A Breach of Promise

Once again, I've been visiting with some of my favorite fictional characters, William Monk and Hester Latterly, and I also cannot forget their lawyer friend Oliver Rathbone.

Here's the blurb from A Breach of Promise:

In a sensational breach of promise suit, two wealthy social climbers are suing on behalf of their beautiful daughter, Zillah. The defendant is Zillah's alleged fiancé, brilliant young architect Killian Melville, who adamantly declares that he will not, cannot, marry her. Utterly baffled by his client's refusal, Melville's counsel, Sir Oliver Rathbone, turns to his old comrades in crime--investigator William Monk and nurse Hester Latterly. But even as they scout London for clues, the case suddenly and tragically ends. An outcome that no one--except a ruthless murderer--could have foreseen.

Rathbone is baffled, he cannot find anything that may help Melville's case, and even when he asks for Monk's help. Meanwhile Miss Latterly is employment in taking care of a returned soldier from India, where he lost his arm and was badly disfigured; there she meets a woman who is desperately looking for her two nieces that were abandoned by their mother. While Monk investigates both Melville case and the missing girls case, he suddenly discovers that they're both intertwined.

I really enjoyed this book, as usual Anne Perry has brought both the good and bad of the Victorian era to life. On one hand you have the rich with the beautiful buildings and extravagance, and on the other you have the decrepit life of the poor, people who abuse others and of course the war. She mixes them beautifully.

This was one of those rare books that I was able to enjoy in one sitting. I found it fast paced, without feeling that it lacked information... you can say that I was hooked from page one. The characters were wonderful as usual, but also the newly introduced ones too. And finally in this book, Monk and Hester come to an understanding! It only took nine books... My only peeve: I wanted more! I found that it ended abruptly. I wanted to know what happened to the person who committed the crime. WTH!

A Breach of Promise by Anne Perry (4.5/5) Historical Mystery; Published: Fawcett (September 1998); Series: # 9, William Monk; Library Book