A Sudden, Fearful Death

Anne Perry

1/10/2000

William Monk and Hester Latterly are pulled together to help solve a mystery. A nurse is murdered at one of the local hospitals. Monk's patron, Mrs. Callandra Daviot is a patron at the hospital. The nurse was one of the new breed, one who had worked with Florence Nightingale in the Crimea.

Callandra was one of the people who discovered the body. The police were called in, but had very little to go on. She was afraid for one of the surgeons at the hospital, so employed Monk to discover the true murderer. Hester took a job at the hospital so she could also try to discover the truth. When another surgeon is arrested for the murder, Oliver Rathbone, the pre-eminent lawyer, is asked to defend him.

The subplot to this novel is chilling. In the mid-1800's birth control was barely known, and certainly not practiced. Women often tired themselves out having babies. They would have more than their bodies could handle. Abortions were illegal for any reason. A raped woman who found herself pregnant had little recourse. Rape was rarely provable in court, she was not allowed an abortion, and she was no longer marriageable. Abortions were illegal, but were performed anyway. Unfortunately, this usually meant the backlot butcher type of abortionist. If the woman survived the abortion, she would be very lucky not to be injured or maimed in some way.

The nurse's murder and the condition of women in 1850's England are once again examined closely here. They mystery is well done and the murderer very clever. While we learn more about Monk and Hester's personalities, this novel tells more about the time period than new information about these two characters. Again, I found Anne Perry's novel excellent.

You can find more on this book at along with other books in the series.

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