The Face of a Stranger by Anne Perry

Title: The Face of a Stranger

Author: Anne Perry

Series: William Monk Novels, #1

Genre: Historical Fiction; Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: Fawcett Crest

ISBN: 0804108587 (978-0804108584)

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages

List Price: $7.99

Reviewed: February 15, 2009

Rating: 4 stars (4.3)

Warnings: Mild violence

Synopsis: This is the first in Anne Perry's "William Monk" mysteries. William Monk, detective, lost his memory in a carriage accident. He tries to recover bits and pieces of his life while trying to solve the murder of Jocelin Grey, a member of the nobility. To help him in this is his partner, Evan, and Hester Latterly, formerly one of Florence Nightingale's nurses.

My opinion: I like the characters in this, but I prefer Perry's other Victorian series, featuring Charlotte & Thomas Pitt. That aside, I thought the characters were rather well developed but this story focused primarily on Monk, due to his loss of memory. That was ok with me since I didn't really care all that much for Hester anyway. She was a little too harsh for me to like her, but I thought she was well-written.

Meanwhile, I ruined this book for myself by inadvertently reading the second book first. Hence, I already knew who the killer was since he stands trial in the second book, A Dangerous Mourning. I do believe, if I hadn't already known, I would have been very surprised by the outcome, something to be desired in a mystery novel. On a historical note: I am not an "expert" on Victorian England, since I tend to focus a little more on the Regency, but what I read seemed quite accurate.

I apologize if my thoughts here seem a little haphazard. Truthfully, I started this book over a year ago and had trouble getting into it. I completely blame my mistake for this (see above), not the author.

The Cater Street Hangman by Anne Perry

Title: The Cater Street Hangman

Author: Anne Perry

Series: Thomas and Charlotte Pitt, Book 1

Genre: Historical Mystery

Publisher: Fawcett Crest

ISBN: 0449208672

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 287 pages

List Price: $6.99US

Characters: Thomas Pitt, Charlotte Ellison

Someone is killing young women in Cater Street. Thomas Pitt is called in to investigate and he meets Charlotte Ellison. More or less together, they try to uncover the identity of a killer dubbed the hangman.

What I liked: The characters. Ms Perry actually gave the reader a glimpse into each and every mind that she felt was important to the story. I was surprised by the POV switches even though they were separated by scenes and sometimes chapters, but it added well to the mystery. I didn't guess the murderer's identity until the second to last chapter. I also like the historical detail Ms Perry provides in her Victorian mysteries, giving the reader an accurate glimpse into the period with all its foibles and restrictions.

What I disliked: The romance. I know that sounds weird coming from a romance author but the romance felt contrived to me. This could be because Charlotte fought it and we never got to see inside Pitt's head to watch the gradual development of his regard. Which leads me to my other annoyance: We never got to see inside Pitt's head. Maybe this wasn't important to the story but I like him and would have liked to see how his mind works.

Overall: 4.2 stars. This was borrowed from my mom but I might borrow it again at a much later date. :o)

Note: The copy I read has a different cover and 287 pages instead of 288. The list price of the current edition available is $7.99US instead of $6.99US.