The first half of the book maps out the ground. It starts with an overview first of the many groups of individuals involved, their vantage points and their strongly expressed perspectives, and then of the history of mental health care in England. This should be an invaluable introduction for social work, nursing, psychology, sociology or medical students. The book goes on to explore a number of the key themes in the current debate. Many of these are obviously desirable ideas that seem tantalisingly impervious to implementation - mental health promotion, effective interventions in primary care, community based longer term care, getting rid of institutional care. There is a particularly good chapter on the issues involved in assessing the effectiveness of care.

The most interesting aspect of the book is that it is among the first to be able to respond to the fruits of the Labour Government elected in 1997. During the 18 years of the preceding Conservative administration, many commentators wrote as though they believed that this change would solve the problems. The authors show that in the event, the continuities have been more striking than the differences.

At times I felt the book failed to locate the research cited into the experience of service users and their carers in its relevant historical sequence - important at times when powerful advocacy is changing the context fast. It failed to explore the implications of the effects of the radically different training which professionals of different age groups have received. And I guess that reading the book as a white, middle class, non-disabled, male doctor who has worked in the English ministry of Health for many years, I did occasionally find myself wanting to ask the authors 'well what the hell did you expect x to do in that situation?' But even with these minor gripes, I would recommend it to students, practitioners and anyone else interested.

Gyles Glover, Professor of Public Mental Health, University of Durham

Sadly, Green's biography doesn't approach the same level of excellence that his earlier biography of the Duchess of Marlborough. Even though Anne suffered through seventeen pregnancies (none bearing her a surviving heir), even though she witnessed revolution (and usurped her own father), even though she presided over the Union of England and Scotland (thus becoming the first person to reign a unified Great Britain) and even though she reigned through a tumultuous world war, we are lost in a morass of private letters and a catalogue of courtiers' comings and goings. And, for what it is worth, Green is prepared to suggest that Anne's feelings for Sarah were purely platonic. This would get three stars if not for the fact that the sources are so good. But the great popular biography of Anne perhaps remains to be written.

A dead man found on the steps of one of Victorian London's most fashionable homes kicks off the 19th mystery featuring Superintendent Thomas Pitt of the Bow Street Police Station and his clever wife, Charlotte.

Although General Brandon Balantyne denies knowing the shabbily dressed man, his snuffbox was found in the dead man's pocket. Since he's dealing with his betters in class-conscious Victorian Britain, Pitt must tread carefully as he delves into the dead man's past in hopes of finding a connection.

"Bedford Square" is a story which promises much but delivers little. There's much talk about class differences -- Pitt's constable assistant is nearly blinded in his anger against the upper classes -- and in Pitt's investigation of what turns out to be a nasty wide-ranging blackmail plot, we are repeatedly told that the victims are all pure in character and how least revelation, no matter how false, will blast their reputations so utterly that it becomes tedious. The solution to the mystery is extremely disappointing: neither making much sense, nor is it in keeping with what we know of the characters. A disappointing book to someone who wondered what all the shouting was about.

When Kristian's wife and a model are killed in an artist's studio, Hester prevails upon Monk to investigate so that any stigma to her employer's name is removed. Unfortunately, Monk finds no evidence to clear him. Instead he finds many reasons why Kristian would want to kill his wife. The police arrest the doctor but his true friends rally around him and force Monk to dig deeper.

Anne Perry has written another fine mystery that captures the essence of Victorian England. Monk is at his best when he searches for the truth even if he is the only outside the police who feels Kristian murdered his spouse. Hester humanizes Monk by showing his compassionate side. Place FUNERAL IN BLUE on your book-shopping list if you want to read an excellent historical mystery by a talented author.

Harriet Klausner

As many recall, William is a private investigator who has no recall of his life prior to an accident that occurred some six years ago. Hester, William's wife who once toiled along side Florence Nightingale in the Crimean War, is a nurse for Vienna born Dr. Kristian Beck whose wife, Elissa, and a second woman are brutally murdered in an artist's studio. Is the good doctor the killer as many are prone to believe? Or, is Elissa's untimely death tied to her time as a freedom fighter during Austria's mid nineteenth century revolution?

The Monks are called upon to solve this mystery by Lady Callandra who can barely conceal her love for Dr. Beck.

Once again Ms. Perry excels at her descriptions of period London as well as recalling social inequities that darkened England during those years.

The characters skillfully have more brushstrokes painted within the outlines Anne Perry had written in books past, giving us more color and insight into them. I'm glad to see Monk taking up the quest for his past again--he seemed to have dropped the idea after "The Silent Cry", which somewhat annoyed me.

Hester and Monk appear to be settling into their relationship with more ease, but they haven't become complacent--there are still flashes of the sharp tongues we know they both possess. They have their roles at home worked out, and they're blessedly atypical, fitting those two perfectly.

Let's see. The mystery left me a little bit unsatisfied. I think this was more a character development novel of Perry's, rather than more mystery-oriented such as "Defend and Betray". For the most part, Perry seems to go for one or the other--rarely do we have lots of chracter development packaged tidily with a great mystery.

I've learned to accept that, and thus enjoy each Monk book. Predictably, the books since Monk and Hester's marriage have been more character oriented, and "Funeral" was no exception. I expected that, but the ending sort of came out of nowhere...that jarred me a bit. I somewhat expected the murderer to be who it turned out to be, but the ending seemed a bit quick and left me scratching my head in confusion.

Anyhow--I expected a character-development novel and got much more than I thought. So I can honestly give this book five stars--I think Ms. Perry looks more to develop her characters than to write the perfect mystery anyhow. Good entry in the series, and that's my two pence!

Inspector Pitt and Sergeant Tellman find themselves investigating sleazy shops that sell pornographic photos under-the-counter, sometimes to teenage boys - photos that sometimes depict acts that are illegal. The investigation eventually leads to a solution of the case. The novel deals with the seamier side of people's lives. It has content unsuitable for children. Parental discretion is advised.

I am always interested in the amount of research that Ms. Perry does and this book was quite well done. The information on photography at the time and how she connected it to the theatre and even a little Shakespeare thrown in was intriguing. The mystery was centered on censorship and pornagraphy and I thought it was interesting that these were problems faced over 100 years ago. I guess there are no 'new' problems, only new ways of looking at them (Pun?). I highly recommend Perry's work. But I think to truly enjoy you need to start at the beginning and read in order. This book in particular delved into old relationships (Mariah Ellison and Caroline Fielding) and someone who did not understand these characters from previous books might be lost.

P.S. They should make this a mandatory read for everyone soon to be married couple, as I have gained a vast understanding and appreciation for my wife's innate female idiosyncrasies. She has also said the same about my quirks.

However in the last 30 years we have had a justified push for equality of all humans regardless of sex, sexual preference, race, belief, etc. In the process modern society has clouded the innate differences between males and females. And some put shutters over their eyes to make the facts fit their preconceived view of the world.

Brain Sex shows how we are all equal but we are also different. It shows how we can begin to try to understand each other and to complement each other. That is real equality.

A fantastic book, but it must be read with an open mind.