The Silent Cry

Anne Perry

Two gentlemen are found beaten in one of the slum parts of town. The father is dead, the son very close to death. Sargeant John Evan is assigned the case. Hester Latterly, the ex-Crimean nurse, is hired to help the son recover. The son, Rhys Leigh, has lost his ability to speak and has horrible memories.

The longer Hester works with Rhys, the more she realizes he is hiding what he knows about the night his father was killed. The further Monk digs, the more he realizes gentlemen are coming into the slum to beat up these women. Was Rhys one of those gentlemen? Did his father discover what had happened and follow to prevent the beating?

Meanwhile one of the slums' factory owner's wives has hired Monk to do an investigation in that area. Some of the factory workers occasionally make a little money on the side in prostitution. There has been a number of these women being raped and beaten. She wants Monk to discover who is doing this. They are both aware that in Victorian London that rape of a prostitute cannot be charged. Yet Monk quickly agrees that the attacks have to stop.

While working in the downtrodden area, Monk learns more of his history with Runcorn. He remembers that as young policemen they were partners, protecting each others' back. What happened to split them into enemies? Monk was discovering more about himself he did not like.

Hester is in a position where she can have some free time for herself. She finds herself joining Rathbone for theater, then later dinner. Monk also takes her to dinner. Rathbone seems to have something on his mind that she puts off. Monk ends the evening as usual, with arguments.

Once again we have an excellent mystery woven by Anne Perry. This is well written, an involving story. Perry has plumbed the depths of human degradation without degrading the victims. I had inklings of the truth as the story progressed. Yet the surprises continued until the end.

I recommended this series to my sister. She is now ahead of me in the series. She told me this one was excellent. She was right.

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

No Graves As Yet by Anne Perry