Customer Reviews

The William Monk Mysteries: The First Three Novels

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've read every book in the William Monk and Hester Latterly series and loved them all. Anne Perry's research into Victorian history is accurate and mesmerizing. She often builds her stories around known events of the period. These two characters are people you can care about because they are separately fascinating and together entertaining. Monk is a private investigator with a mysterious past and Hester is a Crimean war nurse--one of Florence Nightingale's band of revolutionary nurses. Both learn from their experiences and apply what they've learned to their lives. It is fun to watch them bicker and argue and irritate one another and then grudgingly come together on one overriding ethical issue. Through the years, they mature into wiser people who also grow to love and appreciate one another after a very prickly beginning. Monk himself is a mystery for most of the novels as he remembers bits and pieces of his past life before an accident that took his memory. This series is well worth investing your precious reading time. Perry's other series featuring Thomas and Charlotte Pitt are equally engaging, but set in a later Victorian time period. If you like characters who value integrity and place the welfare of the unfortunate before their own in that old-fashioned way, and are smart at solving some really puzzling crimes, all in the context of British Victorian society, you will love these two series. And after that, there is Perry's superb WWI mystery series. I think this is her best work to date.

This set of three novels shows what a mystery should be. They are without doubt some of the best examples of mystery writing I have read. Setting, characters and plot combine to create situations that enthrall. And the third of these first three mysteries is simply unforgetable.

If you like historial novels---with some mystery combined with realistic romance; if the Regency, Victorian or Edwardian periods interest you, then buy this book. Fans of Anne Perry's Thomas and Charlotte series are bound to appreciate Monk. I found this series richer and more satisfying than Charlotte and Thomas (although I still re-read them also).

Perry is an excellent writer, relaxing to read. Her characters are memorable. They grow and develop as the series procede. This three-for-one is one terrific bargain!

Book is a combination of Perrys first 3 stories. The second is repetitive but overall it is a good book. The typos are a slap in the face to readers who buy this as an ebook. Any author with integrity would demand better of their editers. Do not buy this as an ebook.

In my opinion Anne Perry outshines all other authors including Agatha Christie. Not only the mystery part of the story but the description of the way people lived then and the class structure that ruled everything.

While I am enjoying the story, the sheer number of typos are an extreme distraction. It's appalling that so many made it to the Kindle version. I'm very disappointed in this product.

It is always nice when you read a series to begin from the first novel. In this case, getting the first three in the series in one book at a good price was appreciated.

GREAT MYSTERIES! I LOVE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE END!! FAST READING, GREAT PAGE TURNER, DON'T WANT TO PUT IT DOWN.

Not sure why they switched up the order on me after it was placed, but I ordered new from Amazon but received a used copy from Clover Avenue Books. Maybe Amazon ran out and simply replaced it. They didn't charge me the shipping and the book was in fairly good condition, so I did not bother to file an official complaint.

As for the book, I enjoy reading Anne Perry books as I can really grow to like the characters. However, she has some inconsistencies which are a little irritating. For instance, a character is fired from a job, but the next book indicates the character quit the job. But these three were good enough I bought the next three books (individual copies; not a three-in-one like this book). Hopefully her character development will keep me interested and she will not have any major errors like she did in the 5th book of the WWI series.

Anyway, the rating in based on the book. I just thought I should point out the change-up on the seller of the book and the fact that my copy was used. You can see that they show it to you as though I bought it new from them (which I did), but I did not get it new from them. If you buy it and this happens to you, too, you might be interested to know this.

three good murder stories in victorian london. perry's knowledge and discriptions of the times make reading interesting and enjoyable.