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FUNERAL IN BLUE
by Anne Perry
Ballantine Books, October 2001
352 pages
$25.00
ISBN: 0345440013


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

This is one of the chronicles of William Monk and Hester Latterly although, truth be told, William and Hester are sounding more and more like Thomas and Charlotte Pitt since the inexorable tension between them has been resolved. Be that as it may, they are happily married. It is the year 1862 and the American Civil War is in full swing and there are references to events in America throughout the book.

Charles Latterly, Hester's older brother and the only family she has left, has come to her for help. He is worried about his wife Imogen who has been acting strangely and leaving home without telling him where she is going. He is afraid she is having an affair and he wants Hester to find out what is happening and to talk to her.

Meanwhile Kristian Beck is an idealistic and innovative doctor at the hospital where Charlotte used to work and where she still helps out. Charlotteís friend and Williamís patron Lady Callandra Daviot is secretly in love with him, but he is married. But then his wife is found murdered along with Sarah Mackeson, an artistís model, in the studio of artist Argo Allardyce. Allardyce is painting a portrait of Elissa Beck at the behest of her father.

The obvious suspect is Dr. Beck, and Callandra begs Monk to find evidence to exonerate him and show who really committed this horrendous crime. Monk has no choice but to take this case so he goes to the police. At one time he had been a policeman and his superior, Runcorn, and he had been bitter enemies. Of course Runcorn is in charge of this case and, while working with him, despite himself Monk begins to find things in Runcorn to like.

During the investigation which takes Monk across the channel to Vienna and back in time to the Revolutions of 1848, some very abhorrent information about Elissa is uncovered. There is not anyone who is not wounded by the end of the book.

Ms. Perry describes events so well, you think you are actually viewing them. For example, the funeral of Elissa is so carefully detailed you could be excused for believing you actually attended it. She has a marvelous sense of the time and does an admirable job of setting the book in time without overwhelming the reader with information. We learn a great deal about England in the 1860s but it all comes as part of the story. She also has an excellent sense of place.

The characters are intriguing and well drawn. They come to life in these pages and we get to know them quite well. Monk is still trying to remember details of his past and he grows and changes from book to book. This is well-plotted with a fascinating story and an ending which surprised me. For all of that, I think the book could have used some editing as the same emotions and thoughts were repeated more often than necessary. Even so, I enjoyed the book very well and recommend it.

Reviewed by Sally A. Fellows, November 2001

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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