Book Review: Dark Assassin

Reviewed By: Cheryl - RAM

Dark Assassin     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Anne Perry
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Historical   Private Investigator   Police Procedural
Series: William Monk & Hester Latterly # 15

In 'Dark Assassin', Anne Perry demonstrates yet again her mastery of her Victorian London setting.

Monk, on patrol with the River Police, watches helplessly as two people fall to their deaths from a bridge. Accident, suicide, accident- suicide or murder-suicide? There's some pressure to dismiss at least one of the deaths as a suicide, especially when Monk discovers that the young woman had been distraught over her father's recent death, which was attributed to suicide following an investigation by Monk's old enemy Superintendent Runcorn. Suicide is a terrible burden on the survivors, and Monk feels that in the case of Mary Havilland and possibly that of her father, the burden and the stigma may be undeserved.

Monk's investigation is carried out against the background of one of those impressively massive public works of the era - in this case, the prevention of disease through the construction of modern sewers in incredibly difficult and dangerous circumstances underneath an ancient city built on treacherous mud.

The plot takes some quite unexpected twists and turns, falling down only slightly at the end, when the villain helpfully snarls his primary motivation at the heros. It seemed a little abrupt. Nevertheless, fans of Perry's Monk should enjoy his latest adventure.

Cheryl - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Cheryl - RAM