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Fiction. Mystery. Thriller. Historical Fiction. HTML:William Monk knows London’s streets like the back of his hand. But the river Thames and its teeming docks—where wharf rats and night plunderers ply their trades—is unknown territory. Only Monk’s dire need for work persuades him to accept an assignment from shipping magnate Clement Louvain, to investigate the theft of a cargo of African ivory from Louvain’s recently docked schooner, the Maude Idris. But why didn’t Louvain show more report the ivory theft directly to the River Police? Another mystery is the appearance of a desperately ill woman who Louvain claims is the discarded mistress of an old friend. Is she connected to the theft, or to something much darker? As Monk endeavors to solve these riddles, he can’t imagine the trap that will soon so fatefully ensnare him. show lessTags
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William Monk is a Victorian-era private enquiry agent investigating the theft of a valuable cargo of ivory from a ship waiting to unload in London's Docklands. His wife, Hester, runs a clinic for street girls who accepts a patient brought in by William's client.
This is No. 14 in Anne Perry's William Monk series, and it shows. I haven't read any of the previous novels in the series and found myself somewhat at sea with the relationships between the Monks and some of the other characters. At several points I was ready to give up and put the book aside until I'd got hold of and read the earlier books. But then half-way through a deadly secret is uncovered which nobody must know about (but which an awful lot of people get told), and the show more book turns into a claustrophobic horror story which is completely unputdownable. I am definitely going to seek out more from this very talented author. show less
This is No. 14 in Anne Perry's William Monk series, and it shows. I haven't read any of the previous novels in the series and found myself somewhat at sea with the relationships between the Monks and some of the other characters. At several points I was ready to give up and put the book aside until I'd got hold of and read the earlier books. But then half-way through a deadly secret is uncovered which nobody must know about (but which an awful lot of people get told), and the show more book turns into a claustrophobic horror story which is completely unputdownable. I am definitely going to seek out more from this very talented author. show less
William Monk is out of his element when he agrees to take a case focused on the river and life along the docks. Oddly connected to his case are an ill woman brought to Hester's clinic and another woman who comes to help tend the sick. Both parts of the story move right along, with the usual twists and turns. We meet some fascinating new characters, including Scruff the urchin, Crow the doctor, and Mr. Sutton the rat catcher. In addition, the personal lives of William and Hester's friends undergo some momentous changes. All in all, a satisfying book.
This series just gets better and better. Monk has to find a stolen cargo of ivory tusks and the murderer of the man who was guarding it. Esther is still working in her clinic for women of the streets when a man brings a seriously ill woman to her, the same man who hired Monk.
Monk and Hester are such a perfect couple, each so strong in their own way, and this book tests the boundaries of their relationship in a new and scary way. Hester especially must deal with soul-wrenching issues while Monk tests himself in a new area, the Thames river, all the time worrying about his wife.
Oliver and Margaret make appearances, adding to their story. It was nice to see the stoic Oliver in a new and better light. Callandra makes a brief appearance; show more I'm glad for her and hope it's not the last we'll see of her.
There are some new characters that I really enjoyed: a rat catcher and a mudlark. I had no idea about the River Police, but I found that whole idea interesting and looked up more about their history. I always learn something from this series.
Another great read. On to book 15. show less
Monk and Hester are such a perfect couple, each so strong in their own way, and this book tests the boundaries of their relationship in a new and scary way. Hester especially must deal with soul-wrenching issues while Monk tests himself in a new area, the Thames river, all the time worrying about his wife.
Oliver and Margaret make appearances, adding to their story. It was nice to see the stoic Oliver in a new and better light. Callandra makes a brief appearance; show more I'm glad for her and hope it's not the last we'll see of her.
There are some new characters that I really enjoyed: a rat catcher and a mudlark. I had no idea about the River Police, but I found that whole idea interesting and looked up more about their history. I always learn something from this series.
Another great read. On to book 15. show less
I am a fan of Anne Perry’s series about William Monk. This is book #14 and it held my attention just like the other books.
Monk is hired to find stolen cargo - stolen right from the ship. A sailor on board was murdered but the owner wants the cargo found more than the murder solved. He is hired by Clement Louvain. Solving a crime on the waterfront is very different than in the city. Monk learns a lot with the help of Scuff and Crow. Even the River Police Captain Durban.
Good descriptions of life on the wharf. And the battling of a deadly disease.
Hester is busy at the clinic in Portpool Lane. There are many women coming in with illnesses and more help is needed and more supplies. Hester is wearing herself put taking care of everyone. show more Margaret finds help in unexpected places. One sick woman (Ruth Clark) brings unexpected illness.
Characters: Sir Oliver Rathbone and Miss Margaret Ballinger are getting more serious.
Lady Callandra is off to Vienna to marry Dr. Kristian Beck. Good for her and yet I enjoyed her character so I will miss reading about her.
Mr. Sutton, the rat catcher, is such a good character. show less
Monk is hired to find stolen cargo - stolen right from the ship. A sailor on board was murdered but the owner wants the cargo found more than the murder solved. He is hired by Clement Louvain. Solving a crime on the waterfront is very different than in the city. Monk learns a lot with the help of Scuff and Crow. Even the River Police Captain Durban.
Good descriptions of life on the wharf. And the battling of a deadly disease.
Hester is busy at the clinic in Portpool Lane. There are many women coming in with illnesses and more help is needed and more supplies. Hester is wearing herself put taking care of everyone. show more Margaret finds help in unexpected places. One sick woman (Ruth Clark) brings unexpected illness.
Characters: Sir Oliver Rathbone and Miss Margaret Ballinger are getting more serious.
Lady Callandra is off to Vienna to marry Dr. Kristian Beck. Good for her and yet I enjoyed her character so I will miss reading about her.
Mr. Sutton, the rat catcher, is such a good character. show less
I love William and Hester Monk. This series by Anne Perry never fails, and this one involving a drastic problem at Hester's clinic for London's prostitutes, and a really convoluted case of piracy for Monk to solve, certainly wasn't light, but it did not require the mental energy I didn't have to give during holiday week. This is a great series, and I love to keep up with the adventures of this compassionate, intelligent, and gentle couple. If you've not read them, give them a try. THey're especially good on audio if you like that forma
William and Hester Monk continue to struggle financially - Monk trying to earn enough for their living expenses while Hester donates her talents and efforts to a women's clinic for sick prostitutes. As the story opens, Monk is accepting a job, unlike his normally inquiries into murder but instead trying to recover a stole cargo. Meantime, Hester and her fellow volunteers are put into a precarious position by non-other than the same man as Monk is working for.
The plot twists and intricacies take the reader on a emotional roller coaster, first with Monk in trouble, then Hester, then the entire clinic.
The story was fantastic!
The plot twists and intricacies take the reader on a emotional roller coaster, first with Monk in trouble, then Hester, then the entire clinic.
The story was fantastic!
So many events happen and new people are introduced in this book. Lady Callandra has decided to marry Dr Beck and the two of them are headed to Austria. Sir Oliver Rathbone has discovered his love of Margaret and has asked her to marry him. Monk has taken a case that involves the river and a different class of people. Monk also meets and forms a friendship the Scruff and the River Police. Hester faces grim facts when she discovers that one of the woman under her care died from the Black Death. The clinic must be guarded and no one can leave, and all stand the chance of contacting the dreaded disease. As usual, Perry does an excellent job in describing the setting and the characters. The reader can feel the panic and fear. Again, Perry show more drives home the fact that many will willingly donate money to help the "heathens" in Africa, but will ignore the "fallen" women suffering in London. show less
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Anne Perry was born Juliet Hume on October 28, 1938 in Blackheath, London. Sent to Christchurch, New Zealand to recover from a childhood case of severe pneumonia, she became very close friends with another girl, Pauline Parker. When Perry's family abandoned her, she had only Parker to turn to, and when the Parkers planned to move from New Zealand, show more Parker asked that Perry be allowed to join them. When Parker's mother disagreed, Perry and Parker bludgeoned her to death. Perry eventually served five and a half years in an adult prison for the crime. Once she was freed, she changed her name and moved to America, where she eventually became a writer. Her first Victorian novel, The Cater Street Hangman, was published in 1979. Although the truth of her past came out when the case of Mrs. Parker's murder was made into a movie (Heavenly Creatures), Perry is still a popular author and continues to write. She has written over 50 books and short story collections including the Thomas Pitt series, the William Monk series, and the Daniel Pitt series. Her story, Heroes, won the 2001 Edgar Award for Best Short Story. Her title's Blind Justice and The Angel Court Affair made The New York Times Best Seller List. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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- Canonical title
- The Shifting Tide
- Original title
- The Shifting Tide
- Original publication date
- 2004
- People/Characters
- Hester Latterly (as Hester Monk); William Monk; Clement Louvain (owner, Louvain Shipping Company); Hodge (crewman on Louvain's ship, the 'Maude Idris'); Newbolt ('Maude Idris' bosun, Hodge's brother-in-law); Atkinson ('Maude Idris' crewman) (show all 44); Mrs. Hodge (Newbolt's sister); Dawson (morgue attendant); Margaret Ballinger (helps at Hester's Portpool Lane clinic); Bessie Wellington (Portpool Lane clinic helper); Squeaky Robinson (Portpool Lane Clinic bookkeeper); Lady Callandra Daviot (Monk & Hester's friend); Molly Struther (a patient); Ruth Clark (patient Louvain brings in); Scuff (9 or 10 year-old river urchin who likes Monk); Little Lil (an opulent receiver); Inspector Durban of the River Police; Oliver Rathbone (as Sir Oliver Rathbone, barrister); Mrs. Ballinger (Margaret's mother); Lady Craven (fundraising for Africa); Mrs. Thwaite (thinks Africa a worthy cause); Mr. Walter Thwaite (her bored husband); Lady Hordern (prefers to give to Africa); Flo (brings patients to the PL clinic); Sutton (ratcatcher); Toddy (a costermonger); Claudine Burroughs (PL clinic volunteer); Miss Mercy Louvain (Clement's sister); Herbert (an ironmonger); Madge (child at the ironmonger's -- Herbert's?); Dr. Crow; Gould (a man with a boat); Bert Culpepper (one of Louvain's rivals); Ollie Jenkins (works for Little Lil); Sergeant Orme (River Police); Duff (a disgruntled dock laborer); Snoot (Sutton's brown & white Jack Russell terrier); Coleridge (works for Rathbone); Charity Bradshaw (Clement & Mercy's married sister); Martha (a patient); Joe (friend of Sutton, has a pit bull terrier); Arnie (friend of Sutton, has a pit bull terrier); Lady Pamela Brimcott (Oliver once courted her); Henry Rathbone (Sir Oliver's father)
- Important places
- England, UK
- Dedication*
- A Joe Blades, pour son aide et son amitié.
- First words
- 'The murder doesn't matter,' Louvain said abruptly, leaning a little over his desk towards Monk.
- Quotations
- This was ridiculous! If he were not facing death it would be funny. He was fighting a man he did not know for the favor of a woman he would have paid not to touch! (Monk, chapter 6)
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)The warmth would come later, in the time still ahead.
- Original language*
- Anglais
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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- Reviews
- 17
- Rating
- (3.83)
- Languages
- 5 — English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 37
- ASINs
- 11
