From the Bookshelf of Around the World…

Weighed in the Balance (William Monk, #7)

Anne Perry

Why we're reading this: Fun historical mystery that takes place in Britain, Venice and a small German state.
[close] Fun historical mystery that takes place in Britain, Venice and a small German state.

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

Sep 17, 2011 Beth rated it really liked it

Shelves: around-the-world-group, mystery-thrillers

As always, I really enjoy reading Anne Perry's mysteries. I enjoy the characters: surly amnesiac detective William Monk, Crimean War nurse Hester Latterly, distinguished barrister Oliver Rathbone, whose relationships, while often testy, are also intelligent, passionate and loyal. I also enjoy the plot twists, which always have a foundation laid, but which are nonetheless not given away earlier in the novel, making things interesting to the end. I also like the vision of 19th century European soc As always, I really enjoy reading Anne Perry's mysteries. I enjoy the characters: surly amnesiac detective William Monk, Crimean War nurse Hester Latterly, distinguished barrister Oliver Rathbone, whose relationships, while often testy, are also intelligent, passionate and loyal. I also enjoy the plot twists, which always have a foundation laid, but which are nonetheless not given away earlier in the novel, making things interesting to the end. I also like the vision of 19th century European society that comes through in each case as it unfolds, whether it is a commentary on medical conditions in London hospitals, as in one book, or the political intrigues surrounding the possible unification of the various German states, as in this one. One measure of historical fiction is whether it makes you want to go read history, and this one definitely did. It also made me want to visit Venice, where a portion of the action takes place.

The basic plot is this: Countess Zorah Rostova seeks the assistance of Rathbone in her defense against a slander accusation by the widow of the exiled former Crown Prince Frederich of Felzburg, a small German state. Zorah has accused Princess Gisela of murdering Frederich, in what was initially simply dismissed as death from internal injuries after a fall from his horse. She has no proof of her accusation, simply an instinctual knowledge that it must be so. As Rathbone investigates, with help from Monk and Hester (who is nursing an paraplegic son of a family from the same German state), it seems that murder has in fact taken place, but that Gisela may be the one person who has an ironclad alibi. Possible suspects and motives are many, related both to personal jealousies and potential political plots related to Frederich's possible return to Felzburg to lead an independence movement on the eve of potential German unification. During the investigation, Monk travels to Venice, home of the exiled royal family, and to Felzburg, while carrying on a flirtation with a married Baroness from Felzburg, whose husband is a viable suspect. As I said, the solution is not clear until the very end, when critical questions are answered and the investigative team succeeds in bringing about a satisfying resolution to the case. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 07, 2013 Rebecca Huston rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: england, 19th-century, nook, series, mystery, italy, william-monk

A fairly good entry in the series, despite the rather preposterous names and situations that Ms. Perry starts off with. This time, the story moves from London to an English country estate, to Venice, to a small kingdom in Germany and back to London for the trial. Countess Zorah Rostova finds herself sued for libel by a widowed princess, and turns to Sir Oliver Rathbone to defend her. William Monk is tasked to find out the truth, has an affair, finds out a few more little bits about his past. Hes ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 30, 2011 Amanda marked it as to-read

Dec 28, 2012 Almeta marked it as to-read

Shelves: dying2read

Jan 05, 2015 Chris Huntley marked it as to-read

Apr 15, 2017 Krista the Krazy Kataloguer marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: to-read-mysteries-thrillers, to-read-historical-fiction, own-ebook

Group Home Bookshelf Discussions

Photos Videos

Send invite Members Polls