Another fine tale in Anne Perry's Monk series! As I'm reading, I think "Come on, Monk, solve the murder!" but of course I don't want the book to end so he can't solve it too quickly.

Wow! I have been a long time fan of Anne Perry and although admittedly I have always favored the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series I so enjoyed this latest Monk installment. In all of her books I love all the historical background, its a window into the times. This book keep my attention and I could not wait each day to find time to read more. I also liked the introduction of someone from Hester's time in the Crimea, and also her reunion with her brother. Can't wait to read more.

I received this free from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
Another excellent foray into William Monk's world. This time he is investigating ritualistic murders that seem to have no rhyme or reason aside from the fact that all the victims are Hungarian. Meanwhile someone from Hester's past unexpectedly reappears bringing back some memories and guilt. I only gave it 4 stars because it seemed to take to long for Monk to see who the guilty party was, but it was a great read and I am looking forward to the next book.

I want to say that I've been a fan of Anne Perry's books for decades … but I think it's more that I've been a reader of her books for that long. I've always liked reading them – but I don't think I've ever <I>loved</i> them, except for maybe one. The characters have never become important enough to me that I'll cry if they're killed off. And actually, the first one I read after a hiatus of several years was very disappointing.

This one … I wouldn't say that about it, but … I just don't have any strong feelings about it. Didn't hate it, didn't love it.

It all begins when good old Monk is called in to a murder scene which is built up as absolutely horrific. The reactions of everyone he meets on the way in indicate that it's ghastly, without anyone ever giving him (or the reader) a detail. Which was clever … until we walk into the room with Monk and get the first description of the scene and the victim, and it's an anticlimax. "It's a bad one, sir", someone says, and then left me wondering what was so bad about it for a few more pages. I mean, once the full scope of what happened to the victim became clear, my response was "oh" – yes, it was indeed plenty awful – but might it not have been more effective to whack the reader with that all at once? Anne Perry's been writing for … forever (oh, only since 1990; not quite thirty years (as of now). For some reason I thought it was longer), so she obviously knows what she's doing; it just seemed an odd choice. Or maybe it's just me.

And maybe it was just me being put off by the fact that despite a quite detailed description of the murder scene(s), I had to go back over and over to see if the many many candles placed around the room(s) were lit or not. I don't think I ever did find out. Those candles also had me yelling at the book for them to go check out chandlers in the area, which didn't seem to be something that occurred to anyone for ages.

I don't really recommend reading this series the way I have. It looks like I missed about ten years' worth of books in this series (which I always liked more than the Charlotte & Thomas Pitt books), and obviously a lot happened in those five books, leaving me saying things like "Wait, who, now?" and "Oliver did what?" and "They were in America for the Civil War?" and so forth. Perry provided a decent amount of backstory, but I wouldn't say this worked well as a stand-alone (or stand-apart).

Obviously the exploration of intolerance against immigrants is extremely topical today. Which is incredibly sad. The discussion of what we now call PTSD is quite timely as well. Both of these threads lead to possible answers to the mystery…

What annoyed me a little was – well: "Monk was a brilliant detective; he could acknowledge that without immodesty." Okay. The story doesn't really bear that out, but … okay. (And no, you can't say that about yourself without being immodest. You really can't.)

It was an interesting mystery, this; lots of red herrings that led to interesting passages, but with a final solution I just didn't find as interesting. Like that first murder scene description, it was somewhat anti-climactic.

The main reason I never loved Anne Perry's books as much as others is simply the writing. It's perfectly serviceable, although sometimes awkward; it's workmanlike. See Spot run. I never feel the connection, not only to the characters but to the author, that I do when reading – say, Robin McKinley, or Barbara Hambly. It makes for - what was that word again? interesting reads – but not really fun.

The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.

Wow! History and suspense at its finest. Gripping and exciting. Hard to put this book down. Good story flow and interesting and intriguing characters. Would recommend.

I enjoyed this but it didn't really stick with me. I feel a bit that the series has gone on for too long. The books feel formulaic. That isn't to say I didn't enjoy it, It is just that the early ones in the series felt like they galloped to a conclusion and this just ambled along.

An excellent addition to Perry's Monk series!! As a long-time fan of Anne Perry, I found this to be one of her best. The beginning was not as balanced as usual because Hester was barely mentioned. However, when Scuff was added to the mix, I became totally involved in the story and could barely put it down!! It was refreshing to see how much he has matured and how committed he is to his medical education. The appearance of Hester's friend Fitz and the members of London's Hungarian community took the the story in several new directions. The gory details of the murders around which the mystery revolved were hard to read, but Perry handled the solution with her usual skill. Rathbone's defense of Fitz brought the tale full circle. Thanks to Random House and NetGalley to proving access prior to publication!!

In this latest William Monk mystery, Monk is taken to a warehouse in the Hungarian district where a body has been found gruesomely disfigured and stabbed through the heart. Having difficulty interviewing the residents of the area, Monk enlists the aid of a local who can translate for him. Things get even more complicated as the ritualistic murders continue and the Hungarian population becomes an angry mob.

At the same time as Monk is trying to solve these murders, Scuff and Crow need a Hungarian translator and they come across Herbert Fitzherbet (Fitz) who had been a doctor in the Crimea with Hester Monk. We see how PTSD affected him with blackouts and nightmares, not know what his actions were or weren't. When the Hungarian mob see him covered in blood, they jump to the conclusion that he is the murderer and unless Monk arrests him, the mob would kill him.

Hester and Monk together with Oliver Rathbone must find the real killer before the subsequent trial comes to an end.

It absolutely amazes me how after 23 books with many of the same characters, I still see character growth as well as a tremendous mystery.

How have I made it this long without reading an Anne Perry novel? With its many references and flashbacks, I was aware this was not the first in the William Monk series, but was able to keep up thanks to well-integrated detail. And detail is also key to the superb recreation of Victorian London and descriptions, especially of the medical world, relating to the Crimean and American Civil Wars. Sadly, war inspires advances in treatment. Now, take away all this wealth of information and you are still plunged into a richly textured murder mystery, some of the details of which are never fully explained but the solution to which is well-developed. Clearly I will be looking for the previous 22 titles in this series as well as keeping an eye out for future novels.

Anne Perry entangles Commander William Monk in a ritual murder in the Hungarian settlement in Victorian London. At the same time his wife Hester who nursed troops in the Crimean War meets a doctor whom she had believed dead on the Crimean battlefield, but who survived with PTSD symptoms. This doctor had lived in Hungary and was treating Hungarian Londoners. Whodunit? The doctor? a Hungarian? Londoners who disliked foreigners? As the murder continue, suspense climbs and no one feels safe.

Book twenty-three in the William Monk series. I have to admit that I am enjoying these books now the Scuff (Will) is older. It makes him much more involved in the story which adds another layer to the entire mystery which is very good to begin with. It took awhile for the story to really get going and the investigation seemed to be stalled when all of these little details began to pop up. That is when all the characters we know and love (including Rathbone though it took forever for him to make an appearance) show their true skills solving the crime in the nick of time with a few twists that I never seem to completely see coming which is why I always enjoy these so much. I recommend this series to those that enjoy reading historical mystery novels as this is set in historical England and from what I can tell is fairly accurate. The writing style is smooth and the story keep the reader guessing which is a plus for a mystery novel. I really enjoyed so it gets 4/5 stars.

Absorbing!

As always a masterful rendition of murder inquiry, doubt, and the machinations of the human mind under stress. Once again Perry brings a reality check to murder most foul. Commander Monk of the Thames River Police is confronted by a murder unlike any he's seen before. A Hungarian man has been killed in what appears to be some sort of ritualistic endeavour. The body is surrounded by seventeen candles, two of them a dark, purplish-blue color.
As more killings occur fear spreads throughout the Hungarian community. Are these sacrificial murders, a secret society run amok, evidence of extreme ethnic prejudice, or the product of a deranged mind? Is the perpetrator English or Hungarian? The community wants answers and a scapegoat is needed.
The person of possibility turns out to be a friend of Hester's, part of her painful past in the Crimea. A man she knows must be innocent and yet the horrors of the war are all too near to lie peacefully. Is her friend unhinged or innocent?
The struggles for Hester and her friend are laid bare. Struggles Scruff has some idea of although his experiences have been different.
Scruff is coming into his own as he practices medicine under the tutelage of Crow. We see him emerge as a young man more confident his own abilities. It's a pleasure to watch his growth.
There are more questions than answers for Monk and Hooper and many theories to entertain.

A NetGalley ARC
(September 2017)

An Anne Perry mystery always feels like a deep submersion into history and a delving into the darkest corners of humanity while using her circle of heroes to show there can be hope and justice as well. An Echo of Murder the #23 entry in the William Monk series is no exception.

From the beginning, there was no doubt this was going to be brutal and emotionally tense. Was the vicious killing of a Hungarian business owner in his office a hate crime? Was it personal? Was it a lunatic? Monk and his River Police have the job of discovering the answers- and quickly, as it happens again.

As usual, I was quite engaged with all the elements surrounding the murder case. The author tackles two main social issues of the day (which are still relevant now, actually)- the hatred of people ethnically and religiously different from one's own and also the lack of treatment or understanding for those come back broken by war. Alongside these issues, the story gives Scuff (now 18 yrs and desirous of being called Will) a much larger role as he is nearly a man and is studying medicine, but also still feeling vulnerable that he will lose all the good things he has since Monk and Hester adopted him.

And yes!!! Finally get to see what comes of a Latterly family reunion. Those who read The Christmas Escape and have followed along with the series knowing Hester's background will really appreciate this inclusion.

But, I also want to address the mystery and the riveting courtroom drama finale. I figured out the killer early, but I didn't know the motive and it remained pretty obscure for some time. I have to say that it moved at a gentle pace until the court case began and then I was riveted and couldn't pry myself away from the book.

The mystery is broken up by switching back and forth with Hester and Scuff's storylines crossing Monk's investigation. I don't bring that up as a criticism, but just to give readers a heads-up that in this book, the mystery is only one of the plot threads instead of the main one.

All in all, this was a strong and engaging entry in the series. It has standalone ability, but the reader would draw so much more from it by getting the series in order. Historical Mystery fans are the target audience for this series and I shamelessly push it at you.

I rec'd this book from Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.

It's a good historical mystery that makes the sights and smell of Victorians England

This is a second book I've read by Anne Perry.

Interesting how all characters are connected. There are 4 monstrous murders committed in London, Hungarian neighborhood. English war physician Fitz is a suspect, as he is an outsider in the Hungarian neighborhood. Fitz is a longtime friend of Hester, Commander's Monk (investigator) wife. He often get's blackouts, caused by the time he spent in the Crimea war. As the investigation continues - Monk arrests Fitz, however, he believes in Fitz' innocence. As Fitz' trial approaches - Monk needs all the help he can get to solve the murders and free an innocent man. Hester, Will, and Fit's lawyer are on the mission to find one straw that connects all 4 murders... and voila, the real killers (!!! I know multiple) have been disclosed.

Very interesting and twisted plot. Great introduction of characters, followed by great teamwork. I am looking forward to reading more of Anne Pane's mysteries.

As always, its exciting to get to read a new Anne Perry mystery. Her latest William Monk novel brings to vivid life the traumas of the Crimean War for its survivors. Scruff, William and Hester Monk’s adopted son, is training to become a doctor. His training brings him into contact with a former colleague of Hester’s, Herbert Fitzherbert, a doctor who is a peripheral part of the Hungarian community in London. As Fitzherbert suffers the nightmares of his war memories, he is drawn into an ugly murder case being worked by Monk.

Perry brings together some loose ends in the lives of the Monks, while moving their personal lives ahead in a very satisfying way.

Don't be intimidated by the fact that this is the 23rd in a series- you'll quickly be able to jump in if you haven't read the earlier ones. For those who have read Commander Monk, this is as fresh and as entertaining as ever. Perry has created a wonderful cast of characters in Monk, his intrepid wife Hester, and, most recently, Scuff (or Will as he is now known), who the Monks took in. These form the core but the others who pop in for each new novel are just as finely drawn. This time out, Monk is dealing with a ritualistic murder of a Hungarian immigrant. Hampered by a lack of language capability or an understanding of the community, he turns to others to help. This is good, rich, historical fiction which hits a sweet spot for me- a police investigation and a medical tilt. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a good one!

William Monk just keeps on getting better. In many series that have run this long, the stories become repetitive and predictable, but not so with this series. Each new book is exciting and interesting and you never know where it will lead because it is always filled with twists and turns that will keep you guessing right up until the end.

Monk is called out early in the morning to a warehouse near the river. The crime is a grisly murder that has some resemblance to it being ritualistic. The victim is an immigrant from Hungary who was well respected and well liked within his community. Who would want to kill him?

After a week or more of investigation there are no leads and Monk is worn totally out. Then, another early morning call and yet another grisly murder – of a well-liked Hungarian immigrant. Then, they just keep coming – all respectable, well liked men of the Hungarian immigrant community. Is it somebody with a vendetta against Hungarians? Immigrants? Or are they just random. Monk is sure they are all the work of the same killer because they are all identical.

Hester, Monk’s wife, gets involved because of a very old friend that she thought had died 16 years earlier. Is that old friend the madman killing Hungarians? Surely not – he’s a sweet gentle man. Hester and Monk’s ward (for lack of a better word) also becomes involved in the case because he has befriended and come to admire Fitz, Hester’s old friend.

Did Fitz commit the murders? If not, who did and can they prove any of it? You’ll just have to read it to see because I don’t want to tell too much and spoil the story for you.

I’m already looking forward to Monk #24.

"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

First Sentence: “It’s A bad one, sir.”

Comm. William Monk is called to gruesome murder scene of a Hungarian warehouse owner who has been impaled with a bayonet-fixed rifle, his body surrounded by blood-dipped candles. To assist him work with the Hungarian émigrés, Monk turns to a local bi-lingual pharmacist. Young Scuff, an orphan taken in by the Monk’s, is studying to be a doctor. A patient, who is English but knows Hungarian, comes in who knew Hester during the Crimea War. With more bodies found, fear and accusations grow.

Perry always creates a strong sense of place—“…the Pool of London was already busy. Huge cranes lifted loads of bales from ships’ holds and swung them ponderously over to the docks. The water was congested with boats at anchor, waiting their turn; barges loading; ferries going back and forth from one side of the river to the other.”
While it may seem shocking to us now, one much remember that our opioids of today were the morphine and laudanum of the period and were commonly used. What is hard is to read about some of the medical procedures of the time. On the other hand, it is nice to be reminded of the tremendous contribution Florence Nightingale made to medicine.

Perry excels at taking current issues and reminding us that plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose (the more things change, the more they stay the same). In this instance, the issue is bigotry and the fear of those who are different from ourselves—“Some animals will kick to death the ones that are different,” he said very quietly. “a different color, a lightly different shape. Slower, perhaps. There is something primal in us that fears anything unlike. … I would like to think we are better than the animals, but perhaps some of us are not.”—and the tendency for those who’ve come from somewhere else to establish communities—“There was a natural closeness they felt to those who shared their roots and memories and, above all, who understood the complicated nature of a hope for a new life in a new country.”
A secondary element to the story is PTSD, although it wasn’t known as that at the time. Perry doesn’t deal with it in an abstract way, but delves into what those who suffer are subjected to such as flash-backs and nightmares.

With all the drama of the killings and the medical issues, there is a lovely balance of the relationships; Monk’s with his second, Hooper—“Monk had seen it in extraordinary loyalty. When everyone else had considered Monk guilty of error, and worse, Hooper had risked his own life to save him, not to mention his career to defend him.”; the Monk’s with Scruff, and certainly Monk with Hester—“The only thing Monk could think about was hot, fresh tea. Hester had no need to ask. “Cold beef and bubble and squeak for dinner?” she asked. “And I’ve got apple pie.” It was exactly what he wanted, especially the pie.”

It is the strength of the characters that brings everything together, and there is a very strong cast. Many of the characters are recurring and well known to those who follow the series. However, it is also very nice that she brought two wonderful characters from a recent Christmas novella forward into this book.
“An Echo of Murder” is a very well done, story that addresses important issues, is filled with strong characters, fascinating details, and a good twist at the end.

AN ECHO OF MURDER (Hist Mys-Thomas/Hester Monk-London-Victorian) – VG+
Perry, Anne – 23rd in series
Ballantine Books-Sept 2017

Anne Perry’s William Monk series is popular for those who like historical novels, especially those where the history has been researched, and fictional characters are woven into real historical events. An Echo of Murder is the 23rd installment in the series, and like the previous novels, rings true historically. Police Commander Monk is called to the scene of a grisly murder in London’s Hungarian community. His investigation is thwarted because of a language barrier, as well as prejudice, and the mistrust of police. Unfortunately, the investigation is slow – there were no modern sleuthing and technological techniques in Victorian England– and more bodies begin to pile up.

Perry is a master of setting the scene so that readers feel they are actually experiencing Victorian England; medical breakthroughs haven’t occurred yet, and the pace is much slower. The novels also progress at a slower pace, which makes them seem even more real. Monk, with a bit of help from his wife Hester, a nurse who served in the war with Florence Nightingale, works hard to overcome the prejudice of the Hungarians, and gets help from others in the community who speak the language and are familiar with the Hungarian mores.

While Perry’s excellent writing and storytelling abilities, as well as her well-researched historical scenarios, are evident in this novel, it is a bit slow moving, and hard to get into. The suspense doesn’t start to build until at least halfway through, and, compared to some of the others in the series, seems a bit boring. Of course, fans of this series will want to snatch this book up as soon as possible since the characters have developed over the 22 other books leading up to this one and they will want to know how their characters have progressed. For others, it is recommended that the books be read in order to experience the history of the main characters (i.e., Monk lost his memory for a time, and hasn’t fully recovered; Monk and Hester’s marriage, etc.).

An Echo of Murder isn’t one of Perry’s best, but is a passable addition to her popular series.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.