Funeral in Blue

Anne Perry

Callandra Daviot has mixed emotions. She has been in love with Dr. Kristan Beck for quite a while. But he is married. She has not said anything to him although she knows he is in a bad marriage. She has turned down another proposal. Now his wife is dead. Mrs. Beck has been found murdered, along with another woman.

She gets Monk involved. He goes to his old police adversary, Runcorn. The two start working together to see if they can find the murderer. Unfortunately, all the clues seem to point to Beck. Monk's wife, Hester, works with Beck. He knows the doctor and his works. He does not believe Beck could have killed the second woman, although he might have killed his wife in a moment of passion. When Beck is arrested, Hester and Monk approach Beck's father-in-law. The man agrees that Beck would not have killed his daughter and takes the case.

Meanwhile Monk and Runcorn keep investigating. Despite their enmity of each other, they find themsleves drawn together in this case. Monk recognizes there are more depths to Runcorn. Daviot is so tied up in Beck's case that all she can do is defend him and help finance Monk. Hester, though, is able to follow up other clues as well.

This is a welcome addition to Perry's William and Hester Monk series. Having read these long enough I know her basic formula, I was able to narrow down suspects quickly. But she throws curves. We are given red herrings throughout the book that do what they are intended to do - divert the reader. Along the way I learned more European history, specifically the Austrian revolution in the late 1840's. I have enjoyed other books in this series more but this one upholds the legacy.

The Face of a Stranger
A Dangerous Mourning
Defend and Betray
A Sudden, Fearful Death
The Sins of the Wolf
Cain His Brother
Weighed in the Balance
The Silent Cry
A Breach of Promise
The Twisted Root
Slaves of Obsession
Funeral in Blue
Death of a Stranger
The Shifting Tide
Dark Assassin
Execution Dock
Acceptable Loss