Customer Reviews

Montmorency's Revenge (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It wasn't so much that I disliked the book, but more that I was disappointed by Montmorency...(*mild spoiler alert* if you haven't read the book...though I'm assuming that most of the people reading these reviews have..actually, my review won't make any sense unless you've read the book.:)) Anyway, the reason I gave this book a rating of 4 stars is basically that I was disappointed by how Montmorency's character turned out. I mean, first of all, Tom. I was incredibly disappointed by how Montmorency handled the situation once everyone was aware of his and Tom's relationship, namely that they are father and son. The fact that he repeatedly forgot about Tom was, honestly, kind of pathetic. I mean, even if he hadn't been his son, forgetting that he existed twice was kind of bad. Also, I was kkind of dissappointed that we didn't get to see Montmorency and Tom's reunion after they finally both knew the truth. I thought that Montmorency had matured throughout the book, learned from his mistakes, and was turning out to be a halfway decent man. Instead, he not only forgets about his son, but let's Frank repeat all of his own mistakes as Scarper, and allows a desire for revenge to not only cloud his thinking but also posses Frank. And that brings me to my second issue- Frank. His character by the end of the book is....not good. At all...he has transformed from a charming young man, into....Scarper. And all that is done to resolve this is for Montmorency to tell Tom to handle it.... I mean, I kind of liked the idea of Tom being Frank's George, but at the same time, the fact that he let things get this far, especially when he KNEW how Scarper's negative influences had affected his life was not pleasing. Lastly, I was disappointed as to Montmorency's relationship with Mary... I was rooting for a relationship with Vi, a well rounded character who we knew, versus Mary...a woman who Montmorency, contrary to appearances, really doesn't know that well. That being said, I think that a lot of my issue will be rectified if Ms.Updale writes another book......but I also have to bring up the fact that I haven't seen mention of a 5th Montmorency book anywhere. If there isn't one, then I will have to say that I was really disappointed with the ending, but if this isn't the end, then overall, I thought that it was an engaging book. I wanted to know what was going to happen next, I didn't have to force myself through the book. Basically, in conclusion, I though that it was a pretty good read, and I REALLY hope that she writes another book, if only because I need her to tie up the loose end left in this book ( another one of which is what happens to Vi).((though I have to admit that I would enjoy reading another installment in the series just to find out what happens to Montmorency after that huge cliffhanger at the end. :) ))

Eleanor Updale's MONTMORENCY'S REVENGE tells of Montmorency's determination to exact revenge on killer who have destroyed Queen Victoria - but before he can do this he must stop one Doctor Farcett's slide into insanity - and handle the grief of others. This is the fourth Montmorency adventure about the gentlemen thief, and is a powerful tale of revenge and recovery.

It had been a while since I'd read the previous book in the Montmorency series, and so a quick catch-up was in order before I tackled "Montmorency's Revenge." The titular character was once a convict who escaped his past by coming up with an ingenious method of stealing from the wealthy: using the underground sewers as escape routes in and out of their properties. With a myriad of crimes under his belt, Montmorency's soul was saved by the combined efforts of his friends George Fox-Selwyn and Doctor Robert Farcett, two men who put Montmorency's skills to work in the defense of crown and country.

But tragedy struck at the end of Montmorency And The Assassins. After foiling an anarchist plot to blow up the Hippodrome, Montmorency and the Fox-Selwyn family have a mysterious crate delivered. Inside is the body of George Fox-Selwyn, gruesomely preserved in spirits. It was a shocking ending for a series that usually came up in favor of the heroes, and as such, "Montmorency's Revenge" is considerably darker in tone.

Set in the year 1901 as Queen Victoria lies on her death-bed, Montmorency and his friends are still in mourning for their friend, a group that includes George's brother Duke Fox-Selwyn and his wife Beatrice, his sons Alexander and Francis, the former-prostitute and land-lady Vi and her son Tom, and Doctor Farcett. All of them want to do something to bring George's killer to justice, but Montmorency and Francis are especially impatient to seek revenge on the man they know is responsible: the anarchist leader Antonio Moretti.

But an opportunity is on the horizon. Inspector Howard from Scotland Yard visits the family and calls upon Montmorency's experience to help him keep an eye on several Italian anarchists that may strike during the funeral of Queen Victoria. With Tom's reports that there's been a strange man hanging around the property asking questions, Montmorency jumps at the chance.

But the family has an added problem in the form of Doctor Farcett. Over the course of the past few years, he's a shadow of the man he was, who blames himself for several unfortunate deaths and has fostered a preoccupation over cleanliness that borders on obsession. Montmorency comes up with a plan that will kill two birds with one stone: getting help for Farcett, and allowing Duke Fox-Selwyn's youngest son Francis to accompany him. Farcett will be admitted to a mental hospital under Francis's name, whilst Francis will change his name and physical appearance and join Montmorency in the search for anarchists.

Francis is eager to seek revenge for his uncle's death, only to find that the usual police procedure is painfully slow. Though his betters lecture to him about justice and balance, he's only really interested in one thing: killing the man who murdered his beloved uncle. Montmorency is only marginally better in this regard, and realizes with dawning horror at the resurgence of his criminal alter-ego Scarper. Only this time, Scarper is the name that Francis acquires, and Montmorency can only watch as his young ward falls to the same foibles that he once did in his younger years.

As always, Eleanor Updale's prose is beautifully clear and precise, but there is something a bit lacking in this latest outing. Despite the title, there is very little "revenge" in the novel, and the major theme at work is that of the conflict between personal desires and public duties, instead of a more indepth look at the soul-destroying lust for vengeance. For the most part, Montmorency avoids his feelings for George by just keeping busy, and Francis begins to grate with his impatient demands for action. Sure, it's all in keeping with his young, impetuous nature, but it keeps him from being likeable and I didn't really feel that he had grown or changed by the end of the book (though it's perhaps worth it for that scene in which he storms out in a temper only to be knocked unconscious and dragged home by a fierce schoolmaster).

The pacing was a lot slower this time around and most of the juicy developments were squeezed into the last few chapters. The parentage of Tom is finally revealed, but it's not only rather anti-climactic but it doesn't warrant much exploration throughout the course of the book (and is there a reason Vi never hooked up with Tom's father? There was nothing stopping her, and it seems odd that this option wasn't even discussed by those involved). Many historical characters and events are included just for the sake of it, and add nothing to the flow of the story. Finally, the story ends on a rather cruel cliff-hanger which results in a long wait for resolution in the next book.

This is certainly not a *bad* book, but it's not the best that this series has to offer either. In many ways it feels like an elaborate set-up for the next book, with many plot-points raised only to be put on hold for a later time.

I have read all four books in the Montmorency series and loved them all! I literally couldn't put the book down. I really hope Eleanor Updale churns out another one very soon:)

I was soo excited when this book came out that I ordered it from England before it was even printed in the States. But I was extremely disappointed. The plot was very juvenile and never developed completely. The ending was a cliff-hanger that promises another book, but I don't even know if I'll read the next one. =/ Too bad. The first three books were so good.

I must agree with the reviewer from February 19. I was very disappointed with the latest installment in the Montmorency series. I was hoping to see something more develop between Montmorency and Vi (I've liked her since the first book), however I fear that he's destined for the less interesting Mary. All I felt at the "cliff-hanger" ending of the book was, "Well, I'd rather seem him killed in an exciting way than bored to death by Mary." I probably won't read any more of the series either.