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

Monk (a little) #3

Monk makes some brief appearances in this story, but he is definitely not the main character any more. Which is okay. Hester has a much more central role, which is also okay. She is interesting and intelligent, and is leading the kind of independent life that the book keeps reminding us was pretty much impossible for a woman in Victorian England. I was glad that Rathbone was back and also played a pivotal part.
The story was compelling for the most part, and I had a hard time "putting it down" if that's the right phrase for an audio book. There were parts toward the end where it dragged a bit, but overall it was a good tale.
I thought that the narrator's accents were pretty inconsistent, and the tone of voice she used for characters' comments was not always appropriate for what the character was saying at times. But it was a fair performance, and I'll be heading to the Audible store shortly to get installment #4.

Edge.of your seat story.

Well written and. well plotted.A Victorian thriller with a modern problem. Human weakness is theme

Absorbing

I found the story somewhat predictable, not usually the case with Anne Perry’s mysteries. I did enjoy the story and the narration was excellent.

Praise for Defend and Betray.

Can’t get enough… such a great story teller in MS Perry! Well done. Thank you.

Stunningly Well-written and Narrated

The underlying crime addressed in this novel is one of the most heinous and often destroys families generation after generation. Anne Perry’s treatment of this tragic issue is eloquent, compassionate, and savagely unsparing of the evil committed by both perpetrators and their unforgivable enablers.

Each book I read in this series seems better than the previous ones.

I have been in astonishment of the excellent writing of this author from the beginning.

Before Women Had Minimal Rights Under The Law

This story paints a very clear picture of the "lack of rights" women enjoyed in the victorian age under Bristish laws. They had no rights to their own children (for goodness sake!) Anyway this story deals with pedophilia and all that involves. Author Perry handled the subject in a sensitive way and the story is aell told. Nevertheless, this story made me see more clearly that as far as women rights are concerned "we've come a long way baby!"

This story amplified how others can be implicit in the secrecy surrounding pedophilia
Narrator Davina Porter does an excellent job as usual.

One of the best books I have ever read.

Spellbound.
I have read hundreds of books on Audible and seldom have I been moved to tears, but this book....Oh, this book is riveting and a mirror for humanity. It is a mirror for us to look into and critically assess our society and ourselves.
I would like to thank the author for having the courage to take on a real and sordid subject matter and humanizing it with truth, love, and compassion. I would also like to thank the narrator for perfectly delivering her vision.
Bravo....

Great Story with best reader!

Must read if you like murder mysteries! Davina Porter is a master at reading a story with such emotion, it Harsimran to put down to go to bed!

Loved it!!!

It was very entertaining to read. I could hardly put it down. Brought me out of my melancholy mood. Monk and Hester are incredible. But the solicitor they hired was exceptional. Loved it