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

Not for the sensitive..

Once again, Ms. Perry tackles modern societal issues in a Victorian setting. She vividly illustrates some of the deleterious effects inflicted on the victims. The first half of the book, I did suspect what was going on, but not the murderer.. by the middle, I’d figured it out.. but wanted to continue .. if nothing else than to see how Ms. Perry handled the issues.

There is a great triangle brewing between Monk, Hester and Oliver. I keep vacillating over which man I want to get the girl!

Ms. Porter again, is wonderful!

This book is not for those with blissfully innocent sensitivities.. but, is an excellent expose of some of societies most degrading practices.

Riveting

A bit of a slow start, but hang in -- the hook is delayed but once you bite, you will not want to get away. Masterful, as always for Perry.

Defend and Betray

Davina Porter is becoming one of my favorite narrators. This is the third book in the Monk series. This book has more to do with Hester and the attorney Oliver. Some of the new characters in the story are great such as Hester's employer the Major. This book covers a darker problem in peoples behavior and goes into the problem women had in protecting their children when they had no rights as far as the law is concerned. Reading this series makes me realize how far women have come in obtaining equal rights even though their is still more work to be done and a battle to keep the rights we have obtained.

WOW!!!!

I am moved to write a review rather just a rating. I have never cried, laughed and felt such a tumult of emotions listening to a book. The narrator is absolutely fantastic. Ms Davina is one of my favorite narrators. I started this series with no prejudgment.

I am a bit annoyed and fed up with Monk and am desperately hoping he either dies, gets abducted by aliens or is raptured to put me out of my misery. I do appreciate that the author does not spin out ‘perfect’ people. Every character has some idiosyncrasies that make me cringe (but Monk tops them all).

THIS particular story will leave you emotionally drained and requiring a couple of spa days. I am looking forward to the next book and silently hoping that there are at least 7 more to go in the series.

My favorite Monk novel so far.

I found the first two novels slow and redundant, although it's only fair to say that I still couldn't put them down. This novel flows better, is significantly less repetitive and develops the characters of Hester and Oliver even more than that of Monk.

I have really enjoyed Perry's descriptions of the classes and time period, more than any other author who writes about that period - she vividly portrays the constraints placed on women, children and the servant class.

As a woman I feel badly for generally not liking women narrators. I find it easier to hear a man narrating a woman's part than the reverse. That being said, Davina Porter's narrations are so good that suspension of disbelief is nearly total for me.

This is the darkest yet of the three but also the easiest to believe and the most touching. Enjoy!

Good storyline, but not as counterintuitive as the two previous.

Overall a good book, but not an excellent book. I'm not sure I would recommend this to anyone, unless they are bored and have nothing else to read. The storyline was very obvious from the get-go, the characters were not terribly developed, and the outcome was obvious. There was way too much emphasis on the emotional history of the lead detective. His history is interesting, but should not be the focus of the book and in this case, it is. The actual drama seem to take a backstage to his revealing of where he wanted to go in his life. Again, interesting but should not be the focal point. In any case, interesting read, to a degree, but not something I would have read if I had been aware of the focus of the book. I would've simply skip to the next one in the series. In summation, just a little too predictable and A little bit lame.

I will listen to Davina Porter read any day

The story is good, but the narration makes it so much better. I found these books searching for Ms. Porter, and was not disappointed!

Long, Very Long

This was my first and last Monk mystery. This was about 9 hours too long! Slow doesn't do the beginning justice. I was actually thinking of my hard slog through The Name Of The Rose favouribly compared to this! I'll stick to the Pitts from now on.

Love Anne’s writing but uncomfortable subject matter

I love Annes style of writing but this is a book I will skip in the series due to the subject matter. On to the next book.

For Readers Who Love Good Writing

Another well wriitten book with great characterizations, accurate historical background, and brilliant plot and as usual surprise conclusion in the whodontit tradition of Perry.