The Face of a Stranger

A William Monk Novel #1

By: Anne Perry

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

A tragic accident leaves Inspector Monk with amnesia just moments after he solves the murder of a popular Crimean war hero. Forced to redo his entire investigation, a frustrated Monk faces a desperate murderer who will do anything to keep the inspector from discovering the truth twice.

Crack another case with William Monk.

©1990 Anne Perry (P)1995 Recorded Books, LLC

Excellent!

The narration was exquisite and added to the whole enjoyment of the story. I loved the various characters and how everything came together.

Great narrator, but

There was a low hiss throughout the book. A faint background conversation off & on, as well! Age???
The narrator was excellent, however, as was the story.

A great start to another Perry detective series

Perry, an incredible and prolific author had a dismal beginning in life when she served five years in prison in New Zealand for assisting in the murder of a friend’s mother. When released, she returned to England, her birthplace, and changed her name to put the conviction behind her. She published several novels before her history was made public but it did not tarnish her literary success. By the time of her death in 2023 she had written 74 novels and sold more than ten million copies. She began with the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series, which included 38 novels, some of which were written concurrently with the William Monk novels (20 of them) of which this book is the first.
Face of a Stranger features Monk (with some hauntingly familiar similarities to Adrian Monk of the television series Monk, which premiered in 2012. Perry’s Monk first saw light in 1990.)
It introduces the detective following an accident in which he has amnesia and doesn’t even recognize himself in the mirror. However, he is determined to keep the problem from everyone for fear of losing his livelihood.
It is a wonderful, albeit somewhat repetitive theme throughout the book, in which he must discover the murderer of a a lord’s charming younger brother.
Monk’s relationship with an almost-aristocrat woman harkens to a similar association Thomas Pitt has with his wife, Charlotte. The Pitt series had a several-year start on the Monk books. Similarities aside, the series’ solidly stand on their own but both strongly demonstrate the issues of the revolting caste system of Victorian England. Women’s rights is also a prominent issue in both series.
In all, Perry is, IMHO, one of the premiere writers of any genre in our time. Her characters are multifaceted, complex, true-to-life (I’m certain that I personally know many of them) very human. Her historic settings and references are spot on as seems the language to be.
I wholeheartedly recommend The Face as an introduction to the almost-likable Monk. I’m hoping his idiosyncratic character stabilizes in future endeavors.

Beautiful writing

Drew me into the story, hoping Monk was not the killer and the exquisite ending. Putting down the rabid animal!

One of my favorites of all-time

This is a slow starter but then found it virtually impossible to put down. Anne Perry is a wordsmith. So refreshing to find something so well written. Her descriptive imagery brings the reader into the book. Her characterization is excellent. I am looking forward to Book 2.

The Face of a Stranger

So glad Audible has the beginning books in this series. I can now start to read them in order. Have read a few of the latest ones. This book makes everything fall into place. Perry does a great job painting a picture of London/England in the 1850's. The description of the social problems of day shows how far we have come and how easy it might be to fall back into the past again. Can not wait to start the next book to see if Hester and Monk get together. This is the time in history that the role of women began to make major changes then the biggest change came with WWI.

Face Of A Stranger : An Interesting Listen

This is the first book in this series and it held my interest all the way through. This is the type of story that I like listening to. It has a great main plots and a subplot that Perry weaves neatly into the main plot. Monk had an head injury due to an accident and couldn't remember much even when he went back to work as a police detective, but he acts like he does. The main plot involves murder and I could hardly wait to know "Who did it", who killed this well loved man? Who is he really? The usual main characters in this series are all here including, Hester, Rathbone, Evans, and of course Monk. Davina Porter is an excellent performer.

Disappointing

The characters and plot had promise but there was too much repetition about what the characters thought. Also, Monk is supposed to be a great detective but he completely missed obvious things. It was very frustrating!

I hate the way these books end!!!!!!

I did not listen to these books in order. I’ve listened to three and it is ridiculous how they all end. There should be more to the story after Monk figures things out. You listen all that time to find out what happens and when you do, your hear the guy say “the end”. I mean really?!!!! You’ve got us not liking these terrible people that have wronged the good guy and you don’t tell us what happens AFTER he gets caught?! Ridiculous!

Wonderful narration, mediocre story

I chose this audible book because Davina Porter was the narrator. I always find her voice and narration wonderful. This book was no exception. She did a great job with what she had to work with.
The story, the telling was somewhat boring. I had to force myself to pay attention and focus. I don’t like that. I like to listen to a story that draws me in and makes me hunger for the next sentence. This book was not like that.