“Defend and Betray” - Anne Perry

 

(William Monk book 3)

🔍 I’m going to say right away that I found DAB to be frustratingly slow moving as compared to the prior novels. I almost abandoned this one several times.

🔍 Here’s the premise: somebody at a dinner party has murdered a guest; all but 4 guests are members of one family … the deceased’s family. Alexandra Carlyon stands accused of murdering her husband. She insists that she is guilty yet provides a demonstrably false motive. She refuses to provide her defense attorney, Oliver Rathbone, the slightest assistance in discovering the truth.

🔍 We hear only from Hester Latterly for the bulk of the novel. She has obtained employment as a private nurse. We learn that for his part, William Monk has opened up shop as a private investigator (with Cassandra Daviot’s financial backing). This novel is really the Oliver Rathbone show - which I liked, because he is a great character. But if you’re looking for Monk, he’s almost a nonentity in this novel.

🔍 DAB was a total snooze fest until chapter 8 - at which point, it picked up pace. But even this isn’t satisfying as the reader would have flagged odd behavior in at least two characters many pages before, but that went unnoticed by our three justice crusaders: Latterly, Rathbone, and Monk. 

The set up of the crime and Mrs. C’s refusal to cooperate moves at a glacial pace. The conversations between Rathbone, Monk, and Latterly are nothing short of tedious - each shares their extensive thoughts in what feels like real time dialogue.

Even after the three *finally* identify the motive, much space is given to their conversation about women’s rights under the law. This is interesting, yes, but it was far too drawn out IMO. Hester is also frequently atop her Crimean War soap box and it is tiresome. 

On the other hand, comparatively little time was spent with Rathbone convincing Mrs. Carlyon why she must speak to prevent further injustice. She spent many pages refusing to cooperate, but in a matter of two sentences, she changes her mind. I would have liked to see more time here rather than the extensive descriptions of the state of British jurisprudence.

Further, given how much time was wiled away elsewhere, several pivotal parts at the end felt hurried and muddled. While the courtroom drama was riveting, how on earth did Rathbone et all get a certain key witness to testify?! Again, I wish Perry had fleshed out this major moment. As it stands, the witness simply arrives to testify with the reader clueless about how it came about.

🔍Several nasty references to Indian subjects of the Crown are sprinkled throughout the narrative. For example, Randolph Carlyon disdains Indians as “howling savages”. No doubt these were accurate portrayals of British racism toward Indians, but it never feel like the inclusion advanced the plot in any way.

Also, while recreating period life (including language, clothing, and mores) of the Victorian era, is certainly one of Perry’s strengths, it felt like the reader was assaulted with these details constantly. Again, it felt like we crossed the line of useful atmosphere to tedium.

🔍 I can’t say I recommend DAB - even to fans of the series. But I will  pick up the next novel because I did enjoy books 1 and 2.