A Breach of Promise

William Monk, Book 9

By: Anne Perry

Narrated by: Terrence Hardiman

The plaintiffs in a sensational breach of promise suit are wealthy social climbers Barton and Delphine Lambert, suing on behalf of their beautiful daughter, Zillah. The defendant is Zillah's alleged fiancé, brilliant young architect Killian Melville, who adamantly declares that he will not, cannot, marry her. Not even to his counsel, distinguished barrister Sir Oliver Rathbone, will Killian explain his rejection of rich and charming Zillah. Utterly baffled, Rathbone turns for help to his old comrades in crime - Monk, the private investigator who knows his city like the back of his hand, and fearless nurse Hester Latterly. But even as they scout London for clues, from Mayfair to sordid Devil's Acre, the case suddenly and tragically ends. An outcome that no one - except a ruthless murderer - could have foreseen.

©2000 Anne Perry (P)2000 AudioGO

Very slow start

This book was much slower than others i have read in the series. The last one third was good enough to take it to four stars.

This was a great story. But.

Spoiler alert. I cannot BELIEVE how this book ended. I even said out loud, “you’ve GOT to be kidding me!!!!. There should have been more to the story as in, I want to hear them confront the killer with the two murders and leaving her girls. I couldn’t wait until she was confronted. But then in ended. Without a big part of the story included. Disappointed.

Anne Perry has won me over to mysteries!

I enjoy revisiting these characters again and again. Never realized how entertaining mystery novels could be, Thank goodness I found Anne Perry.

How Many “Reveals” Can One Story Have?!?!

Not many books cause one to literally “gasp” out loud at a “reveal”, but this one had, at least for me, two .. and a couple of inaudible gasps. While I am totally uninterested in any political and/or moral views of the author or the content regarding either, as some reviewers seem to be, I am only interested in a story that keeps you guessing up and through the last five minutes. This one does. And that is only what I am reviewing: The story, the writing, and the narration. And who better to tell such a story than the author herself who as we all know now, knew more than most about “such matters.” And while I certainly don’t admire Ms. Perry, nor do I know any of the true particulars of her life.. as others probably don’t either.. I do appreciate writing talent, and this she has (or should I now say “had”) in spades. And the narration was excellent as well.

Engaging SLOW Dive into Elizabethan Life and Mores

If you have many hours to spend in this mid-Elizabethan foray into an unusual Breach of Promise court case, and you already like Monk and the usual suspects, this is an interesting, layered story. This is only my second Ann Perry novel,, and these are definitely more "novels" than detective fiction...although there is usually an interesting puzzle to be solved. What keeps the ones I have read from being 5 stars is that they are simply quite slow, repetitive, and in this case, a bit preachy about the circumscribed role of women in this time and society. The point is made again and again and the ending here, though somewhat predictable, is extraordinarily abrupt and unsatisfying. That said, I DID have lots of time, and enjoyed most of the story.