Defend and Betray

A William Monk Novel #3

By: Anne Perry

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Length: 16 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Ten people gather together for an elegant London dinner party. By the end of the party, only nine are alive. Sometime after dinner, General Thaddeus Carlyon is brutally murdered in the hallway. Who had the strength - and motive - to murder the distinguished military hero? Nurse Latterly and Inspector Monk find the answers in a nightmarish legacy of evil.

Crack another case with William Monk.

©1992 Anne Perry (P)1996 Recorded Books, LLC

Great Story

I loved this book. great twist in the plot. Davina Porter brings the characters to life!

Transcends the genre

An nuanced and sensitive portrayal of class and crime in mid-19th century England and the strictures on women. Oh--and an absorbing novel, extremely well written.

FANTASTIC

Fantastic storyline. Guessing the motive early on did not diminished the pleasure of it'story. It kept my attention and desire to hear more and more from beginning to end.

I really like Hester

I like the characters and their world and the story of how some of them doggedly dig for the truth.

Agonizing. Well written and emotional. Highly disturbing.

Honestly I hated this book because of the topic area. I had figured out the why part of the question early on and it was very hard to sit through the lengthy unraveling of the facts of the case. It is masterfully written but sick as well. I am exceedingly grateful that I have completed the book bit will definitely take a break for some lighter listens for awhile. Davina Porter, the narrator is fantastic as always. This book was too human and real in too many ways. Quite emotionally overwhelming.

Anne Perry does it again

I love Anne Perry's William Monk series. I know some people think she goes on too much about the sorry position of women in England during that period, but I find that interesting and insightful. Her cast of characters are well drawn and I like the consistent and developing relationship among them.

Tragic but compelling

Most engrossing story so far in the series. Good character development for Monk, Hester, and the barrister.

Great story about a difficult subject

I just love how the author develops and describes her characters! The subject matter in this book was a difficult one to read, but worth reading. Of Davina Porter’s narration is perfect!

Super performance

Davina porter makes anything perfect. I could listen to her all day. Really enjoyed the book.

What Justifies Murder?

That's the question posed in "Defend and Betray," the third novel featuring Detective William Monk, Nurse Hester Latterly, and Barrister Oliver Rathbone. The Carlyon case which occurs in this book involves the murder of General Thaddeus Carlyon during a dinner party at the home of some friends of the Carlyon's. After the police arrive, Carlyon's widow confesses to having murdered her husband, giving as a reason a story of jealousy which is patently untrue.

Hester is a friend of one of the Carlyon's daughters, who tells Hester about the situation. Hester suggests that Oliver Rathbone might be willing to represent Mrs. Carlyon at her trial. When Rathbone visits Mrs. Carlyon in prison, she continues to say that she killed her husband out of jealousy and refuses to give any other reason. From the facts, it is obvious that she really did commit the murder, so Rathbone, along with Hester, is searching for the real reason she would kill her husband. Rathbone also hires Monk to attempt to find the answer.

In the Grey case (Book 1), Anne Perry explored the power of men of a certain class, and their frequent immunity from the consequences of their acts. In the Moidore case (Book 2), the theme was the lengths to which a member of the ruling class would go to avoid any scandal or blight on their names, even to the extent of framing someone from a lower class for a crime and letting them be hung. Now in the Carlyon case, Perry goes further in depicting the place and lack of power of women in that ruling class. They may lead comfortable lives in material terms, but they and their children are the property of their fathers or husbands, and the women have no power or way of protecting themselves or their children -- if they leave their husbands, the courts will make sure the children remain with the father.

This book is long, and often quite dark, but it is absorbing and interesting. In addition to the Carlyon case and surrounding events, Monk spends time discovering more about his former life, even finding and talking with the woman he had loved before his accident. Rathbone and Hester spend more time together on the case, and Rathbone becomes fond of Hester. Monk and Hester again work together to accomplish their shared goal, but it is only under an unspoken truce -- they still dislike each other.

Although I read this book many years ago and remembered the bare bones of the plot quite well, I still very much enjoyed listening to the entire book again. Perry draws such interesting characters, and describes them so entertainingly, that I never got bored or impatient waiting for the climax I knew was coming. I think any reader interested in the culture and the society of mid-19th century England would enjoy Defend and Betray.

Highly recommended!