Execution Dock

I think almost anyone could have seen the solution to this one coming from, I don't know, twelve days before even picking the book up. And yet - still - so much tension! And despair! As with most books in this series, I got to a certain point and then could not put it down.

Anne Perry, if you are reading this: thank you for the gift of Hester's friends. Now including Claudine and Squeaky, who I love along with the rest of them. Also, it's kind of interesting that sixteen books in, Hester has a whole list of people who might be willing to die for her, and Monk has - one friend? And an iffy one, at that?

A final note: you may not want to finish this one without having #17 ready at hand.

I have been a long time reader of Ms. Perry’s novels, and she is in fact my favourite author. Of all her series, my favourite is the William Monk series, and this book, without exaggeration, is the best of the lot! It has been three long years since we’ve had a William Monk novel, and this book left me breathless right until the end. Monk, Hester, and the Barrister Oliver Rathbone are on a mission to save the reputation of a great man, and to save the River Police where Monk is Commander. They are pitted against a truly evil man who exploits young boys in the worst ways possible. They have a lot of trouble proving it, and even more trouble getting someone to stand up against this evil man, but they persevere. We are exposed to show more blackmail, sexual exploitation, murder and all number of horrible things as Monk and Hester try to get the evidence they need to convict this monster. No one can make a reader actually live in the moment of the time of their story like Anne Perry. Mid-nineteenth century London is teeming with life in this book. Please don’t make us wait another three years for a William Monk book Ms. Perry. show less

I got an ARC copy of this book, the first Monk mystery in three years, and I'm pleased to say that it was worth waiting for. The emotional and personal stakes for the characters in this book are high, probably the highest they've been in a long time--and it's probably no coincidence that this book has more in common with the darker, more urgent fare of the earlier Monks. Loyalties both old and new are questioned, and it's obvious that everyone involved feels this case very deeply. Perry pulls few punches in depicting the ugliness of the situations involved, and the consequences of putting personal motives and feelings first are made clear...even the heroes aren't immune to this.

I still applaud Perry's choice to have Monk go into the show more River Police, even as he still struggles to find his place. That new post, though, with its quasi-maritime feel and the featuring of ordinary people and desperate situations opposes nicely the luxurious drawing rooms Thomas Pitt, in Perry's other series, haunts while investigating political crimes among society's utter elite.

Measuring "Execution Dock" up against "Defend and Betray" and "Sins of the Wolf", my solid two five-star Monks, this one comes darn close. show less

Execution Dock is the newest installment in Anne Perry's Monk series. It is structured a little differently than most books in the series, and Perry takes a good, harsh look at what drives her three main characters. I have been reading this series for more than ten years, and I closely identify with and have been influenced by Monk, Rathbone, and especially Hester. Loyalty is a major theme throughout the novel; loyalty to friends, spouses, those in need, those who you want to impress, and those to whom you owe a debt.

I continue to enjoy Monk's move to the River Police and the new challenges that have opened for him: leadership, adapting to the river, and dealing with the memory of his predecessor.

Of course, my favorite aspect of the show more series is the complexity of the relationship between Monk and Hester. I love the addition of Scuff to their lives, especially the way Hester respects Scuff's independence, but comes to realize that she needs and wants him in her life. The scenes between them in Execution Dock as well as Dark Assassin are extremely touching.

I enjoyed the development and exploration of the relationship between the Monks and the Rathbones as well. Past situations are given a more clear explanation, and Oliver Rathbone's character is shown in a new way. I did not, however, enjoy the development of Margaret Rathbone's character in this novel. From the way she was presented in previous novels (from Breach of Promise forward), I expected her to be more of a free thinker; but then again, little, if any, of this story is told from her perspective. Maybe Margaret's thinking will be addressed in future novels. I am eager to see the direction the friendship of Hester and Margaret takes.

Margaret's characterization is the only reason I am giving rating the book 4.5 stars. I continue to love this series, and this is an excellent new development. I wish Perry was still writing one Monk and one Pitt each year! Three years is such a long time to wait in between installments. show less

The 16th book in the William Monk series is set up slightly different than the previous books which usually have a crime followed by a trial. Here we start with the trial followed by the investigation.
I really like some of the newer characters that have been introduced into the series: Sutton, Scruff, Claudine, and Squeaky. They add a lot of color and authenticity to Monk's world. I also like the setting of the Thames and the River Police. They provide a new and interesting aspect to Victorian London.
I especially liked the story arc for Sir Oliver Rathbone and I was happy to see how it ended. I'm curious to see how Margaret deals with the revelations in the next books. She did not fare so well in this book.
As always, Monk and Hester show more are the heroes, but they had a lot of others to share their fame with. Jericho Phillips was an evil and disgusting villain. It was a book that kept me on the edge of my seat and I can't wait for the next one. show less

A good and evocative mystery. Preparing to hear Anne Perry when she comes for the Writers Conference, I appreciate her exploration of moral choices. Was a little repetitious in raising questions, and some of the characters fell a little too neatly into good/bad, but a solid story propels the reader along. Especially enjoyed the court scenes that started it all off.

I am a great fan of Anne Perry's William Monk series, but this one almost had me giving up. It takes her an inordinate amount of time to say the same things over and over again.

We understand that Monk has identity issues. We understand he has an inferiority complex. We understand the complexities of his relationship with Oliver Rathbone. Good grief....get over it and get on with the book. It's #16, and while the author certainly needs to identify issues for 1st time readers, we don't need all 15 previous books worth of finger wringing.

In this story, Monk's mentor Durbin is dead. Monk and his 2nd in command Orme, capture one of their top ten criminals - a notorious peddlar of pre-pubescent males for pornagraphic pictures and for show more catering to the 'needs' of gentlemen of Victorian England with the cash and discretion to participate in these sorts of activities.

NO Spoilers, so this may be a little thin....Oliver Rathbone is hired to defend the wretch and Monk and Hester are called to testify.

The ensuing trial and its aftermath add more and more plot twists, give us more of Perry's incredible insight into the mores of the period, and culminate in a great splash of an ending. Definitely worth reading if you're a Perry fan. If you're new to the series, it might do to start back a bit further. show less