I Have read most of Anne Perry's novels and I am a great fan. All of her books are set in England of another era. Anne Perry has two different settings and main protaganists. The first series and most popular is The Pitts(husband and wife) a detecting team in early Victorian England. Her more recent series features Inspector Monk in the late 1800's. "The Sin of the Wolf" features Inpsector Monk and with this book, Inpector Monk has finally reached a point where he is a likable character, in prior novels Monk is portrayed as a good person but not one who you could warm up to. With this novel, Miss Perry makes you like him. There is one more very fascinating aspect to Miss Perry's novels and that is the research she has put into them. When I read anyone if her books I feel like I am getting a very accurate description of not only the times and the people but the way they acted towards one another. England was a very class oriented society and these novels force you to recognize how man has treated man over the centuries. I should explain, I read mysteries constantly, 2-4 a week, I have read most popular and unpopular authors out there. What keeps me coming back to a certain author is the characters, if I like them, then I want to read all their adventures, so if you are like me, then Anne Perry is a great find

Anne Perry has done well on the bestseller lists every time her books have come out. After reading this book, I can see why. This is an incredible, breathtaking book. Hester Latterly has been accused of killing an elderly woman in her charge on a train from Edinburgh to London. Things get progressively worse for her when a private detective who is a close collegue of hers comes up with very little to prove her innocence, but a light at the end of the tunnel does eventually appear. Anne Perry brilliantly describes England and Scotland with vivid detail. She even brings the village she lives in in Scotland, Portmahomack, into it. There is a great deal of psychological detail, but keep reading. The end left me with my mouth hanging open. One of the very best historical mysteries I have read.

This is easily the best entry in the Monk series. The mystery was great, and the personal interplay between Hester, Monk and Rathbone was excellent. This was also the book where the emotion between Monk and Hester finally wins out over their reserve with each other, and the results are endearing. A must read for anyone who likes this series and these characters.

Having read this selection reminds me that the New York Review of Books, itself mostly second-rate, is still considerably better than the LRB. How often one wishes to take a pin to these self-obsignatory gasbags!

Don't believe me? Compare a better journal (yes, not a review but a journal) from better days: the Partisan Review during the 40's, for example.

For twenty years the London review of Books has invited the world's leading writers, thinkers and social commentators to contribute essay length articles on subjects as diverse as Kosovo, Cod, and Mimiesis in Plato's Republic. This anthology is just a small but tantalising selection of some of those pieces, but it whets the apetite and leaves the reader wanting more. The most intelligent writing of any publication, the LRB sets itself aside from its competition through its continued commitment to the freedom of its writers. Never short, and often quite challening, the LRB is controversial and forthright. This anthology represents the most independently minded collection of writing that can be found in any literary magazine, but for the LRB its all quite normal.

I love Anne Perry's ability to twist and wind through a story and keep you hanging until the last pages. I also love her well researched novels that offer such exsquisite detail about Victorian London, especially the class differences (particularly in this book). Unfortunately I found the conclusion of this novel truly unoriginal and disappointing. The result it ended with was a thought that had ocurred to me earlier in the novel, but I doubted it just because of the lack of inspiration it required. I am more fond of the Monk/Latterly series than the Pitts series, and "Cain..." is one of the better stories among the Perry novels, but I would definitely read it knowing in advance that the ending doesn't compare with the rest of the story. If you want a truly excellent Anne Perry book, read "The Face of a Stranger" (the first Monk/Latterly novel). A great read.

This is the best book by this author that I have read so far.

Perry's writing style is unobtrusive, somewhat given to unclear pronouns, but generally solid.

I found it interesting that nothing seemed to differ between this setting, in 1859, and the setting of the author's Pitt novels, in the late 19th century, except that the Pitts have telephones. I wonder how authentic that is. I found no obvious errors, except that, in keeping with the rest of Perry's books, the women seem very independent for the period.

Perry has come up with what must be one of the best characterization hooks ever invented. William Monk suffers from amnesia. He has reason to think he was an unpleasant person, a person capable of wronging others, in the past. But... he can never know what, exactly, he did. I would have liked to see a few more original touches in his *current* character, but it's still a fascinating idea.

The plot of Cain his Brother is outstanding. A minor consistency error here and there does not detract from its drama. A man has murdered his twin brother -- or has he? I thought I had the secret figured out several times, but I was wrong. But when the answer was revealed, it made perfect sense. Perry sometimes has surprise twists out of nowhere at the end of her books, but this time she got it exactly right. I remained unclear on one thing --Ravenstone's motivation -- but that may be my oversight.

This is a very entertaining historical mystery which I strongly recommend.

William Monk is hired by Genevieve Stonefield to find her missing husband, Angus. He was last seen visiting his twin brother Caleb, who lives in Limehouse; the destitute part of London. Monk must find Caleb, but no - one is willing to talk. Just who is Caleb, and why is everyone so afraid of him. Monk must face some of his own private demons and realises that even the simplest things can be more complicated than he ever imagined. Another brilliant novel from Anne Perry.

I met Robert Barnard in Yorkshire this summer in his role as the president of the Bronte Society. He told me of "The Case of the Missing Bronte" and described it as "an awful book," and said only the Brontesque lines with which he closes the work were really good. I picked it up and was surprised. While uneven in plot development, The Case of the Missing Bronte is rich in its characters -- only in the case of the Rev. Amos Macklehose does he lapse into caricature -- and Perry Trethowan's sometimes hilarious private observations -- "I ws even grumpier after we had stopped for twenty minutes for Jan to write postcards and Daniel to eat something fluorescent on a strick" -- keep the book moving. This is not Barnard's best book. It is also, its author's modesty notwithstanding, nothing approaching an "awful" book and no serious reader of Barnard would dare miss the book that reflects the origins of his interest in literature: the work of Emily Bronte.

Real funny, if your were to read any of his books the humour in them is bound to attract the reader's attention, the suspence is nothing to write home about and lacks the class and elan of Gardner.

I've just finished reading the latest William & Hester Monk mystery novel, and I must confess that while I enjoyed it very much, if you're looking for the kind of mystery novel that it full of twists and turns, and that will keep you happily guessing till the very end, you might be in for a bit of a disappointment. "Funeral In Blue" is an interesting and absorbing read, but mainly because of the psychological element in the novel. What makes "Funeral In Blue" such compelling reading is NOT the mystery at hand: who could have murdered Elissa Beck, and the artist's model, Sarah Mackeson, but rather the manner in which Perry delves into the characters of the personalities involved in this novel.

Briefly the novel opens with the grisly discovery of the bodies of two women in artist, Argo Allardyce's studio. The dead women turn out to be Sarah Mackeson, Allardyce's model, and Eliisa Beck, the wife of Dr. Kristian Beck (a friend of Hester's) and the daughter of rising political and barrister, Fuller Pendreigh. The nature of the crime causes the police to focus their investigations on Allardyce (who had been commissioned to paint Eliisa's portrait and who happened to be in love with her) and Kristian. Allardyce, it turns out has an iron cast alibi; however Kristian's alibi proves to be shaky at best. And then Monk, together with the detective in charge of the case, discover that Elissa was a hopeless and addicted gambler, and who was near ruining Kristian with her enormous debts. Krisitan is arrested for the murders of both his wife and Sarah Mackeson, however neither Monk nor Hester believe that Kristian could have committed so heinous a crime. Neither does Elissa's father, who commissions Monk to investigate the murders more thoroughly while he undertakes to defend Krisitan in court. Monk's investigations takes him from the gambling slums of London, to Vienna, where Kristian and Elissa first met during the 1848 revolution, where they became comrades in arms, and where they fell in love with each other. For this case seems to hinge on the characters of both Eliisa and Kristian, both one time fiery revolutionaries, all set to change society and the world, and how they have changed since -- for while Kristian seems to have given his life to helping the sick and the poor, Eliisa seems to have exchanged the heady danger of revolution for that of gambling. What had caused Eliisa to fall into such an abyss? Could her murder be linked to her gambling debts? Could Kristian have killed both his wife and the model, Sarah? An added complication for the Monks arises when they realise that Imogen, Hester's sister-in-law, was a gambling cohort of Eliisa's and who may know more of the murder than she is letting on. For Monk and Hester the stakes have never seemed higher as they battle to help a friend, and protect Imogen from discovery and ruin.

As is usual with most Anne Perry novels, "Funeral In Blue" is an excellently written and crafted mystery novel. The characters are deftly and thoughtfully portrayed, as is her look at the 1848 uprising. The mystery itself gets resolved suddenly, and there is a gigantic element of coincidence in the resolution of the murders, that gives an air of reality to the whole thing, but which could prove frustrating to all armchair detectives out there. What this mystery novel hinges on however is the riddle that was Elissa Beck. And that is what makes this novel such an absorbing read.

I give the five stars for the exploration of the minds and hearts that Ms. Perry writes in Funeral in Blue. It's impressive that after more than a decade of writing these same characters, she always finds something else to bring to the light and explore, and thank God, nothing melodramatic like the things the mediocre writers resort to. We don't find out that Monk is the lost Duke of York, kidnapped at birth to replace a son lost to a Northumbrian fisherman and his wife. :-)

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!

Talented actor/director David Colacci gives a superbly nuanced reading to the 11th Victorian thriller by tireless Anne Perry. Much to the delight of her band of fans Ms. Perry brings back Hester and William Monk.

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.

What a disapointment. I love the William Monk series. I read Sins of the Wolf in three days and and quickly decided it was my favorite. Cain His Brother was just as compelling of a read and the details of Limehouse, the typhoid hospital and especially the chase seen were amazing. Couldn't wait to read this book, but quickly found that I couldn't wait for it to end. Ms. Perry's research on Victorian England is second to none, but I found this story in particular very forgetable. I agree with one reviewer that Hester's contribution to solving the cases is sometimes better than Monk's or Rathbone. Thank goodness Monk is finally starting to figure out that Hester's courage, friendship and brains is more attractive than beauty. Don't waste much time on this book, except to find out who did it and the next step in Monk's and Hester's relationship.

This book focuses on the political machinations of a small German realm prior to the unification of Germany. Most of the action is set in either Victorian England or Venice. The plot revolves around a slander suit against Countess Zorah Rostova by Princess (a courtesy title) Gisela. The countess has publicly accused the princess of murdering her husband, Prince Freidrich. The official cause of death was internal bleeding, following a riding accident. The book develops from the perspectives of Ms. Rostova's barrister, Sir Oliver Rathbone, private investigator, William Monk, and his friend, nurse Hester Latterly. The countess is threatened with financial ruin, and Sir Oliver's career is on the line. Ultimately, the defense takes the tack of trying to prove that a murder has taken place. That search goes into unexpected areas.

The handling of the trial is masterly, and will please those who stick with the story that long. Much of the rest of the book is slow-going with little happening either in the way of character development or plot advancement. It often seems like filler.

If the book had focused on just the trial, this could have been a five star novella. If reduced to that area, there still would have been a few problems. The author never adequately explains why Sir Oliver and the countess faced financial ruin if the suit was lost. Barristers lose suits all of the time. Unless a plaintiff can prove substantial economic damages and malice, slander is not going to cost the defendent very much beyond the defense. Also, if this suit was so risky, it is not obvious why Sir Oliver took the case.

The trial has a great strength of doing some marvelous character development with the princess through the testimony that she and others provide. This was a virtuoso accomplishment because the princess is kept well hidden until then by her public image of being one-half of one of Europe's most romantic couples.

The book has some interesting things to say about what happens after you get your wish. I suggest that if you do read the book that you consider the potential downsides of what you wish for, as well.

Find the truth!

I started on Anne Perry by recommendation of a friend, and loved the Monk series. At the time, "Twisted Root" had come out a few weeks before, so I read through the first nine to get caught up.

My first impression of "Weighed" was "What?" There was just nothing really grabbing at my attention about slander. True, Friedrich *may* have been murdered, but it didn't have the immediacy of the others.

But of course, I was reading through it sort of quickly to get caught up, and this *was* after I had finished the entire Pitt series and was a bit annoyed with how it got sort of bogged down after about eight books...

So I picked up "Weighed in the Balance" again a few months ago, and really read it. I was surprised at how different it seemed now that I considered it, and after I had read the later books too.

Granted, slander just doesn't grab you by the throat and demand your attention. I had the same initial problem with "Breach of Promise."

This re-reading also took place after my European history class had covered Germany in the nineteenth century, so I also had more historical perspective this time and could understand the German principalities and their concerns better.

This book is more subtle and slower-moving than some. But I still think it's a good entry into the Monk series. All along, I kept thinking "Gisela couldn't have done it--Zorah's toast!" But the reasoning for it made sense--it was well developed.

It was surprising and great to see emotionally corseted Oliver Rathbone take a risk and take up Zorah's cause. Though if you read, he sounds a little attracted to her...hmm! His development as more than the dry, skillful barrister was great to read. I never saw Oliver as really having passions and emotions before this--granted, there's been some gentle and sort of half-hearted courting of Hester, but after this book, it was possible he might actually get the girl in the end. At least, it evened the odds more!

Monk also gets some development here--glimpses into his past. He also is romantically disillusioned yet again by Evelyn von Seidlitz. After Imogene, Hermione, Drusilla, and now Evelyn, it's possible he's actually gotten a romantic *clue*! Throughout the books, Perry keeps him slowly learning about himself and romance, and what he really is and what he wants. Even if some of us feel like giving him a good smack for being such an emotional duffer sometimes! ;-)

The idea of the Cinderella couple gone wrong is interesting--most wouldn't dare to touch on something so exalted as royalty. Even in writing fiction today, besmirching those who were once considered "chosen by God" to rule is somewhat taboo.

I reiterate that I still don't find it quite as gripping as some of her other Monk novels, but this one is more subtle and dark. It covers the lengths one may go to in order to save their good name and image in an era where honor and reputation were practically deified. It's got probably some of the *biggest* bits of character development in the series, "Sins of the Wolf" probably having the most *significant*. Not her best Monk novel, but still superb and not to be consigned to the shelves at all!

Fine book for fans with an interesting look into Thomas's life before London, but not one I would recommend for someone new to the series. Too many characters and a complicated (and boring) plot about the exploitation of Africa by Europeans. I had a hard time sticking to it and I don't usually struggle to get through Perry's work. Really not one of her best.

This is a fairly late installment in Anne Perry`s long series of mystery novels set in late Victorian England (1890, in the present case.) These novels feature Charlotte and Thomas Pitt, he a policeman (just promoted to Superindent), and she an upper-class woman who married shockingly beneath herself, but who maintains a limited entree to society, useful in helping Thomas with cases involving crimes among the upper class.

Traitor`s Gate features Thomas much more prominently than Charlotte. Thomas` surrogate father, Sir Arthur Desmond, the owner of the estate for which Thomas` actual father was the gamekeeper, has died in his club in London. The death is ruled accidental, or suicide, but his son Matthew, Thomas` close boyhood friend, is convinced it must have been murder, and asks Thomas to investigate.

Thomas is unable to officially investigate Desmond`s death, but rather fortuitously he is asked to investigate a case of missing information at the Colonial Office, to do with Africa and with British support for Cecil Rhodes. As it turns out, Arthur Desmond, formerly employed in the Foreign Office, had just prior to his death been making "wild" accusations of abuse of power in the government support of Rhodes. Naturally, Desmond`s death and the missing information are linked, and, more importantly, both are linked to the mysterious organization Thomas has run afoul of in previous books, The Inner Circle.

As Pitt`s investigations continue, his own life and Matthew`s are threatened, another murder is committed, and finally Pitt`s discoveries trigger a chain reaction of suicides and murders, ending somewhat in medias res with Pitt apparently ready to openly take on the Inner Circle.

The story is entertaining, and the solutions to the crimes are reasonably clever and interesting. However I don`t rank this as highly as the best books in the series for a few reasons. The Inner Circle has become non-credible to me, in its villainy, and its apparent size and power, not to say the incompetence of such a powerful organization in dealing with such a minor figure as Pitt. Pitt`s solutions to the crimes take on the all-too-familiar form of confronting the criminal with the (often rather sparse) evidence of his wrongdoing, upon which he either confesses or commits suicide. The device of having Pitt assigned to investigate a case of espionage is rather unconvincing. Also, the key crime of the book (the second murder) is not only difficult to credit as far as motive is concerned, but is committed in a foolish manner which seems calculated to ultimately draw attention to the murderer (indeed Thomas is misled rather more than I think he should be).

Finally, a key element of the enjoyment of this series is the ongoing stories of the advancing social life of the continuing characters. The books generally feature a love story or two, and this is no exception, but I didn`t find the love stories very involving. And as I said, Charlotte`s role in this book is minor, which is understandable for this book, but something of a drawback nonetheless.

This is a late entry in the author's Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series and is best appreciated by longtime fans, who will enjoy meeting familiar faces enough to forgive the dullish plotting. Newer readers will be charmed by Perry's vivid characters and her knack of contrasting their real selves with the requirements of Victorian society -- but the dramatic tension this usually generates is missing here, except in a couple of scenes near the end. A fun read, but not an involving one.