A Dangerous Mourning

This is the first book in the William Monk series to which I have listened and I absolutely loved it. I intend to listen to as many of the series as I can. I enjoy Davina Porter's wonderful reading and accent which are perfect for this engaging Victorian novel. I am already involved with Nurse Latterly, Monk and the dashing lawyer, Oliver Rathbone and can't wait to meet them again.

18 people found this helpful

end justifies the means

This drags a bit in the middle, with modern sensibility and vocabulary peeking through in places, but overall I think it a very good listen for fans of period mysteries with "PG" ratings. Perry's endings always seem to compensate for the mean.

As usual, Davina Porter adds value to the listen with her excellent narration.

11 people found this helpful

Wonderfully written mystery!

Would you listen to A Dangerous Mourning again? Why?

I probably wouldn't listen to the book again, but not because I didn't enjoy the narrator or the story, but because there are so many more stories out there to read or listen to. I'll never live long enough to hear them all!

Any additional comments?

This was my second Anne Perry tale and I am completely hooked. I can't wait to read more of her books. Anytime I see Davina Porter as the narrator of a book, I am almost guaranteed to find it a thoroughly enjoyable listen.

10 people found this helpful

William Monk

I like Charlotte and Thomas--but I love William Monk and Hester Laterly books. Well done Anne Perry. I like their banter and reluctant respect.

10 people found this helpful

Superb Story!

The second William Monk book deals primarily with the power of the wealthy and the aristocracy (the male members thereof) to hide all manner of scandalous situations, in order to avoid any hint of scandal to touch their families. Which often was accomplished through manipulation of information and the blaming of scapegoats among the servants or other members of the lower classes. In such men's eyes, the wellbeing, and even the lives of servants and similar creatures are easily sacrificed in order to keep their own and their families' reputations unsullied.

In "A Dangerous Mourning," a widowed daughter of Sir Basil Moidore is found stabbed in her own bed in her father's house. Monk is assigned to the case along with his assistant, Sergeant Evan. As the investigation proceeds, certain evidence is turned up pointing to a disliked footman in the household, but Monk feels that there is something wrong going on. In order to find out what that something is, he enlists Hester Latterly to help by becoming private nurse to Sir Basil's wife (mother of the murdered woman).

Because Monk is not convinced that the footman did it, and believes that there is insufficient evidence, he refuses a direct order from Runcorn, his boss in the police, and is fired/resigns from the force. Sergeant Evan is then forced to arrest the footman and the case is closed. Being forced to become a private investigator in order to make a living, Monk continues the investigation through Hester. No, this does not mean Monk and Hester have made up all their differences: they still argue as often as not and are continually offending each other. However, they do recognize a certain intelligence and integrity in each other, and a similar dedication to equity and justice.

As I read this second book, I became more aware of Perry's skill at describing people, both physically and in character. Really quite good!

In addition, it occurred to me that it is important to read these William Monk books in order. Not only do characters reappear from previous books, but references are made in one book to cases which occur in previous books. For instance, this book contains references to the Gray case, which was the case in the first Monk book. And book 3, which I am now reading, refers to matters arising both in the Gray case, and in the Moidore case (book 2). So, while the books can be enjoyed in any order, the greatest enjoyment comes in chronological order.

However you decide to read these booksk, you are sure to have a wonderful time!

14 people found this helpful

Ms. Perry is one talented writer.

In this Monk series, she tackles modern day questions and issues in a 1850’s Victorian era. I must admit, the twists this story took surprised me. I really didn’t think she’d allow “it” to happen, but she did! (trying not to give any spoilers!). This book kept me on an emotional roller-coaster. No, I didn’t guess who-dun-it until the last page. And, of course, we have the typical Perry ending.. abrupt! Once the solution is revealed, the story ends.. no nice emotional tidying up.

Ms. Porter is, as usual, phenomenal as the narrator. She lends class and believability to every part she portrays.

I recommend this book highly for anyone enjoying a great mystery in a PG setting!

5 people found this helpful

Solid on many levels

Really good in so many ways. Well written; language and dialogue ring true; the main characters are very well developed and the myriad of secondary characters far more carefully developed than in many books. Strongly feminist and class-conscious (in fact the only objection I have to it is that the protagonists' views and behavior are a little unrealistically modern on those subjects...but that's fine if you know what to expect). Although the series is named William Monk, the female protagonist, Hester Latterly, does most of the detecting in this book. Davina Porter does a great job narrating.

3 people found this helpful

Great writing/Great listening

The Inspector Monk series seems to be getting off to a wonderful start. I am not surprised, as I also enjoy the writing of Anne Perry in her other Thomas Pitt series as well. In listening to this one, it would help, though is not strictly necessary, to have read the first book, "Face Of A Stranger," for two reasons. It introduces the relationship and personalities of Monk and nurse Hester Latterly, since it appears they will be the feature players going forward. We learned a great deal more about them, as characters, in the first novel. Secondly, this book has more than the usual references to what happened in the first book; indeed, even continues that story just a bit. It give the reader sort of an epilogue to the first.

That being said, this book is quite good. It could be read as a stand alone novel. It concerns the death of a young widowed daughter who was living in the home of her parents, and appears to have been murdered in her bed. Inspector Monk is called in, and he is brought under great criticism (and worse) by his boss for daring to believe that the distinguished members of the family should be scrutinized as thoroughly as their downstairs staff. Because there is illness in the house, he calls in Hester Latterly (whom he met in the first book) to be their nurse, and his secret eyes and ears there.

Monk is not a man who will bow to pressure, or take the easy explanations. Nor is Hester Latterly. Though they have a personally conflicted relationship, they respect each other, and work well together at solving crimes. This appears to be a good series. I felt this one was a slight bit less exciting than the first, but not enough to lower it in "Star Value." I look forward to hearing more of these books, so far thinking they are quite good. Highly recommend.

6 people found this helpful

A Dangerous Mourning

This is book number 2 in the Monk series. I finished book 1 and could hardly wait to listen to number 2 and now I completed this one, of course, I can hardly wait to download number 3. Anne Perry brings to life the 1850s London. Hester's experience in the Crimean War sent me off to read up on that War. Enjoy the interaction between Hester and Monk and am excited to read the book when they get together. Davina Porter brings the book to life, she is a great narrator.

10 people found this helpful

Unexpected Twist

What did you like best about A Dangerous Mourning? What did you like least?

What I liked best about A Dangerous Mourning was the twist in the story. It stunned and saddened me, but it was an unexpected twist in the story that I was not quite expecting since I do not often come across authors who would employ it. What I least liked about it was probably the number of characters and the names that started with S. I got confused and found it difficult keeping track of who was who for at least half the book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character was Monk. I found him and his situation to be quite interesting. I liked his voice and was impressed that he would not compromise his integrity even at the cost of his own livelihood.

Any additional comments?

I found the echoes of the narrator's words as well as the pauses between sentences that may signal a change in CD's annoying.

2 people found this helpful