A Sudden, Fearful Death: A William Monk Novel

Anne Perry’s mystery’s are a fun read! Each mystery is captivating to the very end! I will continue reading her series!

Story was great, though many events were discussed or repeated over and over. Did not have to be so long.

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.

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.

Mr. Monk now a Private inquiry Agent is engaged in an investigation from his friend on the Hospital Board to investigate the murder of one of their most popular nurses in the hospital. Her calling was to serve others. She wanted to be a doctor but women cannot be doctors. Between the suspects, we have a man who wanted to marry, two possible doctors. Monk asks Hester to go undercover at the hospital to find out clues within the institution. What Hester discovers that the intuition has several secrets that possibly Nurse Barrymore knew that could have gotten her killed. It's a bit personal for Hester since she did work with Nurse Barrymore briefly at wartime. Hester knows Prudence by reputation from Florence Nightingale. Now we also have Learning under the wing of Florence Nightingale during the warzone. Based on the horrific strangulation of the Nurse.. The person accused for her death is a doctor on staff. During Mr. Monk's investigation it was determined that the doctor accused is responsible for the murder. But now Monk's friend & barrister to the defend. Oliver Rathbone wants Monk to continue to look into Nurse Barrymore's death. What he discovers, could put Oliver's reputation on the line. The story does start out short, but you do deal with social standings, women's right. Can Monk & Hester found out before it's to late Read the suspense chapter in this series. Greatly helped by his unconventional friend Hester Latterly, another of Miss Nightingale’s nurses, and barrister Oliver Rathbone, Monk assembles a portrait of the remarkable woman. Yet he also discerns the shadow of a tragic evil that darkens every level of society, and a frightening glimmer of his own eclipsed past.

This is the 4th installment of the William Monk series by Anne Perry and I loved it! Set in the 1850's, each book has it's own unique story line but also continues to develop the story of William and his sometime associate detector, Hester Latterly. Written very well and keeps the interest of the reader. I recommend starting with the first book and becoming a keen observer to how a romance is grown organically between two people that see life from different perspectives.

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!)

A good book. My only problem with Anne Perry is that she goes on and on with descriptions with things or about thoughts that her characters are thinking. Many times these are things that these are the same descriptions or thoughts that she has written about before. But, apart from that, the mysteries are interesting and and the conclusion of this particular one was cleverly woven. All being said, I do enjoy her books, and William Monk is an interesting character. I do wish that his friend Hester was somewhat de-emphasized and that Monk would be emphasized more.

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

I quite enjoy Anne Perry's "victorian" novels, and particularly the "Monk" series. They are entertaining, as expected of detective stories, but they also give a vivid portray of Victorian Britain, society and daily life. The developing relationships between Monk, Hester and Oliver give an extra zest.

Comme dans tous les livres d'Anne Perry, une aventure passionnante dans un cadre si habilement décrit qu'il en est presque réel!

Love her books

I liked this one more than the others, at least William was more prominate in this one. It was interesting to read about nursing in the 1800s.