I have to say, I really like the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series better. There is a lot of potential for the Monk books, but I think the time period makes it difficult to enjoy. While women are still relegated to a background role during Pitt's era, at least whispers of change are in the air. During the Monk books, the female characters are so restricted at times, it's difficult to enjoy the read. That said, the parts with Hester are always my favorite. Poor thing is so ahead of her time.

I am about half way through this novel. It is fascinating at the historical level. I am learning more about the experiences of Florence Nightingale's nurses, about nursing in England at the time, and about how society continues to operate with stringent strictures between social classes. As well, the crime is interesting and, at this point, seems to have no solution. I like that. Anne Perry writes well and I recommend this novel both as a William Monk story and as good historical crime fiction.

Great book to read

Not quite so griping as the previous novel as the plot was a little drawn out and lacked drama. Still, some fascinating glimpses into Victorian hospital life and medical practice.

I enjoyed this book very much. Having read the three previous stories, this one was equally good. Well worth reading.

I've got quite addicted to these stories, and wondering when eventually Monk and Hester admit they are perfect for each other. I have to keep reading till then, at least.