11:33 PM
Books REVIEW | Southampton Row and Death of a Stranger, both by Anne Perry

Southampton Row by Anne Perry, the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series: This was boring. I was so disappointed! The murder victim was totally uninteresting, I couldn't even get involved in the suspects, they all seemed very stupid and one-dimensional, even Emily and Charlotte were very flat. Just no real suspense, all much a forgone conclusion and nothing particularly interesting. Just not like Anne Perry's usual writing at all.

Death of a Stranger by Anne Perry, the William Monk series: Now this is how she usually writes! This book was great and such a difference from Southampton Row! Interesting characters, the historical period well delineated and the plight of the poor and prostitutes well drawn without being sappy or pitying. I like Hester's new friend, Margaret, she's terrific and I like her as a future wife for Oliver Rathbone as well. And it was great to finally get the full story on Monk's background, all the teasers we've been getting for ages finally drawn together and the whole thing uncovered. It'll be interesting to see where she takes him now that he does remember the important parts from his past that had been haunting him.

So one good, one bad, there is another in the Pitt series that I haven't read yet, I hope it's much better than Southampton Row.